Adobe Illustrator vs Inkscape

by Gralio Apr 24, 2025

Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape both offer powerful vector graphic creation, but serve different needs based on budget and ecosystem requirements. Illustrator is the feature-rich, industry-standard tool deeply integrated into the Adobe Creative Cloud, ideal for professional teams needing advanced capabilities and compatibility, despite its high cost and steep learning curve. Inkscape provides a robust, free, and open-source alternative, making it an excellent value proposition for businesses prioritizing cost savings, though it lacks Illustrator's seamless Adobe integration and some cutting-edge features.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 5781 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 8 hours, 37 minutes of reading.

Logo of Adobe Illustrator
Logo of Inkscape

About

Adobe Illustrator is the industry-standard software for creating vector graphics. It's used by designers to create illustrations, logos, and other artwork for print, web, and video. Unlike raster images, vector graphics can be scaled to any size without losing quality. This makes Illustrator ideal for creating designs that will be used at various sizes, such as logos and illustrations. Illustrator offers a wide range of tools and features, including tools for drawing, typography, and color.
Inkscape is a free design program for creating professional-quality graphics. It offers flexible drawing tools, works with various file types, and boasts a powerful text tool. Inkscape is a popular choice for both individuals and businesses looking for a versatile and accessible design solution.

Summary

Main difference
The core distinction is Illustrator's position as a paid, subscription-based industry standard within the tightly integrated Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, offering advanced features and performance. Inkscape contrasts as a completely free, open-source application providing strong core vector tools but without the deep ecosystem integration or the very latest features found in Illustrator.

Relative strengths of Adobe Illustrator (compared to Inkscape)

  • Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud: Illustrator works effortlessly with other Adobe apps like Photoshop and InDesign, streamlining workflows for teams using the full suite.

  • Advanced Features and Performance: Offers cutting-edge tools like Retype Font Identification, beta 3D capabilities via Project Neo, and superior performance enhancements for complex tasks compared to Inkscape.

  • Industry Standard and Compatibility: As the dominant tool, Illustrator ensures maximum file compatibility with clients, printers, and collaborators using the professional standard .ai format.

Relative weaknesses of Adobe Illustrator (compared to Inkscape)

  • High Subscription Cost: Illustrator requires an ongoing, often expensive, Creative Cloud subscription, whereas Inkscape is completely free, offering significantly better value for money.

  • Steep Learning Curve: User feedback consistently highlights Illustrator as being difficult and time-consuming to learn, presenting a barrier for new users or teams needing quick onboarding.

  • Vendor Lock-in: The subscription model and proprietary elements tie businesses into the Adobe ecosystem and recurring payments, unlike Inkscape's open-source freedom.

Who is using Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape?

Michael Janda
Creative director and YouTuber - 42K subs
Tobias Liebsch
Partner The Growth Syndicate
No data

Who should use Adobe Illustrator VS. Inkscape

Adobe Illustrator is the go-to choice for creating crisp, scalable vector graphics like logos and illustrations. We find it's a powerhouse for designers who need precision across print, web, and video projects. While it has a learning curve and a subscription cost that users mention, its extensive toolset and integration within the Adobe Creative Cloud make it an industry standard. It's truly versatile for handling complex design tasks where quality at any size is key

We find Inkscape is a fantastic option for designers, illustrators, and businesses needing powerful vector graphics tools without the price tag. Users often praise its capabilities, especially being free and open-source. It's particularly popular among small to medium-sized teams. While some users mention a learning curve, the value for a free tool is undeniable for those willing to invest the time learning it for their creative projects or complex design work and vector graphics creation

  • In our experience, Adobe Illustrator works well for companies of all sizes, from small businesses and startups to large enterprises.

  • We see Adobe Illustrator widely used across many sectors, especially strong in Marketing, Advertising, and any design-focused industry.

  • We observe Inkscape works exceptionally well for small to medium businesses (1-1000 employees) and is also effectively used by larger organizations.

  • Inkscape often resonates well within Education, Software/IT, and Marketing/Advertising sectors, providing versatile design tools for creative needs.

Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • SVG import/export
    Supported

    Illustrator supports importing and exporting SVG files.

    Supported

    Inkscape supports importing and exporting SVG files, which is a standard feature.

  • Seamless pattern creation
    Supported

    Illustrator supports creating seamless patterns using built-in tools.

    Supported

    Inkscape supports creating seamless patterns using built-in templates and manual techniques.

  • Versatile Drawing Tools
    Partially supported

    Illustrator supports Pencil, Pen, and Calligraphic Brush tools, but not Spiro or B-Spline modes.

