Design tool alternatives
Switching tools is usually driven by one specific problem: a price rise, a licence restriction, a platform you no longer use. These guides are organised around that, not around feature checklists.
Every option listed is in the directory, and every one has its real drawback stated. A guide that only lists strengths is a sales page, not a recommendation.
Guides
- Figma alternatives — Penpot, Sketch, Framer and more — for teams leaving per-editor pricing or needing self-hosting.
- Photoshop alternatives — Affinity, GIMP, Photopea and Krita, split by whether you retouch or paint.
- SolidWorks alternatives — Parametric CAD, with the licensing traps in Onshape and Fusion 360 stated up front.
- AutoCAD alternatives — 2D drafting versus 3D modelling, and the DWG compatibility reality.
- Illustrator alternatives — Vector tools for print versus screen — the distinction that decides the answer.
Looking specifically for free and open source swaps? The open source alternatives page covers those in one table. Or browse the full directory of 473 tools.