The Best Adobe Alternatives For 2024 (Free Software TIER LIST)

Davies Media Design
28 Aug 202313:18

TLDRIn this video, the host presents a tier list of Adobe alternatives for 2024, covering both free and commercial software options. WordPress is highlighted as an S-tier CMS for website design, while GIMP is ranked as a B-tier photo editor due to its lack of certain advanced features compared to Photoshop. Blender is praised as an S-tier software for its constant innovation in 3D animation and modeling. Darktable, a raw image processor, is a B-tier choice, and Scribus, a desktop publishing software, is considered a D-tier option. Krita stands out as an A-tier digital painting software, and Penpot, a UI/UX prototyping tool, is an A-tier alternative to Figma. DaVinci Resolve is recognized as an S-tier video editor, and Drupal is a B-tier CMS. Inkscape, a vector graphics software, is C-tier due to stability issues. On the commercial side, Affinity by Serif is an A-tier suite offering photo, design, and publishing tools, and Canva is an S-tier browser-based design platform for non-designers, offering collaboration and AI features.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 WordPress is considered an S-tier CMS for designing websites without coding, being the industry standard with extensive support and developer activity.
  • 🎨 GIMP is a powerful free photo editing tool, but it has slipped to a B-tier due to falling behind Photoshop in features like adjustment layers and AI implementation.
  • 🚀 Blender is an S-tier software for 3D animation and modeling, continuously developed and innovative, even recognized by Adobe with financial contributions.
  • 📈 Darktable is a B-tier raw processing software, offering scientifically based image adjustments but has a steep learning curve compared to other software like Lightroom.
  • 📚 Scribus, while a potential InDesign alternative, is considered a D-tier software due to its outdated UI/UX and lack of new development.
  • 🖌️ Krita is an A-tier digital painting software with unique features and a strong community, surpassing basic photo editing capabilities.
  • 🔍 Penpot is an A-tier UI/UX prototyping tool, similar to Figma, with growing developer activity and adoption by notable organizations.
  • ✂️ DaVinci Resolve is an S-tier video editing software, a strong alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro with ongoing development and third-party add-ons.
  • 🌐 Drupal is a CMS similar to WordPress but with a steeper learning curve and fewer plugins, considered a B-tier software.
  • 📐 Inkscape is a C-tier vector graphics software, a strong alternative to Illustrator with new features but suffers from stability issues.
  • 💰 Affinity by Serif is an A-tier suite of professional graphic design software offering similar features to Adobe products with a more intuitive UI/UX.
  • 🌟 Canva is an S-tier browser-based design tool aimed at non-designers, offering a wide range of templates, collaboration features, and expanding its capabilities with AI and video editing.

Q & A

  • What is the industry standard content management system (CMS) for designing websites?

    -WordPress is considered the industry standard CMS for designing websites, especially for those who want to design without coding.

  • What is the best free photo editing alternative to Photoshop mentioned in the video?

    -GIMP is mentioned as the best free photo editing alternative to Photoshop, offering a range of photo manipulation features.

  • Why has GIMP's ranking slipped from an A-tier to a B-tier software?

    -GIMP's ranking has slipped due to its falling behind on features that Photoshop has made standard, such as adjustment layers, non-destructive editing, smart objects, and vector shape tools, as well as the lack of AI implementation.

  • Which software is recognized as an industry disruptor and has even received contributions from Adobe?

    -Blender is recognized as an industry disruptor and has received contributions from Adobe, being used for 3D animation, sculpting, and video production.

  • How does the video describe Darktable in comparison to Adobe Lightroom?

    -Darktable is described as raw processing software that is more scientifically based and has a steeper learning curve compared to Lightroom, which uses sliders for adjustments. Darktable offers great color results but is placed as B-tier software due to its UI/UX.

  • What is Scribus and how does it compare to Adobe InDesign?

    -Scribus is desktop publishing software that some people consider as a potential replacement for InDesign. However, it is considered D-tier software due to its outdated UI/UX and lack of new development.

  • What are the unique features of Krita that make it stand out as a digital painting software?

    -Krita has unique features like a carousel for selecting different brush types and offers a variety of textures, making it an A-tier software for digital painting, despite some basic photo editing capabilities.

