6 Adobe Illustrator Options I Tried and Liked (and Why)

Adobe Illustrator was created in 1987, initially launched for Microsoft Home windows private computer systems. The device has been enhancing and optimizing for many years to grow to be the go-to software program for advanced design wants. 

However let’s be trustworthy, it may not be the proper selection for each use case. The advantages of precision and complicated design come at a price of excessive subscription charges and a steep studying curve. That’s why I got down to discover Adobe Illustrator alternate options that may finest swimsuit their use circumstances with out including design complexities. 

I’ll stroll you thru totally different vector graphics software program appropriate for numerous use circumstances. We’ll cowl free choices, open-source options, inexpensive options with a one-time fee choice, and different options recognized for simplicity and their intuitive platform. 

Wish to transfer away from Illustrator with out compromising a lot on high quality and performance? Have a look!

What makes a device a great Adobe Illustrator various?

Adobe Illustrator is an efficient device for designing vectors and different illustrations. It’s a mature device for dealing with design complexities and has been in the marketplace for many years. The software program encapsulates a number of options and functionalities, making it a complete providing for skilled designers. 

Nevertheless, not everybody’s design wants are the identical. Novices in all probability don’t want the entire suite for easy duties, and non-designers could battle to make use of Adobe Illustrator successfully of their work. Totally different instruments serve totally different wants of designers; one would possibly work higher than the opposite for particular use circumstances.

Once you’re in search of an Adobe Illustrator various, there are a lot of choices you’ll discover in the marketplace. In accordance with me, a powerful Adobe Illustrator various ought to have: 

• An intuitive interface to assist designers and non-designers navigate the platform seamlessly.
• Primary documentation to get began and carry out easy capabilities on the instruments.
• Capability to create designs and illustrations for digital or printing utilization.
• Integrations with totally different distribution or publishing platforms that make it simpler to share illustrations and designs.

Prime 6 Adobe Illustrator alternate options I discover invaluable

Under are the main Adobe Illustrator alternate options I discovered in the marketplace, which supply aggressive — or, in some circumstances, higher—worth than Illustrator. 

This listing is predicated on G2 evaluations from 2025. We’ll preserve updating it to mirror the newest and finest alternate options. Some evaluations could have been edited for readability.

Affinity Designer works on Mac, Home windows, and iPad. Its cleaner and extra trendy UI is user-friendly for newcomers and extra intuitive for these simply beginning out. I personally really feel that Affinity Designer is optimized for velocity. 

In comparison with Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer requires no excessive {hardware} necessities to operate seamlessly. This makes it nice for engaged on the go or on much less highly effective units. Adobe Illustrator, however, is extra resource-intensive, particularly when working with giant information or detailed vector graphics. It’s the go-to for professional-grade work if in case you have a system that may deal with it. 

Though Affinity Designer has many instruments like Adobe Illustrator, the depth doesn’t match. Each instruments do a comparable job on the subject of fundamental or barely advanced design work; nevertheless, for extra sophisticated design and collaboration, Adobe Illustrator leads the pack. 

When you’re a freelancer or somebody in search of to have a robust design device at a lesser value or a one-time fee mannequin, Affinity Designer is your go-to software program. 

It’s vital to notice that the iPad app is offered individually for $19.99, whereas the Illustrator’s iPad app is included in its subscription.

What I dislike about Affinity Designer:

There is likely to be a studying curve for these unfamiliar with Adobe Illustrator. I discovered the interface intuitive, however it can take a while for customers to regulate. 

What G2 customers dislike about Affinity Designer:

“If you’re used to Adobe Illustrator, you will see that some options and instruments that Affinity doesn’t provide…but. The app is regularly up to date, and builders are open to recommendations for brand spanking new instruments and additions.” 

– Affinity Designer Overview, Lindsey P, Expertise Coordinator.

Though Canva affords a downloadable software, it’s primarily web-based. The free model permits you to use restricted design property, whereas Canva Professional (round $46/yr with reductions) unlocks extras like background elimination and asset storage. Adobe Illustrator’s pricing is on the upper facet, roughly $102 a yr. 

From a pricing standpoint, Adobe Illustrator would possibly look costlier. Nevertheless, the extent of customization Adobe Illustrator affords justifies the slight elevate within the prices. Canva is nice for rookies or professionals who don’t have refined design wants. It might probably deal with a level of sophistication, nevertheless it’s extra appropriate for easy design wants. 

I’d counsel going with Canva if you wish to create easy graphics, equivalent to making a brand, poster, or invitation. Adobe Illustrator, however, is extra refined and requires technical design expertise to maximise the device’s potential.

What I dislike about Canva:

The free plan has a limitations on property and numerous performance, equivalent to eradicating the background or compressing the file earlier than downloading. 

What G2 customers dislike about Canva:

“I like Canva, however I do not like that the video enhancing templates are too brief. I exploit it to make YouTube Shorts, which is okay, nevertheless it’s unsuitable for creating longer movies because it turns into difficult.”

– Canva Overview, Manikandan Ok, Social Media Advertising and marketing Government.

CorelDRAW affords a user-friendly and versatile platform for designing wants. Designers use it broadly for creating logos, graphics, brochures, and so forth. Print designers and small enterprise homeowners depend on this device closely. This choice is very pushed by the software program’s affordability and powerful help for various file codecs. 

