Top 10+ Adobe Illustrator Alternatives for Graphic Designers

For a long time, Adobe Illustrator has been the industry standard for vector Graphics Design, offering a powerful set of tools and features. Multiple tools are available through Illustrator for high-quality design tasks. You may create beautiful designs from your imagination with brushes, special effects, layers, filters, colour processing, gradient effects, and drawing tools. Owing to its high system requirements and premium subscription pricing, designers are looking for an Adobe Illustrator Alternative.rs are looking for an Adobe Illustrator Alternative. 

As of 2022, Adobe Creative Cloud has a total user base nearing 30 million. Despite this, its premium pricing and subscription model might not be suitable for everyone. Fortunately, there are several excellent Adobe Illustrator Alternatives available that cater to the needs of Graphic Designers without breaking the bank. In this blog, we'll explore the top 5 Adobe Illustrator Alternatives, including both free and paid options, to help you find the perfect fit for your projects. 

Table of Contents 

1) 10+ Adobe Illustrator Alternatives

    a) Inkscape

    b) CorelDRAW Graphics Suite   

    c) Affinity Designer  

    d) VectorStyler  

    e) Vectr  

    f) Sketch

    g) Corel Vector

    h) Apache OpenOffice Draw

    i) GIMP

    j) Pixlr

    k) Boxy SVG

2) Conclusion

10+ Adobe illustrator Alternatives

Illustrator offers many advantages, like having manageable file sizes, being cross-platformed, and having in-panel editing. Keeping these features in mind, here are the top 5 Adobe Illustrator Alternatives: 

Inkscape
 

Inkscape is a popular open-source vector graphics editor that has gained recognition and a strong following among Graphic Designers, artists, and hobbyists alike. As an alternative to Adobe Illustrator at no charge, Inkscape offers a comprehensive set of tools for creating and editing scalable vector graphics. 

One of the primary advantages of Inkscape is its accessibility. Being available across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it an inclusive option for users with different operating systems. Inkscape's opensource nature allows it to be continually improved upon and updated by a dedicated community of developers, ensuring a constant stream of new features and bug fixes. 

Inkscape's user interface may not be as polished as some other design software, but it remains user-friendly and efficient. The workspace includes essential tools such as selection, drawing, and editing options, as well as a wide array of shapes, gradients, and filters. Users can create and manipulate paths, nodes, and shapes with precision, allowing for intricate and detailed designs. 

The software supports various file formats, including Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), Adobe Illustrator (AI), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), and Portable Document Format (PDF). This makes Inkscape compatible with other design applications and ensures smooth workflows. One standout feature of Inkscape is its powerful extension system. Users can install extensions to add new tools and functions, extending the capabilities of the software to suit their specific needs. This flexibility empowers designers to customise their workflow and unlock creative possibilities. 

Inkscape encourages collaboration through its open-source philosophy. Designers can share their work with others, allowing for feedback, collaboration, and improvement, contributing to a rich and supportive community. Though Inkscape offers a host of features and benefits, it may not be as suitable for complex, professional-grade projects as some premium design software. Certain advanced features and functionalities found in Adobe Illustrator or other paid alternatives might be absent in Inkscape. However, for freelance designers, students, and hobbyists looking for a robust and free design tool, Inkscape remains a highly capable and cost-effective option.

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CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 
 

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a comprehensive vector graphics software developed by Corel Corporation. It has been a mainstay in the Graphic Design industry for many years, providing a versatile and feature-rich platform for designers, illustrators, and artists. The software is available for both Windows and Mac, offering a wide range of tools and capabilities that make it a robust alternative to Adobe Illustrator. 

One of the key strengths of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is its user-friendliness. It has an intuitive and navigable interface, and thus is accessible to designers of all skill levels. Beginners can quickly grasp the basics, while experienced professionals can delve into the more advanced features to create intricate and stunning designs. The ability to customise the workspace and shortcuts further enhances the user experience, allowing designers to tailor the software to their specific needs and preferences. 

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite excels in providing powerful vector editing tools. Users can create and manipulate vector shapes with precision, allowing for smooth scaling without any loss of quality. The software offers a variety of drawing and shaping tools, along with advanced node editing, to give designers full control over their artwork. Additionally, the inclusion of bitmap editing capabilities enables users to work on both vector and raster elements within the same platform, streamlining the design process. 

