Adobe Illustrator vs Penpot Comparison
Compare Adobe Illustrator and Penpot side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Adobe Illustrator and Penpot 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 Penpot's 74/100. Penpot is easier to get started with (7/10 for ease of use vs 6/10). On pricing, Penpot offers a free tier while Adobe Illustrator requires a paid plan from $23/mo. Penpot rates higher for value for money (10/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Adobe Illustrator | Penpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 78/100 | 74/100 |
| Starting price | $23/mo | $7/mo |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Best for | Industry-standard vector graphics editor | Open-source design and prototyping |
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 IllustratorIllustrator (Annual)
$23/mo
$276/yr
PenpotFree
Free/mo
Free/yr
Cheaper— save $276/yr
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Vector editing | Yes | Yes |
| Prototyping | No | Yes |
| Components | Symbols | Yes |
| Auto-layout | No | CSS Grid |
collaboration
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time editing | Cloud docs | Yes |
| Comments | Yes | Yes |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| Dev handoff | No | CSS/SVG export |
advanced
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Design systems | Libraries | Design tokens |
| Plugins | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Basic | Basic |
| Responsive design | No | CSS Grid |
integrations
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Yes | No |
| InDesign | Yes | No |
| After Effects | Yes | No |
| Figma | Via plugin | No |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| SVG export | No | Yes |
| CSS export | No | Yes |
| JSON export | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
Choose Adobe Illustrator if...
- You're ready to invest from $23/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Penpot if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
