Adobe Illustrator is hugely popular software tool for making vector graphics, but it's undeniably expensive. Thankfully, there are alternatives available for designers on a budget, and some of the best are available free.
Unlike raster graphics, vector graphics use mathematical expressions to draw the lines, shapes and colours. This means they’re infinitely scalable, so you can blow them up to the size of a billboard with no unsightly pixellation.
Vector graphics are the best choice for a number of design and illustration tasks, such as creating icons, logos, diagrams, charts, posters and website graphics. In the latter case, the current standard is Scalable Vector Graphics format (SVG).
Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard tool for vector graphics, but it's undeniably expensive
Programs like CorelDRAW, Sketch or Affinity Designer are popular alternatives, but if your needs are relatively simple, then you can save even more money by trying out alternatives to Illustrator that are totally free – and there are some brilliant options to choose from.
Example vector files designed by Freepik
- Open source vector graphics package Inkscape is staggeringly powerful, and is the best free alternative to Adobe Illustrator for pro and semi-pro illustrators, graphic designers and web designers.
- 2 Inkscape Illustrator. Inkscape Illustrator is a high-end drawing tool which provides vector imagery options for you. Whether you are looking for a software program to help you with web designing or need a utility to help you with your illustrations and designs, Inkscape Illustrator can prove a worthy companion.
1. Inkscape
Best list of free/Paid Vector Drawing Software for 2017: When you want to draw your imagination in a digital way, you use a vector drawing and graphics software. Basically, vector drawing software creates designs, perform editing and provides you enough tools by which you can give a look to your imaginations.
A feature-packed editor that's a true substitute for Illustrator
Comprehensive toolkit
Frequent updates
Open source vector graphics package Inkscape is staggeringly powerful, and is the best free alternative to Adobe Illustrator for pro and semi-pro illustrators, graphic designers and web designers.
As well as the standard drawing and shape tools, Inkscape boasts a special spirals tool, a tool to create patterns and arrangements of clones, advanced object manipulation options, multiple filters (including bevels, textures, overlays and more), and some nifty fill settings. In short, there’s very little Illustrator can do that Inkscape can’t.
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Because it's open source, it’s not only free to use but if you have the technical know-how you can even edit it and incorporate it into other software. And new features are being added all the time; the latest version brings mesh gradients, improved SVG2 and CSS3 support and new path effects to the party.
Free Drawing Program For Mac Os X
So what’s the catch? Some users have complained that it performs slowly, although that does seem to depend on what device and operating system you’re using. The best thing to do is just download it and give it a quick try; there's nothing to lose.
2. BoxySVG
A browser-based vector editor that's as powerful as a desktop app
Convenient browser extension
Boxy SVG is a free tool for creating scalable vector graphic files that runs as an extension in Google Chrome. It comes with a good range of basic tools, including pens, bezier curves, text, basic shapes, stroke and fill, layers, ability to add type, groups, transforms and paths.
![Best free mac drawing program Best free mac drawing program](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133916103/876940526.png)
The main selling point for Boxy SVG is the utter simplicity of its UI. It makes a virtue of paring down the experience of creating vector graphics to a fairly minimal set of options. These essentially restrict you to the kind of things that the SVG format is good at. As a result, it’s fast, easier to pick up than Illustrator, and the files it creates are clean and efficient.
As well as importing and exporting files in SVG and SVGZ format, you can also use Boxy SVG to import and export JPEGs and PNGs. Wonderfully convenient.
3. Vecteezy
A sharp looking in-browser Illustrator alternative for stylish designs Music mixing program for mac.
Good choice of vector elements
Requires a free account to save work
Vecteezy is another free in-browser Illustrator alternative (the developer earns a crust selling premium illustrations, and its customers include the BBC, Amazon, McDonald's and Dell).
You can import and edit SVG files, or create your own designs from scratch. There's a selection of shapes and ready-made clipart to choose from, and a huge array of typefaces for text-based designs.
Vecteezy also includes a pen tool for drawing freehand shapes and editing existing paths, plus a simple color-picker. It's all refreshingly simple to use, and even brand new users will grasp the fundamentals within a few minutes.
There are just a couple of points to be aware of: you'll need to create an account or log in using Facebook in order to save your work, and if you open a particularly large file, Vecteezy warns you that doing so might cause your browser to freeze. This is a risk with any similar web app though, and we appreciate Vecteezy being so up-front about it.
4. Vectr
A slimline vector editor available for your browser or desktop
Easy to master
Vectr is a free cross-platform program that you can use used to create and edit vector graphics, either on your desktop (versions are available for Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS), or in any modern browser.
