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Design Tools · head to head

Adobe Illustrator vs Abstract

Adobe Illustrator logo

Adobe Illustrator

Design Tools

Professional vector graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Abstract logo

Abstract

Design Tools

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review

The short version

  • Only Abstract has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Adobe Illustrator listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud (which bundles Illustrator) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey; Abstract the product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Abstract covers Version control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe Illustrator and Abstract actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe Illustrator and Abstract differ
AttributeAdobe IllustratorAbstract
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosMacos, Web
Founded19822015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design Tools).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe Illustrator

  • Vector drawing
  • Bezier tools
  • Shape tools
  • Typography
  • Gradients & effects
  • Symbols & instances
  • Artboards
  • 3D capabilities

Only in Abstract

  • Version control
  • Branching & merging
  • Asset library
  • Design tokens
  • Collaboration
  • File management
  • Comments
  • Activity tracking

Both cover

  • Figma
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe Illustrator

  • Logo designnot Abstract
  • Vector illustrationnot Abstract
  • Icon designnot Abstract
  • Print designnot Abstract

Abstract

  • Design systemsnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Version controlnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Asset managementnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Team collaborationnot Adobe Illustrator

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe Illustrator

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud (which bundles Illustrator) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey

Abstract

  • The product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm
  • Built around Sketch files, so it never covered teams that moved to Figma

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe Illustrator

$22.99/month
  • Single App$22.99/month
    • Illustrator desktop app
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Fonts
  • All Apps$59.99/month
    • All Creative Cloud apps
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Stock trial

Abstract

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 shared library
    • Basic version control
    • 2 team members
  • Pro$12/month
    • Unlimited libraries
    • Full version control
    • Unlimited team members
  • Enterprise$50/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced admin controls
    • Compliance & security

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe Illustrator if

  • You need vector drawing.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
  • You also want bezier tools.
Adobe Illustrator review

Choose Abstract if

  • You need version control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Macos, Web.
  • You also want branching & merging.
Abstract review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Illustrator or Abstract better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month and Abstract at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Illustrator or Abstract?
Abstract has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe Illustrator and Free for Abstract.
Does Adobe Illustrator or Abstract run on more platforms?
Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Abstract runs on Macos, Web.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Yes. Abstract has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month.
What is Adobe Illustrator best used for?
Adobe Illustrator is most often used for logo design, vector illustration, icon design, print design. Of those, logo design and vector illustration are not what Abstract is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Illustrator do that Abstract cannot?
Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography. Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Both handle Figma, SOC2, GDPR.
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