I examined the device to transform raster photographs into vector graphics, trying to see if it was simply accessible for rookies. Wasn’t stunned to seek out it an intuitive and cost-effective answer! In comparison with Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW delivers faster actions. 

Function-wise, it has a great combine of varied functionalities, equivalent to object manipulation, drawing, creative media, and calligraphy. Many instruments can be found in CorelDRAW that permit the person to attract freehand. When evaluating options of Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW, some options would possibly current themselves in a different way, however they’re the identical at their core. 

I felt that CorelDRAW wins a tiny bit over Adobe Illustrator due to its straightforward studying curve. Nevertheless, the latter beats Corel with its documentation and useful resource availability.

What I dislike about CorelDRAW:

When the design turns into fairly heavy, the software program lags and would possibly auto-shutdown, inflicting information loss. 

What G2 customers dislike about CorelDRAW:

“Though CorelDRAW has loads of performance, just a few issues might be executed higher. One frequent challenge is that the software program’s sporadic instability, crashes, and surprising failures have been reported, which might trigger annoyance and intrude with workflow.

Moreover, as a result of a number of instruments and functionalities are refined, some customers discover the educational curve steep, particularly for rookies. The pricing construction of CorelDRAW and its associated subscription plans is one other supply of disagreement for some prospects who imagine that these prices could also be too excessive for people or smaller enterprises.”

– CorelDRAW Overview, Sourabh P, Sr. Merchandiser.

Figma is a well-liked device, and for good cause! It opens up cross-platform accessibility, permitting Figma to be a browser-based software, which suggests you’ll be able to seamlessly swap throughout totally different OS with out extra installations or problems. It enables you to entry tasks from any machine with an web connection. 

What’s extra, by way of Figma, you’ll be able to create interactive designs shortly and simply. 

That stated, Figma has restricted vector enhancing capabilities. In terms of detailed art work, it may not match the depth and precision of Illustrator.  I noticed discussions and some blogs about efficiency points, particularly when working with giant and complicated designs. Decrease-end or entry-level units could face some lag. 

In my view, Figma wins in collaboration. Though Illustrator does provide collaboration performance, it’s not as real-time as Figma. When you work as a workforce, Figma will fit your calls for higher than Illustrator. Nevertheless, whereas flying solo, stick to Illustrator.

What I dislike about Figma:

I noticed some efficiency points on bigger information. There’s a little bit of an accessibility challenge when offline. 

What G2 customers dislike about Figma:

“There’s solely a slight delay within the loading time of the information if there are too many designs on one file itself.”

– Figma Overview, Shalom F, Senior Advertising and marketing Retention Government.

Inkscape is accessible for Home windows, Mac, and Linux working techniques. In comparison with Adobe Illustrator, it’s free and open-source software program however affords superior design capabilities that serve skilled use circumstances. By ‘free,’ I don’t imply freemium or free to attempt; it’s free. A workforce of passionate volunteers has maintained it for over 20 years. 

One of many issues I recognize is that you just don’t must cope with Adobe’s Artistic Cloud launcher software. Illustrator requires you to obtain the launcher which runs within the background and hogs system sources even whenever you’re not actively utilizing it. In contrast to Illustrator, Inkscape is light-weight and doesn’t acquire any information from you. 

I’ll give Inkscape some bonus factors for its customization capabilities. It enables you to create your individual themes, shade palettes, and icon kinds.

Because it’s free and open supply, a number of individuals typically wonder if it’s appropriate for skilled use. The reply is sure. You’ve gotten all the pieces you’ll want to create vector art work at knowledgeable degree. Nevertheless, there are limitations as a result of lack of CMYK output. It received’t be appropriate whenever you’re going to print the designs. Furthermore, Inkscape doesn’t provide 3D instruments or superior wrap transformations, that are frequent in Adobe Illustrator.

What I dislike about Inkscape:

The person interface is a bit outdated, nevertheless it’s comprehensible. I additionally discovered the startup time to be on the upper facet.

What G2 customers dislike about Inkscape:

“Understanding the interface could be a bit difficult initially, and it takes a while to discover ways to use it. Nevertheless, loads of on-line tutorials can help you in getting acquainted with its performance.”

– Inkspace Overview, Sarah Itzel Q, Social Media Advertising and marketing Supervisor.

Sketch is a Native MacOS software constructed with tried-and-tested frameworks that assist designers carry their concepts to life. Because it’s native to macOS, it improves all the pieces from efficiency to battery life. You get an infinite canvas, which lets you add as many artboards as wanted. 

I set the format and used Boolean operations and vector enhancing instruments to create numerous shapes and illustrations. You possibly can zoom to the pixel degree and align objects completely. The platform permits you to export your work in a number of codecs and sizes.

You get a yearly license for $99, which incorporates all of the accessible updates. Even when the license expires, you’ll be able to proceed utilizing Sketch. Present licenses assist individuals obtain updates.

What I dislike about Sketch:

Sketch is tied to macOS, making it difficult for different designers to collaborate and work on totally different tasks. 

What G2 customers dislike about Sketch:

“As a vector-based design device, ease of Use Sketch excels in creating scalable designs that keep high quality throughout totally different sizes.” 

– Sketch Overview, Sangam Ok, Video Editor.

Be taught extra about numerous graphics design software program in the marketplace.