Illustrator AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Graphic Design Tools

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   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

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

   Application typeApplication types

   • Vector Graphic
   • Digital Painting

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD
   • Snapcraft
   • Flathub
   • PortableApps.com
   • Haiku

   • United States

   

   

   

   +8

   

   More about Inkscape  

   

   Good alternative?Is Inkscape a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

    

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   38comments

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   Inkscape vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Paulo Coghi · Nov 24, 2021

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

   Top Negative Comment by arlenwh · Mar 18, 2023

   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.

   Negative comment by Guest · Aug 21, 2025

   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.

   3 of 38 comments

   

   

   • 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. 

   

   Linearity Curve

    355 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.

   40 Linearity Curve alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Vector Graphic
   • Graphic Design

   Origin

   • Germany
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • iPhone
   • iPad

   • Germany
   • EU

   

   

   

   +8

   

   More about Linearity Curve  

   

   Good alternative?Is Linearity Curve a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

    

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   1comment

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   Linearity Curve vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

   Negative comment by FearedFusionX · Oct 9, 2024

   This used to be a great app for both Mac and iOS, but ever since the subscription update, the app has been reaching it's breaking point.

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Linearity Curve is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
   • Linearity Curve is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
4. 

   

   Affinity

    89 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.

   94 Affinity alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Image Editor
   • Vector Graphic

   Origin

   • Australia

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows

   • Australia

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about Affinity  

   

   Good alternative?Is Affinity a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

    
5. Ad

   

   

   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. 

   

   Figma

    265 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.

   134 Figma alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • UI Design
   • Prototyping

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Chrome OS
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Software as a Service (SaaS)

   • United States

   

   

   

   +4

   

   More about Figma  

   

   Good alternative?Is Figma a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

    

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   2comments

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   Figma vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

   Negative comment by RCLeahcar · Aug 16, 2020

   Figma places a heavier focus on user interface design, while Illustrator is a general vector graphics editor.

   Positive comment by Guest · Oct 22, 2020

   With a focus on UI, it is a much better tool to use for UI design and prototyping

   2 of 2 comments

   

   

   • Figma is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
   • Figma is a UI Design Adobe Illustrator is a Vector Graphic App
7. 

   

   CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

    217 likes

   It is one of the oldest and most reliable vector tools in the industry, not only offering excellent performance, but also providing an intuitive interface that's ideal for any beginner designers. Different from Illustrator, you can choose to pay a monthly subscription or obtain a license through a one-time purchase (although a bit expensive), which will include other compatible Corel design software such as Photo-Paint (Corel's alternative to Photoshop), as well as a font manager and content organization applications. CorelDRAW lets you edit multi-page documents, non-destructively convert bitmaps to vectors, and create QR codes.

   91 CorelDRAW Graphics Suite alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Paid
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Vector Graphic
   • Digital Painting

   Origin

   • Canada

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Online

   • Canada

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about CorelDRAW Graphics Suite  

   

   Good alternative?Is this a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

    

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   3comments

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   CorelDRAW Graphics Suite vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

   Positive comment by Guest · Mar 15, 2018

   The first vector illustrator I ever used. Sadly not available on the Mac

   Positive comment by Guest · May 31, 2017

   It's much easier to use and understand. It gives the average user a quicker grasp of editing and creating graphics. It is also less greedy with RAM.

   Positive comment by Guest · Dec 10, 2019

   Compatibility with .ai files, is a vector manipulator. Includes a "Hairline" stroke weight, which is very useful for certain applications. One-time license purchase

   3 of 3 comments

   

   

   • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is also Paid and Proprietary
   • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is CustomizableAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
9. 

   

   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

   • Free
   • Open Source (Apache-2.0)

   Application typeApplication types

   • Vector Graphic
   • Image Editor

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Online

   • United States

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about Graphite  

   

   Good alternative?Is Graphite a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

    

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   1comment

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   Graphite vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

   Positive comment by Guest · Aug 6, 2024

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

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • Graphite is Free and Open SourceAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
   • Graphite is Privacy focused and LightweightAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
10. 

    

    Vectr

     93 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.

    115 Vectr alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Vector Graphic
    • Graphic Design

    Origin

    • Singapore

    Platforms

    • Online

    • Singapore

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about Vectr  

    

    Good alternative?Is Vectr a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

     

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    2comments

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    Vectr vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

    Positive comment by Ibuddy66 · Sep 20, 2021

    Vectr has a great user interface and has lots of tools to fine tune designs. They have plenty of numerical value boxes to get better results with what you want and have an easy to learn interface. I have used it for quite a few projects. Great to make new icons with too! Love it!

    Negative comment by Guest · Apr 6, 2017

    Cannot open existing ai- and eps-files. Exporting is very limited.

    2 of 2 comments

    

    

    • Vectr is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is Paid and Proprietary
11. 

    

    Boxy SVG

     51 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.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Vector Graphic
    • Graphic Design

    Origin

    • Poland
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • Linux Mobile

    • Poland
    • EU

    

    

    

    +2

    

    More about Boxy SVG  

    

    Good alternative?Is Boxy SVG a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

     

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    2comments

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    Boxy SVG vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

    Positive comment by Paul · Feb 7, 2023

    It's not comparable to Illustrator in terms of features, but if you need a lightweight software to create or edit SVGs, then this is a very good software. I use it daily for quick edits to vector files.

    Negative comment by Guest · Apr 6, 2017

    No import or export of ai and eps

    2 of 2 comments

    

    

    • Boxy SVG is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is also Paid and Proprietary
12. 

    

    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

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Vector Graphic
    • Digital Painting

    Origin

    • Germany
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    • Germany
    • EU

    

    

    

    More about Karbon  

    

    Good alternative?Is Karbon a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

     
13. 

    

    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.

    59 Xara Designer Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Vector Graphic
    • Digital Painting

    Origin

    • Germany
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Windows

    • Germany
    • EU

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about Xara Designer Pro  

    

    Good alternative?Is Xara Designer Pro a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

     

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    2comments

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    Xara Designer Pro vs Adobe Illustrator Comments

    Positive comment by Guest · Mar 10, 2023

    Xara is avey intuïtive and fast drawing application that can do print, websites, animation, DTP, bitmaps and everything you would could ask from a graphic program.

    The possibilities are endless considiering it flawless combines vector editing with bitmaps.

    Positive comment by Guest · Jan 9, 2017

    Extremely fast and better with bitmaps than Illustrator

    2 of 2 comments

    

    

    • Xara Designer Pro is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Illustrator is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Xara Designer Pro is LightweightAdobe Illustrator is not according to our users
14. 

    

    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 typeApplication types

    • Vector Graphic
    • Graphic Design

    Platforms

    • Online

    

    More about Expressive Canvas  

    

    Good alternative?Is Expressive Canvas a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

     
15. 

    

    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 typeApplication types

    • Vector Graphic
    • Graphic Design

    Origin

    • Finland
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    • Finland
    • EU

    

    More about VectorStyler  

    

    Good alternative?Is VectorStyler a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?