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Design Tools · head to head

Adobe Illustrator vs Lunacy

Adobe Illustrator logo

Adobe Illustrator

Design Tools

Professional vector graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lunacy logo

Lunacy

Design

Free design software that keeps your flow

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lunacy 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; Lunacy desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Lunacy covers Vector editing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe Illustrator and Lunacy differ
AttributeAdobe IllustratorLunacy
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDesign ToolsDesign
Founded19822016

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 Lunacy

  • Vector editing
  • Auto layouts
  • Components
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Built-in photos & icons
  • AI background remover
  • AI upscaler
  • Sketch file support

Both cover

  • Desktop deployment

What people use each for

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

Adobe Illustrator

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

Lunacy

  • UI/UX designnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Web designnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Mobile app designnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Icon design
  • Marketing graphicsnot Adobe Illustrator

Both are used for icon 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

Lunacy

  • Desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • Animation capabilities are basic, lacking timeline-based animation editing or spring physics available in modern design tools
  • Paid collaboration features, unlike Figma's free cloud-based team collaboration

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

Lunacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lunacy review.

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 Lunacy if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want auto layouts.
Lunacy review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Illustrator or Lunacy better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month and Lunacy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Illustrator or Lunacy?
Lunacy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe Illustrator and Free for Lunacy.
Does Adobe Illustrator or Lunacy run on more platforms?
Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Lunacy for free?
Yes. Lunacy 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 Lunacy is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Illustrator do that Lunacy cannot?
Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography. Lunacy covers Vector editing, Auto layouts, Components, Real-time collaboration. Both handle Desktop deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lunacy: Is Lunacy free to use?

Yes. Lunacy is absolutely free for personal and commercial use. There is no subscription required or trial period limitation.

Source
Lunacy: Can Lunacy open and work with Sketch files?

Yes. Lunacy has smooth integration with Sketch files, allowing designers to import and collaborate on Sketch projects without requiring a Sketch subscription.

Source
Lunacy: Does Lunacy require internet connection to work?

No. Lunacy can work offline, allowing designers to work without an internet connection. It is a desktop application that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Source
Lunacy: What are Lunacy's hardware requirements?

Lunacy is not demanding on hardware and runs smoothly even on moderate laptops. It has minimal system requirements compared to resource-intensive design tools.

Source
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Related pages

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