Top 10 Alternatives to Affinity Designer in 2025: A Comprehensive Comparison

As Affinity Designer continues to be a leading tool in graphic design, 2025 has brought forth a range of powerful alternatives, each offering unique features and capabilities. Whether you're seeking specialized tools, better pricing, or enhanced integration, this article explores the top 10 Affinity Designer alternatives, comparing them on key data points like pricing, ease of use, use cases, and target audience.

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1. Adobe Illustrator

Pricing: Subscription-based, starting at $22.99/month for a single app or $59.99/month for the entire Creative Cloud suite.
Features: Comprehensive toolset for vector design, typography, and drawing; integrates with other Adobe products; AI-powered features like Generative Recolor.
Pros: Industry standard, extensive features, excellent for professional work, wide range of tutorials and support.
Cons: Expensive subscription model, can be resource-heavy.
User Ratings: 4.6-4.8/5 on various review sites like G2 and Capterra.
Adobe Illustrator

2. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

Pricing: Paid, with options for subscription or a one-time purchase; pricing varies depending on the bundle.
Features: All-in-one suite with tools for vector illustration, page layout, photo editing, and font management; supports various file formats; suitable for both print and digital media.
Pros: Robust feature set, offers multiple functionalities, strong for print design.
Cons: Can be expensive, some users find it less intuitive than Illustrator.
User Ratings: 4.3 - 4.5/5 on G2 and Capterra
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

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3. Sketch

Pricing: Subscription-based.
Features: Focus on interface design, real-time collaboration, symbols and styles for design consistency, smooth integration with other tools like Figma.
Pros: Intuitive, great for UI/UX, efficient for macOS users.
Cons: Mac-only, less versatile than Illustrator for broader graphic design tasks.
User Ratings: 4.5/5 on G2.
Sketch

4. Inkscape

Pricing: Free.
Features: Object creation and manipulation, rendering, text support, fill and stroke functionality, works on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Pros: Free, strong feature set comparable to paid software, suitable for various design tasks.
Cons: Can have a steeper learning curve, user interface is not as polished as paid options.
User Ratings: 4.4/5 on G2 and Capterra.
Inkscape

5. Canva

Pricing: Free version available, paid plans starting at $15/month for more features.
Features: Large library of templates, photos, and design elements; collaboration features; great for social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials.
Pros: Very easy to use, great for beginners and quick designs, extensive template library.
Cons: Limited advanced features compared to professional software, less precise control over vector graphics.
User Ratings: 4.7/5 on Capterra.
Canva

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6. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Pricing: Free.
Features: Photo editing, image manipulation, customizable interface, supports various file formats, plugins for extending functionality.
Pros: Free, very powerful for image editing, extensive toolset, versatile for various design tasks.
Cons: Less intuitive user interface than paid options, steep learning curve for beginners.
User Ratings: 4.4/5 on Capterra and Software Advice.
GIMP

7. Gravit Designer

Pricing: Free version, with pro plans available, though the free plan is quite powerful.
Features: Vector illustration tools, page layout features, customizable interface, supports multiple file formats.
Pros: Free, versatile vector tools, user-friendly, cross-platform compatibility.
Cons: Some advanced features may be limited to paid versions.
User Ratings: 4.2/5 on G2.
Gravit Designer

8. Lunacy

Pricing: Free.
Features: Built-in icons, photos, and illustrations, real-time collaboration, supports various file formats, good for interface design.
Pros: Free, user-friendly, good for UI design, supports multiple platforms.
Cons: Less feature-rich than paid alternatives.
User Ratings: 4.4/5 on G2.
Lunacy

9. Figma

Pricing: Free plan for personal use, paid plans for teams and larger projects.
Features: Real-time collaboration, extensive prototyping tools, cloud-based, used for interface design, wireframes, and prototypes.
Pros: Excellent for collaboration, great for UI/UX, accessible on different platforms.
Cons: Less suitable for vector illustration and broader graphic design outside UI/UX.
Figma

10. Vectr

Pricing: Free.
Features: User-friendly, supports real-time collaboration, cloud-based file storage, good for creating simple vector graphics.
Pros: Free, very easy to use, suitable for beginners, collaborative features.
Cons: Lacks some of the advanced features present in paid software options, can be limiting for complex designs.
Vectr

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FAQ

1. What is a good alternative to Affinity Designer for professional vector graphics design?

Adobe Illustrator is considered an industry-standard for professional vector graphics design, offering comprehensive tools and AI-powered features. Learn more about Adobe Illustrator

2. Which vector graphic software is versatile for print and digital media?

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite offers a robust feature set for both print and digital media, making it an excellent versatile tool. Discover CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

3. What is a great tool for UI and UX designers working on macOS?

Sketch is a popular choice for UI and UX design, known for its intuitive interface and efficient macOS integration. Explore Sketch

4. Is there a free and open-source vector graphics editor?

Inkscape is a powerful, free, and open-source vector graphics editor suitable for various design tasks. Check out Inkscape

5. Which design tool is ideal for beginners and quick designs?

Canva offers a user-friendly interface with a large library of templates, making it perfect for beginners and quick designs. Discover Canva

6. What free alternative can I use for advanced image editing and vector graphics creation?

GIMP is a versatile, free, and open-source image editor that supports both image editing and vector graphics creation. Learn more about GIMP

7. Is there a free vector graphics design software with both online and desktop versions?

Gravit Designer by Corel is available for free and offers versatile vector tools both online and as a desktop application. Explore Gravit Designer

8. What is a free design software focused on UI/UX available for multiple platforms?

Lunacy is a free vector design software excellent for UI/UX design, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux. Check out Lunacy

9. Which tool offers real-time collaboration for UI/UX design and prototyping?

Figma is a collaborative web-based design tool widely used for UI/UX design and prototyping. Discover Figma

10. What is an easy-to-use free vector graphics editor suitable for beginners?

Vectr is a user-friendly, free vector graphics editor that offers real-time collaboration and is great for beginners. Learn more about Vectr

References

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.