CorelDRAW is a popular vector graphics software for every graphic designer who needs to create top-notch graphics. You must be wondering why most creatives prefer CorelDRAW. Well, it’s because the software packs a punch when it comes to robust features, an intuitive interface, and unlimited creativity and control for users. It all boils down to the quality graphic outcomes the software provides. While you might love using CorelDRAW, you may need to work with optional graphic design software for one reason or another. That’s why we have compiled the best alternatives for CorelDRAW below. Read on to find out more.

13 Best Free CorelDRAW Alternatives

The programs listed here can help you create different illustrations, layouts, and logos. They have exceptional features and toolsets, vibrant color palettes, and can support multiple file formats. They may have different approaches to graphic design but are equipped with more simplicity and efficacy. And they will deliver excellent graphics precisely the way you expect. You’re about to discover the best FREE alternatives to CorelDRAW. So stay put for this most exciting part.

1. Inkscape

Inkscape is one of the most powerful tools to use when looking to create artistic vector illustrations. It has a vast toolset for enhancing the style and color of your graphics. Tools such as copy/paste style, contour markers, color selection, gradient editor, and copy color will transform your projects significantly. Inkscape supports multiple vector file formats, including CSS, SVG, and XML.

Key Features of Inkscape

• Works with layers
• Boolean path operations
• Object grouping
• Automatic bitmap tracing tools
• Anti-aliasing bitmap images
• Calligraphy, Pencil, Drawing, Pen and Shape tools
• It supports multiple file formats

What We Like

• It’s free
• Works on all computers
• It is open-source
• Friendly user interface
• Offers bitmap tracing
• Has plenty of tools for professionals
• Supports multiple file formats

What We Don’t Like

• Out-of-date interface
• Its Mac OS version has lags
• Low-quality text fools

Inkscape is an excellent free CorelDRAW alternative. It has an open-source code that allows users to modify lines to improve them. Its tools need constant improvement, which makes Inkscape suitable for beginners and graphic designing enthusiasts. Professionals may not be so lucky with this tool.

2. GIMP

GIMP is a free, open-source graphics editor. It also has vector image editing tools – a great CorelDRAW alternative for scripted images, design objects, and icons. GIMP uses various programming algorithms. It’s equipped with vast customization options and third-party plugins. There’s so much flexibility and extensibility with GIMP. It integrates with various programming languages such as Perl, Python, and Scheming to increase customization levels.

Key Features of GIMP

• Customized user interface
• Supports different input devices
• Plenty of design elements
• Image retouching
• Layers
• High-end photo manipulation tools
• Original artwork creation
• Color management features

What We Like

• User-friendly interface
• Highly customizable
• Free and open-source
• Supports various file formats
• Broad functionality
• Excellent support

What We Don’t Like

• It sometimes lags
• Poorly developed web and mobile-based versions

GIMP is a powerful tool for simple graphic editing with numerous brushes and other features for digital selection, drawing, and healing. Its capabilities can satisfy your graphics needs the same way as CorelDRAW. Interesting Post: Bad Graphic Design Examples

3. PaintShop Pro

PaintShop Pro is another interesting vector and raster graphics editor to use in graphics design and photo editing. It has the most amazing tools, including the SmartClone feature. Using SmartClone, you can merge multiple elements effortlessly and add unique effects. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Its parallel toolbox contains layers and masks. Your digital drawing and painting couldn’t be any easier with the unique brushes in the toolbox, not forgetting the HDR tools. PaintShop Pro never disappoints with its 360-degree photo editing support. You must be wondering why PaintShop Pro is on this list. Well, it’s because it offers a 30-day free trial. This is enough time to produce outstanding graphics for your brand. It has a simple, navigable interface with editing options and a photo organizer. This is your ideal choice if you want to take image editing to the next level. Beginner or not, you can learn PaintShop Pro and work smoothly to get your projects done.

