Adobe Illustrator

Linearity Curve

Linearity Curve is a vector graphics editor built for illustrators, brand designers, and motion artists who want a fluid, modern alternative to legacy desktop tools. It combines a pen and node-based drawing toolkit with pressure-sensitive brushes, mesh-style gradients, and an Auto Trace tool that converts raster images into editable vector paths. The app runs natively on Mac, iPad, and iPhone with layouts tuned to each device, and includes AI-assisted tools such as background removal and a magic eraser for quick cleanup work. Files can round-trip with Figma, Illustrator, and Sketch, and the software includes CMYK support and PDF editing for teams producing both print and digital assets.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It's free and open source. Inkscape has many of the features you would find in commercial products like Adobe Illustrator, but it's completely free to use, modify and distribute.

Penpot

Penpot is a web‑based, open‑source design and prototyping tool that lets UI/UX designers create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes. It offers a collaborative environment similar to commercial alternatives while keeping data under your control. Because it is open source, teams can self‑host Penpot on their own infrastructure or use the free cloud offering, making it a flexible choice for freelancers, startups, and enterprises that need cost‑effective design workflows.

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer was long known as a one-time-purchase alternative to Illustrator for precise vector illustration and UI design. After Canva acquired Affinity, it retired the separate Designer, Photo, and Publisher apps in October 2025 and merged them into a single application called Affinity, with the old Designer functionality living on as its Vector Studio. As of 2026, the core Affinity app -- including vector, pixel, and page layout studios -- is free to use with a Canva account, ending the previous one-time license model entirely. Premium AI features such as generative fill and background removal require an eligible paid Canva plan, but the core design toolset carries no subscription or per-seat fee.

Vectr

Vectr is a cloud-based vector graphics editor that lets anyone design logos, icons, and illustrations directly in the browser with no software to install. Originally launched in 2014 and acquired by stock-media company 123RF in 2017, the tool has grown to serve more than 3 million users and has added AI-driven features such as raster-to-vector conversion, an AI logo maker, and one-click background removal on top of its original real-time collaborative editing. The editor keeps a simple, beginner-friendly interface while covering core vector tasks like shape building, text, and layer management, and it syncs projects across devices through the cloud. A free tier covers basic editing and export, while paid Premium tiers add extra cloud storage, AI credits, and multiple concurrent editing sessions for heavier users.

CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a comprehensive graphics suite that combines vector illustration, page layout, and typography tools in a single desktop application. It is widely used by graphic designers, illustrators, and marketing teams to create logos, brochures, signage, and technical drawings. The software offers advanced color management, CAD integration, and seamless compatibility with other design tools, making it suitable for both creative and technical projects across Windows and macOS platforms.