# Adobe Illustrator Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra

> Is Adobe Illustrator the right Graphic Design solution for you? Explore 8641 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/reviews

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Adobe Illustrator

4.8 (8641)

[View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/alternatives/)

Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/)

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Last updated March 13th, 2026

# Reviews of Adobe Illustrator

Ease of use

4.0

Customer Service

4.3

## Pros and Cons in Reviews

Hallye N

Operations ManagerMechanical or Industrial Engineering, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“Adobe Illustrator is a great software that can allow you to complete just about anything with a document that you need, image editing, animation and the customer support is great.“

March 5, 2026

ES

Esther S

Graphic DesignerDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“Adobe Illustrator is available through monthly subscription which can be pricey for students compared to a onetime purchase and also it\`s tools might be quite intimidating for beginners“

February 19, 2026

Gb

Gayak b

Graphic DesignerInformation Technology and Services, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“I love the Recolor artwork where I can manually change the poster color or I can use eye dropper tool and change the entire pallet .“

November 23, 2025

Hayden R

Graphic DesgnerInformation Technology and Services, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“the problem i tend to run into is performing a difficult task and the software can't support it, in the past i've had the file not automatically save and have lost a couple hours work because of this.“

February 26, 2026

RA

Rama A

Freelance Graphic DesignerDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: 6-12 months.

“Illustrator gives me a level of precision and control that’s still unmatched for vector work. Whether I’m building logos, icons, or scalable illustrations, everything stays sharp and consistent.“

December 2, 2025

MC

Marwaan C

employerComputer & Network Security, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“Additionally, the software's reliance on proprietary file formats (e.g., .ai) can sometimes create compatibility issues when collaborating with team members or clients who may not have access to the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite.“

June 29, 2024

RV

Roxana V

Project ManagerConstruction, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“It is a great tool for graphic design thanks to its vector creation capabilities, offering scalability without loss of quality and a wide range of design tools.“

July 10, 2025

Craig T

Director of MarketingInformation Technology and Services, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“I don't like that the shortcuts are different from other Adobe products I use way more often, but i need to use the software more.“

March 13, 2026

## Showing most helpful reviews

Showing 1-25 of 8641 Reviews

Sort by:

Most Helpful

Rating

Company Size

Reviewer's Role

Length of Use

Frequency of Use

Hayden R.  
Graphic Desgner  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Good software for the day to day illustrate designer "

February 26, 2026

5.0

Positive experience with easy to use tools and friendly, understanding interface making it a useful software to use for daily usage.

Pros

The layout of the software makes it easy and rememberable where each tool / effect can be found. The quick speed of the software also makes completing tasks a breeze.

Cons

the problem i tend to run into is performing a difficult task and the software can't support it, in the past i've had the file not automatically save and have lost a couple hours work because of this.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Graphic Designer  
Education Management  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Daily use of Illustrator "

March 20, 2025

4.0

I've been working with Illustrator from past 3 years now. I use it for mainly printing purpose. I use it daily because it has feature of picture editing as well as layers with sub layers, which makes it easier to track the work.

Pros

Because it is all in one kinda app. You can edit pictures, writing documents, make 3D objects. I like the features like smoothening and pen tool. I use them a lot on daily basis. Also the perspective grid makes it easier to understand the view. And all the small changes in tools which can improve its quality.

Cons

Few bugs are there while saving the file. That is annoying.

Switched from

[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

Because photoshop is easier for image editing for sure but for vector graphic part illustrator gives you more freedom.

Review Source

CH

Clifford H.  
Graphic designer  
Graphic Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "The main vector illustration program out there. "

February 21, 2025

3.0

I’ve been using Adobe illustrator for decades; since the 1990s. If I recall they bought out Aldus Freehand which was a far simpler and in my mind far better vector illustration program; I really miss Aldus Freehand - then again I am very old school.

Pros

Creates scalable vector artwork, which can then be imported into a number of other software application applications.

Cons

Overcomplicated; earlier incarnations of illustrator were simpler to use. Too many functions available that I will personally never use as an illustrator. Not happy with having to pay annual subscription fee.

Review Source

Roger A.  
Owner  
Marketing and Advertising  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Powerful tool for professional design. Way better than Canva for certain things"

January 3, 2026

5.0

Overall, my experience has been very good. It is an industry standard tool for professional design, but it takes time and practice to master.

Pros

I like how powerful Illustrator is for vector design and illustration. It gives a lot of control and precision for creating logos, icons, and graphics.

Cons

The learning curve is high and it can be overwhelming at the beginning. Also, it requires a good computer to run smoothly.

Alternatives considered

[Canva](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/)

Reason for choosing Adobe Illustrator

For editing and creating has many options for no extra cost.

Review Source

EJ

Emily J.  
Operations Manager and Graphic Designer  
Health, Wellness and Fitness  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Powerful Product"

June 6, 2025

4.0

Great product, very powerful for editing design work, typography, and so on. It is a steep price in my opinion but the most powerful design software I've ever used.