    Supported

    Inkscape offers Pencil, Pen, and Calligraphy tools for versatile drawing.

  • Artboards
    Supported

    Illustrator supports artboards for multiple designs or pages within a file.

    Supported

    Inkscape supports multiple pages using the Multi-Page Tool.

  • Artistic effects
    Supported

    Illustrator supports applying artistic filters to stylize designs.

    Supported

    Inkscape supports artistic effects through Live Path Effects and other styling features.

  • SVG export
    Supported

    Illustrator supports exporting artwork to SVG format.

    Supported

    Inkscape can export artwork to SVG, including optimized and plain SVG formats.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    -0.76
    Strongly negative sentiment
    +1
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Customer Service
    +0.33
    Rather positive sentiment
    -0.33
    Rather negative sentiment
  • Ease of Use
    +0.48
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.25
    Neutral sentiment
  • Reliability and Performance
    +0.08
    Neutral sentiment
    +0.4
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Implementation
    -0.5
    Rather negative sentiment
    +0
    Neutral sentiment
  • Scalability
    +0.88
    Strongly positive sentiment
    No data

Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Strongly negative
-0.76

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Strongly positive
+1
We couldn't find a pricing page for Inkscape.

Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape review insights

5774 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • Precise and scalable vector graphics
  • Versatile tools for drawing, typography, and color
  • Seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps
  • Industry-standard software with wide range of features
  • Customizable workspace and tools
  • Free and open-source.
  • Powerful vector editing capabilities.
  • Supports SVG format.
  • Cross-platform compatibility.
  • Large and helpful online community.

Users dislike

  • Difficult to learn for new users
  • Resource intensive, can cause lag and crashes
  • High subscription cost
  • Limited raster editing capabilities
  • Occasional bugs and glitches
  • Difficult to learn at first.
  • Can be slow with complex graphics or large files.
  • Interface can feel outdated or clunky.
  • Limited CMYK support.
  • Occasional crashes or freezes.

Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape Ratings

  • G2
    4.6/5
    (2484)
  • Capterra
    4.8/5
    (2449)
  • Glassdoor
    4.3/5
    (10097)
  • G2
    4.4/5
    (392)
  • Capterra
    4.4/5
    (449)

Company health

Employee growth

3% decrease in the last year
No change in the last year

Web traffic

4% increase in the last quarter
No data

Financing

April 1984 - $3M
No data

How do Illustrator's paid features compare to Inkscape's free functionality?

Compared to Inkscape's free offering, Adobe Illustrator's paid features provide enhanced performance, particularly in image handling and effects processing. Illustrator includes advanced capabilities not found in Inkscape, such as AI-powered font identification (Retype), a 2D-to-3D conversion tool (Project Neo beta), and potentially more sophisticated automated pattern and icon generation. Furthermore, Illustrator offers seamless integration with the wider Adobe Creative Cloud suite and extensive resources like Adobe Fonts, features absent in the standalone, free Inkscape. While Inkscape delivers strong core vector editing tools at no cost, Illustrator's paid model funds these advanced features, performance boosts, and ecosystem integration favored in many professional environments.

Which product offers better community support for troubleshooting and learning?

Based on user feedback, Inkscape offers better community support for troubleshooting and learning. Users explicitly praise its "Large and helpful online community" as a key benefit. While Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard and likely has a large user base with associated resources, the provided information specifically highlights Inkscape's community support as a strength.

What are the advantages of Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is considered the industry standard for professional vector graphics, ensuring wide compatibility and making it a sought-after skill. It excels at creating precise, high-quality graphics that can be scaled infinitely without losing clarity, perfect for logos and illustrations used across different media. Users appreciate its versatile and extensive toolset for drawing, typography, and color, as well as its seamless integration with other applications within the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, which streamlines creative workflows. It also offers advanced features like enhanced performance for specific tasks, font identification from images, and tools for pattern and icon generation.

What are the disadvantages of Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator's primary disadvantages include a steep learning curve, particularly for beginners, and a high subscription cost which many users find prohibitive. The software is resource-intensive, often leading to performance issues like lag or crashes on less powerful hardware. It also has limited capabilities for editing raster images compared to its vector strengths, and some users report experiencing occasional bugs or glitches. Furthermore, there's negative sentiment regarding its customer service, ease of use, and implementation.

Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape

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Logo of Canva
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Logo of Gravit Designer
Gravit Designer
Free vector design tool for scalable logos, illustrations, and more.
Read more
Logo of Amadine
Amadine
Intuitive vector drawing for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Create anything.
Read more
Logo of Canvas X Draw
Canvas X Draw
Design anything with precision: illustrations, logos, floorplans.
Read more
Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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