Adobe Illustrator vs Serif DrawPlus: Which One Is Better in 2024?

Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus are essential tools for businesses and designers, offering powerful features for creating stunning visuals. We'll compare these products to determine which one best meets the needs of professionals in the design industry.

A Quick Overview of Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus

What is Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe is a software company known for its creative and multimedia software products. The company offers a wide range of products under the Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator.

Adobe Illustrator includes Generative AI features like Generative Shape Fill and Text to Pattern, which allow users to create and customize designs with AI-powered suggestions. The software also offers 3D effects and gradients, enabling the creation of unique designs with depth and color variations.

What is Serif DrawPlus?

Serif, the company behind Affinity, develops creative software for professionals. Their products include Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher, which are used for graphic design, photo editing, and page layout, respectively.

Affinity's StudioLink technology allows users to access advanced toolsets of Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo directly within Affinity Publisher without switching apps. The software also offers a one-time payment model, eliminating the need for a subscription.

Features of Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus

Similarities

Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus share several key features that make them both powerful tools for graphic design. These similarities ensure that users can achieve professional results regardless of the software they choose.

• Vector Graphics Creation: Both Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus excel in creating vector graphics, allowing for scalable designs without loss of quality.
• Customizable Templates: Each software offers a variety of customizable templates to help users start their projects quickly and efficiently.
• 3D Effects and Gradients: Both tools provide options for adding 3D effects and gradients, enhancing the visual appeal of designs.
• User-Friendly Interface: Both Adobe and Serif focus on delivering a user-friendly interface that caters to both beginners and professionals.
• Extensive Toolsets: Each software includes a wide range of tools and features, such as shape builders, text tools, and color palettes, to support comprehensive graphic design needs.

Differences

Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus each offer unique features that cater to different aspects of graphic design. Here are the most significant differences between the two:

• Generative AI: Adobe Illustrator includes advanced AI features like Generative Shape Fill and Text to Pattern, which are not available in Serif DrawPlus.
• Mockup Tool: Illustrator's mockup tool allows users to visualize designs on real-life products, a feature absent in DrawPlus.
• Dimension Tool: Adobe Illustrator provides a dimension tool for precise measurements, which DrawPlus lacks.
• StudioLink Technology: Serif's StudioLink allows seamless switching between Affinity apps, a feature not found in Adobe Illustrator.
• One-Time Payment Model: Serif offers a one-time payment model for its software, whereas Adobe Illustrator requires a subscription.

User Interface and Usability

Adobe Illustrator's user interface is feature-rich and intuitive, offering tools like Shape Builder, 3D effects, and gradients. The integration of generative AI features such as Generative Shape Fill and Text to Pattern enhances the interface by providing quick design options. The user experience is seamless, with tools that allow for efficient creation and modification of designs. The software's usability is high, catering to both beginners and professionals with scalable vector graphics and accessible tutorials.

Serif DrawPlus, represented by Affinity products, offers a user interface known for its speed and smoothness across platforms. The user experience is streamlined, thanks to features like StudioLink, which allows access to advanced toolsets without switching apps. The overall usability is strong, with an emphasis on intuitive design and cross-platform functionality. The one-time payment model and free updates until the next major version release further enhance usability by eliminating subscription fees.

Adobe Illustrator has a more advanced user interface and usability compared to Serif DrawPlus.

Collaboration

Adobe Illustrator offers robust collaboration features through its Creative Cloud integration. Team libraries, admin tools, and 24x7 support facilitate seamless teamwork. The Illustrator on the Web (Beta) feature allows real-time collaboration, making it easier for team members to work together from different locations. Additionally, integration with other Adobe tools like Photoshop and Adobe Stock enhances collaborative efforts by providing access to shared assets and resources.

Serif DrawPlus, represented by Affinity products, focuses on cross-platform compatibility and StudioLink technology. This allows users to access advanced toolsets within different Affinity apps without switching, promoting a smooth workflow. However, it lacks specific collaborative tools and interfaces compared to Adobe Illustrator. The emphasis is more on individual productivity rather than team collaboration.

Overall, Adobe Illustrator is better suited for collaboration.

Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus Pricing

Adobe Illustrator offers various subscription plans tailored to different user groups. Individuals can subscribe to Illustrator for £21.98 per month or opt for the Creative Cloud All Apps plan at £27.98 per month for the first three months, then £56.98 per month. Students and teachers benefit from a discounted rate of £16.24 per month for the Creative Cloud All Apps plan. Businesses can subscribe to Illustrator for teams at £27.99 per month per license or the Creative Cloud All Apps for teams at £65.49 per month per license.