Pros

I like that it is the standard in the industry for use of digital art and desing work. I use it primarily for logo and content design and features like the Image Trace tool stand out as something I use almost every day.

Cons

There is a huge learning curve. Even as someone who has used it for 5 plus years, there are still things I have not figured out and am still learning how to do.

Switched from

[Canva](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/)

I needed a more powerful design tool and this allowed me to edit things like text, make vector art, etc.

Review Source

Bijay S.  
Senior Creative Manager  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Adobe Illustrator for designer"

March 20, 2025

5.0

I use adobe illustrator for most of my projects like creating package design, flyer design, graphics and others. Also, use it to create book cover design. It made my professional life much easier as it has all the weapons that need for designer.

Pros

I have been using adobe illustrator for many years and it is one of the best vector design software for designers. Very light weight to handle large size vectors. You can create character, logo, background, environment and any digital arts very easily with little experience.

Cons

You need to have some experience to use it. A little expensive.

Switched from

[Adobe InDesign](https://www.capterra.com/p/233314/Adobe-InDesign/)[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

I can do graphic design and magazine design with in single software

Review Source

Hallye N.  
Operations Manager  
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Adobe is the way to go"

March 5, 2026

4.0

Adobe has helped me in many ways for my multiple businesses and in my career. Its a great document and design tool.

Pros

Adobe Illustrator is a great software that can allow you to complete just about anything with a document that you need, image editing, animation and the customer support is great.

Cons

Sometimes when I open the program it does have a lot of features and is a large platform software that it can be a little slow when starting up but once I am in a session it works great for me.

Review Source

Craig T.  
Director of Marketing  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Love to mess around in Illustrator."

March 13, 2026

4.0

Pros

Its a necessary product for any designer / creative professional to provide top\[ quality files for printing and web

Cons

I don't like that the shortcuts are different from other Adobe products I use way more often, but i need to use the software more.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Industry standard and pofessional"

March 25, 2026

5.0

Pros

As an industry standard tool there are no shortage of tutorials available for Illustrator including a vast library from Adobe. Perfect for illustrations, logo design, pattern design or even animation - there is a lot you can do with Illustrator.

Cons

Can be somewhat resource intensive, so you'll need to ensure that your system can handle it. Also the new interfaces can have something of a steep learning curve.

Review Source

ES

Esther S.  
Graphic Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Adobe illustrator review"

February 19, 2026

5.0

Pros

Illustrator uses vector graphics and has quality graphical tools like the pen tool that creates great curves and help in branding and print work.

Cons

Adobe Illustrator is available through monthly subscription which can be pricey for students compared to a onetime purchase and also it\`s tools might be quite intimidating for beginners

Review Source

MY

Mandie Y.  
Director of engagement, marketing, and chief compliance officer  
Commercial Real Estate  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "The best for graphic design, illustration & creative content"

May 6, 2025

5.0

I’ve used illustrator for over twenty five years and still enjoy it.!

Pros

The ease of use, constant development and improvement of tools and now learning to use the ai integration

Cons

Sometimes the new tools can be a bit tricky to master or get used too, ai works but as with anything it’s not perfect

Review Source

CT

Caleb T.  
Mechanical Engineer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Must have program for label creation"

August 28, 2025

5.0

Overall, I am very pleased with my experience. It helps me accomplish my daily tasks, and I plan on using it for the foreseeable future.

Pros

This program is amazing. I use it every day for my job, and it is capable of doing everything I need to succeed. One of the most useful features is its ability to import both DXFs and DWGs. This is especially useful for going back and forth with CAD software. I also like that I can pull in any image and create lines based on it.

Cons

It is not super intuitive, and there is a small learning curve. I wish the sketching more closely resembled other 2-D CAD software, but it is usable. It is especially hard to create unique shapes with fillets and line breaks, but it is doable.

Review Source

MZA

Munammad Zohaib A.  
Social Media Manager  
Construction  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Illustrator- My Love"

July 7, 2025

5.0

My overall experience with Adobe Illustrator is tremendous and I recommend others also to use it, learn it and earn through it.

Pros

Adobe Illustrator first of all is very easy to learn and apply and now it have AI feature as well. I’m using it since from 2019 and I love it to make social media posts, logos, youtube templates and many more.

Cons

It uses too much space of the laptop and sometimes it works very slow due to which it takes time to make social media posts and logos etc.

Review Source

NL

Nayeli L.  
Graphic Designer  
Animation  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Got a practice smart "

July 9, 2025

5.0

I use it for advanced vector design and it really delivers. It's not easy but also not as hard as ppl say. I found the learning curve long and tricky but with practice and using it more, it gets lighter.

Pros

very good tool for vector work, really recommend it for logo design and that kind of stuff. those are the things that stood out the most for me from using it.

