Af
Best for a polished vector app with print tools
License: Freeware
Status: Verified - PSDPSD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Layers and adjustment layers import; smart objects are rasterized unless smart-object import is turned on
- PSBPSB: opens only, partial fidelity. Opens PSB files
- TIFFTIFF: opens and saves, full fidelity
- PNGPNG: opens and saves, full fidelity
- JPGJPG: opens and saves, full fidelity
- +5 more
In
Best for open-source vector drawing on any desktop
License: Open source
Status: Active
- AIAI: opens only, partial fidelity. Opens the PDF content saved inside AI files; cannot save AI
- SVGSVG: opens and saves, full fidelity
- PDFPDF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Import turns pages into editable objects; fonts and complex effects can change
- EPSEPS: opens and saves, partial fidelity. EPS import needs Ghostscript installed
- CDRCDR: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports CorelDRAW files through libcdr; newer files may not open
Affinity vs Inkscape: facts| Fact | Affinity | Inkscape |
|---|
| License | License: Freeware | License: Open sourceGPL-2.0-or-later |
|---|
| Maintenance | Status: Verified | Status: Active |
|---|
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Linux | No | Yes |
|---|
| Self-hostable | No | No |
|---|
| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| No account needed | No | Yes |
|---|
| Parity with Adobe Illustrator | 75% | 56% |
|---|
License classes: Freeware and Open source. Status rules: Active means a commit in the last 90 days. See the methodology.
Feature parity with Adobe Illustrator
Feature parity with Adobe Illustrator| Feature | Affinity | Inkscape |
|---|
| Drawing |
|---|
| Pen tool and Bezier path editing | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Pathfinder and Shape Builder | YesNote 1Shape Builder tool and Boolean operations | YesNote 2Shape Builder tool since 1.3 plus the path operations |
|---|
| Type |
|---|
| Type on a path and text styles | YesNote 3Text on a path, plus text styles | PartialNote 4Text on path and flowed text, but no saved character or paragraph styles |
|---|
| Tracing |
|---|
| Image Trace (bitmap to vector) | PartialNote 5Auto trace turns flat artwork into vectors with fewer controls than Image Trace | PartialNote 6Trace Bitmap does color with multiple scans, with fewer controls than Image Trace |
|---|
| Layout |
|---|
| Multiple artboards | Yes | YesNote 7Multiple pages of different sizes since 1.2 |
|---|
| Color |
|---|
| Gradients, mesh and blends | PartialNote 8Gradients and mesh gradients; blends between objects are limited | PartialNote 9Linear, radial and mesh gradients; blends between objects need the Interpolate extension |
|---|
| Output |
|---|
| CMYK, spot colors and PDF/X export | YesNote 10CMYK, ICC profiles and PDF/X export | NoNote 11Previews CMYK through ICC profiles, but exports stay RGB with no spot colors or PDF/X |
|---|
| AI |
|---|
| Generative vectors and recolor | NoNote 12Generate Image and Vector need a paid Canva plan | No |
|---|
- Affinity, Pathfinder and Shape Builder: Shape Builder tool and Boolean operations
- Inkscape, Pathfinder and Shape Builder: Shape Builder tool since 1.3 plus the path operations
- Affinity, Type on a path and text styles: Text on a path, plus text styles
- Inkscape, Type on a path and text styles: Text on path and flowed text, but no saved character or paragraph styles
- Affinity, Image Trace (bitmap to vector): Auto trace turns flat artwork into vectors with fewer controls than Image Trace
- Inkscape, Image Trace (bitmap to vector): Trace Bitmap does color with multiple scans, with fewer controls than Image Trace
- Inkscape, Multiple artboards: Multiple pages of different sizes since 1.2
- Affinity, Gradients, mesh and blends: Gradients and mesh gradients; blends between objects are limited
- Inkscape, Gradients, mesh and blends: Linear, radial and mesh gradients; blends between objects need the Interpolate extension
- Affinity, CMYK, spot colors and PDF/X export: CMYK, ICC profiles and PDF/X export
- Inkscape, CMYK, spot colors and PDF/X export: Previews CMYK through ICC profiles, but exports stay RGB with no spot colors or PDF/X
- Affinity, Generative vectors and recolor: Generate Image and Vector need a paid Canva plan
All free alternatives to Adobe Illustrator
Affinity vs Inkscape: file formats| Format | Affinity | Inkscape |
|---|
| .ai | Opens onlyNote 1Opens the PDF content saved inside AI filesPartial fidelity | Opens onlyNote 2Opens the PDF content saved inside AI files; cannot save AIPartial fidelity |
|---|
| .svg | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
|---|
| .pdf | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesNote 3Import turns pages into editable objects; fonts and complex effects can changePartial fidelity |
|---|
| .eps | NoNote 4EPS is not among the import and export formats Affinity lists; convert to PDF or SVG first | Opens and savesNote 5EPS import needs Ghostscript installedPartial fidelity |
|---|
- Affinity, .ai: Opens the PDF content saved inside AI files
- Inkscape, .ai: Opens the PDF content saved inside AI files; cannot save AI
- Inkscape, .pdf: Import turns pages into editable objects; fonts and complex effects can change
- Affinity, .eps: EPS is not among the import and export formats Affinity lists; convert to PDF or SVG first
- Inkscape, .eps: EPS import needs Ghostscript installed