Serif DrawPlus, represented by Affinity products, adopts a one-time payment model. The Affinity V2 Universal Licence, which includes Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher, is available for a one-time payment of US$164.99, excluding tax. This model eliminates the need for ongoing subscription fees and includes free updates until the next major version release. Additionally, a 6-month free trial is available for the Universal Licence.

Overall, Serif's one-time payment model offers a more cost-effective solution compared to Adobe's subscription-based pricing.

Comparing Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus to Piktochart

Piktochart transforms complex ideas into captivating visuals that inform and engage your audience. With Piktochart AI, you can create stunning infographics, reports, and presentations in seconds, perfectly aligned with your brand. No design experience required.

Pros of Piktochart

• Ease of Use: Piktochart's intuitive drag-and-drop functionality makes it accessible for users of all skill levels, ensuring a smooth design process.
• Variety of Templates: The platform offers a wide range of customizable templates for infographics, presentations, flyers, posters, and reports, catering to diverse design needs.
• Content Repurposing: Piktochart allows users to turn long videos into customized bite-sized clips, making it easier to repurpose content for different platforms.
• Automatic Subtitles: The tool automatically adds subtitles to videos, which can be customized for social media, enhancing accessibility and engagement.
• Fast Publishing: From creation to publishing, Piktochart ensures a fast and efficient process, allowing users to quickly share their visuals with their audience.

Piktochart's Pricing

• Free: $0 (Free forever)
• Pro:
  • $29 per member/month (billed monthly)
  • $14 per member/month (billed annually, save 52%)
• Business:
  • $49 per member/month (billed monthly)
  • $24 per member/month (billed annually, save 52%)
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing (Contact for details)
• Campus: Custom Pricing (Minimum 3000 seats, contact for details)

What Are Others Saying?

Adobe Illustrator Reviews

Overall, users have given Adobe Illustrator a rating of 4.6 out of 5. While they appreciate its precision and integration with other Adobe products, they find the steep learning curve and resource-intensive nature frustrating.

"The subscription model is too expensive for what it offers." - John D., 3.5/5

"Performance issues on my older computer make it hard to use." - Sarah K., 3/5

"Some tools are cumbersome and not intuitive." - Alex M., 3.8/5

Find more of Adobe Illustrator reviews on G2!

Serif DrawPlus Reviews

Overall, users have given Serif DrawPlus a rating of 4.0 out of 5. While they appreciate its user-friendly interface and variety of tools, they find the limited graphic design capabilities and occasional glitches frustrating.

"Limited graphic design capabilities and difficulty in manipulating text." - Verified User in Education Management, 2.5/5

"Occasional glitches and slow response to brush strokes." - Kayla M., 3/5

"Pixelated designs and lack of advanced tools." - Verified User in Higher Education, 3/5

Find more of Serif DrawPlus reviews on G2!

Piktochart Reviews

Our users have given Piktochart an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, variety of templates, and content repurposing features. Here are some of their thoughts:

• "Piktochart is very easy and simple to use online graphics creation tool." - ASHESHWAR Y.
• "Piktochart offers good looking pre-built templates for creating graphics." - Jakub J.
• "Easily Create Social Images and Infographics to Boost Business Services." - Rachel L.

Find more of our reviews on G2!

Why choose one over the other?

Why Choose Adobe Illustrator:

• Consumers who need advanced design features and professional-level precision might prefer Adobe Illustrator. This software is ideal for graphic designers, businesses, and creative teams who require scalable vector graphics and seamless integration with other Adobe products.

Why Choose Serif DrawPlus:

• Consumers looking for a cost-effective solution with a one-time payment model might opt for Serif DrawPlus. This software is suitable for hobbyists, students, and professionals who need a user-friendly interface and comprehensive toolsets without the burden of subscription fees.

Why Choose Piktochart:

• Consumers who need to create engaging visuals quickly and without design experience might choose Piktochart. This platform is perfect for professionals, small teams, and general users who want to produce infographics, presentations, and videos efficiently.

Adobe Illustrator, Serif DrawPlus, or Piktochart: Which is the best platform for you?

While Adobe Illustrator and Serif DrawPlus offer powerful features for graphic design, Piktochart stands out for its ease of use and versatility. Whether you're a professional designer or a beginner, Piktochart's intuitive platform and diverse templates make it the ideal choice for creating stunning visuals quickly. We believe Piktochart is the perfect tool to transform your ideas into captivating content effortlessly.