One of the requirements of starting and running a business these days, whether it’s online or not, is that you have access to certain tools, or software. And the Adobe Creative Suite is the most likely place you’ll look for design software.
However, as a small business owner on a presumably small budget, you might find it difficult to justify the cost. The good news is that there are some fantastic alternatives to the Adobe Creative Suite that offer similar features at a much more affordable cost.
Here are six of the best alternatives:
Affinity Suite
Affinity offers a set of three design tools you can purchase individually or as a bundle. Affinity Photo is a workable alternative to Photoshop, Affinity Designer can replace Illustrator, and Affinity Publisher is an excellent substitute for InDesign.
Each application currently costs a one-time fee of $49.99, which is significantly cheaper than Adobe’s monthly subscription model.
Canva
Canva is a user-friendly tool for designing graphics that allows you to create amazing designs with ease, even if you don’t know what you’re doing.
It offers many fonts, images, and templates, making it perfect for creating social media graphics, presentations, marketing materials, and more.
While Canva offers a free version with some limitations, the Pro plan, which currently costs $119.00 per year, gives access to a wealth of extra resources (including, for example, the ability to create graphics with transparent background).
GIMP
GIMP (which is short for the GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source image editor that has been around for over 20 years. It offers equivalent features to Photoshop, making it a powerful option for photo editing and graphic design tasks.
It has to be said that its interface might not be as sleek as Adobe’s, but GIMP‘s extensive set of features and customization options make it well worth considering, especially since it’s FREE.
Inkscape
Inkscape is another free, open-source design tool that can be used as an alternative to Illustrator. It work with vector graphics, which makes it ideal for creating icons, logos, and illustrations.
With its feature-rich set of tools, Inkscape is a great option for small businesses who need or want to save on design software.
Scribus
There’s another free alternative to InDesign called Scribus. This open-source desktop publishing application offers many of the same features as Adobe’s software, so you can create professional-quality layouts for digital or print distribution.
While it may have a slightly steeper learning curve, Scribus is a powerful tool that won’t cost you a penny.
Lightworks
If it’s video editing you need, Lightworks is a robust alternative to Premiere Pro. It’s used by professionals in the film industry, it’s feature-rich, and it supports a variety of formats.
The free version does have some limitations, but upgrading to the Pro plan at $23.99 monthly unlocks additional features and export options.
Summary
Many alternative options to Adobe Creative Suite are available, offering a wide range of tools to meet your specific needs.
By exploring these alternatives and finding the ones that suit you best, you can create captivating visuals and marketing materials to elevate your small business and help you stand out – and all for minimal cost.
