Adobe Illustrator vs Krita:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Krita had more branded searches than Adobe Illustrator among illustration software worldwide. Krita had about 673,000 branded searches, while Adobe Illustrator had 560,000. Krita made up 23.1% of all illustration software searches we track, and Adobe Illustrator accounted for 19.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about illustration software, Krita appeared in all five answers and Adobe Illustrator in three. Krita was mentioned before Adobe Illustrator in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Krita, about 20% more searches than Adobe Illustrator
Who does AI mention more?
Krita, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Krita, named ahead of Adobe Illustrator in 3 of 5 answers
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Top illustration software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Krita appeared in all five answers. Adobe Illustrator was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Krita was listed before Adobe Illustrator in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Procreate1st
Clip Studio Paint2nd
Adobe Illustrator3rd- Krita4th
Affinity5th
Inkscape6th- Adobe Fresco7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Krita5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Procreate5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Clip Studio Paint5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Affinity4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Fresco4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Illustrator3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Inkscape2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about illustration software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which illustration software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best illustration software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best illustration software for digital drawing?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“illustration software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“digital drawing app”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Adobe Illustrator or Krita more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe Illustrator and Krita by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven illustration software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Krita, Adobe Illustrator. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Inkscape | Krita | Adobe Illustrator | Procreate | Clip Studio Paint | Affinity | Adobe Fresco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 22.1% | 18.1% | 22.5% | 18.1% | 9.9% | 6.9% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 20.8% | 17% | 21.1% | 17% | 11.3% | 10.1% | 2.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.7% | 19.7% | 20% | 19.7% | 13.2% | 5.1% | 2.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.6% | 19.3% | 19.6% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 5% | 2.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.5% | 17.7% | 22.1% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 3.8% | 2.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.4% | 19.1% | 19.5% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 4.1% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 25.8% | 21.1% | 21.5% | 17.2% | 9.4% | 3.1% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 26.8% | 17.9% | 22.3% | 17.9% | 9.8% | 3.2% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 23.3% | 19.1% | 19.4% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 4.1% | 2.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 24% | 19.6% | 20% | 19.6% | 10.7% | 4.2% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 23.1% | 23.1% | 19.2% | 18.9% | 10.3% | 3.3% | 2.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.1% | 23.1% | 19.3% | 18.9% | 8.5% | 4% | 3.1% |
How has the Adobe Illustrator and Krita comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Krita took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Illustrator’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide moved from 22.5% to 19.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 685K to 560K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Krita’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide moved from 18.1% to 23.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 673K.
How did search popularity change for illustration software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Krita’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 19.1% to 23.1% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Illustrator worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 685K to 560K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Illustrator’s and Krita’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Adobe Illustrator
2 branded search terms
- adobe illustrator
- adobeillustrator
Krita
1 branded search term
- krita
Other head-to-heads among illustration software
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