Top Adobe and Canva Alternatives for Designers and Creators in 2025
Adobe and Canva have long been staples for designers and creators, but they’re not the only tools in the game. Whether you’re searching for an Adobe alternative or exploring tools like Canva that fit your budget, this guide will introduce you to top-notch options with many tools having free options. These platforms prioritize affordability, usability, and unique features, making them perfect for those looking to save while maintaining quality. Let’s dive in.
№1. Affinity Suite: The Designer’s Favorite Adobe Alternative
If Adobe’s subscription model is weighing you down, Affinity is a stellar one-time-purchase alternative. Comprising Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher, this suite rivals Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign in functionalities like removing backgrounds and vector editing. (Side note: Affinity design is currently owned by Canva).
- Why It’s Great: Seamless vector and raster editing, user-friendly interface, and affordable pricing.
- Who It’s For: Designers who need professional-grade tools without a recurring cost.
- Cost: One-time purchase for $60 per app (no subscription).
№2. Vectr: A Free Alternative to Adobe Illustrator
For creators looking for simplicity, Vectr is a free vector graphic design tool that operates in your browser or as a desktop app.
- Why It’s Great: Free to use, collaborative editing, and lightweight for beginners.
- Who It’s For: Students, hobbyists, and anyone starting with vector graphics.
- Cost: Free.
№3. CorelDRAW: A Comprehensive Vector Design Tool
CorelDRAW offers a powerful suite of tools for vector illustration, layout, and photo editing, making it an excellent alternative to Adobe’s design tools.
- Why It’s Great: Industry-grade vector tools, advanced color management, and extensive file compatibility.
- Who It’s For: Professional designers and businesses requiring a robust design platform.
- Cost: Subscription starts at $20.75/month.
№4. Artboard Studio: A Dynamic Tool for Mockups and Designs
Artboard Studio is a versatile design platform that specializes in creating stunning mockups and branding presentations, offering a unique alternative to tools like Canva.
- Why It’s Great: Intuitive mockup editor, access to high-quality templates, and integration with creative workflows.
- Who It’s For: Designers, marketers, and branding professionals looking for polished presentation tools.
- Cost: Free plan available; Pro starts at $15/month.
Artboard Studio Product Mock-up Tool
№5. Penpot: A Figma Alternative for Open-Source Enthusiasts
Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping tool that provides a collaborative environment similar to Figma and Webflow. As a webflow alternative, Penpot makes it easy for designers and developers to work together to turn pixels into code.
- Why It’s Great: Open-source, web-based, and supports SVG natively.
- Who It’s For: Teams and individuals who prefer open-source solutions and flexibility.
- Cost: Free.
№6. Crello (Now VistaCreate): A Canva Lookalike
VistaCreate brings the simplicity of Canva but with additional features like flyer design, web design, graphic design, and animation templates and a focus on marketing assets.
- Why It’s Great: Drag-and-drop interface, thousands of templates, and animation support.
- Who It’s For: Marketers, small business owners, and social media managers.
- Cost: Free plan available; Pro starts at $10/month.
VistaCreate Design Template Tool
№7. Krita: Free Software for Illustrators
Krita is a free, open-source alternative designed for digital artists and illustrators who love digital painting tools, rivaling Adobe’s Photoshop and Procreate.
- Why It’s Great: Advanced brush engines, customizable layouts, and a supportive community.
- Who It’s For: Illustrators and concept artists.
- Cost: Free.
№8. Inkscape: A Robust Vector Graphics Tool
Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that offers a professional-grade alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
- Why It’s Great: Comprehensive vector design tools, active developer community, and cross-platform support.
- Who It’s For: Designers who want a powerful and free solution for vector graphics.
- Cost: Free.
№9. PicMonkey: Another Canva Alternative
PicMonkey offers design and photo editing features tailored for marketers and entrepreneurs creating visual content for brands.
- Why It’s Great: Pre-made templates, photo editing tools, and brand kits.
- Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs and creators focusing on social media branding.
- Cost: Starts at $7.99/month.
№10. Typogram: Tailored Logo and Typography Design Made Simple
Typogram is an intuitive logo editor that makes it easy for anyone to create professional logos and brand kits—no design experience needed. With features like variable fonts, editable icons, and premium fonts, you can customize your logo to perfectly reflect your brand.
For designers, there's Typogram Studio—a tool built for crafting exceptional typography with precision and innovation. It combines the best features of Typogram into a powerful design tool, empowering you to create unique, standout designs effortlessly.
- Why It’s Great: Cater to both beginners and pros. Can use as Adobe alternative or Canva alternative. Offers a variable font feature, and intuitive interface, and empowers users to create unique logo designs easily.
- Who It’s For: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creators looking to build their brand identity.
- Cost: Free and Paid Tiers Available
Explore Typogram Logo and Typography Design Tool
Conclusion
There are many design tools available as Adobe and Canva alternatives, catering to various budgets and skill levels. From robust suites like Affinity to free platforms like Krita, these options empower you to create without compromise.