Adobe Express vs Adobe Illustrator Comparison
Compare Adobe Express and Adobe Illustrator side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Adobe Express and Adobe Illustrator are both strong contenders in the design tools space, but they serve different needs. Adobe Illustrator edges ahead with an overall score of 78/100 compared to Adobe Express's 72/100. Adobe Express is easier to get started with (9/10 for ease of use vs 6/10). On pricing, Adobe Express offers a free tier while Adobe Illustrator requires a paid plan from $23/mo. Adobe Express rates higher for value for money (8/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Adobe Express | Adobe Illustrator | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 72/100 | 78/100 |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $23/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Quick design for everyone | Industry-standard vector graphics editor |
Pricing comparison
Adobe Illustrator
No free tier
Illustrator (Annual)$23/mo
Illustrator (Monthly)$35/mo
All Apps (Annual)$55/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Calculate your cost
Adobe ExpressFree
Free/mo
Free/yr
Cheaper— save $276/yr
Adobe IllustratorIllustrator (Annual)
$23/mo
$276/yr
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Adobe Express | Adobe Illustrator |
|---|---|---|
| Vector editing | Basic | Yes |
| Prototyping | No | No |
| Components | Templates | Symbols |
| Auto-layout | Smart resize | No |
collaboration
| Feature | Adobe Express | Adobe Illustrator |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time editing | Yes | Cloud docs |
| Comments | Yes | Yes |
| Version history | Basic | Yes |
| Dev handoff | No | No |
advanced
| Feature | Adobe Express | Adobe Illustrator |
|---|---|---|
| Design systems | Brand kit | Libraries |
| Plugins | No | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | Basic |
| Responsive design | Resize | No |
integrations
| Feature | Adobe Express | Adobe Illustrator |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Stock | Yes | No |
| Adobe Fonts | Yes | No |
| Google Drive | Yes | No |
| Dropbox | Yes | No |
| Photoshop | No | Yes |
| InDesign | No | Yes |
| After Effects | No | Yes |
| Figma | No | Via plugin |
Ratings breakdown
Choose Adobe Express if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose Adobe Illustrator if...
- You're ready to invest from $23/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
