Adobe Illustrator is a popular vector design tool for graphic designers, illustrators, and logo creators. It is packed with powerful features, yet it is expensive at a cost of $22.99 a month. Illustrator saves its projects in its own file format, proprietary .ai files.
Despite the abbreviation, these files have nothing to do with artificial intelligence (AI). They are exclusive to Illustrator, but the good news is that you do not need Adobe Illustrator to open or edit them.
Working with a client or a freelancer or with a teammate who provides you with AI files, there are free and premium options that allow you to see or edit Illustrator files without having to subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Ways To Edit Adobe Illustrator Files
Inkscape (Free)
Inkscape is one of the best alternatives to Illustrator in case you want something free. It is an open-source vector graphics editor, works with both Windows and macOS. You can open AI files and edit them directly, but it can perform differently depending on the complexity of the file.
Affinity Designer ($69.99 One-Time Purchase)
Affinity Designer is a professional-level alternative to Illustrator. It is used with Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher to offer a complete creative suite. Each program has a one-time fee of $69.99 with no subscription required. Affinity Designer is compatible with Windows and macOS, and it can read and edit AI files easily.
CorelDRAW (Starts at $9.99/Month)
Another powerful option is that CorelDRAW offers multiple pricing tiers
- CorelDRAW Go App: $9.99/month
- CorelDRAW Standard: $299 one-time purchase
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: $329 one-time purchase or $13.25/month
CorelDRAW is popular among professionals and is available with powerful AI file editing tools on Windows and macOS.
Ways To View Adobe Illustrator Files
Dropbox (Free & Paid Plans)
If you do not have to edit AI files, Dropbox is a simple solution for viewing them. You can preview AI files in the cloud with it. Free plans are available, and business subscriptions cost between $9.99 and $24/month per user and include more features, like password-protected sharing.
AI Illustrator File Viewer (Free, Android Only)
On Android devices, you can use AI Illustrator File Viewer app from the Google Play Store. It allows you to preview AI files and even turn them into PNG or PDF files.
Adobe Acrobat (Free & Paid Plans)
Users who want to remain with Adobe products, Adobe Acrobat provides another option.
- Free version: Lets you open, view, comment, and print AI files by converting them into PDFs.
- Acrobat Standard ($12.99/month): Adds editing tools.
- Acrobat Pro ($19.99/month): Unlocks advanced editing and productivity features.
You do not need to depend on Adobe Illustrator to open or edit AI files. You can get a free solution such as Inkscape, a professional alternative such as Affinity Designer or CorelDRAW, or use a simple viewer such as Dropbox or Acrobat.
