The Best Open Source Illustrator AlternativesTop Vector Graphic Apps & Digital Painting Tools like Illustrator

The best open source alternative to Adobe Illustrator is Inkscape. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and 15 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Adobe Illustrator are Graphite, MyPaint, GodSVG and Karbon.

filter to find the best alternatives

Adobe Illustrator alternatives are mainly Vector Graphic Apps, but if you're looking for Image Editors or Digital Painting Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Mac, Free, Windows, iPad, Linux and Android. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe Illustrator.
More about Adobe Illustrator
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Get a badge for your siteAdobe Illustrator alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Inkscape icon

    Inkscape

     2374 likes

    Unlike Illustrator, Inkscape is completely free and open source, and it uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as its native format. This lightweight app is usually recommended if you don't have a powerful computer, as it also has many of the useful features from illustrator, including layers, grouping objects, drawing, shape, calligraphy, pencil tools, path simplification with variable threshold, bitmaps, and boolean operations. Plus, you can open or import a wide range of file formats including SVG, PDF, EPS, CDR, or even AI (Adobe Illustrator).

    130 Inkscape alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • US flagUnited States
    Inkscape screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    38
  2. Graphite icon

    Graphite

     112 likes

    Vector graphics and animation editor featuring free, open source access, nondestructive workflow, node-based generative design, layer compositing, browser use, and upcoming support for photo editing, painting, publishing, VFX, and desktop apps in alpha release.

    56 Graphite alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • US flagUnited States
    Made using nondestructive boolean operations and procedural polka dot patterns
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  4. MyPaint icon

    MyPaint

     397 likes

    The biggest difference with Illustrator is that MyPaint works with bitmaps instead of vector graphics. It's open source software designed mainly to illustrate and draw with a digitizer tablet. It has a simple interface, where almost all the basic drawing functions are assigned to keyboard shortcuts, which improves workflow speed. In addition, you can hide the entire graphical interface and focus all attention on the drawing without being distracted by unnecessary or complex buttons or palettes. It's a good option if you are interested in digital illustration without too many overwhelming features.

    137 MyPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    • CH flagSwitzerland
    MyPaint screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    6
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Animatron Studio icon
    Animatron Studio

    Design browser-based HTML5 animations and videos using a user-friendly vector tool with rich timeline editing, real-time multi-user collaboration, and audio support. Access free animated assets, import diverse media, and export p...

    https://www.animatron.com
    Learn More
  6. GodSVG icon

    GodSVG

     40 likes

    Interactive vector editor built with Godot for creating or editing SVG files, featuring UI-based element manipulation, live code updates, direct markup access, no added metadata, minimal abstraction, clean output, and intended use on desktop plus mobile devices.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    GodSVG screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  7. Karbon icon

    Karbon

     58 likes

    Karbon is a vector drawing application with a user interface that is easy to use, highly customizable and extensible. That makes Karbon a great application for users starting to explore the world of vector graphics as well as for artists wanting to create breathtaking vector art.

    45 Karbon alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU
    Karbon screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  10. LazPaint icon

    LazPaint

     46 likes

    Raster & vector graphic editor with many tools and filters, written in Lazarus. Portable, 32bit & 64bit versions, ORA format & 16384x16384 image support. In app 3D import & rendering.

    48 LazPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU
    Main UI
    Good alternative?
     
  11. sK1 icon

    sK1

     36 likes

    sK1 is an open source cross-platform vector graphics editor like CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, or Freehand. The major feature of sK1 is a professional precise printing and prepress ready PDF output.

    33 sK1 alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • RU flagRussia
    sK1 screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  12. Apache OpenOffice Draw icon

    Apache OpenOffice Draw

     124 likes

    Draw, part of the Apache OpenOffice suite, is a graphics editor that gives you the tools to communicate with visuals and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm, Draw is powerful tool for posters, graphs, charts, and more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • US flagUnited States
    For technical drawings with integrated graduation function (not available in PowerPoint)
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  13. Repath Studio icon

    Repath Studio

     4 likes

    A cross platform vector graphics editor, that combines procedural tooling with traditional design workflows. It includes an interactive shell, which allows evaluating code to generate shapes, or even extend the editor on the fly.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Repath Studio screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
    |
    1
  14. Ballpoint icon

    Ballpoint

     8 likes

    Ballpoint is an experimental new vector graphics editor. It's available as a free to use web application.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    Ballpoint screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  15. KolourPaint icon

    KolourPaint

     43 likes

    KolourPaint is a simple painting program to quickly create raster images. It is useful as a touch-up tool and for simple image editing tasks.

    42 KolourPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Mac
    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU
    KolourPaint screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 15 Adobe Illustrator alternatives