Key Features of PaintShop Pro

• Face detection technology for clustering images
• Image slicer tool
• Plenty of integrated learning tools
• Photo editing feature
• Graphic design

What We Like

• Creative tools for pro users
• Powerful features
• Intuitive for novice users
• Ability to copy and paste layer styles
• Compatible with touch-screen
• Incredible content aware cloning

What We Don’t Like

• It’s not cross-platform.
• The upgrade isn’t compelling at all

Explore: Best AutoCAD alternatives

4. Sketch

Sketch is a freeware vector graphics editing software for stunning icons, retouched photos, web designs, and vector images. With Sketch, you can create, prototype, and collaborate. You can transform your ideas into attractive products, and share them with your team and clients. The robust editor and built-in prototyping make sure your product turns out great. An intuitive interface welcomes you to a masterful design experience plus great facilitation and expedition of the design validation and approval. To top it up, this ad-free platform has excellent intuitive controls and uses only 50MB of hard drive space when downloaded.

Key Features of Sketch

• Contextual user interface
• Responsive design and prototyping
• An extensive toolset
• Plenty of reusable symbols
• Plugin support
• Grids and guides
• Export to HTML
• Vector image editing
• Drawing and typesetting
• Output and collaboration

What We Like

• Top-of-the-line collaboration tools
• Easy to navigate user interface
• An array of professional tools to use
• Newbie friendly platform
• Compatible with Illustrator assets
• Low learning curve

What We Don’t Like

• Designed only for Mac OS users
• One license, one device
• Lack of auto layout flowing options

Sketch is feature-packed and flexible, with vast vector and scaling shapes to ensure quality projects. Customize brush color, size, and transparency for unique outcomes. Check Out: Best ImageShack Alternatives

5. Krita

Krita is a wise, free CorelDRAW alternative considering its features and abilities. It’s free, it’s open-source, and has all the basic digital design and drawing tools. Combine these qualities with an intuitive interface and unmatched photo editing capabilities, and you are good to go. Krita was developed by designers who needed to give artists a common ground for creativity. It has tools for concept art, texture and matte painting, comics, and illustrations. At Krita, you have full access to configurable options, brush presets, and much more. The toolbar controls can help you change brush settings, including size, blending mode, opacity, or color.

Key Features of Krita

• Flexible interface
• Supports various file types, including open PSD support
• Brush engines and stabilizers
• Plenty of vector photo editing tools
• OpenGL enhancement
• Layer types
• Color profiles
• Python scripting

What We Like

• Stylish interface
• Plenty of training resources
• Drawing assistants
• Layer management
• Full-color management
• HDR painting support
• Wrap-around mode
• Resource manager

What We don’t Like

• It often lags after an update
• No photo retouching capabilities
• The text tool is inconvenient

What gives Krita an edge is its powerful brush engine. It has numerous settings for customizing brushes with shape, color, and density. It also accepts third-party textures and brushes. Also Read: Best Photobucket Alternatives

6. Adobe Illustrator CC

With Adobe Illustrator, you can design complex vector imaging easily. It has excellent color management capabilities and standard drawing tools for the job.

Its user interface is intuitive, with easily accessible features. This platform allows users complete control over their graphic creation process. To work with Adobe illustrator, you have to use the AI file format. Since the software has tight integration with the rest of the Adobe software, users have the freedom to import objects in Illustrator to Adobe Flash Professional. Adobe illustrator is not free. However, Adobe does offer a 7-day free trial of Illustrator CC. This trial includes all the features and updates in the latest version of Illustrator.

Key Features of Adobe Illustrator CC 

• Pre-built design templates
• It has a free transform tool
• Color syncing
• Pixel snapping options
• File packaging
• Pixel-perfect designs
• Freeform gradients
• Puppet warm enhancements

What We Like

• Multiple custom plugins
• Excellent zooming
• Adobe software integration
• Adjustable gradients
• Small size source files
• Simplified path feature
• Visual font browsing

What We Don’t Like

• Not easy for beginners
• Monthly subscription needed after free trial
• Files are challenging to share

This new version of Adobe Illustrator is an excellent alternative to CorelDRAW and contains advanced features to use with your vector graphics. Check out some of the best Adobe Illustrator alternatives here.

7. Autodesk Sketchbook

Autodesk Sketchbook is a component of Autodesk used for vector graphics. It comes with a friendly and straightforward user interface. One of Sketchbook’s notable features is its compatibility with PSD Photoshop software. You can also use it with JPEG, BMP, TIFF, and PNG file formats.

Sketchbook is a free program loaded with unique features and functionalities. And you can also work on the go!

