FreeHand, a vector-based drawing program, has been a popular tool among designers for creating illustrations, layouts, and graphics. However, due to its discontinuation and evolving industry trends, designers may be seeking alternatives to FreeHand in 2024. In this article, we will explore the ten best FreeHand alternatives and competitors available.

1. Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is widely recognized as the industry standard vector graphics editor. It offers powerful tools and features for creating stunning illustrations, logos, and artwork. With its intuitive interface and extensive customization options, Adobe Illustrator allows designers to bring their creative visions to life. Its seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications makes it a top choice for professional designers.

Key Features:

Reading more:

  • Extensive tools and features
  • Intuitive interface
  • Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud

Benefits:

  • Industry-standard vector graphics editor
  • Extensive customization options

2. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a versatile vector graphics editor that provides a wide range of creative tools for designing graphics, illustrations, and page layouts. With its powerful features and user-friendly interface, CorelDRAW caters to both professional designers and beginners. It offers advanced typography tools, precise object positioning, and excellent compatibility with other software. CorelDRAW is a robust alternative to FreeHand with its comprehensive set of design capabilities.

Key Features:

  • Wide range of creative tools
  • User-friendly interface
  • Advanced typography tools

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive set of design capabilities

3. Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a feature-rich vector graphics editor that rivals Adobe Illustrator in terms of functionality and performance. It offers a smooth and responsive experience, making it ideal for complex illustrations and designs. Affinity Designer supports both raster and vector graphics, allowing designers to combine the best of both worlds seamlessly. Its affordable pricing and one-time purchase model make it an attractive alternative for budget-conscious designers.

Key Features:

  • Smooth and responsive performance
  • Support for raster and vector graphics
  • Affordable pricing

Benefits:

  • Feature-rich alternative to Adobe Illustrator
  • One-time purchase model

4. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that provides a robust set of design tools and features. It offers a wide range of drawing tools, shape manipulation options, and advanced object transformations. Inkscape supports SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) as its native file format and has an active community that continually develops new extensions and plugins. With its accessibility and powerful functionality, Inkscape is a solid alternative to FreeHand.

Key Features:

  • Free and open-source
  • Wide range of drawing tools
  • Active community support

Benefits:

Reading more:

  • Powerful functionality
  • Robust set of design tools

5. Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is a cloud-based vector design application that allows designers to create stunning graphics and illustrations. It offers a modern and intuitive interface with a comprehensive set of design tools. Gravit Designer supports real-time collaboration, making it a great choice for teams working on design projects remotely. With its cross-platform compatibility and ease of use, Gravit Designer is an excellent alternative to FreeHand.

Key Features:

  • Cloud-based design application
  • Modern and intuitive interface
  • Real-time collaboration

Benefits:

  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Ease of use

6. Sketch

Sketch is a popular vector graphics editor designed specifically for UI/UX design. It offers a streamlined and efficient workflow, making it ideal for creating user interfaces, icons, and web designs. Sketch provides a vast library of plugins and integrations that enhance its functionality and extend its capabilities. With its focus on digital design and prototyping, Sketch is a powerful alternative to FreeHand for UI/UX designers.

Key Features:

  • Streamlined workflow for UI/UX design
  • Vast library of plugins and integrations

Benefits:

  • Optimized for digital design and prototyping

7. Vectr

Vectr is a free vector graphics editor that offers simplicity and ease of use. It provides essential design tools for creating vector-based graphics and illustrations. Vectr's intuitive interface and real-time collaboration features make it suitable for beginners and small design teams. While it may not have the advanced features of other alternatives, Vectr is an accessible option for designers looking for a straightforward and user-friendly alternative to FreeHand.

Key Features:

  • Simplicity and ease of use
  • Real-time collaboration features

Benefits:

  • Intuitive interface
  • Accessible for beginners and small design teams

8. Figma

Figma is a cloud-based design tool that enables collaboration and prototyping in real-time. It offers a wide range of design tools and features for creating interactive designs, user interfaces, and prototypes. Figma's collaborative capabilities make it an excellent choice for design teams working on projects together remotely. With its cloud-based nature and robust feature set, Figma provides a compelling alternative to FreeHand.

Reading more:

Key Features:

  • Cloud-based design tool
  • Real-time collaboration and prototyping

Benefits:

  • Collaboration capabilities
  • Robust feature set

9. Xara Designer Pro

Xara Designer Pro is a comprehensive design software that combines vector illustration, photo editing, and desktop publishing capabilities. It offers a wide range of design tools and features for creating professional-grade graphics and layouts. Xara Designer Pro's intuitive interface and seamless integration of different design modules make it a versatile alternative to FreeHand.

Key Features:

  • Vector illustration, photo editing, and desktop publishing capabilities
  • Wide range of design tools
  • Seamless integration of design modules

Benefits:

  • Versatile alternative for professional-grade graphics and layouts

10. Canva

Canva is a web-based design platform that provides an extensive library of templates, graphics, and fonts. It offers a simple drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible to users with little to no design experience. Canva is ideal for creating social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials. While it may not have the advanced features of other alternatives, Canva is a user-friendly option for quick and easy graphic design tasks.

Key Features:

  • Extensive library of templates, graphics, and fonts
  • Simple drag-and-drop interface

Benefits:

  • User-friendly design platform
  • Ideal for quick and easy graphic design tasks

In conclusion, while FreeHand was once a popular vector graphics editor, there are several alternatives and competitors available in 2024 that offer robust features, enhanced functionality, and improved usability. Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Affinity Designer, Inkscape, Gravit Designer, Sketch, Vectr, Figma, Xara Designer Pro, and Canva are the top ten FreeHand alternatives and competitors to consider. Each alternative has its own unique features and target audience, so it's essential to evaluate your specific design needs before choosing the most suitable option for your projects.