What is Inkscape used for?

Inkscape is a free vector graphics editor for illustrations, logos, icons and diagrams that uses SVG as its native format. It is a good fit for designing logos and icons, and creating SVG graphics for the web.

Is Inkscape open source?

Yes. Inkscape is open source. Its source code is on GitHub at inkscape/inkscape.

Yes. Inkscape is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host Inkscape?

Yes. Inkscape can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is Inkscape an alternative to?

Inkscape is an open-source alternative to Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW and Affinity. Other open-source alternatives to Adobe Illustrator include Graphite and Penpot.

Is Inkscape actively maintained?

The most recent commit to Inkscape was on 3 March 2022. The project has 4k stars on GitHub.

Inkscape: open-source alternative to Adobe Illustrator

About Inkscape

Inkscape is free and open-source vector graphics software that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is used by design professionals and hobbyists to create illustrations, icons, logos, diagrams, maps and web graphics, and it uses the open W3C SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) standard as its native file format.

Development takes place on GitLab, a platform that is itself open source and can be self-hosted, and the GitHub repository mainly points contributors to the Inkscape project website and the GitLab code repository. The project describes the editor as professional quality, and its tagline invites users to draw freely.

The Inkscape website is the place to find the full feature list, downloads and documentation, and the project also points users to its GitLab repository for source code and issue tracking.

Key features

Vector drawing for illustrations and logos
SVG as the native file format
Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
Suitable for icons, diagrams and maps

Good fit for

→Designing logos and icons
→Creating SVG graphics for the web

Tags: vector-graphics; svg; illustration; design; logo-design; desktop-app; open-source

Inkscape: questions and answers

What is Inkscape used for?: Inkscape is a free vector graphics editor for illustrations, logos, icons and diagrams that uses SVG as its native format. It is a good fit for designing logos and icons, and creating SVG graphics for the web.
Is Inkscape open source?: Yes. Inkscape is open source. Its source code is on GitHub at inkscape/inkscape.
Is Inkscape free?: Yes. Inkscape is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host Inkscape?: Yes. Inkscape can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is Inkscape an alternative to?: Inkscape is an open-source alternative to Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW and Affinity. Other open-source alternatives to Adobe Illustrator include Graphite and Penpot.
Is Inkscape actively maintained?: The most recent commit to Inkscape was on 3 March 2022. The project has 4k stars on GitHub.