If I need to design a vector graphic from scratch, beyond grabbing a pad of paper and pencil to draw my idea first, I’ll always gravitate directly to Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator is a native vector design tool, allowing you to seamlessly create vectors in an environment suited for it, rather than trying to design vectors in a raster-based environmentlike Photoshop.

There are a handful of popular vector design tools, but I’ll always choose Illustrator over alternatives, including Inkscape or Affinity Designer. Inkscape is the best open-source vector design tool, so I’d use it if I had no access to Illustrator. But Illustrator is my go-to for vector design and digital illustration, and I don’t think I’m alone in this thought process.

Illustrator has a seamless workflow and interface

There’s no frustration

It’s a common opinion that open-source software is ugly. It’s not strictly true, and Inkscape actually does a good job of being visually appealing once you’re past the splash page. But compared to Illustrator’s smooth, sleek, and well-labeled UX/UI, I think Inkscape looks amateurish and clunky.

By default, Inkscape’s interface takes up too much real estate, leaving less of your artboard to focus on the design at hand. With toolbars on all four sides of the artboard, it can feel restricting and claustrophobic to create vector art in Inkscape. You can customize Inkscape’s interface and change colors and slight layouts, but it still feels overwhelming to me.

Illustrator’s default layout is spacious, with toolbars on only two sides of the artboard when no tools are selected and only three sides when a tool is in use; it feels like you have more freedom as a digital artist. You can also minimize most tools into floating toolboxes and place them where you need them or minimize them entirely when out of use. This keeps a clean workflow with no annoyances.

My only criticism of Illustrator’s interface is a relatively new addition to most Adobe tools: the contextual task bar. First introduced in Photoshop when it introduced generative AI features, it’s also present in Illustrator.

The contextual task bar floats around aimlessly, whether you’re using a specific tool or not. It can sometimes be helpful for tools in use. It can be easily moved out of the way, but it always seems to find itself in the way whenever you least expect it. You can pin it to place to remove some frustration, though. It’s my only gripe with Adobe Illustrator’s interface.

The industry favors Adobe Illustrator

Professional-level software for a professional industry

When I was in design school, hoping for a future career in graphic design, there was a lot of weight held to the hardware and software you used as a design student and subsequent professional designer.

Although there’s no truth to this, in 2025, I went to design school at a time when if you didn’t have an Apple Mac computer, you’d be laughed out of the door. To be taken seriously — and end up in a design role after graduation — you first needed a Mac, and secondly, an Adobe subscription.

It’s easy to disprove that Adobe Illustrator is the only tool for vector design, but in such a cut-throat industry as graphic design, I always felt I had to prove my worth. How could a designer be taken seriously if they didn’t use and know the ins and outs of Adobe tools? With Adobe Illustrator making up the top three requested software for design jobs — alongside Photoshop and InDesign — it would have been silly for me to prefer to use Inkscape, even if the results could be the same.

Despite the fact that I no longer work as a professional graphic designer or illustrator, I can’t help but feel that the expectations of design knowledge, experience, and expertise come from Adobe standards. I spent years honing my design skills through Adobe Illustrator and other Adobe tools, so now it feels like second nature for me to continue using Illustrator.

Learning a new software takes a lot of time and dedication, and I can’t commit enough time to learning Inkscape in the depth I understand Illustrator.

Illustrator integrates with Photoshop and InDesign

A trio of tools for a seamless creative workflow

As creative suites go, there isn’t particularly an open-source creative suite. It is about the closest you can get; however, since they’re not the same ecosystem, you won’t get the same smooth workflow.

Adobe’s creative suite allows full integration between all its creative software, especially the ability to design vectors in Adobe Illustrator and integrate them into layout designs in InDesign, animate them in After Effects, or use them as assets in Adobe Express.

Since the sole Illustrator subscription is only $2 cheaper than a Creative Cloud All Apps plan, you’ll likely be subscribed to other Adobe software. This subscription allows for full integration across all Adobe tools, making your personal design workflow much smoother. If you’re working as part of a professional team, then it’s even easier.

Inkscape doesn’t have the same ability to integrate seamlessly with other software. While you can save your files as compatible formats, including Illustrator’s .ai format, you won’t have the same experience as using Illustrator and compatible tools.

Illustrator isn’t perfect

Privacy and less bloatware would be nice

I know Adobe Illustrator isn’t the perfect tool. There are plenty of reasons not to use Adobe software; the price alone is often enough to put anyone off.

I pay for my Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptionfor a variety of reasons, so I must consider that once it’s paid for, I should use the Adobe software to the best of my abilities. If I didn’t already have a Creative Cloud subscription, I would opt to use Inkscape for all my vector design rather than paying for another tool like Affinity Designer.

The main reason people chose Inkscape over Illustrator is the privacy afforded by open-source tools. There’s more security and better data handling. Adobe has previously been accused of sharing data for AI training — although this was debunked and rectified by Adobe — you wouldn’t have this issue using Inkscape.

Secondly, using Adobe Illustrator means you have all the bloatware that comes from the Creative Cloud. This runs in the background, saves multiple copies of Illustrator on your system, and takes up much valuable space on your drive. Inkscape, in comparison, is only one tool with no extra features taking up space.

• Adobe Illustrator

  $23 at Adobe

• Inkscape

  See at Inkscape

I prefer Adobe Illustrator over Inkscape

In the words of an old adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’ve been using Adobe Illustrator for nearly 15 years. Although I know the problems using Adobe software for lack of privacy, bloatware, and the price, I just enjoy the user experience of Illustrator. I know the tool really well; I don’t have to learn or remember how to use it, and the workflow is consistently smooth, including top-tier integration with other Adobe tools. Inkscape just can’t offer me that.