Cons

needs a lot of resources like RAM, good processor and graphic card too. Also slower to learn compared to other ones I tried

Review Source

CM

Charlotte M.  
Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Powerful for agile design"

May 18, 2025

5.0

Pros

It's very professional tool, a lot of precision and you can do very clean design. I like the pen tool, it's difficult at start but after you understand, it's very powerful.

Cons

The software is heavy, takes time to open and not very easy for beginners. You need time to learn and it's not cheap also

Review Source

NP

Nolan P.  
Digital Product Partners  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Review Design"

October 8, 2025

5.0

It was a very comprehensive tool that allowed me to achieve precise and professional layouts. Canva the best sofware

Pros

InDesign offered great flexibility in designing complex documents. I particularly liked style management, the numerous typography options, and smooth compatibility with other Adobe software like Photoshop and Illustrator.

Cons

The software required some learning time, especially at the beginning. The subscription was quite expensive, and a powerful computer was needed to avoid

Review Source

DB

David B.  
Marketing  
Machinery  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "A powerful but complex tool for designers"

March 24, 2025

5.0

Overall, Adobe Illustrator is an excellent tool for creating professional vector-based designs. While it takes time to master, its features and flexibility make it a valuable software for designers and artists.

Pros

Adobe Illustrator offers powerful vector design tools, allowing for high-quality graphics and scalability without losing resolution. It is widely used by professionals for logo design, illustrations, and typography.

Cons

The software can be quite complex for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve. Additionally, it is resource-intensive and can slow down older computers.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Associate Pastor  
Non-Profit Organization Management  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "My go to for quality graphics and print"

January 23, 2025

5.0

Pros

I have grown to use and appreciate illustrator more than photoshop. Creating graphics in vector forms preserves the quality and the ability to share files in pdf is the best.

Cons

Some of the common windows and functions are found in different places between the adobe products. Having them all in the same place would be much more efficient.

Review Source

AG

Abraham G.  
Manager  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Excellent for Vector Graphics "

April 24, 2025

5.0

Adobe illustrator offers a user friendly experience with a wide range of tools that makes creating clean illustrations,logos and design simple. I really appreciate the high quality output and seamless integration with other Adobe Apps

Pros

The interface is intuitive, and there are plenty of tools that cater specifically to vector design, making the creative process smooth and efficient

Cons

Working with image files like JPEGs could be more straightforward. The vectorization process doesn't always capture the original image accurately,which can be frustrating at times

Review Source

Michelle T.  
Communications/administrative assistant  
Non-Profit Organization Management  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Outstanding software for illustrators"

December 15, 2018

5.0

Overall, I love Illustrator.

Pros

I absolutely love creating logos, illustrations, t-shirt designs, banners, etc. with illustrator. I could not do my work as a graphic designer without this program. I really love that the Creative Cloud membership gives me all the programs and updates.

Cons

Sometimes the updates seem to make the software more and more complicated.

Review Source

ZL

Zoe L.  
Designer Graphic  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Graphic Designer Tool"

April 16, 2025

5.0

Pros

The new AI tools have drastically automated certain processes and font and CAD library, an admirable interface

Cons

Adobe Illustrator presents a learning curve for newcomers and those coming from other tools, not to mention its pricing

Review Source

MB

Madeleine B.  
User Experience Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Illustrator might be simpler!"

March 23, 2025

5.0

I had used Illustrator and It might be simpler

Pros

It offers a pretty layer system and toolbox, which are powerful for complex projects

Cons

It might be simpler for the drag-drop function

Review Source

MN

Matthieu N.  
Community Manager  
Computer Games  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "We love Adobe Illustrator! "

August 4, 2025

5.0

Pros

Lots of pro features, but still kinda simple once you get the hang of it. Great for clean visuals, and the color editing stuff helps a lot when you want more control. Switching between Adobe apps works super smooth too.

Cons

It’s not that easy to learn though. Just ‘cause you’re good at Photoshop doesn’t mean Illustrator will be simple it’s kinda its own beast. Other than that, no big issues for me.

Review Source

AI

Alex I.  
Graphic Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Design Graphic "

January 14, 2025

5.0

Pros

I like how it offers incredible precision and control when working with vector graphics

Cons

I dislike that it has such a steep learning curve, especially for beginners. The subscription pricing can also feel discouraging if you only need it occasionally. Plus, it’s a bit demanding on your computer, so you’ll need decent hardware to use it smoothly

Review Source

LB

Lauren B.  
Lead Content Creator  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Adobe Illustrator"

May 8, 2025

5.0

I loved using Adobe Illustrator as my drawing and vector design software vector logos and shapes

Pros

Illustrator allows adding many artboards and color swatches, and it was great for crisp curves.

Cons

It charges expensive monthly pricing, and big files lag like glue slowing my Zoom moments, those parts I liked the least

Review Source

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