INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
With the best free Adobe Illustrator alternatives, you can create and edit vector graphics cost-free
These are a great choice if you're new to designing with vector graphics
Unlike raster graphics, they use mathematical expressions to draw the lines, shapes and colours
Thankfully, it's not the only choice
some only support a few file formats, while others are bundled with unwanted extra software
Still, vector graphics are the best choice for a number of design and illustration tasks, such as creating icons, logos, diagrams, charts,
posters and website graphics
So we've put all the most popular free Illustrator alternatives to the test and picked the very best.Example vector files designed by
Freepik.InkscapeBoxySVGVecteezyVectrSVG-EditThe best vector editing software available right now is: Adobe Illustrator CCIf you're a
professional designer or illustrator, there's no beating the industry standard vector editing software
Adobe Illustrator is available as a standalone app, or as part of the Creative Cloud suite along with Photoshop, Lightroom and much more
Whether you're creating app icons or billboards, it has all the tools you need, and works seamlessly with Adobe's other software
It's not free, but it's the best tool money can buy.(Image credit: Inkscape Project; Shutterstock)1
InkscapeA feature-packed editor that's a true substitute for IllustratorOperating system: Windows, macOS, LinuxComprehensive
toolkitExcellent format supportFrequent updatesPerformance can be sluggishOpen source vector graphics package Inkscape is staggeringly
as the standard drawing and shape tools, Inkscape boasts a special spirals tool, a tool to create patterns and arrangements of clones,
advanced object manipulation options, multiple filters (including bevels, textures, overlays and more), and some nifty fill settings
the technical know-how you can even edit it and incorporate it into other software
And new features are being added all the time; the latest version brings mesh gradients, improved SVG2 and CSS3 support and new path effects
The best thing to do is just download it and give it a quick try; there's nothing to lose.Read our full review: Inkscape(Image credit:
Jaros?aw Foksa; Shutterstock)2
BoxySVGA browser-based vector editor that's as powerful as a desktop appOperating system: Windows, macOS, Linux (in browser)Good format
supportConvenient browser extensionEasy to useKeyboard shortcutsBoxy SVG is a free tool for creating scalable vector graphic files that runs
as an extension in Google Chrome
It comes with a good range of basic tools, including pens, bezier curves, text, basic shapes, stroke and fill, layers, ability to add type,
groups, transforms and paths.The main selling point for Boxy SVG is the utter simplicity of its UI
It makes a virtue of paring down the experience of creating vector graphics to a fairly minimal set of options
These essentially restrict you to the kind of things that the SVG format is good at
exporting files in SVG and SVGZ format, you can also use Boxy SVG to import and export JPEGs and PNGs
Wonderfully convenient.(Image credit: Eezy Inc; Shutterstock)3
VecteezyA sharp looking in-browser Illustrator alternative for stylish designsOperating system: Windows, macOS, Linux (in browser)Nothing
hidden behind a paywallGood choice of vector elementsSimple to useRequires a free account to save workVecteezy is another free in-browser
Adobe Illustrator alternative (the developer earns a crust selling premium illustrations, and its customers include the BBC, Amazon,
McDonald's and Dell).You can import and edit SVG files, or create your own designs from scratch
There's a selection of shapes and ready-made clipart to choose from, and a huge array of typefaces for text-based designs.Vecteezy also
includes a pen tool for drawing freehand shapes and editing existing paths, plus a simple color-picker
It's all refreshingly simple to use, and even brand new users will grasp the fundamentals within a few minutes.There are just a couple of
points to be aware of: you'll need to create an account or log in using Facebook in order to save your work, and if you open a particularly
large file, Vecteezy warns you that doing so might cause your browser to freeze
This is a risk with any similar web app though, and we appreciate Vecteezy being so up-front about it.(Image credit: Vectr; Shutterstock)4
VectrA smart, slimline vector editor for your browserOperating system: Windows, macOS, Linux (in browser)Intuitive interfaceEasy to
masterInteractive tutorialsLacks some advanced featuresVectr is a free in-browser Adobe Illustrator alternative
It was originally available as a desktop application for offline use as well, but this has now been discontinued.Don't let that put you off,
though; Vectr is intuitive to use, with a shallow learning curve
it does, it does very well
You can save all work you create in Vectr online, or export it in PNG, JPG, or SVG file formats.Vectr is a great choice for beginners, or
just anyone needing to create a simple graphic with the minimum of fuss.(Image credit: Rolera LLC; Shutterstock)5
SVG-EditA straightforward Illustrator alternative for web developersOperating system: Windows, macOS, Linux (in browser)Works in your web
browserClear interfaceVector and raster export formatsFewer advanced tools than rivalsIf your prime reason for wanting a vector graphics
editor is to create SVG files for websites, then SVG-Edit may be all you need
browser, and offers a basic set of vector editing features including hand-drawing tools, shape tools, text tools and path tools
JavaScript with no server-side functionality, so if you wish you can download and modify the code to make your own
