What’s a free alternative to Vectorizer.AI, Illustrator’s Image Trace or Vector Magic?

Updated on 6 October 2026

Homotope is a free alternative for vectorizing logos, illustrations and pixel art: it runs in your browser without uploading the image, and the SVG downloads with no account and no limit, except transparent background and recolouring (Pro).

JPG · 400 × 400 px

Engine SVG

400 × 400 px compressed JPEG logo and the SVG produced by the engine, Logo preset alone, 5 colours, untouched: the JPEG artefacts are gone, the ring stays a circle and the star keeps its straight edges.

×6 detail: the tip of the orange band against the white rim: JPEG halo and blocks, clean SVG edge. Drag the slider to compare; hover over the image or hold your finger on it to move the magnifier.

Try it with your image Open this example in the workshop

What Homotope does for free

Nothing leaves your computer: see vectorize without uploading.

Seven presets: Logo, Illustration, Pixel art, “Line art”, “Single stroke”, “Black and white”, “Photo / Poster”.
Shapes that meet without gaps in “cut” mode, and a fixed palette that invents no colour.
DXF, EPS and PDF exports with an account, counted.

The other tools, sourced facts only

To our knowledge, as of 6 October 2026, Vectorizer.AI is an online service: the image is uploaded to its servers to be traced. (source: Vectorizer.AI privacy page)
To our knowledge, as of 6 October 2026, Image Trace is a feature of Adobe Illustrator, desktop software, that turns an image placed in the document into editable vector paths. (source: Adobe Illustrator help)
To our knowledge, as of 6 October 2026, Vector Magic comes as an online version and as a desktop application for Windows and Mac. (source: Vector Magic)

For their terms and prices, check their websites. A detailed comparison with one of them is on Homotope and Vectorizer.AI.

When another tool is a better fit

Photo with gradients: Homotope makes flat colours, so a photo becomes posterised. Keep the raster file.
Node editing: Homotope has no node editor. If you already work in Illustrator, tracing there saves a round trip; otherwise open the SVG in Illustrator, Inkscape or Figma.
A huge image on a small device: local processing depends on your memory; server processing is an option, and it is counted.

Production exports (DXF, EPS, PDF, separations): 2 free per month with an account, unlimited with Pro; without Pro, 1 credit each beyond those 2. The details: how much vectorizing costs.

Frequently asked questions

Does Homotope export AI files?

No: SVG, PDF, EPS and DXF. Illustrator opens the SVG, PDF and EPS, with one layer per colour for the layered SVG.

Do I need an account to compare results?

No. Drop the same image into the workshop and compare with the before/after slider, no account needed.

Will the result match another tool’s?

No, each engine traces in its own way. Try your image: tracing and the SVG are free.

Sources for statements about other tools, checked on 6 October 2026: https://vectorizer.ai/policies/privacy · https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/manage-objects/traces-mockups-symbols/trace-images-to-convert-raster-into-vector-artwork.html · https://vectormagic.com/desktop

Guides and conversions

Try it with your image