Imagine working on your tablet device freely without a keyboard. Did you know that? The Sketchbook interface supports tablet use. With an excellent brush engine, clutter-free workspace, and loads of drawing and sketching tools, any beginner or professional will be excited to start working.

Key Features of Autodesk Sketchbook

• Ellipse guides
• Coptic color library
• Camera scanning
• Import line arts
• Steady stroke
• Symmetry tools
• Curved ruler
• Unlimited brushes
• Layer grouping
• Flipbook animation
• Distort transform
• Blending modes
• Fills and gradient fills

What We Like

• Its simplicity
• Excellent feature set
• Import or export layered PSD
• Creative tools to integrate with apps
• No distractions on the interface
• PSD compatibility
• Supports touch input
• Quick learning curve

What We Don’t Like

• Tablet issues
• Limit to pro designers’ creativity

Sketchbook may not match CorelDRAW’s capabilities, but it gives you the best experience as an alternative. It is free to try it. Also Read: Best Sketchup Alternatives

8. Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is an open-source, cross-platform vector design software for stunning logos, banners, icons, and more. Its precision vector tools empower you to create points, lines, and shapes to form every project. Gravit Designer’s user interface supports both web and app. Are you looking to create wireframes and mock-ups using shared symbols, pages, anchors, and styles? This is the platform for you. This platform has exceptional image and photo editing capabilities. You have the right photo effects, from lighting and color adjustments to blending and filters. If you want complete control, you have the kerning, font styles and weights, paragraph, and character spacing at your disposal. The incredible vector editing capabilities are safely stashed in the vector toolbox. Enjoy the Bezigon preset shapes with smart controls, pen, knife, Boolean operations, and much more.

Key Features of Gravit Designer

• Great tools for vector design
• A good number of styles
• Excellent grids
• Can work with text
• Auto layout generator
• Export options
• Real-time collaboration across platforms

What We Like

• Very reliable
• Free software
• An expansive library of vector assets
• Hassle-free user interface
• It can be used online

What We Don’t Like

• It sometimes experiences bugs
• Functionality quite narrow

Gravit Designer is designed with standard tools that effectively get vector graphics editing done. While it works with curves and layers, this platform also packs various tools for selection and transformation, text, shapes, and more. In the long run, these elements will admirably complement your creations.

9. Canva

Canva is the master of logo, banner, photo editing, and gif creating. This web-based platform lets you explore your creative potential with social media graphics, posters, and more. It’s a free logo maker with a dynamic user interface. Choose from its template designs to start your project. For logos, Canva will automatically generate a sample based on the information you provide. It has loads of fonts, colors, images, and illustrations to choose from. The free design tools have delightful team collaboration tools. It’s ideal for enterprises who need customizable presentation slides, prints, and graphs. The professional templates, layouts, voice icons, and frames will help boost your projects, especially pixel-perfect images for your landing pages.

Key Features of Canva

• Free custom templates
• Design types
• Branding kit
• Cloud storage
• Large image database
• Collaboration tools
• Text editor
• Drag and drop user interface
• Layout management

What We Like

• One-click design resize
• Upload your own logos and fonts
• Simple to use

What We Don’t Like

• Lack of file merging capability
• No pencil tool

Canva has an extensive repository of media elements and other tools to make your images stand out. It can help you give your competitors a run for their money.

10. Vectornator

Vectornator is an intuitive graphics design platform with an impressive interface. It helps deliver awe-inspiring designs, illustrations, and layouts. Its user-friendliness makes things easier. The welcome screen gives a sneak peek of what your final product will look like. Vectornator supports layers. The features make the process smooth, even for a ten-year-old. Designed with touch capabilities, this software is the product of 19-year-old Vladimir Danila from Germany. It currently tops the charts as the best intuitive vector graphic software for the iPad. The new upgrade version, Vectornator X, is powered by auto trace technology. It also supports multiple artboards. The experience is just unique!

Key Features of Vectornator

• Auto tracing
• Artboards
• Card-based design, intuitive interface
• Rendering engine
• Predesigned templates
• 2D drawing
• Pen and Pencil tools
• Object grouping and masking
• Isometric grid
• Boolean operations

What We Like

• The floating toolbar
• Infinite layers
• Free icons
• Innovative color picker
• Live blend modes
• CMYK color space

What We Don’t Like

• Only compatible with iOS and Mac OS
• Limited functionality

Vectornator has replaced manual tracing with an automatic tool to make vectorization bliss. With multiple artboards in one document, you will handle complex designs with minimal effort. What a sensible alternative to CorelDRAW this is!

