Inkscape review

Inkscape is the free vector editor to beat for people who work directly with SVG. It writes standards-compliant SVG as its native format and includes an XML editor so you can watch and change the document tree as you draw, which suits web designers, plotter and cutter users, and developers. The drawing toolset is deep for a free project: a pen tool with Bezier, Spiro, Spline and B-Spline modes, a calligraphy tool, a shape builder, Boolean operations, mesh gradients and more than 130 bundled pattern fills. Live Path Effects such as Power Stroke, Offset and Pattern along Path modify paths non-destructively, and bitmap tracing turns raster images into color or monochrome paths. Export covers PNG, PDF, AI, EPS, DXF and PostScript, and command line options let you batch conversions. The tradeoffs are support and teamwork: there is no paid help desk and no cloud workspace, and the interface takes adjustment for anyone coming from Adobe.

Who it is for

anyone who needs a free, open source SVG editor

Price

Free and open source.

Inkscape is a powerful, free design tool
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 14, 2026.

Key features

• Pen tool with Bezier, Spiro, Spline and B-Spline modes
• Live Path Effects such as Power Stroke, Offset, Bend and Pattern along Path
• Bitmap tracing to color or monochrome paths
• Exports PNG, PDF, AI, EPS, DXF and PostScript, with command line conversion
• Built-in XML editor for live editing of the SVG document tree

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free and open source with no paid tier
• Strength: Standards-compliant SVG output, according to Inkscape
• Strength: Shape builder, Boolean operations and mesh gradients included
• Weakness: No built-in cloud collaboration or sharing
• Weakness: No vendor support plan; help comes from forums, chat and docs
• Weakness: Interface follows its own conventions, so Illustrator shortcuts need relearning

Key facts

• Price: Free, open source
• Current version: 1.4.4
• Native format: SVG
• Zoom: 1% to 25,600%

Where it ranks

Inkscape is No. 2 in our Best Vector Graphics Software verdict.