The closest alternatives to Inkscape on Lister are CorelDRAW and Procreate, the companies that share the most rankings with it. Each is compared below on its stated best fit, starting price and Lister Score.
How to choose an alternative to Inkscape
Start from what you need it for. Where each fits best, as Lister records it:
- CorelDRAW: Print production and sign making
- Procreate: Digital painting and hand lettering on iPad
- Adobe Photoshop: Professional photo editing and digital art
- Canva: Quick designs and social media content for non-designers
- Adobe Illustrator: Vector logos, icons, and scalable illustrations
- Affinity Photo: Professional photo editing on a budget
- Figma: Collaborative digital design and user interfaces
- Clip Studio Paint: Professional manga creation with AI assistance
- Sketch: Mac-based UI and UX designers
- Adobe InDesign: Multi-page document and editorial publishing
Closest to Inkscape by the rankings they share: CorelDRAW (2 rankings) and Procreate (2 rankings).
Free to start, by their stated pricing: Canva and Figma.
Stated starting prices: CorelDRAW ($269.00/yr), Procreate ($12.99 one-off), Adobe Photoshop ($22.99/mo), Adobe Illustrator ($22.99/mo), Affinity Photo ($69.99 one-off), Clip Studio Paint ($4.99/month), Sketch ($10.00/mo) and Adobe InDesign ($22.99/mo).
Each Lister Score is the alternative's score on the ranking named in its row, so compare scores within one ranking rather than across rankings. How the score is made.
Each alternative in brief
01
Professional vector illustration and layout.
#4 in Best illustration software: CorelDRAW is professional graphic design software offering powerful tools for vector illustration and layout. It supports photo editing and typography across Windows, Mac, and Web platforms.
PROS- Robust tools specifically tailored for print and sign making
- Customisable workspace and flexible purchase options
CONS- Interface can feel cluttered compared to modern rivals
- Less common in modern digital-first agencies
78.0
02
A powerful sketching and painting app for iPad.
#9 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: A powerful raster graphics painting application developed specifically for the iPad and Apple Pencil.
PROS- Exceptional responsiveness with the Apple Pencil
- Inexpensive one-time purchase fee
CONS- Exclusive to iPadOS and iOS devices
- Not designed for vector work or complex desktop publishing
76.3
03
The world's best imaging and graphic design software.
#1 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: The industry standard application for raster image editing, digital painting, and compositing.
PROS- Unmatched feature set for detailed image manipulation
- Seamless integration with Creative Cloud applications
CONS- Expensive subscription model
- Steep learning curve for beginners
95.0
04
Empowering the world to design.
#2 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: An online graphic design platform used to create social media graphics, presentations, and posters.
PROS- Extremely easy to use with thousands of templates
- Generous free tier with cloud storage
CONS- Limited advanced editing tools for professionals
- Many premium assets require a paid subscription
92.7
05
Vector graphics that turn ideas into reality.
#3 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: The premier vector graphics software used worldwide by designers creating digital graphics, illustrations, and typography.
PROS- Industry standard for vector graphics
- Infinite scalability without quality loss
CONS- High monthly cost
- Complex interface for new users
90.3
06
Professional photo editing software.
#4 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: A fast, fully-featured professional photo editing software that operates without a subscription model.
PROS- One-off purchase price with no recurring subscription
- Blazing fast performance with large files
CONS- Smaller community and fewer online tutorials than Adobe
- Lacks some advanced AI features found in competitors
88.0
07
The collaborative interface design tool.
#5 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: A collaborative web-based interface design tool used for UI/UX design, prototyping, and graphic layouts.
PROS- Real-time multiplayer collaboration
- Runs directly in the browser without heavy installations
CONS- Requires an internet connection for full functionality
- Not optimized for traditional print layout design
85.7
08
#6 in Best illustration software: Clip Studio Paint is a digital illustration application used by professional artists for creating high-quality artwork. It offers extensive tools for manga, animation, and design across multiple devices.
PROS- Industry standard drawing and paneling tools
- Reliable integration of smart AI features
CONS- Subscription or one time purchase required
- Steep learning curve for absolute beginners
76.0
09
The digital design toolkit.
#7 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: A toolkit for digital design built for macOS, focusing heavily on UI and UX workflows.
PROS- Lightweight application built natively for macOS
- Great ecosystem of plugins and symbols
CONS- Only available for Mac users
- Lacks built-in Windows support
81.0
10
Page design and layout for print and digital publishing.
#10 in Top 10 Graphic Design Software: Desktop publishing and page layout software for creating works such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, and books.
PROS- Unrivalled features for multi-page layouts and typography
- Flawless export tools for professional printing and digital books
CONS- Expensive subscription pricing structure
- Not suited for general photo editing or illustration
74.0