  • How does Penpot compare to Figma, especially after Figma's acquisition by Adobe?

    -Penpot is a UI/UX prototyping tool that has gained attention as an alternative to Figma after its acquisition by Adobe. It is considered A-tier software due to its active development, new feature additions, and support from various organizations.

  • Why is DaVinci Resolve considered the industry standard alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro?

    -DaVinci Resolve is considered the industry standard alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro because it offers similar features, is constantly in development, and has a strong community with third-party add-ons.

  • What are the key differences between Drupal and WordPress as CMS platforms?

    -Drupal is considered a B-tier CMS platform that may not have as many third-party plugins or themes as WordPress, has a steeper learning curve, but is known for its great security and is used by many big companies.

  • How does Inkscape compare to Adobe Illustrator in terms of features and stability?

    -Inkscape is a scalable vector graphics software that has done a great job as an alternative to Illustrator, with new features in recent releases. However, it is considered C-tier software due to stability issues and the lack of CMYK features.

  • What are the Affinity products by Serif and how do they compare to their Adobe counterparts?

    -Affinity by Serif includes Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher, collectively known as the Affinity Trinity. They offer similar features to Adobe's Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, respectively, and are considered A-tier software due to their great UI/UX and intuitiveness.

  • How does Canva differentiate itself in the design and content creation space?

    -Canva is a browser-based content creation and design platform aimed at non-designers, offering free features with a premium model for additional templates and features. It is expanding its audience with collaboration features, AI implementation, and a video editor, making it an S-tier creative app.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Adobe Alternatives Tier List

The video introduces a tier list featuring common Adobe alternatives, including both free and commercial options. The speaker promotes their website, Davies Media Design, and their online masterclasses on Udemy. WordPress is highlighted as an S-tier CMS for website design, praised for its industry standard, stability, and extensive support and developer activity. GIMP is discussed as a free photo editing alternative to Photoshop but is ranked as B-tier due to its lack of certain advanced features and recent decline in community activity. Blender is acclaimed as an S-tier software for its continuous development and innovation in 3D animation, sculpting, and video production, even receiving contributions from Adobe. Darktable is presented as B-tier raw processing software, similar to Lightroom, but with a steeper learning curve. Scribus, a desktop publishing software, is ranked as D-tier due to its outdated UI/UX and lack of new development. Krita is highlighted as an A-tier digital painting software with unique features and a strong community. Penpot is introduced as an A-tier UI/UX prototyping tool, gaining popularity as an alternative to Figma after its acquisition by Adobe. DaVinci Resolve is recognized as an S-tier video editing software, considered an industry standard alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro. Drupal and Inkscape are discussed; Drupal is ranked as a B-tier CMS with a steeper learning curve but great security, while Inkscape, a vector graphics software, is C-tier due to stability issues despite its recent feature updates.

05:02

💼 Commercial Adobe Alternatives: Affinity and Canva

The video discusses commercial alternatives to Adobe software, focusing on Affinity by Serif and Canva. Affinity, consisting of Photo, Designer, and Publisher, is an A-tier suite offering comprehensive features comparable to Adobe's tools, with unique features like developed persona for raw image editing and Studio Link for seamless program integration. Canva, a browser-based design and content creation platform, is recognized as an S-tier creative app, catering to non-designers with a user-friendly interface, offering free and premium features, collaboration tools, AI capabilities, and a video editor. Despite the speaker's personal preference, Canva's widespread use and professional adoption are acknowledged.

Mindmap

Keywords

Adobe Alternatives

Adobe Alternatives refer to software programs that serve similar functions to those found in Adobe's suite of applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. In the video, the host discusses various free and commercial alternatives to Adobe's products, which are useful for users seeking different options for photo editing, 3D animation, and content creation.

Tier List

A tier list is a ranking system that categorizes items into different levels or 'tiers' based on their quality, features, or popularity. In this context, the host creates a tier list to rank different Adobe alternatives, providing viewers with a clear hierarchy of software options according to their perceived value and utility.

WordPress

WordPress is a content management system (CMS) widely recognized for designing and building websites. It is mentioned as an S-tier software in the video, highlighting its industry-standard status, extensive developer support, and the vast array of plugins and themes available, making it a top choice for website creation without the need for coding.

GIMP

GIMP, which stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used as an alternative to Adobe Photoshop. The video discusses GIMP's rich feature set for photo manipulation but also notes its shortcomings, such as the lack of certain advanced features like adjustment layers and AI implementation, placing it in the B-tier.

Blender

Blender is an open-source 3D creation suite used for 3D modeling, animation, and video production. It is praised in the video as an S-tier software due to its constant development, innovative features, and industry-disrupting capabilities. Blender is recognized for its ability to replace other professional software like Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D.

Darktable

Darktable is raw processing software, often compared to Adobe Lightroom. It is known for its scientific approach to photo editing, offering precise control over image adjustments through graphs and curves. The video ranks it as B-tier software, noting its steep learning curve and the need for a more user-friendly interface to reach a higher tier.

Scribus

Scribus is desktop publishing software that some consider as a potential replacement for Adobe InDesign. However, the video suggests that it falls short in comparison, citing the need for UI/UX updates and additional features. It is ranked as D-tier software due to its perceived lack of development and community support.

Krita

Krita is a digital painting software that excels in areas where Adobe Photoshop does not, particularly for digital artists looking to paint their own works. The video praises its user interface, unique features like the brush carousel, and stable performance, ranking it as an A-tier software for digital painting.

Penpot

Penpot is a UI/UX prototyping tool that has emerged as an alternative to Figma, especially after Figma's acquisition by Adobe. The video highlights Penpot's active development, useful built-in features, and growing adoption by organizations, earning it an A-tier ranking in the list of Adobe alternatives.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software developed by Blackmagic Design. It is considered an industry-standard alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro, offering similar features and extensive development support. The video ranks it as an S-tier software for its comprehensive capabilities and third-party add-ons.

Drupal

Drupal is another content management system similar to WordPress but with a steeper learning curve and fewer third-party plugins. It is known for its security and is used by large companies. The video ranks Drupal as a B-tier software, based on its functionality and the community's feedback.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector graphics software, often compared to Adobe Illustrator. It is noted for its recent updates and new features like the page tool and shape builder tool. However, the video ranks Inkscape as C-tier due to its stability issues and lack of certain professional features like CMYK support.

Highlights

The video presents a tier list of Adobe alternatives for 2024, including both free and commercial software.

WordPress is ranked as an S-tier software for its industry-standard status in website design without coding.

GIMP is considered a B-tier software due to its stability and photo manipulation features, despite lacking some advanced Photoshop tools.

Blender is recognized as an S-tier software for its constant development and innovation in 3D animation and other creative fields.

Darktable is a B-tier software for its scientifically-based raw image processing, though it has a steep learning curve.

Scribus is ranked as a D-tier software, needing UI/UX updates and new features to compete with Adobe InDesign.

Krita is an A-tier software for digital painting, offering unique features and a strong community support.

Penpot is an A-tier UI/UX prototyping tool, gaining popularity as an alternative to Adobe's Figma.

DaVinci Resolve is an S-tier video editing software, offering industry-standard features and active development.

Drupal is considered a B-tier CMS with great security and used by many large companies, though not as popular as WordPress.

Inkscape is a C-tier vector graphics software, offering a good alternative to Adobe Illustrator but with stability issues.

Affinity by Serif is an A-tier suite of creative software offering comprehensive tools similar to Adobe's offerings.

Canva is an S-tier creative app for marketers and content creators, known for its browser-based design and collaboration features.

Adobe has contributed to Blender's development, recognizing its impact as an industry disruptor.

GIMP's community has seen a decrease in developer activity, affecting its ranking.

Blender's versatility allows it to replace programs like After Effects, Cinema 4D, and sometimes Premiere Pro.

Darktable's scientific approach to raw image processing sets it apart from other photo editing software.

Krita's carousel feature for brush selection and texture offerings enhance the digital painting experience.

Penpot's recent developer activity and new feature additions make it a strong alternative to Figma.

DaVinci Resolve stands out as a comprehensive video editing software, often compared to Adobe Premiere Pro.

Inkscape's recent updates include significant features like the page tool and shape builder tool.

Affinity's Studio Link feature allows seamless transitions between the Affinity suite of design programs.

Canva's success in implementing AI features and expanding its audience marks it as a significant creative tool.