Adobe Illustrator too expensive? Here are 4 free alternatives

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design workstation.

It is one of the most well known design programs in the world.

You can use it to create beautiful web graphics, mobile graphics, icons, logos, product mockups, and all sorts of illustrations.

For the rest of you creators who want more affordable options, let’s take a look at these free Adobe Illustrator alternatives.

GIMP

Headline

The Free & Open Source Image Editor.

About

GIMP is a cross-platform image editor that is available for Linux, OS X, and Microsoft Windows. It is free and open source software meaning you are allowed and capable of changing its source code.

GIMP provides tools for everyone, from graphic designers to photographers to illustrators to the average creator. A wide range of customization options and extensions from third parties let you further improve your productivity capabilities.

GIMP provides the tools necessary for high quality image manipulation. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to retouching, restoring, and creating composites.

Creators can create truly unique creations with GIMP thanks to its power and flexibility.

GIMP is a really good Adobe Illustrator alternative for designing and producing icons, graphical elements, and mockups of user interfaces.

Visit

Gimp homepage

INKSCAPE

Headline

Draw Freely.

About

Inkscape is a free design tool that has been around for a long time and is very well known. It is a very good go to Adobe Illustrator alternative.

There are a diverse and large range of industries that use Inkscape: marketing, branding, engineering, web graphics, cartooning. By using Inkscape, you can easily take a beginner project to a professional-grade design format that’s ready for online or print publication.

Vector design is often the preferred method for creating logos, illustrations, and art with high scalability. When you’re new to vector graphics, it may feel strange to use a graphic design program, but you’ll quickly discover Inkscape’s power, flexibility, and ease of use. 

Here are a few perks and features of Inkscape:

• It is cross-platform, meaning it is easy to run on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux workstations.
• You get a bunch of object creation design tools such as a pencil, pen, calligraphy, text, and shape tool.
• You get the ability manipulate objects by moving, scaling, rotating, and skewing them.
• You can format your designs in a multitude of color formats such as RGB, HSL, and CMYK.
• You get the ability to export your designs in many diverse file formats: PNG, OpenDocument Drawing, PDF, EPS and more.

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Inkscape homepage

PIXLR

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Welcome to Pixlr the Online Photo Editor that lets you edit photos and create great designs right in your browser for Free.

About

Pixlr is very versatile in that it supports almost any image format, such as PSD, JPEG, PNG, WebP, and SVG.

Creators can either begin with an empty canvas or a professionally designed template. By using Pixlr’s AI-powered tools, they can create amazing graphic designs that are so good they look professional.

Once you upload an image, Pixlr provides you with social media templates to make stunning YouTube thumbnails, Instagram stories, and Facebook posts. You can get started on your next project by selecting from professionally designed PowerPoint templates, resumes, business cards, newsletters, and even wedding invitations.

Pre-made collage templates help you create the perfect photo collages.

Pixlr’s AI tools even allow you to easily remove backgrounds from portraits, selfies, profile pictures and more within a matter of seconds.

And if you need a quick design solution, you can add photo filters and effects to create artsy images in just a few clicks.

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Pixlr homepage

VECTR

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Vectr is a free graphics software used to create vector graphics easily and intuitively. It’s a simple yet powerful web and desktop cross-platform tool to bring your designs into reality.

About

Vectr, like Pixlr, benefits from a lot of perks that you don’t always get with standard graphic editing programs.

Here are a few things you get with Vectr:

• You can get started faster because Vectr’s intuitive tools help you focus.
• Because your design can have a URL, it’s easy to share it with someone to help you collaborate with them.
• Vectr lets you create blur-free logos, presentations, cards, brochures, website mockups, or any other 2D graphic.

At Vectr, they believe that a lot of design programs are too complicated. They don’t believe in steep learning curves or counter intuitive tools. If you want something simple, yet powerful, then give this free digital resource a try.

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Vectr homepage

Conclusion

Many of these free design resources are not as popular as Adobe Illustrator, but they’re great for beginner creators because they are incredibly powerful while still remaining free.

If your skills are advanced to the point where you need professional tools and these programs are too simple for you, you can always still visit Adobe.