Best Free Alternatives to Adobe CC

Bee the Designer
2 min readAug 8, 2023

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Adobe CC is an excellent tool for graphic designers, but it can be expensive! Especially if you are just starting out as a designer. Have you ever wondered if there are any alternatives? Specifcally free ones? Well, you’re in luck since I’ll be reviewing the top alternatives for the following apps: Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Adobe XD. Comment below of any that are worth a mention.

  1. Indesign → Scribus
    Compared to Indesign, Scribus is more suitable for intermediate design needs. Scribus is free and ideal for all publishing needs. With the app, designers can manage their content using their page layout system. Types of projects you could work on with Scribus are books, magazines, and other printed material.
  2. Illustrator → Inkscape
    Inkscape is a free alternative to Illustrator used to edit vector images. This is a great tool for not only graphic designers but illustrators as well. Many features are perfect for anyone working with logos, cartoons, type, and other vector art.
  3. Photoshop → Pixlr
    Pixlr offers similar features as Photoshop but is a free alternative. It’s more suitable for those barely learning and needing a basic interface. Users can work with layers, adjustment tools, filters, and included plugins, which could extend the app’s functionality.
  4. Adobe XD → Figma
    Figma is a free alternative to Adobe XD, perfect for mobile apps, websites, and various digital products. Both Figma and Adobe XD are great apps that vary slightly in the interface. But Figma is an honorable mention since many prefer it over Adobe XD.

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Bee the Designer

Building fun, approachable brands that cultivate memorable human connections.