Top 10 Free Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator in 2025

In 2025, graphic design has reached new levels of creativity and flexibility, with a plethora of free tools available to designers worldwide. Here are the top 10 free alternatives to Adobe Illustrator, each offering unique features and benefits to suit various design needs.

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1. Inkscape

Description: A powerful, open-source vector graphics editor, often cited as the closest free alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It's suitable for professional graphic design and web design.
Key Features:
Versatile drawing tools including pencil, pen, and shape tools.
Broad file format compatibility, including SVG, PNG, PDF, DXF.
Powerful text manipulation tools.
Bezier and Spiro curves for precise path creation.
Object manipulation capabilities including transformations, grouping, layers, and alignment.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Collaboration: Supports collaboration with sharing data. Learn more about Inkscape

2. Gravit Designer

Description: A full-featured vector graphic design app available on all platforms. It's designed for diverse work including illustrations, UI design, and branding.
Key Features:
Cloud-based, accessible from any device.
Offers object clipping and styling, character and paragraph controls, text boxes, and blending.
Has predefined canvas dimensions for various design purposes, such as print and social media.
Includes tools for UI design, icons, and animation.
Real-time collaboration features and cross-platform syncing.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, web browser.
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration. Learn more about Gravit Designer

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3. Vectr

Description: A user-friendly and free vector graphics editor suitable for both beginners and professionals.
Key Features:
Simple and intuitive interface, with a focus on ease of use.
Real-time collaboration and cross-platform syncing.
Generative AI tools, and background remover.
Tools to create logos, icons, presentations, remove backgrounds, use AI photo generator, and convert JPG to SVG.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web Browser.
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration. Learn more about Vectr

4. Boxy SVG

Description: A versatile vector graphics editor with a clean and intuitive UI. It’s designed for both non-technical users and professionals.
Key Features:
Extensive on-canvas editing of object properties.
Chromium-based rendering engine.
SVG and CSS code inspector like Chrome Dev Tools.
Pixabay and Google Fonts integration.
Path and arrangement operations.
Platforms: macOS (Mac App Store), Web Browser.
Collaboration: Not explicitly mentioned, but it does have features beneficial for web developers. Learn more about Boxy SVG

5. Krita

Description: A free and open-source painting program mainly for digital painting and illustrations, but it also has vector tools.
Key Features:
Multiple brush types for different art styles.
Layers, drawing assistants, and stabilizers for drawing.
Animation tools.
Document snapshot functionality to refer back to specific stages in the process.
Perspective grids for various drawing perspectives.
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS, Android.
Collaboration: Not explicitly mentioned. Learn more about Krita

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6. LibreOffice Draw

Description: A vector graphics editor that is part of the LibreOffice suite. Good for creating diagrams, technical drawings, and simple illustrations.
Key Features:
Creates vector graphics using lines and curves defined by mathematical vectors.
Can create simple 3D objects.
Offers grids and snap lines for aligning objects.
Includes connectors to show relationships between objects.
Exports to common graphic file formats.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Collaboration: Not explicitly mentioned. Learn more about LibreOffice Draw

7. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Description: A free and open-source image editor, it can also handle some vector graphics tasks.
Key Features:
Sophisticated tools for professional image editing.
Layer editing capabilities.
Tools for graphic design experimentation.
Object creation with a pencil and drawing tools.
Platforms: Not specified in the results, but commonly known to support Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Collaboration: Not explicitly mentioned. Learn more about GIMP

8. Canva

Description: A user-friendly online design platform, good for social media graphics, posters, and presentations.
Key Features:
Drag-and-drop interface.
Large library of templates, images, and graphics.
Easy sharing and publishing to different platforms.
Collaboration capabilities.
Free stock content.
Platforms: Web-based application.
Collaboration: Collaborative work capabilities. Learn more about Canva

9. Corel Vector

Description: An online vector editor for creating designs.
Key Features:
Online vector editor.
Platforms: Web-based.
Collaboration: Not explicitly mentioned.

10. Sketch

Description: Vector graphics editor for UI/UX design. It's primarily used for designing web and app interfaces.
Key Features:
Advanced prototype tools.
Cloud-based software.
Professional tools for drawing and editing vector designs.
Platforms: macOS only.
Collaboration: Not explicitly mentioned.

These free tools offer a wide range of functionalities and collaboration features, making them excellent alternatives to Adobe Illustrator. Whether you are a professional designer or a beginner, there is an option tailored to your needs.

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FAQ

1. What is a powerful open-source alternative to Adobe Illustrator?

Inkscape is a robust open-source vector graphic design tool that's been highly recommended as a close free alternative to Adobe Illustrator. Learn more about Inkscape

2. Which design tool is best for real-time collaboration?

Gravit Designer offers real-time collaboration and cross-platform syncing. Discover Gravit Designer

3. What is an intuitive vector graphics editor for beginners?

Vectr is a user-friendly vector graphics editor that is free and easy to use, suitable for both beginners and professionals. Explore Vectr

4. Is there a vector graphics editor that integrates with Google Fonts?

Boxy SVG is a versatile vector graphics editor that integrates with Google Fonts and Pixabay. Check out Boxy SVG

5. Which free tool is mainly for digital painting and illustrations but also has vector tools?

Krita is a free and open-source painting program known for its vector tools useful for digital paintings and illustrations. Learn more about Krita

6. What vector graphics tool is part of an office suite?

LibreOffice Draw is a vector graphics editor that is part of the LibreOffice suite, ideal for creating diagrams, technical drawings, and simple illustrations. Discover LibreOffice Draw

7. Which free tool is great for professional image editing and can handle some vector tasks?

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source image editor that can handle vector graphics tasks while providing sophisticated image editing tools. Learn about GIMP's features

8. What online design platform is user-friendly and good for social media graphics?

Canva is a user-friendly online design platform perfect for creating social media graphics, posters, and presentations. Explore Canva

9. What are the platforms on which Corel Vector works?

Corel Vector is an online vector editor available through a web browser.

10. Which vector graphics editor is primarily used for UI/UX design?

Sketch is a vector graphics editor widely used for designing web and app interfaces, offering professional tools for UI/UX design.

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.