Software · head to head
Adobe Illustrator vs Zeplin
Adobe Illustrator
Software
Professional vector graphics software
- From
- $22.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zeplin 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; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
- They diverge on capability: Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Zeplin covers Design specs.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe Illustrator and Zeplin actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe Illustrator | Zeplin |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $22.99/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Ios | Web, Desktop, Mobile |
| Founded | 1982 | 2014 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Zeplin
- Design specs
- Asset export
- Code snippets
- Design tokens
- Comments
- Version control
- Handoff workflow
- Accessibility checks
Both cover
- Figma
- SOC2
- GDPR
- Encryption
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe Illustrator
- Logo designnot Zeplin
- Vector illustrationnot Zeplin
- Icon designnot Zeplin
- Print designnot Zeplin
Zeplin
- Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Adobe Illustrator
- Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Adobe Illustrator
- Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot 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
Zeplin
- The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
- Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
- Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
- Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
- Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
- Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
- Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate
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
Zeplin
Free- FreeFree
- 1 project
- 1 workspace
- Basic specs
- Starter$19/month
- Unlimited projects
- Multiple workspaces
- Advanced specs
- Professional$49/month
- Everything in Starter
- Team collaboration
- Admin controls
Which should you pick?
Choose Adobe Illustrator if
- You need vector drawing.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
- You also want bezier tools.
Choose Zeplin if
- You need design specs.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want asset export.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe Illustrator or Zeplin better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe Illustrator or Zeplin?
- Zeplin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe Illustrator and Free for Zeplin.
- Does Adobe Illustrator or Zeplin run on more platforms?
- Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- Can I use Zeplin for free?
- Yes. Zeplin 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 Zeplin is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe Illustrator do that Zeplin cannot?
- Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens. Both handle Figma, SOC2, GDPR, Encryption.