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What Is Adobe Illustrator?

Graphic design software used for logos, illustrations, graphics, and icons. It helps designers with creating designs, collaborating with team members, and sharing their designs in any format. Features of the platform include global edits, repeat for patterns, vector designs, recolor, customizable effects, and 3D design.

Who Uses Adobe Illustrator?

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Adobe Illustrator Software - Adobe Illustrator main interface
Adobe Illustrator Software - Adobe Illustrator colors
Adobe Illustrator Software - Adobe Illustrator transform effect

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Adobe Illustrator

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Reviews of Adobe Illustrator

Average score

Overall
4.8
Ease of Use
4.0
Customer Service
4.3
Features
4.7
Value for Money
4.3

Reviews by company size (employees)

  • <50
  • 51-200
  • 201-1,000
  • >1,001
Samuel
Samuel
Founder and CEO in UK
Verified LinkedIn User
Internet, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Adobe Illustrator a Vector based designing software

5.0 6 months ago

Comments: Generally Illustrator is the best photo editing software after photoshop. Adobe Illustrator has a large market and you can easily find designers.

Pros:

The ease of use. The free trial. The AI features. Vector images. Collaboration. Syncing projects into Adobe Creative Cloud. Can open multiple files. Animation. Gif making. Open mulitple image files. Export into many formats.

Cons:

May be Heavyweight on a small pc. You need Adobe CC license to do more.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Computer Software, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Adobe Illustrator, pros and cons

4.0 11 months ago

Comments: It is good, but the problem of exporting files has led me to learn about other platforms.

Pros:

The possibility of creating incredible designs with total freedom and a great amount of resources to create the designs. Its cloud version also gives many possibilities and live work.

Cons:

The difficulty in exporting designs to other platforms such as Figma, I work with several design platforms and AI limits you in general lines to only use AI.

Kazi
Graphic Designer in US
Marketing & Advertising, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

I strongly recommend the Adobe Illustrator for print materials.

5.0 2 months ago New

Comments: Adobe Illustrator offers a robust platform for vector graphics design, combining intuitive tools with precision. It excels in creating detailed illustrations, logos, and layouts, making design efficient and enjoyable.

Pros:

I love Adobe Illustrator’s precision and versatility with vector graphics, enabling scalable designs without quality loss, along with its powerful tools for creating detailed illustrations and professional, clean layouts.

Cons:

What I like least about Adobe Illustrator is its steep learning curve, especially for beginners, and occasional performance lags when handling complex files, which can disrupt the creative workflow.

Andres Felipe
Engineer in Colombia
Civil Engineering, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Adobe Illustrator

3.0 10 months ago

Comments: Overall I will give 4 out of 5 stars to Adobe Illustrator

Pros:

Easy to use, high storage on the library, fast and very intuitive

Cons:

For the price, the custumer service is no that good

Caroline
Head of Communication in Kenya
Government Administration, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Review of Adobe Illustrator

4.0 3 months ago

Comments: My overall experience with Adobe Illustrator has been great. However, I notice that my levels of creativity are average, which means I take longer than necessary to produce a great graphic design project.

Pros:

Adobe Illustrator is very powerful for producing vector graphics like logos that can be scaled without losing quality. Its tools are awesome, especially for a professional graphic designer.

Cons:

Learning Adobe Illustrator can be steep for non-graphic designers. Those new to graphic design can be quickly discouraged when starting out. You need a lot of creativity to use the tools and produce awesome graphics. Few people have very high creativity.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Computer & Network Security, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Good feature for image editing

5.0 10 months ago

Comments: It's an incredible software to work with and I will recommend it for other users.

Pros:

The software has a very good template and features.

Cons:

I like when I use Adobe Illustrator for graphics design

Ofentse
Ofentse
Adobe Illustrator in South Africa
Verified LinkedIn User
Capital Markets, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: Free Trial
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Adobe Illustrator

4.0 8 months ago

Comments: Adobe Illustrator just made up with second Party and Third Party Integrations policy terms

Pros:

I have liked Design Management and Preview Functionality

Cons:

I have liked Publishing Options and content management

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Design, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Graphics for Professionals

5.0 2 months ago New

Comments: As a graphic designer it is an essential part of my process

Pros:

Creating custom graphics for branding projects

Cons:

I love that it is for professionals and the tools are advanced, it just takes longer to learn because of it

Riya
Brand Designer in Germany
Restaurants, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Product Review

4.0 3 weeks ago New

Pros:

Illustrator is fond to provide all the tools a brand designer needs to create stunning vector graphics. It harmonizes well with other Adobe products, making it easy to incorporate designs into larger projects.