A standout feature of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is its extensive library of templates, fonts, and royalty-free images. This vast collection provides designers with a wealth of resources to kickstart their projects or find inspiration for new ideas. Whether it's designing marketing materials, logos, illustrations, or web graphics, CorelDRAW offers a versatile toolkit to meet various design requirements. 

Another significant advantage of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is its compatibility with industry-standard file formats, including Adobe Illustrator (AI), EPS, PDF, and SVG. This compatibility allows designers to seamlessly exchange files with clients, colleagues, and other design software, facilitating a smoother collaborative workflow. 

Furthermore, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is frequently updated with new features and improvements to keep up with evolving design trends and technology. The developers actively listen to user feedback, making regular updates that enhance the software's performance and usability.  

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Affinity Designer
 

Affinity Designer is a powerful vector graphics software developed by Serif, known for its commitment to creating professional-grade applications. It has gained significant popularity among Graphic Designers, Illustrators, and Digital Artists as a robust alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

One of the standout features of Affinity Designer is its impressive speed and performance. It's optimised to handle complex design projects with ease, making it a reliable tool for both simple illustrations and intricate artwork. The software's real-time rendering ensures that designers can work fluidly and see instant changes as they manipulate their designs. 

Affinity Designer's user interface is sleek and intuitive, designed to streamline the creative process. The toolset includes a wide array of vector and raster tools, enabling users to create intricate illustrations, logos, icons, and web graphics effortlessly. Additionally, the software provides a comprehensive range of layer effects, blending modes, and non-destructive editing capabilities, granting users more flexibility and creative freedom. 

Affnity Designer's seamless integration with other Affinity products, such as Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher is one of its major strengths. This ecosystem allows for smooth file interchangeability and an uninterrupted workflow across different design tasks. The ability to switch between applications effortlessly makes Affinity Designer a compelling choice for designers who require versatility and efficiency. 

Affinity Designer also supports both vector and raster file formats, including Adobe Illustrator files (AI), making it easy for designers to transition from Illustrator to Affinity Designer without losing their work or compatibility. Moreover, the software is available for macOS, Windows, and iPad, making it accessible to a wide range of users across different devices. 

With its powerful features, seamless performance, and affordability (as a one-time purchase), Affinity Designer has proven itself as a top-notch vector graphics software, gaining a loyal and enthusiastic user base within the Graphic Design community. Affinity Designer offers the tools and capabilities to veteran as well as beginner designers.

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VectorStyler
 

VectorStyler is a powerful vector graphics software that deserves attention for its unique features and capabilities. Designed for both beginners and experienced designers, VectorStyler offers various tools to create stunning vector artwork and illustrations. What sets VectorStyler apart is its innovative approach to styling and effects, allowing users to apply and modify styles directly on the objects, enabling real-time visual feedback and experimentation. 

The intuitive and user-friendly user interface makes it easy for designers to get started with a minimal learning curve. Its customisability extends to the workspace, allowing users to personalise their design environment for optimal productivity. The software supports various file formats, including SVG, PDF, EPS, and AI, ensuring seamless compatibility with other design applications. 

VectorStyler also boasts a wide range of effects and filters to enhance designs creatively. From gradients and shadows to advanced blur effects and distortions, the software provides a comprehensive toolkit to unleash creativity and add depth to vector artwork. Moreover, VectorStyler emphasises non-destructive editing, allowing designers to experiment freely without permanently altering the original artwork. This feature proves valuable during the creative process, as it enables designers to iterate quickly and maintain flexibility in design choices. 

Whether you're a professional graphic designer or an aspiring artist, VectorStyler's blend of user-friendly design, innovative styling options, and powerful effects makes it an attractive alternative to established vector graphics software. As the software continues to evolve and gather a devoted user base, it's certainly worth considering for anyone seeking a fresh and powerful vector graphics tool to bring their creative visions to life. 

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Vectr
 

Another free graphics software, Vectr stands out for its simplicity and real-time collaboration features. Designed with beginners and small design projects in mind, Vectr offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone to start creating vector-based designs without a steep learning curve. Its clean and intuitive layout allows users to focus on their creativity rather than getting lost in a complex set of tools. 

