Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook are essential tools for businesses and designers, each offering unique features tailored to different needs. We'll compare Adobe Illustrator's vector graphics capabilities with Sketchbook's natural drawing experience to determine which is the best fit for various creative projects.

A Quick Overview of Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook

What is Adobe Illustrator?

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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.

Generative AI features like Generative Shape Fill and Text to Pattern allow users to quickly create and customize designs. The ability to create scalable vector graphics that maintain quality at any size is another key feature.

What is Sketchbook?

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Sketchbook provides a digital drawing application designed for artists and creative individuals. The app allows users to create anything from quick sketches to fully finished artwork, offering a natural drawing experience with a variety of professional-grade tools.

Brushes and pens that behave like their physical counterparts offer a natural drawing experience. The ability to tuck tools and palettes out of sight until needed allows artists to focus solely on their creativity without distractions.

Features of Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook

Similarities

Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook share several key features that make them both powerful tools for digital artists. Despite their different focuses, they offer similar functionalities that cater to creative professionals.

  • Both applications provide a wide variety of customizable brushes, allowing artists to create unique textures and effects.
  • They support layers with blend modes, enabling complex and detailed artwork.
  • Each tool offers precision drawing aids such as guides and rulers, ensuring accuracy in designs.
  • Both support stylus and touch input, making them ideal for use on tablets and touch-screen devices.
  • They offer a clean and intuitive interface, allowing artists to focus on their creativity without unnecessary distractions.

Differences

Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook cater to different creative needs, each excelling in unique areas. Here are the most significant differences between the two:

  • Vector Graphics vs. Raster Drawing: Adobe Illustrator specializes in creating scalable vector graphics, while Sketchbook focuses on raster-based drawing for a natural sketching experience.
  • Generative AI Features: Illustrator offers advanced AI tools like Generative Shape Fill and Text to Pattern, which are not available in Sketchbook.
  • Mockup Tool: Illustrator includes a mockup tool for visualizing designs on real-life products, a feature absent in Sketchbook.
  • Platform Versatility: Sketchbook is available on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS, whereas Illustrator is primarily desktop-focused with a web beta version.
  • Interface Customization: Sketchbook allows tools and palettes to be tucked out of sight for an unobtrusive drawing experience, unlike Illustrator's more complex interface.

User Interface and Usability

Adobe Illustrator's user interface is designed to be intuitive, featuring tools like Shape Builder and 3D effects. The user experience is enhanced by Generative AI tools, which streamline the creation of detailed designs. Overall, Illustrator's usability is high, accommodating both beginners and professionals with its integration into Creative Cloud and availability on multiple platforms.

Sketchbook offers a clean and unobtrusive interface, allowing tools to be tucked out of sight. The user experience mimics drawing on paper, with brushes and pens behaving like their physical counterparts. Its usability is bolstered by a comprehensive set of tools suitable for quick sketches and detailed artwork.

Neither company has a clear advantage in user interface and usability.

Collaboration

Adobe Illustrator offers several features that facilitate collaboration, such as team libraries and admin tools. These tools allow team members to share and access design assets easily, while admin tools help manage team members and their access to resources. Additionally, Illustrator on the web (beta) enables users to open existing projects, upload files, and create new work directly in the browser, making sharing and collaboration more straightforward.

Sketchbook, on the other hand, does not explicitly mention any collaboration features on its webpage. The focus is primarily on providing a natural drawing experience with professional-grade tools. There is no information about real-time collaboration tools, file sharing capabilities, or features supporting teamwork. Therefore, Adobe Illustrator appears to be better suited for collaboration than Sketchbook.

Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook 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. Businesses can get Illustrator for teams at £27.99 per license per month.

Sketchbook Pro is available for a one-time purchase of $24.99 on the Mac App Store. Unlike Adobe Illustrator, Sketchbook does not offer subscription plans or differentiated pricing for individual and business use. This straightforward pricing model makes Sketchbook more affordable for users who prefer a one-time payment over recurring fees.

Overall, Sketchbook offers better pricing for those seeking a cost-effective, one-time purchase option.

Comparing Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook to Piktochart

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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 is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible for users with no design experience.
  • Variety of Templates: The platform offers a wide range of customizable templates for infographics, presentations, flyers, posters, and reports, catering to various needs.
  • Content Repurposing: Piktochart allows users to easily repurpose long videos, webinars, and virtual events into bite-sized clips, enhancing content versatility.
  • Automatic Subtitles: The tool automatically adds subtitles to videos, which can be customized for different social media platforms, improving accessibility and engagement.
  • All-in-One Tool: Piktochart serves as a comprehensive visual communication platform, enabling professionals to create diverse visual content without the need for complex design software.

Piktochart's Pricing

  • Free: $0 (Free forever)
  • Pro: $14 per member/month, billed annually (originally $29, save 52%)
  • Business: $24 per member/month, billed annually (originally $49, 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 many appreciate its precision and versatility, some find the steep learning curve and resource-intensive nature frustrating.

  • "The learning curve is quite steep, and it can be overwhelming for beginners." - John D., 3.5/5
  • "It can be very slow on less powerful computers, which is frustrating." - Sarah K., 3/5
  • "The subscription model is expensive, and some tools are cumbersome to use." - Mike T., 3.5/5

Find more of Adobe Illustrator reviews on G2!

Sketchbook Reviews

Overall, users have given Sketchbook a rating of 4.6 out of 5. While many appreciate its variety of brushes and intuitive interface, some find the limited functions and mobile app usability frustrating.

  • "Great variety of brushes, but limited functions compared to other drawing software." - Gal, 3/5
  • "Easy to use, but the mobile app is not as user-friendly as the desktop version." - Miriam, 4/5
  • "Helpful brushes and supports stylus, but difficulty in drawing lines on mobile with a digital graphics tablet." - Christopher, 4/5

Find more of Sketchbook reviews on G2!

Piktochart Reviews

Our users have given Piktochart an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, variety of templates, and the ability to create professional visuals without design experience.

  • "Easy to create content even if you're not a designer." - Jessica D.
  • "My Go-To for ALL Professional Presentations!" - Jennifer K.
  • "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 to create scalable vector graphics with professional precision and advanced features like generative AI tools would prefer Adobe Illustrator. This is ideal for graphic designers, marketing professionals, and businesses requiring high-quality, versatile design capabilities.

Why Choose Sketchbook:

  • Consumers who seek a natural drawing experience with professional-grade tools and an unobtrusive interface would prefer Sketchbook. This is perfect for artists and creative individuals who want to focus on sketching and detailed artwork.

Why Choose Piktochart:

  • Consumers who need to create engaging visual content quickly and easily without advanced design skills would prefer Piktochart. This is ideal for communications professionals, educators, and marketers looking for a user-friendly tool with a variety of templates and AI-powered features.

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

Whether you're a professional designer, an artist, or someone looking to create stunning visuals without any design experience, there's a tool for you. Adobe Illustrator and Sketchbook offer powerful features tailored to specific creative needs. However, for those who want an intuitive, all-in-one solution to transform complex ideas into captivating visuals effortlessly, we recommend giving Piktochart a try. It's designed to make visual communication accessible and engaging for everyone.