The 7 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives for Mac and Windows

Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard vector graphics software. It‘s a powerful tool used by artists, graphic designers, and illustrators to create everything from simple logos to complex illustrations. However, Illustrator‘s steep learning curve, high price tag, and subscription-only model don‘t make it the right choice for everyone.

Fortunately, there are several impressive Adobe Illustrator alternatives out there, both free and paid. Whether you‘re a professional looking to ditch the Adobe ecosystem or a hobbyist exploring vector graphics for the first time, you have options. In this guide, we‘ll look at the 7 best Illustrator alternatives for Mac and Windows.

Paid Adobe Illustrator Alternatives

1. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

First up is CorelDRAW, one of the most feature-rich alternatives to Illustrator. With a history nearly as long as Illustrator itself, CorelDRAW is a mature and capable program.

Some standout features include the LiveSketch tool for hand-drawn strokes that automatically convert to precise vector curves, and innovative collaborative editing features for team projects. It even includes some basic page layout tools, though they don‘t feel as refined as the core illustration toolset.

The downside of CorelDRAW is the price. With no option to purchase standalone, you have to buy the full Graphics Suite starting at $649 for a perpetual license or $325 per year for a subscription. However, the suite does include bonus software like PHOTO-PAINT and AfterShot to sweeten the deal.

2. Affinity Designer

Next we have Affinity Designer, a relative newcomer that has rapidly gained popularity as a professional-grade vector graphics tool. Built from the ground up to take advantage of modern computing hardware, it offers excellent performance.

One of Designer‘s most appealing features is its uncluttered, fully-customizable UI. Tools are organized into "Personas" based on the task at hand, keeping the workspace focused. The default interface is more intuitive than Illustrator‘s, with clear icons and visual feedback.

Another unique feature is the ability to instantly switch between vector and raster workspaces, making it a snap to incorporate textures and effects. Raster content remains fully editable too.

Compatibility is also a strong suit, with Affinity Designer able to open, edit, and export Illustrator‘s AI file format. All this, for a very reasonable one-time price of $69.99.

3. Graphic

Moving into a more specialized option, we have Graphic. This vector editor is designed exclusively for Apple devices, with versions for macOS and iOS that sync together seamlessly.

While not as feature-rich as some alternatives, Graphic has all the essential vector drawing tools you‘d expect. It caters to artists and illustrators with excellent support for graphics tablets and an intuitive touch interface on iPad.

One limitation to note is the lack of support for Illustrator files – Graphic instead focuses on integrating with Photoshop PSDs. If your workflow revolves around the Photoshop/Illustrator combo, you‘d need to find a different alternative. But for anyone deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, Graphic‘s iOS integration is a big selling point.

4. Sketch

Our final paid option, Sketch, is a bit of a wildcard. While it has vector drawing capabilities, Sketch is really a specialized tool for UI, UX, and web design.

Rather than focusing on traditional illustration, Sketch has tools tailored for creating web page layouts, app interfaces, and interactive prototypes. It pioneered many innovative features for exporting assets for various screen sizes and resolutions.

So while Sketch may not be the best choice for an aspiring illustrator, it‘s a top pick for any designer working on web-based projects. One catch — Sketch is only available for macOS.

Free Adobe Illustrator Alternatives

5. Gravit Designer

In the free software category, Gravit Designer stands out for its capable feature set and cross-platform flexibility. Gravit runs primarily in your web browser, with all the major browsers supported, and requires no installation!

The free version of Gravit offers a solid array of vector drawing tools, though a few advanced features are limited to the Pro version. Free users are also limited to RGB color mode and screen resolution exports.

If browser-based software doesn‘t appeal to you, a desktop version of Gravit is available for offline use…but only for Pro subscribers, which starts at $50 per year.

Despite these limitations, Gravit remains a very functional free vector editor, accessible from just about any computer or Chromebook.

6. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open source vector graphics editor that‘s been around since 2004. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it offers a more traditional desktop software experience compared to Gravit.

Feature-wise, Inkscape has a robust toolset that can handle the majority of vector drawing tasks. It may not be the most polished or efficient workflow, but with a bit of patience you can certainly produce professional-level work in Inkscape.

Unfortunately, active development of Inkscape seems to have slowed in recent years. It‘s still perfectly usable in its current state, but temper your expectations for new features or major improvements going forward.

7. Autodesk Sketchbook

We‘ll close out with a bit of a curveball. Autodesk Sketchbook isn‘t actually a vector drawing program — it‘s a raster-based digital painting and drawing app. But hear me out!

Sketchbook really shines as a tool for loose, expressive, freehand sketching. With a stripped-down UI and natural drawing tools, it‘s great for quickly brainstorming ideas and fleshing out compositions. Many artists prefer to begin their process with organic, hand-drawn forms before converting them to precise vector paths.

In that sense, Sketchbook can be a valuable member of a vector illustration workflow. Use it to create your initial sketch, export as a high-res PSD, then trace and refine in your dedicated vector program. It even supports custom brush engines for creating your own natural media simulations.

Best of all, Sketchbook is totally free for personal, non-commercial use. And with support for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, you can sketch on all your devices.

Choosing the Right Illustrator Alternative

So which of these alternatives is the best substitute for Adobe Illustrator? The answer, of course, depends on your specific needs and budget.

For professional designers and illustrators looking for an all-in-one vector solution, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Affinity Designer are both excellent choices. They have the advanced features and file compatibility you need, minus the subscription pricing of Adobe‘s Creative Cloud.

If your work is a side-hustle or hobby, free and low-cost options like Inkscape and Gravit can be a great way to learn the ropes of vector drawing without investing a ton up front. And iPad enthusiasts can keep things simple with the affordable and Apple-centric Graphic.

Ultimately, any of these programs can produce amazing results in the hands of a skilled and creative artist. Don‘t be afraid to try a few different options to find the one that clicks with your unique workflow. With a bit of practice, you may not even miss Illustrator.