Cons:

The learning curve can be steep to master all the functionalities. The subscription model can be a drawback for some users.

Kristan
Architect in UK
Architecture & Planning, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Go pro with vector graphics!

5.0 2 months ago

Comments: A very rewarding programme which makes the most of the cloud functionality

Pros:

The ability to transform vector art into stunning graphics

Cons:

The lack of cross compatibility and the speed of the programme

Mathew Runyararo
Graphic Designer in Zimbabwe
Design, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Essential tool for professional designers.

5.0 5 months ago

Comments: Adobe Illustrator is a powerhouse for vector graphic design, offering a robust set of tools that cater to professionals’ needs. While it comes with a steep learning curve and a higher price tag, the investment is well worth it for the depth and quality it provides. If you're serious about design, Illustrator is an essential tool that will significantly enhance your creative capabilities.

Pros:

Comprehensive and powerful vector design tools. Seamless integration with other Adobe apps. Regular updates and new features. Extensive tutorials and community support.

Cons:

Steep learning curve for beginners. Occasional performance issues with complex designs. High subscription cost

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Apparel & Fashion, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

While illustration has a rich past, its future uses are always evolving.

5.0 8 months ago

Comments: Adobe Illustrator's continuing strength stems from its well-established base, even if certain elements haven't kept up with the most recent innovations. Despite this, Illustrator is an industry standard, and knowledge of it is required for design professionals and students. While compatibility enhancements are necessary, the program's fundamental functionality provides limitless creative potential. In conclusion, Illustrator is a must-have for designers, or at the very least, a tool worth studying.

Pros:

Adobe Illustrator has a well-established basis built over decades of work. This strong core capability includes the illustration industry's key tools: forms, fills, lines, vectors, and composition. These features' intuitive nature allows newbies to pick them up quickly. Furthermore, Illustrator has unrivaled editing possibilities, limited only by the user's imagination. Notably, the application excels with SVG compatibility, making it a popular choice among illustrators from its inception.

Cons:

Despite its advantages, Adobe Illustrator requires tremendous computational resources. Increased RAM, VRAM, and computing power lead to smoother performance. Compatibility might be a concern, especially when working with non-native file formats other than SVG. While basic functionality is easily accessible, mastering advanced functions requires attention and may be more time-consuming than with comparable products. This begs an important question: Is Illustrator still the best vector graphics tool, or has it become a victim of its own success?

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Health, Wellness & Fitness, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Motion Caption

5.0 8 months ago

Comments: Humans are Telekinetic channels and can polarize or amplify waves for magnetic attraction .The world of possibilities are limitless if we tap into our creative potentials. The Universe experiences retrograde motions with Planetary bodies ,as the horn like protuberances of the eastern side of the sun experiences speed and elevation of about 184,000 miles.This gives an idea of what immense force masses of gas are ejected from the sun .Scientist believe we are made of atoms that change every six months .Well what do you believe in?

Pros:

Gamma Distribution and binomial distribution used in statistical quality control and research methodology helps presentations appear much applicable to real life applications with the use of Adobe Illustrator, say understanding child psychology is pure calculus to the nth degree

Cons:

There is always room for improvements and as such the older versions of software tend to be less relevant.

Abhishek
Manager Outreach and Communication in India
Education Management, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Market leader graphic designing tool

5.0 7 months ago

Comments: I have been using Adobe illustrator from last 5 years and i am extremely happy with it. I do not imagine my workday without using Illustrator. It take some time to learn this software but once you get a hang of it there is not turning back.

Pros:

This software is feature heavy that makes it perfect to work on any kind of design projects. Be it small designs for social media or a huge billboard design, it works for all. Designing illustration is very easy once you get a hang of the software and its shortcut. Once you start using it you may not want to switch to any other tool for illustration and graphic designing. There is huge library of learning resources which make it very easy to use and every problem faced here you will get 100s of solutions online.

Cons:

Learning curve is one of the major drawback with this tool. Photo editing has limited capability, little advance feature in this area can make this software all in one for graphic designing. You need high end system to run this flawlessly.

Sarah
Creative Director in US
Design, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Essential for graphic designers!

