9 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives (Free and Paid)

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful and widely used vector graphics editor which has become a must have tool for professional graphic designers all over the world. However, it cannot be affordable for many beginners and for those who consider pricing a concern, and it may not be the best option for everyone. If you are looking for a free or paid alternative to Adobe Illustrator, here are 9 of the best options:

Free Alternatives

First and Foremost, Free alternatives are a boon to many aspiring designers and beginners to play with them before choosing paid ones. Students, hobbyists, non-profit organizations and small businesses on a tight budget and those who can benefit from free alternatives. Free alternatives don’t mean that they lack features that paid ones have, they also come with most of the important features except few. They are compatible with a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Some free alternatives are open source, which means that the code is freely available and can be modified by anyone. This can be an advantage for users who need to customize the software or who want to contribute to its development. Here are some of the best options for free alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

1. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is a powerful tool with a wide range of features, including support for SVG, EPS, PDF, and AI files. Inkscape is a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Key features:

• Open-source and free
• Supports SVG, EPS, PDF, and AI files
• Powerful vector drawing tools
• Text editing features
• Bitmap tracing
• Gradient and pattern editor
• Layer support
• Extensions and plugins

2. Vectr

Vectr is a free and web-based vector graphics editor that is easy to use and has a clean interface. It is a good choice for creating simple graphics, such as icons, logos, and illustrations. Vectr also has a number of templates and presets that you can use to get started quickly.

Key features:

• Free and web-based
• Easy to use interface
• Templates and presets
• Text editing features
• Basic vector drawing tools
• Layer support
• Collaboration features

3. Vectornator

Vectornator is a free vector graphics editor that is available for Mac and iPad. It has a powerful set of features and a user-friendly interface. Vectornator is a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Key features:

• Free for Mac and iPad
• Powerful vector drawing tools
• Text editing features
• Gradient and pattern editor
• Layer support
• Export to SVG, PDF, and PNG

Paid Alternatives

Paid alternatives typically offer a wider range of features than free alternatives. For example, some paid alternatives offer more advanced vector drawing tools, text editing features, and gradient and pattern editing features. Paid alternatives are often better optimized than free alternatives, which can lead to better performance and stability. Paid alternatives typically come with more support from the developers, such as documentation, tutorials, and customer support. Professional Graphic designers, Web designers, App designers, Printers and publishers and other professionals like architects, engineers, and scientists are those who use paid alternatives for powerful and reliable vector graphics editor that offer advance features with support.

4. Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a paid vector graphics editor that is available for Windows, Mac, and iPad. It is a powerful and versatile tool with a wide range of features. Affinity Designer is a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Key features:

• Affordable one-time purchase price
• Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, and iPad)
• Powerful vector drawing tools
• Text editing features
• Gradient and pattern editor
• Layer support
• Export to SVG, PDF, EPS, and AI

5. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a paid vector graphics editor that is available for Windows and Mac. It is a powerful tool with a wide range of features and a long history of use by professional designers. CorelDRAW is a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Key features:

• Comprehensive vector graphics editor
• Cross-platform (Windows and Mac)
• Powerful vector drawing tools
• Text editing features
• Gradient and pattern editor
• Layer support
• Export to SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, and many other formats

6. Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is a paid vector graphics editor that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is a powerful tool with a clean and user-friendly interface. Gravit Designer is a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Key features:

• Affordable one-time purchase price
• Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
• Clean and user-friendly interface
• Powerful vector drawing tools
• Text editing features
• Gradient and pattern editor
• Layer support
• Export to SVG, PDF, EPS, and PNG

7. Sketch

Sketch is a paid vector graphics editor that is available for Mac. It is a popular tool among web and app designers. Sketch is known for its user-friendly interface and its ability to create high-quality vector graphics.

Key features:

• Popular among web and app designers
• Mac-only
• User-friendly interface
• Ability to create high-quality vector graphics
• Symbol libraries
• Collaboration features

8. Boxy SVG

Boxy SVG is a paid vector graphics editor that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is a new tool that is still under development, but it has a lot of potential. Boxy SVG has a clean and user-friendly interface, and it supports a wide range of features.

Key features:

• New and under development
• Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
• Clean and user-friendly interface
• Supports a wide range of features
• Export to SVG, PDF, and EPS

9. Graphic

Graphic is a paid vector graphics editor that is available for Windows and Mac. It is a powerful tool with a wide range of features and a long history of use by professional designers. Graphic is a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Key features:

• Affordable one-time purchase price
• Cross-platform (Windows and Mac)
• Powerful vector drawing tools
• Text editing features
• Gradient and pattern editor
• Layer support
• Export to SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, and many other formats

Here are some specific examples of professionals who use paid alternatives to Adobe Illustrator:

• A freelance graphic designer uses Affinity Designer to create logos and illustrations for her clients.
• A web designer uses CorelDRAW to create vector graphics for her website designs.
• An app designer uses Gravit Designer to create vector graphics for his app icons and user interfaces.
• A printer uses Boxy SVG to create vector graphics for his printing projects.
• A publisher uses Graphic to create vector graphics for his magazine and book publishing projects.

These are just a few examples of the many professionals who use paid alternatives to Adobe Illustrator.

Pricing and Features Comparison

Note: Prices are for the US market. Prices may vary in other countries.