Top Alternatives To Adobe Creative Cloud

If you work in the creative industry as a graphic designer, photographer or illustrator, chances are you’ve probably come across Adobe Creative Cloud. It houses some of the strongest platforms like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and After Effects which has made it the industry staple.

Of course, plenty of alternative platforms have entered the market to rival Adobe’s capabilities. And if you are a freelancer, team or even a student, some of them are definitely worth exploring to take your creative work to the next level.

 

Why Do Users Want An Adobe Alternative?

 

There is no doubt that Adobe is fitted with all the bells and whistles. So why would users start looking elsewhere? Probably the biggest reason is because of its pricing model. Users will know fairly well how quickly monthly or annual subscriptions add up, especially if only one or two are actually being used out of the suite.

Additionally, the software requires a ton of storage space and high-performance devices and without those, it be can be a struggle to use.

 

Top Alternatives To Adobe Creative Cloud

 

Whether you’re looking for tools with free versions or one-time payments, ones that are less power-intensive or just a bit simpler to use without so many extra elements, here are the top alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud.

 

1. Affinity Suite

 

 

The Affinity Suite is one of the top alternatives, giving users access to powerful tools without paying a subscription. Affinity Photo can handle your high-res editing and retouching while Affinity Designer can be used for both vector and raster work including designing logos, illustrations and mockups.

Affinity Publisher offers advanced publishing features from master pages to linked text frames and bleed marks. Users can choose to purchase the individual apps for £69.99 or a once-off £159.99 for the full suite.

 

2. Inkscape

 

 

Inkscape is an open-source vector design tool that rivals Adobe Illustrator. It’s free to use and you can browse a range of tools to design logos, create illustrations and icons. For the creatives who love working with shapes or need ultra-fast rendering, it’s the go-to option.

The Inkscape community is a large one and it’s compatible on Windows, macOS and Linux. Of course, what users love most about it, is that it’s completely free and no subscriptions are required.

 

3. Pixlr

 

 

Pixlr is an online image editor compatible with iOS and Android. It’s fast, clean and easy to use without the hassle of needing to download software. There are two options, Pixlr X for quick, template-based editing and Pixlr E which is more advanced, offering smart tools, overlays and AI-powered background removals.

The platform is ideal for freelancers, social media managers or small teams who need a quick and easy design solution that can be accessed from anywhere. While there is a free version, you can also go with the Premium for £6.99/month.

 

 

 

4. Krita

 

 

What makes Krita stand out is that it’s a platform built by creatives for creatives. Its interface is designed with drawing, painting and animating in mind which is perfect for digital artists. There are over 100 brushes to use from with brush stabilisers and pop-up palettes. For designers who need more advanced tools, it also offers brush engines and frame-by-frame animation.

The platform is open-source, free to use and compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux.

 

5. GIMP

 

 

GIMP is a free image editor and while its interface may look a little outdated, it’s still very capable of getting the job done. It has advanced photo editing tools, batch processing and even cloning tools. The platform can also support a range of plugins and extensions to make your editing experience even better.

It’s compatible on Windows, macOS and Linux and is perfect for the budget-conscious designers, students or those editing as a hobby who want an effective tool that won’t break the bank.

 

6. Figma

 

 

Figma is a web-based UI/UX design tool with collaboration in mind. Its features include interactive prototypes, vector editing and design systems with users being able to work together in real-time. In fact, the platform has been used by the likes of Zoom and Microsoft for the design of their apps and websites.

While it is free for individuals, you can opt for the Pro version which is around £12/month.

 

7. Procreate

 

 

Procreate is the elite illustration app for iPad and it’s no wonder why. The app has an intuitive interface with ultra-fast brush rendering and silky-smooth drawing, making it a seamless and responsive experience for users. It has a range of features including gesture controls, time-lapse exports and animation assist.

Users can pay a once-off fee of £11.99 and it’s perfect for drawing while on-the-go.

 

8. Canva

 

 

For those who need basic editing tools and nothing too flashy, Canva has always been a user-favourite. It’s web-based and great for teachers, social media managers and small business owners. The platform supports every-day design needs with thousands of templates, brand kits and team collaboration.

There is a free version and the Pro option is £10.99/month.