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, Android, Linux, Free, iPad and Online + Free. 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
Adobe Illustrator alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Inkscape icon

    Inkscape

     2305 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).

    123 Inkscape alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Inkscape screenshot 1
     
    |
    38
    549
    Comments about Inkscape as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Comment summary: Adobe Illustrator is praised for its comprehensive features and professional capabilities in vector art but criticized for slowing down with large files. Alternatively, Inkscape is appreciated for being free, open-source, and user-friendly with a robust SVG support. However, it faces criticism for performance issues, especially on macOS, and lacks some advanced features available in Illustrator. Despite its limitations, many consider Inkscape capable and recommend it for SVG-related projects.
    Top Positive Comment
    Paulo Coghi
    13

    It's feature complete, professional and as capable (or even more capable) than Illustrator

    Top Negative Comment
    arlenwh
    0

    Slows Down and lags if the file your working on is too large. So if you go ahead and turn a bitmap image into a vector and that image requires too many paths. The application basically becomes useless. Look else where if you need to turn large bitmap images into vector images.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    I love how fast it operates and some of the cool color palettes (Munsell) but the functionality made it almost useless. Too many steps to change and quick copy objects. Like changing font or color and weird tool names/keyboard shortcuts.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 38 comments
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Inkscape icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Inkscape is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Inkscape is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Inkscape is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

    • Inkscape is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
    • Inkscape is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  2. Graphite icon

    Graphite

     92 likes

    Graphite is a free, open source vector graphics editor and animation engine, available now in alpha. Get creative with a fully nondestructive editing workflow that combines layer-based compositing with node-based generative design.

    60 Graphite alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Made using nondestructive boolean operations and procedural polka dot patterns
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Graphite as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Its goal to be all in one tools and the vision is really good. But it's under the development.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Graphite icon
    • Graphite is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
    • Graphite is Privacy focused and LightweightAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  4. MyPaint icon

    MyPaint

     387 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.

    127 MyPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    MyPaint screenshot 1
     
    |
    5
    Comments about MyPaint as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Top Positive Comment
    Dmitrii Kunicin
    -2

    the application is suitable for use by children, simple

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    lauraess
    2

    Illustrator is a vector image editing app. I can import bitmaps but those are more likely to be traced as vectors. This is a drawing program and is bitmap based.

    mackenziecarr
    Negative
    1

    It is more accurately considered an alternative to Adobe Photoshop rather than Illustrator, due to the distinguishing features of raster graphics editing in Photoshop versus vector graphics editing in Illustrator.

    3 of 5 comments
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    MyPaint icon

    • This alternative is disputed. MyPaint is a legitimate Adobe Illustrator alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • MyPaint is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
  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

     33 likes

    GodSVG is an editor for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) files. Unlike other editors, it represents the SVG code directly, doesn't add any metadata, and even lets you edit the SVG code in real time. GodSVG is inspired by the need for an SVG editor without abstractions that...

    14 GodSVG alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    GodSVG screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about GodSVG as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    isaacsgraphic2
    Negative
    0

    Illustrator is a fully functional graphics program. You can insert images, you have lots of options for text editing etc. You can make posters and flyers, full illustrations etc. There are a lot of import and export options, colour handling, image trace, brush tools and more.

    GodSVG is only useful for editing and refining simple svg files, you could use it for creating a set of simple icons perhaps, but not a whole poster design or any typography. It's just not the same kind of program.

    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    GodSVG icon
    • GodSVG is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
  7. Karbon icon

    Karbon

     57 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.

    43 Karbon alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Karbon screenshot 1
     
    |
    19
  8. LazPaint icon

    LazPaint

     45 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.

    42 LazPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Main UI
     
  10. sK1 icon

    sK1

     37 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.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    sK1 screenshot 1
     
    |
    9
  12. Apache OpenOffice Draw icon

    Apache OpenOffice Draw

     125 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
    For technical drawings with integrated graduation function (not available in PowerPoint)
     
    |
    1
    13
    Comments about Apache OpenOffice Draw as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    Guest
    Negative
    6

    More of a flowchart designer than a vector illustrator

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Apache OpenOffice Draw icon

    • Most users think Apache OpenOffice Draw is a great Adobe Illustrator alternative.

    • Apache OpenOffice Draw is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
  13. Repath Studio icon

    Repath Studio

     3 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
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Repath Studio as an Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
    erayzesen
    Positive
    0

    It have a good potential. But it's under the development.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Illustrator Icon
    Repath Studio icon
    • Repath Studio is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
    • Repath Studio is Privacy focusedAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
  15. 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
     
12 of 15 Adobe Illustrator alternatives