One of the key strengths of Vectr is its cloud-based nature. Being a web-based application, Vectr enables seamless collaboration between multiple users, even from different locations. This real-time collaboration feature is especially beneficial for small design teams, freelancers working with clients, or students collaborating on a project. Changes made to the design by one team member are instantly visible to others, promoting efficient teamwork and smoother communication. 

Despite being a free tool, Vectr offers a decent range of essential vector editing tools and capabilities. Users can create shapes, manipulate paths, add text, and apply basic effects to their designs. While it may not have the same advanced features as premium vector graphics software like Adobe Illustrator, Vectr provides more than enough functionality for creating stunning illustrations, icons, and other vector-based designs. 

Vectr's compatibility with various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS, makes it accessible to a wide audience. Whether you're working on a desktop or a Chromebook, you can access Vectr without any installation hassles.  

Sketch
 

Sketch is a powerful vector graphics editor primarily designed for macOS. Launched in 2010, it quickly gained popularity within the design community for its focus on User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design. Sketch provides a streamlined workflow with features like symbols and artboards, enhancing the efficiency of design processes. Designers appreciate its intuitive interface, making it accessible to beginners and experienced professionals. It supports a variety of plugins that extend its functionality, allowing users to customise their design environment.

If you require a vector drawing program specifically tailored for digital design, Sketch is a top choice among Alternatives to Illustrator, particularly if you are a Mac user. It has become a staple software for app and website prototyping due to its intuitive features and efficiency. While Sketch may not offer the extensive feature set found in Illustrator, its strength lies in its focused functionality. It excels in UI and icon design tasks, making it an ideal solution forDigital Designers, App Developers, and Web Designers. The software's interface is user-friendly, providing a streamlined experience for those involved in prototyping work.

It's important to note that Sketch is not a comprehensive drawing program suitable for intricate illustrations or complex artistic endeavours. However, this limitation contributes to its simplicity and ease of use, making it a preferred tool for professionals working in digital design domains.

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Corel Vector
 

Corel VECTOR, formerly known as Gravit Designer, emerges as a noteworthy Illustrator Alternative, particularly for those seeking a browser-based vector software solution at a more affordable price. Originally offering a free option, it has transitioned into a subscription-based model and has emerged as an effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.

Corel VECTOR distinguishes itself with a clear and intuitive interface, catering to a spectrum of design tasks ranging from icon design and prototyping to vector illustration and animation. As a cloud-based vector graphics editor developed by Corel Corporation, it facilitates the creation, editing, and saving of vector graphics files in a web browser.

Corel VECTOR is equipped with essential drawing tools like the Pen tool, Bezier tool, and Shape, which can be effortlessly used to create diverse shapes, including lines, curves, and polygons. It also offers a range of text tools, such as the Text tool and Paragraph tool, enabling users to create and format text seamlessly. The software provides an array of fill and stroke tools, allowing users to add colour and texture to enhance vector graphics. Corel VECTOR also includes effects tools that bring versatility to vector graphics, enabling the addition of shadows, glows, transparency, and more.

The flexibility of Corel VECTOR extends to its support for various file formats, including SVG, EPS, PDF, and PNG, facilitating easy sharing of vector graphics. With a modern, intuitive user interface and accessibility from any web browser, Corel VECTOR emerges as a powerful and user-friendly vector graphics editor suitable for both beginners and experienced designers. As a freemium app, users have the opportunity to explore its capabilities before committing to a subscription.

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Apache OpenOffice Draw
 

Apache OpenOffice Draw, a component of the Apache OpenOffice suite, presents a compelling alternative for users seeking free and open-source vector drawing tools as opposed to proprietary software like Adobe Illustrator. While it may not offer Adobe's product's extensive feature set, OpenOffice Draw is a capable option for creating basic vector graphics, diagrams, and illustrations. It operates across various operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and Linux, making it accessible to a broad user base.

This vector drawing tool supports multiple file formats, giving users flexibility in their design work. Despite not matching the complexity of Adobe Illustrator, OpenOffice Draw is renowned for its user-friendly interface and adherence to standards. Notably, it employs the ISO-approved OASIS OpenDocument Format, making it a pioneer in utilising this format as its native file format.

