Adobe Photoshop vs Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop9.3Visit Adobe Illustrator8.8Visit

Higher score Adobe Photoshop #2 in Content Creation tools 9.3/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 2 features Try Adobe Photoshop

vs

Adobe Illustrator #7 in Content Creation tools 8.8/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 2 features Visit site

• Adobe Photoshop fits best

  Professional image editing

• Adobe Illustrator fits best

  Vector illustration professionals

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Side by side

Feature	Adobe Photoshop 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Adobe Illustrator 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.8
Ranking	#2 in Content Creation tools	#7 in Content Creation tools
Best for	Professional image editing	Vector illustration professionals
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	7 days	7 days
Free trial length	7 days	7 days · card required
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS
Support	Community, Docs · 24/7	Community, Docs
Integrations	4 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Adobe Photoshop 0/2 · Adobe Illustrator 0/2
AI generation	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Team collaboration	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Content formats	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Export formats	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Layered compositing, masking, selections, and background removal Camera Raw, RAW editing, batch adjustments, and retouching tools Generative Fill, Expand, object removal, and cross-device cloud documents	Pen, Curvature, and Pencil tools support detailed path drawing and editing. Up to 1,000 artboards, plus tracing, recoloring, typography, and effects. Cloud review links, comments, and edit invitations support asynchronous feedback.
Cons	No free plan; access is subscription-based rather than perpetual Generative credits and included apps vary across Photoshop plans Lightroom and 1TB storage are included only with the Photography plan	Paid product; the 7-day trial requires a card. Collaboration is asynchronous, not simultaneous real-time editing. The prepaid plan highlights focus on simpler shapes, logos, and vector graphics.
Our verdict	Adobe Photoshop is image editing and design software for photographers, designers, digital artists, and other creative professionals. It runs on Windows, macOS, the web, iOS, and Android, with desktop, browser, and mobile deployment. Core… Read the review →	For professionals creating scalable illustrations, logos, icons, typography, packaging, and web graphics, Illustrator offers a broad vector workspace. Path tools, Shape Builder, type controls, gradients, effects, tracing, and recoloring… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Adobe Photoshop — where it wins

  • Layered compositing, masking, selections, and background removal
  • Camera Raw, RAW editing, batch adjustments, and retouching tools
  • Generative Fill, Expand, object removal, and cross-device cloud documents

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; access is subscription-based rather than perpetual
  • Generative credits and included apps vary across Photoshop plans
  • Lightroom and 1TB storage are included only with the Photography plan

• Adobe Illustrator — where it wins

  • Pen, Curvature, and Pencil tools support detailed path drawing and editing.
  • Up to 1,000 artboards, plus tracing, recoloring, typography, and effects.
  • Cloud review links, comments, and edit invitations support asynchronous feedback.

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid product; the 7-day trial requires a card.
  • Collaboration is asynchronous, not simultaneous real-time editing.
  • The prepaid plan highlights focus on simpler shapes, logos, and vector graphics.

• Adobe Photoshop9.3/10 · 7-day trial

  A deep, subscription-based editor for layered, RAW, batch, and AI-assisted image work.

  Try Adobe PhotoshopFull verdict →
• Adobe Illustrator8.8/10 · 7-day trial

  A deep vector toolkit for professional illustration, with cloud review and generative tools.

  Visit siteFull verdict →