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8 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives for Mac in 2026

Explore 8 alternatives to Adobe Illustrator — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The 8 best Adobe Illustrator alternatives, summed up

Quick answer

If you're after a Adobe Illustrator alternative, start with Figma, Canva and Adobe Photoshop. Figma leads on SpotScore (9.8), backed by a 4.6★ rating. See how all 8 compare on score, rating, and price below.

If Adobe Illustrator isn't the right fit on price, features, or ease of use, these 8 graphic design software alternatives are the strongest options. We rank them by SpotScore, which blends real-user satisfaction with market presence, then by star ratings and pricing model. Every tool here is vetted by our editors. Scan the table first, then read the full breakdown below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
FigmaSleek, stylish, and always ready to design on the go.9.8★★★★★ 4.6(1133)Freefrom $12 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
CanvaCreate stunning visuals with ease.9.8★★★★☆ 4.39(3547)Freefrom $9.99/moteams of all sizes
Adobe PhotoshopUnleash your creativity with unparalleled editing power.9.5★★★★★ 4.99(570)Freefrom $22.99/moteams of all sizes
CorelDrawUnleash your creativity with powerful graphic design tools.8.9★★★★☆ 4.38(416)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Vectornator ProCreate jaw-dropping designs, anywhere, anytime.8.3★★★★☆ 4.31(16)FreeFreemiumsmall & mid-size businesses
Adobe After EffectsTransform your imagination into moving masterpieces.—★★★★★ 4.59(1055)Freefrom $20.99/moteams of all sizes
InkscapeTransform your designs with ease and precision.—★★★★☆ 4.45(397)FreeFreemium · Open-sourceteams of all sizes
Adobe InDesignUnleash your creativity with top-of-the-line desktop publishing.—★★★★★ 4.59(2447)Freefrom $20.99/moteams of all sizes

9.8

SpotScore

Figma - UX Software

Figma

RECOMMENDED

Sleek, stylish, and always ready to design on the go.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

4.6

1133 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Figma?

Figma is a browser-based UI design and prototyping tool used by product designers, UX teams, and front-end developers to collaborate on interface design in real time from any operating system. It replaces desktop design tools by storing files in the cloud, enabling simultaneous editing, ...

Read more about Figma

Figma offers custom pricing plan

9.8

SpotScore

Canva - Graphic Design Software

Canva

Create stunning visuals with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

3547 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Canva?

Canva is an AI-powered visual communication and collaboration platform that empowers users to design various visual content, including presentations, infographics, videos, documents, websites, social media graphics, and more. Canva provides access to thousands of stock images, videos, ...

Read more about Canva
Free TrialTry Free →·

Canva offers custom pricing plan

9.5

SpotScore

Adobe Photoshop - Photo Editing Software

Adobe Photoshop

Unleash your creativity with unparalleled editing power.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

570 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Adobe Photoshop?

Photoshop is the industry-standard photo editing software used by professional photographers and designers around the world. Get unrivaled power and performance with this photo editing software. This photo editing software helps to work with layers, blend colors, remove flaws, and more to ...

Read more about Adobe Photoshop
Free TrialTry Free →

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8.9

SpotScore

CorelDraw - Graphic Design Software

CorelDraw

Unleash your creativity with powerful graphic design tools.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

416 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is CorelDraw?

CorelDraw is an easy to use graphic design software that allows to easily create and edit graphics. It's fast, easy to manipulate pages, and more intuitive to use. Use graphics in more creative ways while increasing productivity with vector-based editing tools that let user edit the font style, ...

Read more about CorelDraw
Free Trial·

CorelDraw offers custom pricing plan

8.3

SpotScore

Vectornator Pro - Graphic Design Software

Vectornator Pro

Create jaw-dropping designs, anywhere, anytime.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Try for Free

4.3

16 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Vectornator Pro?

Vectornator Pro is a graphic design tool for creating illustrations, interfaces, layouts, and designs. It supports Apple Pencil, keyboard shortcuts, Wacom Slate, touchscreen, pen, and mouse, and includes access to thousands of icons via Iconator and royalty-free images via Unsplash. Files can ...