OpenOffice Draw caters to various design needs, allowing users to create diagrams, dynamic 3D illustrations, posters, and more. It doesn't demand any cost, making it an attractive option for those seeking budget-friendly design solutions. While lacking some advanced features, its simplicity and compatibility with standard file formats contribute to its popularity, especially among users with basic design requirements.

GIMP
 

GIMP, an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program, stands out as a dynamic and open-source raster graphics editor renowned for its comprehensive capabilities. While its primary emphasis is on bitmap editing, GIMP goes beyond by incorporating essential tools for vector drawing and manipulation, broadening its appeal among Graphic Designers and Image Editors.

The software's feature-rich environment positions it as a compelling alternative to Adobe Illustrator, particularly for users seeking a versatile image editing solution without the financial commitment associated with proprietary software. GIMP's extensive toolset encompasses a wide range of functions, allowing users to manipulate and enhance images with precision.

One of GIMP's distinguishing features is its adaptability through plugins. The software supports a robust ecosystem of plugins, extending its functionality and providing users with additional tools and features tailored to their needs. This extensibility enhances GIMP's flexibility, allowing it to evolve and cater to diverse user requirements.

Beyond its technical attributes, GIMP thrives on an active and engaged user community. This community-driven aspect contributes significantly to the software's popularity, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement. Users benefit from a wealth of tutorials, forums, and user-contributed resources that enhance their proficiency with the software.

Pixlr 
 

Pixlr, recognised as a web-based photo editing tool, has successfully integrated basic vector editing features into its platform. One of Pixlr's defining strengths lies in its commitment to simplicity and accessibility, positioning itself as a user-friendly option suitable for individuals with diverse design expertise. The intuitive interface is pivotal in accommodating users of varying skill levels, ensuring that beginners and more experienced designers can navigate the platform seamlessly.

An essential characteristic of Pixlr is its browser-based functionality, eliminating the need for cumbersome software installations. This approach allows users to engage in quick edits and design tasks directly within their web browsers, enhancing convenience and flexibility. Pixlr's commitment to accessibility extends beyond its user interface, making it a versatile option for those seeking efficient alternatives to more intricate design software.

Despite its focus on simplicity, Pixlr doesn't compromise on functionality. The platform offers a diverse set of editing tools catering to various design needs. From basic photo enhancements to more intricate vector editing tasks, Pixlr provides users with a comprehensive toolkit. This flexibility positions Pixlr as an attractive option for individuals who prioritise ease of use without sacrificing essential design capabilities.

Boxy SVG
 

Boxy SVG stands out as a browser-based vector graphics editor, catering specifically to the needs of web designers and developers immersed in the world of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). This application, although lightweight, packs a punch with its rich set of features. Aimed at simplifying the creation and editing of SVG files, Boxy SVG offers an array of essential vector editing tools.

One of its notable strengths lies in its support for layers, allowing users to organise and manipulate elements efficiently. Whether dealing with intricate shapes or gradients, Boxy SVG provides the tools for precise control over design elements. The browser-based nature of Boxy SVG is a crucial advantage, eliminating the need for users to install dedicated software. This accessibility enhances flexibility, enabling designers to work on vector graphics seamlessly from various devices without the constraints of specific installations.

The application strongly emphasises simplicity, making it approachable for users of varying skill levels. Its intuitive interface contributes to a smooth user experience, allowing beginners and experienced designers to navigate the editor effortlessly. Boxy SVG aligns with web standards, ensuring compatibility and facilitating a seamless integration into web-based design workflows.

While it may not boast the extensive feature set of some desktop applications, Boxy SVG excels in addressing specific design needs within the SVG domain. As a specialised tool, it complements the toolkit of web-focused designers and developers, providing a responsive and efficient platform for working with scalable vector graphics in a browser environment.
 

Conclusion  

Choosing the right Adobe Illustrator Alternative depends on your specific needs, budget, and preferences. Whether you opt for the power of Inkscape, the professional-grade tools of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, the seamless workflow of Affinity Designer, the web-based convenience of Gravit Designer, or the collaborative capabilities of Vectr, each alternative provides unique strengths to enhance your Graphic Design journey. 

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