4.0 11 months ago

Pros:

I exclusively use Ai for my freelance design business, as well as for my day job. So many great features, and pretty easy to pick up!

Cons:

If you don't also have Photoshop, I could see image editing being an issue. Also, the new toolbar-thing gets in the way ALL the time when I'm trying to edit things.

Linda
Conceptual Art Director in Czechia
Graphic Design Software, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Illustrator has the tools to feel free creating

5.0 9 months ago

Pros:

Illustrator keeps the status as professional tool, other softwares dont have all the range of functions. When you create, you want to be able to have the right tools. New 3D effects and AI usage in Adobe softwares is very good.

Cons:

What is not very pleasant is changing of keyboard shortcuts with new versions of Illustrator. It is confusing and makes operating the software slower.

Francois
Francois
VP of Strategic Marketing in France
Verified LinkedIn User
Computer Software, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Illustrator is for me the go-to for doing vector illustrations

5.0 5 months ago

Comments: Once you understand how to use it, Illustrator is a very effective tool and fast to use. I am very satisfied of its capabilities, although I have not had any formal training to use it.

Pros:

Very large extent of the features: precise control of the vectors, advanced color management, management of layers, different export and import possibilities, management of multiple pages (allows to create short documents more quickly than InDesign, especially if they are heavy in visuals), good handling of text.

Cons:

The user interface is not the most intuitive, so there is a learning curve, and it is not so easy to know what else you can do (there are so many possibilities and some are "buried" in the interface).

rehan
graphic designer in India
Graphic Design Software, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

My honest review on adobe illustrator

5.0 6 months ago

Comments: One of the best editing platform which has unique tools and features i can say adobe will rule the editing industry

Pros:

Adobe illustrator is really one of the best editing software i have ever seen and it has unique feature and easy interface experience i recommend you if you are looking for best editing software go for adobe illustrator.

Cons:

in terms of least is sometimes the software slowdown, and it also lag the computer.

Wepnyu Daniel
CEO in Cameroon
Information Technology & Services, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

my true experience with adobe Illustrator

4.0 last year

Pros:

the pen tool is my best and i love it, as a whole Adobe Illustrator is very friend;y

Cons:

the fact that picture editing is not at his best there is not the bestthe Apps needs to be independent

Bryan
Marketing Director in US
Hospitality, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

The premiere tool for illustration and design

5.0 3 months ago

Comments: I use it daily for help with creating content.

Pros:

It's a near-perfect tool that gets used daily.

Cons:

The subscription pricing is annoying but that's the way of the world now.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Financial Services Software, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Highly customized workspace and tool

4.0 6 months ago

Pros:

I am most impressed with high-quality output adaptable for print, web, and digital media in any format.

Cons:

It's expensive over time compared to a one-time purchase application when you have to subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Abu
Abu
Quantity Surveyor in Malaysia
Verified LinkedIn User
Construction, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Adobe illustrator a legit software

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: Fantastic to use daily

Pros:

Easy to use and friendly user and can use by all stage of age

Cons:

Need more improvement about the editing part such as tools for user to apply the editing like picture that blurry

Joel
Pastor in Canada
Religious Institutions, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

A powerful tool to create quality graphics

5.0 12 months ago

Comments: Wonderful and pricey. I loved using it but had to switch to more economical options.

Pros:

The versatility and power behind this program is second to none. You can literally create anything and apply Illustrators powerful tools to any digital project.

Cons:

The cost is so high. Especially since you can no longer buy the program and use it until you need to upgrade. Now you have to pay a lot more in the long run.

Joelle
Travel agent in US
Airlines/Aviation, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

The adobe illustrator is great when its effective but not fast or quick being productive.

5.0 6 months ago

Comments: My experience was good but i wish it was faster to use .

Pros:

The details because im able to use it for what i need.

Cons:

That it doesn't show fast results. So it takes time to use the software.

Sashah
Sashah
Project Designer in Canada
Verified LinkedIn User
Design, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Effective CAD Tools and Perfect Design Management Product.

5.0 11 months ago

Comments: Creation of new 3D objects and sharing of several creation across teams is perfect and on project management i like the capability.

Pros:

The modeling of 3D designs and Graphics capability and 2D features are very powerful and easy content management via the platform. The editing and detailing of our projects 2D drawings using the system is amazing and very excellent on files management.

Cons:

Unique tool and easy to manipulate all the 3D modeling functionalities and i got nothing to dislike.