Illustrator AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Graphic Design Tools

The best Graphic Design alternative to Adobe Illustrator is Inkscape, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and many of them are Graphic Design Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Graphic Design Tool alternatives to Adobe Illustrator are Linearity Curve, Figma, Affinity and Graphite.

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Adobe Illustrator alternatives are mainly Graphic Design Tools, but if you're looking for Vector Graphic Apps or Image Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Free, Mac, Linux, iPad, Android and Windows + 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.
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Alternatives list

  1. Inkscape icon

    Inkscape

     2331 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).

    125 Inkscape alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Inkscape screenshot 1
     
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  2. Linearity Curve icon

    Linearity Curve

     354 likes

    Vectonator is a very complete free vector editing app, known mainly for its iPad apps, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. You can export to JPG, PNG, SVG and PDF. Also, unlike Illustrator, you can render a time-lapse video of your project to share on social media (with some limitations). Cloud syncing allows you to continue work started on iPad and finish it directly on macOS.

    39 Linearity Curve alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Linearity Curve screenshot 1
     
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  4. Figma icon

    Figma

     247 likes

    Figma has a bigger focus on UI design, wireframing and collaborative work. Like Sketch, its interface is cleaner and easier to understand than Illustrator. It's can also be used throught web browsers and collabore with more members of your team in real time. It features automatic cloud synchronization so you can use your files on the platform you want, in addition to unique features such as arc tools and vector networks, which allow non-designers to format their templates easily. Animated prototypes are definitely a great advantage to interact with your design before coding.

    106 Figma alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    ,
     
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  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Xara Photo & Graphic Designer icon
    Xara Photo & Graphic Designer

    Xara Photo & Graphic Designer, formerly Xara Xtreme, is a fast graphics software with versatile illustration tools and advanced photo management. It streamlines creative tasks, allowing users to retouch images, create social ...

    https://www.xara.com
    Learn More
  6. Affinity icon

    Affinity

     67 likes

    Unified design solution merging advanced photo, vector, and layout tools for seamless workflow, non-destructive editing, RAW support, batch processing, AI enhancements, GPU acceleration, file compatibility, cloud asset integration, and tailored workspace options.

    72 Affinity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Affinity screenshot 1
     
  7. Graphite icon

    Graphite

     101 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.

    54 Graphite alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Made using nondestructive boolean operations and procedural polka dot patterns
     
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  8. Vectr icon

    Vectr

     92 likes

    Vectr is completely free and browser-based, offering a quick and easy way to get started with vector editing through an intuitive interface. Since it's browser based, each image has a custom URL that you can share with others to be reviewed and collaborate in real time with multiple people. You can export your finished work as an SVG, PNG, or JPEG file. Its features are much more simple than those offered by Illustrator, so it's really not recommended for very complex projects. However, it is an excellent choice if you are a beginner with vector editing software.

    105 Vectr alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Vectr screenshot 1
     
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  10. Boxy SVG icon

    Boxy SVG

     50 likes

    Vector editor for browser with transforms, symbol management, boolean ops, freehand and Bezier paths, advanced shape tools, gradients, raster import/export, grouping, Google Fonts, customizable shortcuts, and HTML5 serialization for diverse designs.

    55 Boxy SVG alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Flathub
    • Android
    Boxy SVG screenshot 1
     
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  11. 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.

    44 Karbon alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Karbon screenshot 1
     
  12. Xara Designer Pro icon

    Xara Designer Pro

     32 likes

    Xara Designer Pro offers tools for illustration, photo editing, and desktop publishing, with exceptional vector design capabilities. Suitable for billboards, business cards, and more, it supports diverse file formats, provides abundant templates, and powers web design and prototyping without coding.

    58 Xara Designer Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Xara Designer Pro screenshot 1
     
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  13. Expressive Canvas icon

    Expressive Canvas

     11 likes

    Expressive Canvas makes creating eye-catching vector illustrations, pixel-perfect icons, and other digital assets more straightforward than ever before.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Expressive Canvas (2023.0.1 BETA)
     
  14. VectorStyler icon

    VectorStyler

     3 likes

    VectorStyler (for Mac) is an advanced vector graphics and illustration software, with a competitive feature set, and several new features and workflow enhancements. VectorStyler is developed with the goal of providing all the capabilities, designers and illustrators are familiar...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    VectorStyler screenshot 1
     
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