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Design · head to head

Adobe Illustrator vs Linearity Curve

Adobe Illustrator logo

Adobe Illustrator

Design

Professional vector graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linearity Curve logo

Linearity Curve

Design

Professional vector design for Mac and iPad

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Linearity Curve 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; Linearity Curve limited to Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone) with no Windows or Linux support
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Linearity Curve covers Vector editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe Illustrator and Linearity Curve actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe Illustrator and Linearity Curve differ
AttributeAdobe IllustratorLinearity Curve
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosMac, Ios
Founded19822017

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

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 Linearity Curve

  • Vector editing
  • Auto Trace
  • Typography tools
  • Pen tool
  • iCloud sync
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Sketch
  • iCloud encryption

Both cover

  • Figma

What people use each for

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

Adobe Illustrator

  • Logo design
  • Vector illustration
  • Icon designnot Linearity Curve
  • Print design

Linearity Curve

  • Vector illustration
  • Logo design
  • UI designnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Print design

Both are used for logo design, vector illustration, 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

Linearity Curve

  • Limited to Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone) with no Windows or Linux support
  • Requires annual or monthly subscription for commercial use, unlike competitors offering lifetime purchase options
  • Free plan is severely limited to only 3 Curve files and 5GB storage

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

Linearity Curve

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 50 lifetime credits
    • 3 Curve files
    • 5GB storage
  • Pro$11.99/month
    • 250 monthly credits
    • Unlimited files
    • 100GB storage
  • Business$65/month
    • 500 monthly credits
    • 500GB storage
    • Brand management

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 Linearity Curve if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Ios.
  • You also want auto trace.
Linearity Curve review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Linearity Curve: Does Linearity Curve have a free plan?

Yes, Linearity offers a free Starter plan with 50 lifetime credits, 1 basic brand kit, and 5GB cloud storage. No credit card is required to access the free tier.

Source
Linearity Curve: Can I use Linearity Curve on multiple devices?

Yes, Linearity Curve is available on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, with real-time collaboration allowing teams to see changes instantly across devices.

Source
Linearity Curve: What file formats can I export from Linearity Curve?

Linearity Curve supports exporting to industry-standard formats including .ai, SVG, PDF, PNG, JPG, and TIFF, making it compatible with other design tools.

Source
Linearity Curve: Does Linearity Curve have AI-powered vectorization?

Yes, Linearity Curve includes an Auto Trace feature with three modes (Sketch, Photography, Illustration) that uses AI to instantly vectorize images into editable paths. It also includes AI-powered background removal.

Source
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