Best Adobe Illustrator CC Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Adobe Illustrator CC? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Adobe Illustrator CC alongside similar software solutions including Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac), Affinity Designer, Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator CS4, Autodesk SketchBook, TwistedBrush Pro Studio, DrawPad Grafik-Editor and FireAlpaca.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac), Affinity Designer, Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator CS4, Autodesk SketchBook, TwistedBrush Pro Studio, DrawPad Grafik-Editor and FireAlpaca stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
Licensing and Pricing
 Adobe Illustrator CC
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Subscription-based with monthly and annual plans. |
 Adobe Illustrator
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Subscription-based with monthly or annual plans. |
 Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac)
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Older version, purchased software, not subscription. |
 Affinity Designer
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One-time purchase with a 10-day free trial. |
 Adobe InDesign
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Subscription-based as part of Adobe Creative Cloud. |
 Adobe PageMaker
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Discontinued, older version with one-time purchase. |
 Adobe Illustrator CS4
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Older version, purchased software, not subscription. |
 Autodesk SketchBook
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Subscription for full features, free version available with limited features. |
 TwistedBrush Pro Studio
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One-time purchase option and also subscription models available. |
 DrawPad Grafik-Editor
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Paid version available; also has a free version with limited features. |
 FireAlpaca
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Free software with optional paid upgrades. |
Platform Compatibility
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Adobe Illustrator CC
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Available on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices (iOS and Android). |
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Adobe Illustrator
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Available on Windows and Mac, no online version currently available. |
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Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac)
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Mac only, older operating system compatibility. |
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Affinity Designer
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Available on macOS, Windows, iPad, and other platforms. |
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Adobe InDesign
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Available on Windows and Mac, requires powerful hardware. |
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Adobe PageMaker
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Older versions ran on Windows and Mac; limited compatibility with modern OS. |
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Adobe Illustrator CS4
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Available on Windows Vista and Mac OS X v10.4. |
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Autodesk SketchBook
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Available on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. |
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TwistedBrush Pro Studio
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Available on Windows and Mac operating systems. |
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DrawPad Grafik-Editor
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Available on macOS and Windows. |
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FireAlpaca
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Available on Windows and macOS platforms. |
Target Users and Usage
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Adobe Illustrator CC
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Professionals and designers needing advanced vector graphics tools; industry-standard software. |
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Adobe Illustrator
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Professional graphic designers focusing on vector graphics and print/web media. |
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Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac)
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Users with older Macs or preference for legacy software; may have performance issues on newer systems. |
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Affinity Designer
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Both beginners and professionals looking for an alternative to Adobe with advanced features at a one-time purchase price. |
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Adobe InDesign
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Professional desktop publishing for multi-page documents such as magazines, books, brochures. |
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Adobe PageMaker
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Legacy desktop publishing users; replaced by modern software like InDesign. |
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Adobe Illustrator CS4
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Professional vector graphic designers familiar with older Adobe versions. |
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Autodesk SketchBook
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Digital artists seeking drawing and painting tools on multiple platforms; both beginners and pros with mobile support. |
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TwistedBrush Pro Studio
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Artists creating digital paintings with customizable brushes; suitable for beginners to advanced users. |
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DrawPad Grafik-Editor
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'Casual' users needing basic vector graphics functionality; supports layers but limited advanced editing features. |
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FireAlpaca
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'Beginner to intermediate digital artists seeking free lightweight painting software with regular updates. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Adobe Illustrator CC stacks up against Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac), Affinity Designer, Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator CS4, Autodesk SketchBook, TwistedBrush Pro Studio, DrawPad Grafik-Editor and FireAlpaca in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
License
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Adobe Illustrator CC
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Commercial |
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Adobe Illustrator
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Commercial |
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Adobe Illustrator CS3 (Mac)
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Commercial |
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Affinity Designer
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Commercial |
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Adobe InDesign
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Commercial |
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Adobe PageMaker
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Commercial |
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Adobe Illustrator CS4
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Commercial |
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Autodesk SketchBook
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Commercial |
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TwistedBrush Pro Studio
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Commercial |
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DrawPad Grafik-Editor
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Freeware |
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FireAlpaca
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Freeware |