Inkscape is a free and open source design software focused on vector illustration. Designs done on Inkscape can be exported in different formats, and the software can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux. We compiled Inkscape reviews from around the web and found that Inkscape has mixed ratings. We also compared the most popular pricing options for small business owners.
Inkscape Customer Reviews
Ease of Use: Fair
Customer Service: Fair
Pricing: Good
Summary of Inkscape Reviews
What Inkscape does well:
Users who gave Inkscape a positive review like that it’s free and is a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator.
What Inkscape does not do well:
Users who gave Inkscape a negative review said that the interface is a bit outdated and non-intuitive. Mac users specifically mentioned having issues getting used to working with the different shortcuts and tools.
Most Helpful Positive User Review
A positive reviewer from the site G2 Crowd said that Inkscape is not just a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator, but rather a fully functional and viable solution. He said he has used both Inkscape and Illustrator, and he noticed that Inkscape competes very well and even has some notable advantages. For example, he cited that it comes with a lot of great extensions and filters for creating complex vector items such as gears and even fonts.
Most Helpful Negative User Review
A reviewer from G2 Crowd said that he experienced occasional bugs and crashes more frequently than with other similar tools. He also mentioned that there tends to be a lot of incompatibilities when he tries to import elements or images from other software.
Other Inkscape Reviews From Users Around the Web
Here are a few other resources for finding helpful Inkscape reviews from customers. We rated the review sites on a scale from poor to excellent based on how trustworthy and useful the reviews seemed.
| *Average rating as of date article was written: Sep 6, 2017 | |||
Inkscape Pricing
Inkscape is completely free and adheres to open source standards. This means it is free of cost, free to distribute, free to use, and the source code is open for everyone to look at. It can be installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
There are a lot of file formats that can be imported to Inkscape such as SVG, PDF, JPEG, and PNG. However, the file formats Inkscape can export the work into is slightly more limited. Learn more about all the options here.
A large community is available for users to gain more insight about the product — whether it be usage, troubleshooting, or design techniques. Users can also opt to send an email to the support team for more in-depth assistance.
Compare Inkscape Competitors
Not sure if Inkscape is the right design software for your small business? Look through our design software reviews for more options.
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Jennifer Sewill
Verified Review
This reviewer provided a screenshot to verify they are an active user of the product.
Review SourceFitSmallBusiness invited user to leave a review and offered a nominal gift card as a thank you.
Inkscape is a GREAT tool for making graphics scaleable. I use it in my graphic design business often. I can make something from scratch or open a file and re create it very easily.
It takes a bit to figure out how to use the program. Probably a 6/10 on ease of use.
NA
Verified Review
This reviewer provided a screenshot to verify they are an active user of the product.
Mohamed Isah
Review SourceOrganic
Inkscape has (at least as far as I’ve used either program) very comparable functionality to Adobe Illustrator. But, it’s free. It’s got great flexibility in terms of file formats, as well.
There is not a lot of support/ documentation available for teaching yourself how to use Inkscape, especially if you are not familiar with vector-based programs. If you are already competent in AI or something similar, you should have no problem picking up Inkscape with the tutorials that are available. However, if you’re brand-new, it will be much more difficult.
If you are new to vector graphics, you should probably familiarize yourself with another program that has more documentation available first.
Arya Bittu
Review SourceOrganic
Inkscape is really easy to get into, but you do need to know how to draw, obviously. However, the basic tools are there – just like with similair illustration programs, so novice users still can have something ready within minutes. And since the program is open source, there is a lively user base to show you the way if you get lost. I’ve found a few nice tutorials on youtube.
Sometimes the options you need are hard to find and the program structure can be slightly different then you might expect, especially if you are used to Adobe programs. I also had some memory problems.
Many options to work with. It’s a flexible piece of software.
Khalisa Karma
Review SourceOrganic
I can create an SVG files from any image or from scratch or import one and make changes. I love using it with my Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. I can also have the file saved in the format that I need it to use with my Cricut or other programs. I can also use it to make banners and cover pages for FaceBook. That there is a Good selection of tools for drawing and editing graphic objects.
Not so user friendly, unable to do something that I can in other programs. That some of the tools are on each side of the screen and that there is not a quick guide. That the collapsing of side palettes is a little small and that the floating tools palette can’t be reconfigured. that the 3D Boxes tool looks a little gimmicky and that there is no PMS color support.
Not so user friendly.
Robin Rojas Duno
Review SourceOrganic
You can create 3D shapes that even shading areas, you can create graphics for any specification, you can even make curves in graphics. Almost everything a high school geometry teacher should create can be done in Inkscape.
There is a learning curve. Once you learn the secrets, things go pretty well, but it may take a little to learn all the secrets. I recommend finding some tutorials on YouTube to get started.
In general, I enjoy this program for my math classes in high school. I have various forms and “stock” graphics created that I can quickly modify for specific needs.