Free vector graphics software lets you draw shapes, paths and text that scale to any size without going blurry, then save them as SVG, PDF or PNG. The useful split is browser versus desktop, and open source versus company-owned. Ten editors follow in no particular order, with the free plan column showing what each vendor's page says.
Logos, icons, illustrations and print files all start life as vectors, because a vector stays sharp whether it's on a business card or a billboard. You don't need to pay for a big design suite to work with them. Several capable editors are free, open source or run in a browser with nothing to install.
The ten below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Every description comes from each vendor's own website, read as of Oct 2026. Where a page didn't name a free plan, I've said so in the table rather than guessed.
Free vector editors side by side
I checked the free plan column on each vendor's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free plan, a free version or a free allowance, or calls the product free. Trial only means the page names a time-limited free trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, so check the vendor's own site before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affinity | Design, photo and layout app | Vector, pixel and layout work in one app | Not stated |
| draw.io | Diagramming tool | Diagrams exported as SVG | Yes |
| Figma | Collaborative design canvas | Interface design and vector illustration with a team | Not stated |
| Gravit Designer | Online vector editor (now CorelDRAW Go) | Browser vector drawing with node editing | Not stated |
| Linearity Curve | Vector design and AI generator | Editable graphics and on-brand campaign visuals | Not stated |
| Lunacy | Free desktop design app | Offline design with built-in icons and illustrations | Yes |
| Penpot | Open source design platform | Self-hosted design with open SVG standards | Yes |
| Photopea | Browser photo and graphics editor | Editing SVG, AI and EPS files in a browser | Yes |
| Vector Ink | Online SVG editor | Drawing and exporting vectors with no sign-up | Yes |
| Vectr | Cloud vector editor and logo maker | Simple vector graphics and logos with live collaboration | Not stated |
Ten vector graphics editors to try
Affinity
Best for: Designers who want vector design, photo editing and page layout in one app, now offered alongside Canva.
draw.io
Best for: Flowcharts and diagrams rather than illustration, exported to SVG, PNG or PDF, from a desktop app that's free with no sign-up.
Figma
Best for: Teams designing interfaces together, with a Draw product that adds advanced vector tools for illustration.
Gravit Designer
Best for: Former users, as its address now opens CorelDRAW Go, an online design app with vector drawing, brushes and anchor-point editing.
Linearity Curve
Best for: Marketers making editable shapes, illustrations and social assets, now pitched as an AI design generator for on-brand campaigns.
Lunacy
Best for: Windows, Mac and Linux users who want free desktop design software with built-in icons, illustrations and photos.
Penpot
Best for: Teams that want an open source design platform they can self-host, built on open standards such as SVG, CSS and HTML.
Photopea
Best for: Opening and editing SVG, AI, EPS and CDR files in a browser, with vector tools for logos and icons, and files that never leave your device.
Vector Ink
Best for: Quick vector work in the browser with nothing to install, plus a font builder and free tools to vectorise and upscale images.
Vectr
Best for: Beginners making logos and simple graphics with real-time collaboration, plus converters from JPG or PNG to SVG.
Is it a vector editor, or something else?
A vector editor is where you do the drawing: pen tool, anchor points, shapes and text. That's different from an image vectoriser, which converts an existing picture into vectors for you, and from an AI SVG generator, which makes the artwork from a prompt. This list is about the editors.
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Name changes worth knowing
Two things surprised me on the vendor pages. The address for Gravit Designer, a long-time free option, now opens CorelDRAW Go, Corel's online design app. And the Affinity page now leads with professional creative software and pairs the app with Canva.
One more: a well-known diagram tool turns up on lots of vector lists, but its own page calls it security-first diagramming for teams. It exports SVG, so it's handy for flowcharts, but it isn't built for illustration.
Browser, desktop or open source?
- In the browser. Nothing to install, and you can work from any computer. One browser editor here says files never leave your device, because it runs on your own computer's processor.
- On the desktop. Better for big files and offline work. One free desktop app here runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Open source. You can see the code, self-host it and keep your files in open formats, which matters if you're worried about a tool changing hands, as one on this list has.
Figma is on this list, and if you already work in it, our guide to popular Figma plugins shows the add-ons people install most.
What to check before you commit
- Export formats. Make sure it saves clean SVG, PDF and PNG, and opens the files your printer or developer sends you.
- Pen and node tools. Try drawing a curve and editing its anchor points, because that's the heart of vector work.
- Fonts and text. Check you can convert text to outlines before you send a logo to print.
- Collaboration. If a client or colleague needs to comment, a browser tool is easier to share.
- Free limits. Check what the free version caps, such as projects or exports, before you build a library of work in it.
If you're making a logo, my roundup of free logo makers is a faster starting point.
Do you make vector graphics or design software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on free vector graphics software
If you want a free tool you won't outgrow, start with an open source editor or a free desktop app, because your files stay in formats you control. If you collaborate with a team on interface work, a browser canvas makes more sense. And if you only need the odd diagram exported as SVG, a diagram tool will do the job without learning a full design app.
New to the jargon? My guide to key graphic design terms explains the basics in plain English.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is free vector graphics software?
It's a design app that lets you draw shapes, paths and text as vectors, so artwork scales to any size without losing quality, and exports to formats such as SVG.
Is there open source vector graphics software?
Yes. One design platform on this list is open source and can be self-hosted, and one diagram tool publishes Apache 2.0 licensed source code.
Can I edit SVG files for free in a browser?
Yes. Several tools here open and edit SVG files in the browser, and some don't need an account.
What's the difference between a vector editor and an image vectoriser?
A vector editor is where you draw and edit vector artwork. An image vectoriser converts an existing picture, such as a JPG logo, into vectors automatically.
Which vector tools have changed hands?
When I checked, one long-time free editor's address opened CorelDRAW Go, and another app's page now pairs it with Canva.
