Adobe Illustrator has been around for a long time now. This software is widely used in many sectors to create quality graphics. This vector-based software can create anything- from logos to billboard graphics and something as simple as birthday cards. Adobe illustrator has a wide range of utilities in video game development, motion graphics, packaging, and the fashion industry.
Despite having top-notch tools and functions for creating top-level graphics, Adobe illustrator can be very expensive to purchase or even a cloud subscription. Also, the trial period offered might fall short for beginners trying to learn the software, and it is not realistic to purchase a complete software. So, many alternatives have been developed for beginners who want to learn and get accustomed to the concepts.
- CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW launched almost three decades ago, around 1989, known as one of the most well-known Adobe Illustrator alternatives. This software has a tremendous following and users because it is packed with many features. The software has a smooth interface and workflow, making it a people’s favorite. Although both Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW have the basic concept, it has to be kept in mind that they both have very different interfaces and approaches.
CorelDRAW was initially a Windows-based application, but it is now available in Mac OS. The software can purchase the software either by a one-off fee or by a monthly subscription billed annually. The subscription is slightly cheaper than Adobe Illustrator. Despite being a good alternative, many artists cannot use the software because of the price. Downloading the software free of cost from https://thepirateproxybay.com/ is the best option for some.
COMPATIBLE FORMATS: SVG, PNG, JPEG, PDF, PSD, AI, and so on.
- Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is comparatively new software in the market. In 2014, Affinity Designer was launched and did not look back. It has gained popularity since then. The main reason for being a favorite software among the users is its interface. It allows the designers to create three personas- Designer Persona, Pixel Persona, and Export Persona. The designers can easily switch between vector, pixel, and export modes, making the software a convenient mix between Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Affinity Designer is available on Windows, macOS, and iOS.
COMPATIBLE FORMATS: SVG, JPG, PDF, PSD, TIFF, AI, and EXR
- Gravit Designer
Gravit Designer is an in-browser tool with many basic and advanced editing tools that allow users to work on various design tasks, including UI and screen design. It has a basic free version and a paid Pro version with advanced tools. The newest feature added would be real-time collaboration which helps the user to share the work with their teams. The device supports several vector and raster file formats, including AI and sketches files. The file would be saved in your computer as .gv design format but can be exported into SVG, PNG, PDV, and JPEG files.
Although several features are available in the free version, there are plenty of advanced features in the pro version. With a Pro subscription, users get unlimited cloud storage and features like PDF export above 150dpi, CMYK color space, version history, and offline working mode.
SUPPORTED FORMATS: SVG, PNG, JPG, PDF
- Inkscape
Inkscape is an open-source vector editor that is free of cost. It uses SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) as its default format. This format allows Inkscape to run on low-end computers efficiently. Even though it’s free software, it has a wide range of features, including layers, object grouping, drawing shapes and creating calligraphy, bitmap tracing, and so on. The only downside of this free software is its performance. It can be relatively slow to process and very laggy. Inkscape is perfect for novice designers who are eager to learn graphic designing without investing a lot initially.
SUPPORTING FORMATS: SVG, PNG, JPG, PDF, PSD, EPS, TIFF, AI, and EXR
- Vectr
Vectr remains a personal favorite among the newbie’s for being very easy to learn the software. It is popular Adobe Illustrator alternative software that helps a novice designer understand the concepts and is extremely easy to use. It is a browser-based application that allows anyone with an internet connection to access it. A live collaboration feature also allows your co-workers or teammates to access your work. Even though this application lacks sophisticated features, novice designers can use it to make basic logos or graphics.
SUPPORTED FORMATS: SVG, PNG, JPG
Conclusion
There are numerous applications available that can be used as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It is undeniable that with Adobe Illustrator, users can create the most powerful graphics that are industry standard. But so many users are unable to afford such expensive software, depriving them of the application’s utilities. So, these alternative apps help them learn and use them to create quality graphics.