Vectr is intuitive to use, with a shallow learning curve. “Design software shouldn’t bring people a sense of struggle, yet that’s exactly how the troublesome design software we grew up on made us feel,” says its developer, who has created this pared-back vector editor with accessibility in mind.
While it lacks many of the advanced features of Illustrator, then, it’s got all the tools you need for basic vector editing - shapes, text, multiple layers and like - and what it does, it does very well. You can save all work you create in Vectr online, or export it in PNG, JPG, or SVG file formats.
Vectr is a great choice for beginners, or just anyone needing to create a simple graphic with the minimum of fuss.
5. SVG-Edit
A straightforward Illustrator alternative for web developers
No server-side processing
If your prime reason for wanting a vector graphics editor is to create SVG files for websites, then SVG-Edit may be all you need. You can use this free vector software within your web browser to create SVG images and edit existing ones.
SVG-Edit works in any modern browser, and offers a basic set of vector editing features including hand-drawing tools, shape tools, text tools and path tools. The tool is open source, which means that new features are being added all the time by contributing developers.
It’s built on HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript with no server-side functionality, so if you wish you can download and modify the code to make your own version.
- Check out our guide to the best free photo editors
Vector Drawing Software provides tools to create freehand drawings, lines, curves, calligraphy, bitmap images and saved to vector format files. Vector based drawings can be printed at very high-resolution. It can be used to create publication-quality drawings. The drawings can be made print and web friendly by exporting to the desired formats. We will evaluate the best vector drawing software which are available free to download. You can choose to use any one of the software you like.
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Inkscape
This free open source software has many tools for object creation like pencil tool for freehand drawing, pen tool for creating curves and straight lines and calligraphy tools for text. It has tools for object manipulation like moving, scaling or grouping objects together. There are a color selector and color picker tool to fill the art objects.
Skencil
Skencil is a free interactive vector drawing application. It is an open source software and runs on Linux platform. It is a flexible and powerful tool for illustrations, diagrams, and other purposes. It is developed completely on Python a powerful object oriented language yet simple to use. You can draw Bezier Curves and transform text and images. https://rainrenew128.weebly.com/blog/piktochart-similar-program-for-mac.
Mayura Draw
A vector drawing software for creating quality EPS illustration for publications. It has powerful tools for editing and transforming graphical images. You can import various graphic image files and export to raster format files. EPS files generated by the application can be used in Latex Documentation. You can download a free trial for 30 Days.
Vector Drawing Software for Other Platforms
Vector Drawing Software is available on various platforms as people use a different platform for various tasks. A Mac person would prefer his software to run on a Mac Computer. We will now look at the software run on various operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux and other mobile platforms.
Xara Xtreme for Windows
Xara Xtreme for Windows is that fastest graphics software available. The source code is available as it is an open source software. It is a very simple and easy to use the tool. It has a clean and uncluttered user interface. It is able to create a lot of outstanding graphic images. It has a lot of resources for learning and to use the tool effectively.
Skedio: Easy Vector Drawing for Android
Xara Xtreme for Windows is that fastest graphics software available. The source code is available as it is an open source software. It is a very simple and easy to use the tool. It has a clean and uncluttered user interface. It is able to create a lot of outstanding graphic images. It has a lot of resources for learning and to use the tool effectively.
Artboard 2 for Mac
Simple, fun featured vector drawing software which runs on the Mac platform. It helps you to create good vector graphics, sharp logos and layered illustrations. It has a library with 1900 fully editable vector styles and clip arts. It has all the controls at your finger trip which integrates with the Mac OS keyboard controls.
DrawPlus X8 – Most Popular Software
Best Vector Software For Mac
DrawPlus X8 is the best vector graphics drawing software. You can create amazing logos, drawings, design and sketches which look outstanding. It is very easy to use as it has an assistant to help right when you begin. You can import the drawings before you begin. You can create a technical drawing like a map for invitations. You can also see Graphic Design Software
How To Install Vector Drawing Software?
Vector Drawing software can be downloaded from the publisher’s website. Once the software is download completely it is a good idea to read the installation manual or guide. We can then run the setup once the pre-requisites are in place. It will ask simple questions like where the software needs to be installed and what is the path for the same.
You answer them as best to your knowledge or refer the guide in case of doubt. Best free photo program for mac. It will say completed once the installation is over. You can open the application to check all features are working.We have reviewed the best vector drawing software above. You can choose based on the best features available and the platform you use. You can draw good illustrations and technical drawings using the software.