Arek Dvornechcuck
Branding Expert
I'm a branding expert and graphic designer based in NY. I specialize in the development of brands: brand strategy, identity & web design. Need help with your project?—Get in touch
I'm a branding expert and graphic designer based in NY. I specialize in the development of brands: brand strategy, identity & web design. Need help with your project?—Get in touch
When it comes to software solutions for designers, Adobe is the number one player in the market.
However, not all creatives are able to afford Adobe CC packages.
What are the best alternatives to Adobe CC apps?
Luckily, there are plenty of free and affordable Adobe alternatives that are available on the market.
However, you still need the best software as a designer to build your portfolio and attract clients.
So, whether you're new to the realm of digital content creation or have a lot of expertise with Adobe and other apps, I've put together a list of some of the best alternatives for various Adobe tools.
If you're not ready to commit to Creative Cloud, consider the following free and low-budget software options.
If you can't find an alternative to Adobe, we have an Adobe CC discount that saves you up to 60% on Adobe's apps, including Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, XD, After Effects, and Acrobat Pro.
Check my other article for more information or check out my YouTube video on how to get Adobe discounts.
Did you know that all of Adobe's creative products come with a 7-day free trial?
How to get Adobe CC free trial?
Simply choose your plan and try it out for free.
You must enter your credit card information, but you will not be charged if you cancel before the 7-day period has expired.
Adobe frequently raises subscription costs, so many searches for ways to save money or download the software for free.
There are a few gray areas when it comes to getting Adobe CC for free, but none of them are worth pursuing.
You risk having your Adobe account terminated, which means you'll miss out on new features, faster upgrades, and the opportunity to store your projects in the Creative Cloud, among other things.
Here’s some good news—I've compiled a list of some of the top Adobe tool alternatives below and these are excellent apps for both beginners and experts.
If you can’t afford to pay for the Adobe Photoshop subscription, here’s the best Photoshop alternative for you—Pixlr.
Pixlr is the best Adobe Photoshop alternative.
Even though its basic edition is designed for non-professionals, its cloud-based photo editors have advanced features.
Pixlr is available for Android and iOS devices, and it can be used on phones, tablets, and computers.
Begin with a blank canvas, a photo, or a video, or choose from one of their professionally designed themes.
You can also pick between two Pixlr models: Pixlr X for beginners and Pixlr E for professionals.
They both have a Photoshop-like structure, making them easy to use if you're already familiar with Adobe Photoshop.
Did you know that you can get Adobe Photoshop for free?—Check out my other article.
Check out Pixlr, the ultimate best Photoshop alternative.
If you're a web designer who's looking for an alternative to Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape might be a better fit for you.
Inkscape is the best Adobe Illustrator alternative.
This open-source project is a visually stunning and powerful vector line drawing software.
The Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems are all supported by the software.
Inkscape is a program that is quite similar to Adobe Illustrator in terms of illustrating, drawing, and editing tools.
Unlike other free programs, it allows you to organize, layer, and lock elements while maintaining a streamlined workflow.
This application's basic and intermediate features allow you to create detailed and creative artwork.
Check out Inkscape, which is by far the best Illustrator alternative you can get for free.
Scribus is typically used by designers looking for a low-cost alternative to InDesign.
Scribus is the best Adobe InDesign alternative.
The professional page layout application is compatible with Macs, Linux, and Windows.
The program also includes vector drawing tools.
Spot colors, CMYK colors, adaptable PDF production, and ICC color management are just a few of Scribus' important capabilities.
It includes a wide variety of press-ready output that you may use right away.
Even corrupted documents may be restored with a simple text editor, unlike proprietary binary file formats.
Check out Scribus, the best free InDesign alternative.
DaVinci Resolve is a great alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro.
DaVinci Resolve is the best Adobe Premiere Pro alternative.
The interface includes workspace for editing, audio, color, and visual effects, all of which are jam-packed with useful features.
There is also a free version of this software that includes basic and advanced capabilities for novices.
Professional designers utilize this professional video editing program on big-budget TV and film productions because it is so good.
It's also a free download for Windows, Linux, and Mac users.
Facial recognition tracking is also available, allowing you to experiment with skin tones, lip colors, and eye colors.
Check out DaVinci Resolve, which is often regarded as the best Premiere Pro alternative.
If you are looking for the best After Effects alternative—here’s Blender for you.
Blender is the best Adobe After Effects alternative.
It is a free program that may be used to generate ultra-realistic animated visuals and 3D visual effects.
Blender is a software program available for Mac, Linux, and Windows.
This software can assist you to fill in certain gaps if you don't have Adobe software installed.
Blender is a GNU GPL-licensed public project that is owned by its contributors and hosted on blender.org.
As a result, Blender will always be Free and Open Source software.
Check out Blender, which, in my opinion, is the best After Effects alternative on the market.
If you are looking for a strong and powerful design tool with a simple-to-use interface, then Figma is the one.
Figma is the best Adobe XD alternative.
It's an excellent web-based alternative to Adobe XD, with smooth sharing and valuable tools.
You may create an iterative design flow with a live collaboration that keeps you up to date whether you're in the office or working from home.
Figma is so simple to use and navigate that it reminds me of Google Docs for design.
A free version is provided, followed by a paid edition with additional features.
It runs on a variety of desktop operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and others.
Check out Figma, which most designers agree is the best alternative to Adobe XD.
PDF-XChange is the best Adobe Acrobat alternative for Windows.
PDF-Xchange is the best Adobe Acrobat Pro alternative.
The PDF Expert, on the other hand, is a solid choice for Mac users.
This program may also be used to add custom stamps and markups to your documents.
Image recognition, OCR, and security assistance are among the additional features.
This program runs without lag on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, allowing you to quickly change photos and write text.
The application recognizes font size and opacity automatically, allowing you to quickly edit documents, all for free.
Check out PDF-Exchange, which, in my opinion, is the best Acrobat Pro alternative.
Skylum Luminar is the world's first artificial intelligence-powered photo editor.
Skylum Luminar is the best Lightroom alternative.
This is your basic photo editing software for Mac and Windows and a great substitute for Adobe Lightroom.
With this software, landscapes can be enhanced, and portraits can be retouched.
While unattractive features can be removed with a single click, the skies can be changed with an entire scene relighting.
The image-editing tool is perfect for one-click alterations and complicated edits for everyone from beginners to pros.
Skylum Luminar’s program is really simple to use, giving designers a lot of flexibility when it comes to image editing.
With a one-time payment, you can get a lifetime license for this app, which is equivalent to about seven months of Lightroom membership.
Check out Skylum Luminar, the most popular RAW photo editor and the best Lightroom alternative.
That's all there is to it for inexpensive and free Adobe alternatives.
What is the best Adobe CC alternative?
To sum it up, Pixlr is the finest alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
Inkscape is the best alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
All of the other tools in Adobe CC have numerous alternatives.
All you have to do now is to choose the best program for your needs and start creating your most imaginative designs.
Did I miss something?—Leave a comment below.
