Adobe Creative Cloud Alternative Apps

In situations where the Adobe Creative Cloud apps may be unavailable, we have compiled a list of alternative apps commonly used in place of Adobe CC.

Note: These apps are suggested alternatives to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite applications and will be best effort support by the SCSU IT department.

Acrobat DC

Scribus

Scribus is an open-source, desktop application that supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK colors, spot colors, ICC color management and versatile PDF creation.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor used to create vector images, primarily in Scalable Vector Graphics format. Other formats can be imported and exported.  PDFs can be imported, created, and edited.

LightPDF

LightPDF is a free online service designed for PDF users to convert and manage PDF files. It supports converting PDF to other formats including word, PNG, JPG, etc. It also provides many kinds of PDF tools which can be used to merge, split, sign, unlock, protect PDF and so on.

After Effects

Jahshaka

Jahshaka Studio is a free application that provides end-to-end workflow with tools for animation, effects, scene and asset management, previews and playback, materials and avatars.

Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, and computer games.

Animate

Synfig

Synfig is a free, open-source 2D vector graphics and timeline-based computer animation program.

Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, and computer games.

Audition

Audacity

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder.

Dreamweaver

Aptana Studio

Aptana Studio is a free, open-source IDE based on the Eclipse IDE for programming and creating web applications.  Aptana Studio supports common web-application coding languages such as JavaScript, AJAX, PHP, and Ruby on Rails as well as HTML and CSS. With Aptana Studio you can also develop applications and programs for Apple iPhone.

Bluefish

Bluefish is a free software advanced text editor with a variety of tools for programming in general and the development of dynamic websites. Bluefish supports development in HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, PHP, C, C++, JavaScript, Java, Go, Vala, Ada, D, SQL, Perl, ColdFusion, JSP, Python, Ruby and shell.

Fireworks

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor used to create vector images, primarily in Scalable Vector Graphics format. Other formats can be imported and exported. Inkscape can render primitive vector shapes and text.

SVG-Edit

SVG-edit is a web-based, free and open-source vector graphics editor. It can be used to create and edit Scalable Vector Graphics images from within a web browser, not requiring additional software installation.

Vectr

Vectr is a free, online-based vector graphics editor.  Requires account to be created in order to save projects.

Illustrator

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor used to create vector images, primarily in Scalable Vector Graphics format. Other formats can be imported and exported. Inkscape can render primitive vector shapes and text.

InDesign

Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, and computer games.

Canva

Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content. It is available on web and mobile, and integrates millions of images, fonts, templates and illustrations.

Versions available: Free, Pro ($), and Enterprise ($) versions.

Scribus

Scribus is an open-source, desktop application that supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK colors, spot colors, ICC color management and versatile PDF creation.

Lightroom Classic

LightZone

LightZone is a free, open source digital photo editor software application capable of editing JPEG and RAW files.

Lightroom

DarkTable

Darktable is an free, open-source photography workflow application and raw developer, providing a virtual light table and darkroom for photographers. It manages your digital negatives in a database, lets you view them through a zoomable light table and enables you to develop raw images and enhance them.

RawTherapee

Free, cross-platform, raw image processing software.

Photoshop

Gimp

GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image retouching and editing, free-form drawing, converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks.

Photoscape X

PhotoScape X is an all-in-one photo editing software which provides photo-related features such as Photo Viewer, Editor, Cut Out, Batch, Collage, Combine, Create GIF, Color Picker, Screen Capture, RAW images and More.

Versions available: Photoscape X (free) and Photoscape X Pro ($)

Paint.NET (Windows)

Paint.NET is an image and photo editing software for PCs that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.

Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express is a free image editing and collage making mobile application from Adobe Systems Pvt. Ltd. The app is available on iOS, Android and Windows phones and tablets. It can also be installed on Windows desktop with Windows 8 and above, via the Microsoft Store.

Pixlr

Pixlr is an online photo editor, which can open almost any image format such as PSD (Photoshop), PXD, JPEG, PNG (transparent), WebP, SVG and more.

Versions available: Free, Premium ($), and Professional ($).

Premiere Pro

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve 16 combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects and audio post production all in one software tool.

Versions available: DaVinci Resolve 16 (free), DaVinci Resolve Studio ($)

Avidemux

Avidemux is a free video editor designed for cutting, filtering and encoding tasks. It supports many file types, including AVI, DVD compatible MPEG files, MP4 and ASF, using a variety of codecs. Tasks can be automated using projects, job queue and powerful scripting capabilities.

Handbrake

Handbrake is a free, open-source video transcoder that can convert video files to other formats.

ShotCut

ShotCut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video and audio editor application.

OpenShot

OpenShot is a free, open-source video editor application that also provides some 3D video editing capabilities, audio tools, speed adjustment, etc.

Last updated :