Adobe Fresco vs Adobe Illustrator:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Adobe Illustrator had more branded searches than Adobe Fresco among illustration software worldwide. Adobe Illustrator had about 560,000 branded searches, while Adobe Fresco had 90,500. Adobe Illustrator made up 19.3% of all illustration software searches we track, and Adobe Fresco accounted for 3.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about illustration software, Adobe Fresco appeared in four of the five answers and Adobe Illustrator in three. Adobe Illustrator was mentioned before Adobe Fresco in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Adobe Illustrator, about 6 searches for every 1 for Adobe Fresco
Who does AI mention more?
Adobe Fresco, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Adobe Illustrator in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Adobe Illustrator, named ahead of Adobe Fresco in 3 of 4 answers
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Top illustration software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe Fresco was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. 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. Adobe Illustrator was listed before Adobe Fresco in three out of four answers that named either.
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 Fresco or Adobe Illustrator more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe Fresco and Adobe Illustrator 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 Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Fresco. 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 Fresco and Adobe Illustrator comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Adobe Illustrator was ahead of Adobe Fresco in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Fresco’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide moved from 2.4% to 3.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 90.5K.
- 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.
How did search popularity change for illustration software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Adobe Fresco gained share of searches among illustration software worldwide, from 2.1% to 3.1%.
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 Fresco’s and Adobe Illustrator’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 Fresco
1 branded search term
- adobe fresco
Adobe Illustrator
2 branded search terms
- adobe illustrator
- adobeillustrator
Other head-to-heads among illustration software
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