Adobe Illustrator vs Gravit Designer: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Adobe Illustrator and Gravit Designer is a common decision for design tools buyers in 2026. Adobe Illustrator has been in the market since 1987, giving it a 27-year head start over Gravit Designer (founded 2014). Adobe Illustrator serves 25M+ users while Gravit Designer has 2M+ users globally. Adobe Illustrator differentiates with vector graphics and typography tools, while Gravit Designer leads with vector design and cross-platform. In this head-to-head comparison, Adobe Illustrator earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 94/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🔶
Adobe Illustrator
Design Tools
94
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
🔷
Gravit Designer
Design Tools
84
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Adobe Illustrator
Gravit Designer
Starting Price
$20.99/mo
$49/yr
Free Plan
No
Yes
Users
25M+
2M+
Founded
1987
2014
Rating
4.7/5
4.2/5
Best For
Graphic designers and illustrators creating vector...
Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector ed...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Adobe IllustratorGravit Designer
89Ease of Use81
99Features87
90Value for Money86
93Customer Support80
90Integrations78
92Scalability87
91Learning Curve89

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Adobe Illustrator
+Industry-standard vector tool
+Powerful typography features
-Expensive subscription
-Resource intensive
Gravit Designer
+Free cross-platform vector editor
+Works in browser and desktop
-Less feature-rich than Illustrator
-Acquired by Corel, future unclear
AI Verdict

After comparing Adobe Illustrator and Gravit Designer across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Adobe Illustrator takes the lead with a score of 94/100 versus Gravit Designer's 84/100. Adobe Illustrator's key advantages include "industry-standard vector tool" and "powerful typography features". That said, Gravit Designer has its own strengths — particularly "free cross-platform vector editor" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

On pricing, there's a clear difference: Gravit Designer offers a free plan, making it more accessible for individuals and small teams exploring design tools solutions. Adobe Illustrator starts at $20.99/mo with no free tier, but often justifies the cost with vector graphics and typography tools.

Bottom line: Choose Adobe Illustrator if you need graphic designers and illustrators creating vector artwork and logos. Go with Gravit Designer if your priority is designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including chromebook. Both are strong design tools tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR IF:

Graphic designers and illustrators creating vector artwork and logos.

CHOOSE GRAVIT DESIGNER IF:

Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including Chromebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adobe Illustrator better than Gravit Designer in 2026?
Adobe Illustrator scores 94/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Gravit Designer's 84/100. Adobe Illustrator stands out for "industry-standard vector tool" and is best for Graphic designers and illustrators creating vector artwork and logos. Gravit Designer is known for "free cross-platform vector editor" and suits Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including Chromebook. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Adobe Illustrator and Gravit Designer?
Gravit Designer offers a free plan while Adobe Illustrator starts at $20.99/mo, giving Gravit Designer a lower barrier to entry. When comparing value, consider that Adobe Illustrator (founded 1987, 25M+ users) includes features like Vector graphics, Typography tools, Pen tool. Gravit Designer (founded 2014, 2M+ users) offers Vector design, Cross-platform, SVG editing. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Adobe Illustrator and Gravit Designer?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Adobe Illustrator excels at Vector graphics, Typography tools, Pen tool, while Gravit Designer focuses on Vector design, Cross-platform, SVG editing. Adobe Illustrator's main advantage is "industry-standard vector tool", though some users note "expensive subscription". Gravit Designer's strength is "free cross-platform vector editor", but "less feature-rich than illustrator" can be a drawback. Both serve the Design Tools market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Adobe Illustrator to Gravit Designer?
Switching between Adobe Illustrator and Gravit Designer is possible since both operate in the Design Tools space. Before migrating, export your data from Adobe Illustrator and check Gravit Designer's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Vector graphics, Typography tools, Pen tool (Adobe Illustrator) vs Vector design, Cross-platform, SVG editing (Gravit Designer). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Adobe Illustrator or Gravit Designer?
Gravit Designer's free plan makes it more accessible for small teams on a budget. It's best for Designers needing a free, cross-platform vector editor including Chromebook. Adobe Illustrator ($20.99/mo) is worth considering if you need Vector graphics, Typography tools, Pen tool and have the budget.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools