Updated 30 January, 2020
SVG Authoring Software
Comments about Mac and Windows SVG-authoring programs that have been updated in the past year.
With the exception of the two Adobe products, there are none that permit the creation of SVG files with external images (not embedded).
Sorted by mindshare (number of Google hits).
Requirements for use with Svija
To be used with Svija, the exported SVG file must permit:
- linked external images
- linked external fonts
- custom object id’s
Useful but not essential:
- scripting and/or batch processing
- text & object styles
- guides
- linked external vectors
- header styles for objects (mainly fonts), not inline styles
Adobe Illustrator
link · 72M results · $21/month | $240/year · Mac & Windows · multiple languages
Svija was built for use with Adobe Illustrator, so it works perfectly.
There are a few features offered by Illustrator that cannot be exported to an SVG file without being converted to bitmapped images: meshes and freeform gradients come to mind.
Overall the experience is seamless.
Microsoft Visio
link · 53M results · $280 | $15/month · Windows · multiple languages
Visio is a very complete and professional program with a steep learning curve.
However, it is not suited to building web pages because there is no way to export an SVG file using linked images — all images are embedded in the SVG.
In general, the SVG export feature has an extremely limited set of options.
CorelDRAW
link · 37M results · $630 | $21/month · Mac, App Store, Windows & Microsoft Store · multiple languages
an editor used in the graphic design, sign making and fashion design industries.[9] CorelDRAW is capable of limited interoperation by reading file formats from Adobe Illustrator.[10] CorelDRAW has over 50 import and export filters,[11] on-screen and dialog box editing and the ability to create multi-page documents. It can also generate TrueType and Type 1 fonts, although refined typographic control is better suited to a more specific application.
Adobe XD
link · 12M results · free individual | $10/month/collaborator · Mac & Windows · multiple languages
A vector-based user experience design tool for web apps and mobile apps, developed and published by Adobe Inc.
XD supports website wireframing, and creating simple interactive click-through prototypes.
Sketch
link · 2M results · $99/year · Mac · English
a commercial vector graphics application for macOS. Sketch does not include print design features.[3] Sketch is only available on macOS.
It is primarily a tool for UI and UX designing tool for website and mobile app design, but recently they’ve increased their focus on prototyping, collaboration to make it a more comprehensive platform for digital design.
Sketch is used primarily for designing UI and UX of mobile apps and web. The files designed in Sketch are saved in its own .sketch file format. The designs can also be saved in the popular PNG, JPG, TIFF, WebP, etc., formats. The designs created in Sketch are utilised by app engineers to design mobile apps and by website developers convert designs into websites[5].
Affinity Designer
link · 1.6M results · $55 · Mac, App Store & Windows · multiple languages
non-subscription-based software that is often described as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator. The application can open Portable Document Format (PDF), Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator files, as well as export to those formats and to the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
OmniGraffle
link · 940K results · $250 · Mac & App Store · multiple languages
a vector graphics editor available for Macintosh. It is principally used for creating flow charts and other diagrams. OmniGraffle imports and exports several formats, including Microsoft Visio, SVG, and PDF.
Sketsa SVG Editor
link · 448K results · $89 · Windows · English
Sketsa uses SVG as its native file format. SVG is an open standard language for describing two-dimensional (2D) graphics in XML developed by W3C. As being a XML grammar lets SVG benefit from the various XML tools that make it so easy to manipulate, generate, search and edit SVG files. Sketsa also produces very clean SVG XML code. It is not using any proprietary namespaces.
Sketsa SVG Editor is a free cross-platform SVG drawing application. It includes multiple tools for content creation, allowing you to easily draw, manipulate and edit objects. It also includes a source editor with syntax highlighting. This lets you view and edit the underlying SVG XML source code for maximum control.
Amadine Mac Only
link · 376K results · $20 · Mac & App Store · English
by BeLight Software – Vector drawing app for designing flyers and brochures, drawing illustrations, working on UI, creating websites and logos. Learn more about Amadine
Amadine is the perfect solution for vector graphics design professionals as well as amateurs with creative minds. Developed with precision and attention to what users need, this graphic design app offers every tool and function to bring the craziest ideas to life. User friendliness together with the cutting edge vector drawing tools guarantees a smooth learning curve.
https://amadine.com
sK1
link · 368K results · free · Windows & Linux · English
a free and open-source cross-platform vector editor for Linux and Windows which is oriented for “prepress ready” PostScript & PDF output. The major sK1 features are CMYK colorspace support; CMYK support in Postscript; Cairo-based engine; Color management; multiple document interface; Pango based text engine; Universal CDR importer (7-X4 versions); native wxWidgets based user interface. sK1 can import ai postscript-based files.
It can export ai, SVG, SK, SK1, CGM, WMF, PDF, PS, PLT, CPL, ASE, ACO, JCW, GPL, SOC, SKP file formats.
LibreOffice Draw
link · 252K results · free · Mac, App Store, Windows & Microsoft Store · multiple languages
the vector graphics editor of the LibreOffice open source office suite. It supports many import and export file formats and is available for multiple desktop operating systems. The Document Foundation with the help of others is currently developing Android and online versions of the LibreOffice office suite, including Draw.
Gravit Designer
link · 183K results · $50/year ·Mac & Windows · English
Free (paid Pro version: €99 per year) – available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS and as a web app
Corel’s Gravit Designer is a powerful SVG editor with a lot of extra features compared to some of the other options on the market. Aimed squarely at designers, it’s perfect for creating illustrations, screen designs, presentations, animations and high quality icons. It can even be used to create 3d simulations.
OpenOffice Draw
link · 159K results · free · Mac & Windows · multiple languages
the vector graphics editor of the Apache OpenOffice open source office suite. It supports many import and export file formats and is available for multiple desktop operating systems.
Boxy SVG
link · 41K results · $11 · App Store & Windows · English
Boxy SVG is a really nicely designed SVG editor aimed at both professional web designers and developers, and non-technical users who are just getting started with SVG graphics. Because it uses a Chromium-based rendering system, it renders SVG documents in exactly the same way as your Chrome browser for desktop or mobile. It packs in tons of additional features, including Google Fonts integration, Open Clip Art Library integration, and you can even try it out online for free.
Alternatives
These programs require technical expertise to use.
Inkscape
link · 11M results · free · Mac & Windows · multiple languages
A free and open-source vector editor with the primary native format being SVG. Inkscape is available for Linux, Windows, Mac OS X (using XQuartz) and other Unix-based systems. Inkscape can import SVG, SVGZ, AI, PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF (and other raster graphics formats), CDR (CorelDraw), VSD (Visio) file formats and export SVG, SVGZ, PNG, PDF, PostScript, EPS, EPSi, LaTeX, HPGL, SIF (Synfig Animation Studio), HTML5 Canvas, FXG (Flash XML Graphics) and POVRay file formats. Some formats have additional support through Inkscape extensions, including PDF, EPS, Adobe Illustrator, Dia, Xfig, CGM, sK1 and Sketch. The predecessor of Inkscape was Sodipodi.
Ipe
link · 1M results · free · Mac & Windows · English
lets users draw geometric objects such as polylines, arcs and spline curves and text. Ipe supports use of layers and multiple pages. It can paste bitmap images from clipboard or import from JPEG or BMP, and also through a conversion software it can import PDF figures generated by other software. It differentiates itself from similar programs by including advanced snapping tools and the ability to directly include LaTeX text and equations. Ipe is extensible by use of ipelets, which are plugins written in C++ or Lua.
Karbon
link · 183k results · free · Linux, Mac & Windows · English
By Calligra, a free, open-source 2D vector drawing solution that offers customizable user interface and advanced path editing capabilities. Learn more about Karbon
A component of Calligra Suite, an integrated graphic art and office suite by KDE.