Read more about Vectornator Pro
Adobe After Effects - New SaaS Software

Adobe After Effects

Transform your imagination into moving masterpieces.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

1055 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Adobe After Effects?

Adobe After Effects is a leading digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application used in the film, TV, video, and web industries. With its industry-standard tools, you can turn any idea into a dynamic multimedia masterpiece. Create visually-arresting content and make them ...

Read more about Adobe After Effects
Free TrialTry Free →
Inkscape - New SaaS Software

Inkscape

Transform your designs with ease and precision.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.5

397 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Inkscape?

Inkscape is an invaluable, free design tool that can take you from concept to completion with ease. Whether you need a web or printed output, it offers powerful transformations like moving, scaling, rotating, or skewing that can be done interactively or through numerical input. The ...

Read more about Inkscape
Adobe InDesign - New SaaS Software

Adobe InDesign

Unleash your creativity with top-of-the-line desktop publishing.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

2447 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Adobe InDesign?

Adobe InDesign is the powerhouse of professional desktop publishing. Unleash your creativity to create compelling visuals with top-of-the-line typography and imagery from Adobe Stock! Create stunning digital magazines, eBooks, and interactive online documents with audio, video, slideshows, and ...

Read more about Adobe InDesign
Free TrialTry Free →

Why each earned a place here

Figma9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Great collaboration features for remote teams, enhancing communication and integration.

Watch for: Issues reported with billing practices, including hidden fees and difficulties in canceling subscriptions.

Canva9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Great customer service and prompt issue resolution, contributing to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Watch for: Some users find premium features restrictive, leading to unexpected costs and limitations, especially when accessing specific assets.

Adobe Photoshop9.5Best for teams of all sizes

Wide range of tools for image editing and manipulation, catering to various creative needs.

Watch for: Overwhelming richness of features and customizations might be complex for newcomers without proper guidance.

CorelDraw8.9Best for teams of all sizes

Versatile design capabilities streamline graphic design work efficiently.

Watch for: Resource-intensive, leading to occasional system crashes, especially on lower-spec machines.

Vectornator Pro8.3Best for small & mid-size businesses

All-in-one design solution

Watch for: May have a learning curve

Adobe After EffectsBest for teams of all sizes

Industry-standard tools

Watch for: Steep learning curve

InkscapeBest for teams of all sizes

Free to use

Watch for: Steeper learning curve

Adobe InDesignBest for teams of all sizes

Professional desktop publishing

Watch for: Steep learning curve

Why teams look for a Adobe Illustrator alternative

Several familiar frustrations tend to drive teams away from Adobe Illustrator:

  • Steep learning curve, requiring time and training for new users.
  • High subscription cost and license complexities can be barriers for some users.
  • Can be overwhelming for beginners, with complex controls and tools.
  • Technical issues such as occasional glitches and long loading times.

What to focus on in a Adobe Illustrator alternative

The numbers behind these 8 alternatives: 8 offer a free tier; paid plans run $9.99–$22.99, with Canva the cheapest entry point; and Adobe Photoshop is the highest rated at 4.99★ across 570 reviews.

The logic behind the ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Adobe Illustrator are Adobe Photoshop (5.0★), Figma (4.6★), Adobe After Effects (4.6★). Compare all 8 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Adobe Illustrator, prioritize: Built-in Templates, Premium Icons, Privacy Control, Image Editor, Transparency Tool, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Adobe Illustrator starts from $20.99 /Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Adobe Illustrator is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Deciding on the right Adobe Illustrator alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Figma, Canva and Adobe Photoshop let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Adobe Photoshop has the strongest star rating (4.99★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Figma has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.8) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Switching from Adobe Illustrator

Replacing Adobe Illustrator is easiest when you plan the data move first. Export your records, confirm the new tool imports them, and verify your key workflows hold. Pilot the switch free, then migrate fully, keeping Adobe Illustrator open as backup until you're settled.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].