The Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives are well worth considering if you want to avoid paying for an Adobe subscription. Part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of apps, Illustrator remains the industry standard vector art software for a reason, but there are alternatives.
Illustrator has dominated digital art, illustration and graphic design for a long time, and we still rate Illustrator as the best vector program in our pick of the best graphic design software. But if you’re looking for Illustrator alternatives, our team of reviewers has some recommendations.
Whether you no longer want to pay for a Creative Cloud subscription or simply fancy learning to work with a different interface, this list will start you on the adventure of working with Illustrator alternatives. Some of these options have a one-off fee, some require a subscription, and some are even free or have free versions. Below we mentioned the Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives.
Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives Comparison Table
| Platform | Price | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Designer | $49.99 (one-time purchase) | Visit Website |
| Sketch | $99/year or $9/month | Visit Website |
| CorelDRAW | $249.00 (one-time purchase) | Visit Website |
| Inkscape | Free | Visit Website |
| Corel Vector | $299.00 (one-time purchase) | Visit Website |
Affinity Designer
Features
- Robust vector editing tools
- Non-destructive editing capabilities
- Professional-grade color management
- Ability to import/export various file formats
- Pixel-perfect control for digital illustration
We reckon the best all-round alternative to Illustrator is Affinity Designer. First launched in 2014, this vector editor from British software company Serif has gradually grown in popularity and influence, and for good reason. Not only is it powerful and feature-rich, but its one-off purchase price (£48.99, discounts are sometimes available) is far cheaper than an Illustrator subscription. Overall, this is one of the Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives.
Unencumbered by legacy code, the software tends to run a little faster than Illustrator, or a lot faster if you have a relatively new Mac (which is largely why it won an Apple Design Award) (which is largely why it won an Apple Design Award). There are some gaps, which we detail in our Affinity Designer review, but generally, yes. Working with other designers who use Illustrator isn’t usually a problem either because Affinity Designer can import and export AI and PSD files.
Pros
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- Support for multiple file formats.
- Regular updates and improvements.
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- Limited third-party plugin support.
Sketch
Features
- Vector-based design software
- Highly intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Support for multiple artboards
- Extensive library of pre-built design assets
- Non-destructive editing capabilities
If need a vector drawing program primarily for digital design, then Sketch(opens in new tab) is probably the best of Illustrator alternatives, as long as you’re using a Mac. First launched in 2010, Sketch’s strong focus on UI and icon design quickly led it to become the industry’s go-to software for app and website prototyping.
It’s not a fully comprehensive drawing programme, so it doesn’t have all the features offered by Illustrator. You wouldn’t use it to create complex illustrations or art. But by the same token, it has a simpler and more user-friendly interface that makes icon and UI design quick and easy.
A Sketch licence costs $99 and will give you one year of free updates. Once your licence has expired you can still use the app for as long as you want, but you will need to renew if you want the latest updates. Thus, this is one of the Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives.
Pros
- Highly intuitive and user-friendly interface.
- Designed specifically for UI/UX design.
- Robust vector editing tools and features.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
Cons
- No support for CMYK color mode.
- Limited functionality for print design.
- No built-in version control.
CorelDRAW
Features
- Comprehensive vector editing tools
- Support for various file formats
- Professional-grade color management
- Non-destructive editing capabilities
- Customizable workspace and UI
CorelDRAW, an Illustrator substitute that was first released in 1989, has a sizable user base among artists and illustrators. It’s quite difficult to determine which tool is “better,” CorelDRAW or Illustrator. Each have their ardent supporters and are loaded with features. Fans of each tool will passionately claim that theirs is the easiest to use because the interfaces and methodologies are so different, but there isn’t really an objective way to resolve this.
Although CorelDRAW isn’t precisely a cheap alternative to Illustrator, it is more versatile in terms of how you can pay because there are various ways to obtain the program. While CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2022 requires a subscription, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2021 is available for a one-time fee. For now, this is one of the Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives.
Pros
- Advanced typography tools and support.
- Multiple file format compatibility.
- Advanced printing capabilities.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
Cons
- Some users find the interface overwhelming.
- Limited third-party plugin support.
Inkscape
Features
- Open-source vector editing software
- Advanced bezier editing capabilities
- Highly customizable user interface
- Comprehensive node editing tools
- Non-destructive editing capabilities
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a native format used by the free and open source vector editor Inkscape. It is fairly competent for a free program, with many helpful features like layers, object grouping, drawing, form, calligraphy, pencil and pen tools, route simplification with changeable threshold, bitmap tracing, and Boolean operations. It is lightweight so it will work on quite low-powered PCs.
SVG, PDF, EPS, AI (Adobe Illustrator), and CDR are just a few of the formats that Inkscape can open or import natively (CorelDraw). It will function on Linux in addition to Windows and Mac. The biggest drawback of its performance is that it occasionally has a laggy and slow response time. Still, this is one of the Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives.
Pros
- Free and open-source software.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- Robust vector editing tools and features.
- Support for a wide range of file formats.
- Regular updates and improvements.
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- Some features may not be as advanced as other software.
- Limited third-party plugin support.
Corel Vector
Features
- Specialized vector editing software
- Precise control over vector shapes and curves
- Professional-grade color management
- Non-destructive editing capabilities
- Extensive library of pre-built design assets
- Advanced typography tools
If you want browser-based vector software at a lower cost, Corel Vector is a new choice from Corel that is worthwhile to take into account as an alternative to Illustrator. Formerly known as Gravit Designer, the program had a free version. Currently, this is one of the Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives.
It is now subscription-based, although at $69.99 per year, it is still less expensive than Illustrator and the complete professional CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. The program can handle tasks ranging from icon creation and prototype to vector graphics and animation thanks to its straightforward and user-friendly interface.
Pros
- Part of the CorelDRAW graphics suite.
- Advanced vector editing tools and features.
- Large library of vector graphics and templates.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- Advanced printing capabilities.
Cons
- Expensive compared to some other software options.
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- Limited third-party plugin support.
What is Adobe Illustrator?
The vector graphics editor Adobe Illustrator was created and is sold by Adobe Corp. To generate vector graphics, logos, illustrations, and other sorts of graphics, graphic designers, artists, and illustrators use it.
Is Affinity Designer a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?
It’s true that Affinity Designer is a fantastic substitute for Adobe Illustrator. It is a potent vector graphics editor with many of the same capabilities as Illustrator, including vector drawing tools, tools for creating typography, and the capacity to export to other file formats.
FAQs
Is Inkscape a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?
Indeed, Inkscape is a respectable substitute for Adobe Illustrator. It is a free, open-source vector graphics editor with many of the same capabilities as Illustrator, including the capacity to develop vector drawings, work with paths and shapes, and apply different fill and stroke styles.
Is CorelDRAW a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator?
CorelDRAW is a viable substitute for Adobe Illustrator, yes. It is a high-quality vector graphics editor that provides a variety of tools for producing and altering vector graphics, including extensive color management, typography capabilities, and vector drawing tools.
