TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Adobe Illustrator

    Score9.4 out of 10
    N/AAdobe Illustrator CC is a vector-based graphic design software.

    $20.99

    per month

    Microsoft Visio

    Score7.8 out of 10
    N/AMicrosoft offers Visio, a diagramming tool for building flowcharts, diagrams (e.g. network diagrams), org charts and floor plans, available online as a subscription and also in enterprise level packages (e.g. Visio Professional).

    $5

    per month per user

    Pricing
    Adobe IllustratorMicrosoft Visio
    Editions & Modules
    Yearly - Billed Monthly
    $20.99
    per month
    Monthly
    $31.49
    per month
    Yearly - Billed Upfront
    $239.88
    per year
    Visio Plan 1
    $5.00
    per month per user
    Visio Plan 2
    $15.00
    per month per user
    Visio Standard 2024
    $309.99
    one-time fee On-premises diagramming solution, licensed for one PC
    Visio Professional 2024
    $579.99
    one-time fee On-premises diagramming solution, licensed for one PC
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Adobe IllustratorMicrosoft Visio
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoYes
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Adobe IllustratorMicrosoft Visio
    Considered Both Products
    Adobe
    No answer on this topic
    Microsoft
    Chose Microsoft Visio
    Chose it for the ease of use, the professionalism of the exported visuals, and the quick and easy learning curve. I personally use Adobe Illustrator for some of the more complex graphics needed, as I've been using that platform for years; but training contractors and clients …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft Visio
    Some comparable products I have used to complete similar tasks would be Microsoft Powerpoint and Adobe Illustrator. Although both of these are very great programs in their own right, I would say Microsoft Visio is still the best to use, specifically when wanting to create …
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft Visio
    Honestly non, wish we knew this tool earlier and I feel so stupid for using Photoshop and Illustrator for doing such work.
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft Visio
    The closest competitor is Lucidchart, but any drawing or design program can do this job very well. While I say this, it is also a simple tool for someone who is used to the MIcrosoft design language for their tools and will be able to pick it up easily and start using it almost …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    99%
    Would buy again
    66 Answers
    90%
    Would buy again
    54 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    97%
    Delivers good value for the price
    59 Answers
    98%
    Delivers good value for the price
    53 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    67 Answers
    93%
    Happy with the feature set
    56 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    58 Answers
    97%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    36 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    62 Answers
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    36 Answers
    Best Alternatives
    Adobe IllustratorMicrosoft Visio
    Small Businesses
    GIMP
    Score8 out of 10
    OmniGraffle
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Adobe PhotoShop
    Score9.2 out of 10
    OmniGraffle
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Adobe PhotoShop
    Score9.2 out of 10
    OmniGraffle
    Score9.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Adobe IllustratorMicrosoft Visio
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.3
    (110 ratings)
    8.1
    (79 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (3 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    9.4
    (7 ratings)
    7.8
    (14 ratings)
    Support Rating
    5.0
    (25 ratings)
    7.3
    (14 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Adobe IllustratorMicrosoft Visio
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Adobe
    It is the only tool that I use to create logos. It gives me the flexibility to create sharp text and marks and they can then be resized at will, color changes in a second and perfect way to export. I know that some people use Illustrator for document layout, it is not ideal. While I can easily create documents here, it really is InDesign that is the perfect tool.
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    Visio is by far and away the best tool that I have used to do Value Stream Mapping sessions with the warehouse I support. It has all of the shapes needed built in to be able to represent all areas of the processes. I also like how you are able to make the drawing as big as needed and when printing it out of Visio you have the ability to use the necessary paper size. The biggest complaint that I have with the software if how it can be cumbersome for non-Visio users (that is, people without a license in the orgnaization) to interact with the Visio Map. We normally have to dedicate one Visio SME to be able to make the changes that Process SME's find since they do not have access to the software.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Adobe
    • Vector graphics for scaling to large sizes
    • Filling an object with a texture
    • Easily adjusting and expanding an artboard to fit the size of the content (especially for infographics)
    • Compatibility with other Adobe CC programs, but also exporting for PPT graphics
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Microsoft Visio is excellent for organizing thought processes related to our more complex research.
    • The diagrams created with Microsoft Visio are ideal for graphically displaying the internal organization of work and research groups through flow diagrams.
    • Microsoft Visio is a great tool for managing our students' activities by creating flowcharts that help us graphically visualize the steps of their group work.
    Read full review
    Cons
    Adobe
    • It's tough to master. If you haven't used Adobe products like Photoshop or Illustrator before, there is a lot to take in.
    • It would be great to have some better options to preview the final product if you're creating a multiple page document.
    • Better integration and pricing points with Adobe Stock for the useful stock images to complete your projects.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • When navigating through swim lanes, the user must be careful between switching from the point to the connection features as it can be difficult to remember which mode you’re in.
    • When drawing “decision points,” it can be difficult to type words like “yes” or “no” between the connection lines.
    • The exporting options aren’t ideal. They are hard to create in PDF format.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Adobe
    While Adobe Illustrator CC is one of the only true design software out there, it really stands heads above the other products. It's clean UI and menu structure is easy to navigate.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    We use Microsoft Visio to keep our diagrams updated and to that end we will need the subscription to keep using the software. Otherwise we will be left with PDF versions of the diagrams.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Adobe
    There's a bit of a learning curve to this software vs other similar tools that can take some time to learn and get familiar with but the amount of functionality that Adobe Illustrator CC offers is quite large compared to simpler tools.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    I have always struggled with some basics, such as connection points, object alignment, font consistency, arranging layers and their order (bring forward, send backward), and managing overlap. I usually need to create an initial rough draft and then do a separate cleanup pass to bring the diagram up to my quality standards. If I skip that step, the result generally does not look very good. And once a diagram becomes busy or the file gets large, Visio has been unstable for me in the past, including occasional crashes that caused non-recoverable edits.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Adobe
    I normally already know how to do whatever I'm trying out, but the documentation (as well as a simple Google search) makes any question quick to resolve. The Adobe boards themselves are a fantastic resource, especially for resolving questions between new programs and iterative releases.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    Overall, I feel that Microsoft's support is weak. They are now such a behemoth that their model of putting documentation online for their users to sift through is totally outgrown. Given the amount of money you pay for these licenses, Microsoft should provide easy one-on-one support for their products via email or chat. The idea of paying their rates for support incidents is ridiculous. If you have an enormous amount of time on your hands, use their support websites and you will eventually find a solution most of the time.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Adobe
    It was very easy to purchase and download.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Adobe
    I chose Rhinoceros 3D because it is accurate to make drawings in it and it is better to make drawings in Rhinoceros 3D and then put them in Adobe Illustrator. But while printing or scaling it is much easier to put it in Adobe Illustrator. This makes the whole printing aspect of it much easier.
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    Even though it’s a more expensive solution, Vizio is built for the enterprise. Therefore, it integrates perfectly with our existing Microsoft stack, and quite frankly, because it’s such a more mature product, it provides exactly the functionality we need and expect.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Adobe
    • Helps us quickly and easily create and manage numerous logos
    • Cloud libraries allow us to access commonly used colors, fonts, logos and other design elements quickly
    • We are able to provide high-quality, scalable college logos for print and digital which give us a more professional, credible look.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Reduces the amount of time I need to create process flow diagrams. In the past I would use Powerpoint or Word which required a lot more effort and time and never looked as good. Visio just takes that headache away.
    • Only negative is that I personally believe it should always have been part and parcel of the Office suite, thus giving more users the opportunity to use it rather than specifically having to justify its separate purchase within our organisation. Different now with Office 365 of course!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots