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Design Tools · head to head

Adobe Illustrator vs Inkscape

Adobe Illustrator logo

Adobe Illustrator

Design Tools

Professional vector graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Inkscape logo

Inkscape

Design

Free and open-source vector graphics editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Inkscape 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; Inkscape no CMYK color mode support, making it unsuitable for professional print workflows requiring full color management
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Inkscape covers Vector editing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape differ
AttributeAdobe IllustratorInkscape
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryDesign ToolsDesign
Founded19822003

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Inkscape

  • Vector editing
  • Bezier curves
  • Text tools
  • Object manipulation
  • Path operations
  • Extensions
  • Scripting
  • Import/export filters

What people use each for

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

Adobe Illustrator

  • Logo design
  • Vector illustrationnot Inkscape
  • Icon designnot Inkscape
  • Print design

Inkscape

  • Logo design
  • Icon creationnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Web graphicsnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Print design

Both are used for logo design, print design, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Inkscape

  • No CMYK color mode support, making it unsuitable for professional print workflows requiring full color management
  • Lacks advanced features like 3D effects, Live Paint, and Live Trace found in Adobe Illustrator
  • Extension ecosystem is smaller and more fragmented than Illustrator's built-in advanced capabilities

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

Inkscape

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Complete vector editor
    • SVG native format
    • Professional tools

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 Inkscape if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want bezier curves.
Inkscape review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month and Inkscape at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape?
Inkscape has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe Illustrator and Free for Inkscape.
Does Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape run on more platforms?
Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Inkscape runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Inkscape for free?
Yes. Inkscape 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, vector illustration and icon design are not what Inkscape is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Illustrator do that Inkscape cannot?
Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography. Inkscape covers Vector editing, Bezier curves, Text tools, Object manipulation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Inkscape: Is Inkscape free and open source?

Yes, Inkscape is completely free and open source under the GPL license. There are no licensing fees or subscription costs.

Source
Inkscape: What file formats does Inkscape support?

Inkscape's native format is SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). It can import and export AI, EPS, PDF, PS, PNG, and many other formats.

Source
Inkscape: Can Inkscape be used for professional print design?

Inkscape lacks CMYK color mode, which is required for professional print work. Adobe Illustrator is better suited for print design due to superior color management and CMYK support.

Source
Inkscape: What platforms does Inkscape run on?

Inkscape is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It runs on all major operating systems and is fully cross-platform.

Source
Inkscape: Does Inkscape have extensibility and plugins?

Yes, Inkscape has an extension system with community-built plugins. Extensions can be installed from the Extension Manager or downloaded manually, including tools for GCode generation, embroidery design (Inkstitch), and more.

Source
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