11. Vectr

Vectr is a free vector graphics software that delivers incredible outcomes. It doesn’t need a learning curve to get professional icons, logos, business cards, posters, and other products. Its precision and complete functionality say it all. Vectr is cross-platform and most suitable for project heads, social media influencers, software engineers, and bloggers. This software has terrific collaboration tools. Some of its basic features include shape tools, pathfinders, gradients, pen tool, and more.

Key Features of Vectr

• Arrange and align elements
• Shape tools
• Fills and strokes
• Pathfinders
• Pen tool
• Gradients
• Collaboration transparency tool
• Calendar icons
• Lightning bolts and stars
• Assorted clipart designs
• Arrows
• WordPress plugin

What We Like

• Its versatility
• Image customization tools
• Collaboration options
• Synchronization
• Supports image import
• Low learning curve
• It’s free and cross-platform

What We Don’t Like

• It can only work online

Vectr is professionally designed. The shallow learning curve paves the way for beginners to produce captivating vector graphics with many conveniences. It is an excellent alternative for creators who want to design simple but powerful vector graphics without much fuss.

12. Vecteezy

Vecteezy Editor is an online vector graphics editing platform. You can use it for SVG files when you need to edit or add design components such as shapes. This freemium software does a great job of editing vectors fast. It has a simple interface with plenty of image customization tools. Inexperienced users can use Vecteezy without any difficulty. It has basic features with a lot of ads and limitations but will not disappoint. If you need additional features, you may have to part with some cash.

Key Features of Vecteezy

• Basic vector imaging tools
• Simple interface
• SVG recording options

What We Like

• No hidden paid tools
• User-oriented
• Offers broad functionality
• Plenty of vector design objects
• Works well with text

What We Don’t Like

• You have to register
• It does not have advanced features
• Not a chance to add complex elements to your projects
• Can’t save project progress on Vecteezy

Vecteezy is a great CorelDRAW alternative as it allows uploading and modifying SVG files. Make the most out of its pre-built shapes, fonts, and clipart objects to produce captivating graphics.

13. Sumo Paint

Sumo Paint is a fully-fledged browser-based image editor engineered using a studio-grade OpenGL-based painting engine for faster and precise performance. It comes with an exceptional user interface with retina solution support and loads of other tools and brushes. You’re going to have the most fantastic image editing experience with this one. The free version offers quick pencil sketches, brushes, and basic web graphic designs. You access image manipulation tools, including smudge, gradient fill, clone, line tools, and blur. Its online art community helps users, especially beginners, explore, learn, share, and remix their art projects as they monitor their ratings. Sumo’s got enough clout to consider it the best free CorelDRAW alternative. It runs on all browsers, and you can use it on a desktop and iPad. It has developed several other tools, including a 3D editor and photo editor. The floating toolbar contains all the standard features and adjustments. They include pencils, brushes, shapes, gradients, cloning, text, and more. A great editing and re-editing tool this is. It lets you open documents from a folder on your hard drive.

Key Features of Sumo Paint

• Cloning
• Gradient fills
• Blur
• Line tools
• Text
• Brushes, styles, and brush effects
• Smudge
• Image filters and adjustments
• Pixel editing
• Layering tools

What We Like

• Ease of use
• Free software
• Studio-grade tools
• Great for beginners
• High-level photo editing

What We Don’t Like

• Uses Flash
• Imperfect text management
• Some of its tools lag

In Conclusion

There you have it. These CorelDRAW alternatives are the best. All you have to do is sift through and find one that fits your needs. What are you looking for in a vector graphics editor? Are you a professional graphics designer or a beginner? Some tools work well with beginners, while others are hard to grasp. If you are out for a feature-packed platform and have experience, you’ll be comfortable working with tools like Sumo Paint. Vectr has a low learning curve and plenty of features, making it suitable for beginners and pros. The idea is to get a CorelDRAW alternative that works with your operating system and doesn’t limit your abilities. Happy hunting.

Enjoyed the post?

Share on Pinterest