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Adobe Illustrator vs Adobe Photoshop Comparison
Compare Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop are both strong contenders in the design tools space, but they serve different needs. Adobe Photoshop edges ahead with an overall score of 80/100 compared to Adobe Illustrator's 78/100. Both are equally user-friendly (6/10 each). On pricing, neither offers a free tier — Adobe Illustrator starts at $23/mo and Adobe Photoshop at $20/mo. Adobe Photoshop rates higher for value for money (7/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 78/100 | 80/100 |
| Starting price | $23/mo | $20/mo |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Best for | Industry-standard vector graphics editor | The world's most powerful image editor |
Pricing comparison
Adobe Illustrator
No free tier
Illustrator (Annual)$23/mo
Illustrator (Monthly)$35/mo
All Apps (Annual)$55/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Adobe Photoshop
No free tier
Photography Plan$20/mo
Photoshop (Annual)$23/mo
Photoshop (Monthly)$35/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Calculate your cost
Adobe IllustratorIllustrator (Annual)
$23/mo
$276/yr
Adobe PhotoshopPhotography Plan
$20/mo
$240/yr
Cheaper— save $36/yr
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Vector editing | Yes | Basic |
| Prototyping | No | No |
| Components | Symbols | Smart objects |
| Auto-layout | No | No |
collaboration
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time editing | Cloud docs | Cloud docs |
| Comments | Yes | Yes |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| Dev handoff | No | No |
advanced
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Design systems | Libraries | Libraries |
| Plugins | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Basic | Timeline |
| Responsive design | No | Artboards |
integrations
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Yes | No |
| InDesign | Yes | No |
| After Effects | Yes | Yes |
| Figma | Via plugin | Via plugin |
| Illustrator | No | Yes |
| Lightroom | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
Choose Adobe Illustrator if...
- You're ready to invest from $23/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Adobe Photoshop if...
- You're ready to invest from $20/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
