Vector graphics / SVG editor recommendations?

DW has had a Cricut Maker for about a year, and enjoys using it.  Results are decent and we're well into that ecosystem regarding tools, etc.

The software, however, is horrifically bad and only got worse (surprisingly) when they switched from a web interface to a resident application.  I realize we're stuck with their proprietary crapware to interact with the cutter itself, but I'd like to buy her a decent program for creating and editing vector graphics files.

Illustrator is the 500-lb gorilla in this jungle, but A) it's spendy; B) you can only rent it; and C) my disdain for Adobe as a company knows few bounds.

Any suggestions?  It doesn't have to be free, but I'd like something fairly robust and fairly easy to use (she's very computer literate, so it doesn't have to be super simple, just not byzantine).  Thanks!

Inkscape is pretty good.

I've had issues with it when dealing with a gradient, when converting a .png to .svg, but in general it works pretty well for everything else.

In reply to The0retical (Forum Supporter) :

I should have mentioned we're using a few-year-old Macintosh.  I tried Inkscape and never got it to run successfully.  Maybe I'll try again; thanks!

I have Inkscape running on a 7 year old Mac. It's possible :) It's not bad. I use it to run plotter-type things like a vinyl cutter.

Also, you can probably buy an obsolete version of Illustrator on eBay. It's a good program regardless of your personal feelings towards the company.

Krita (which I'm evaluating right now) also has Mac support.

It wasn't as good when I tried it last, but the internet says it's actually better than Inkscape now.

Keith Tanner said:

I have Inkscape running on a 7 year old Mac. It's possible :) It's not bad. I use it to run plotter-type things like a vinyl cutter.

Also, you can probably buy an obsolete version of Illustrator on eBay. It's a good program regardless of your personal feelings towards the company.

It's theoretically possible on mine (it's about a 10-year-old iMac running OSX 10.11 (El Capitan)).  But after installing the supporting compiler / environment program (which ran fine), Inkscape just wouldn't launch.

Right now I'm highly intrigued by Affinity Designer, which seems pretty robust but has reasonable hardware requirements.  And it's reasonably priced at $50.

Illustrator is the only thing I've ever used for .svg files.  Or maybe a free CAD program that will save as .svg?

Maybe this will help give you a headstart.

https://www.justinmind.com/blog/11-great-free-paid-svg-editors-for-ux-designers/

If you want super easy, just learn how to do a 'trace' operation in the SVG software, and create in an image editor.

Or if she is handy at CAD at all, use any CAD software, almost all of the free ones should do SVG.

I actually do stuff in CAD for vinyl cutting, but then use the trace operation in the software anyway, because it will nest/order the cuts better that way.

what older version of Illustrator will work on your make ?

you do not need all the bells and whistles of the newest version .....

I have a Cricut original machine and it seems that there is no software to run it on on a Windows machine,  or maybe I have not found it !

In reply to californiamilleghia :

The original Cricuts cannot be interfaced with a computer, to my knowledge.  You basically have the files on a USB drive thing that plugs directly into the cutter.

We have a couple free CAD programs but they're pretty clunky, too, and not exactly suited.  Thanks for everybody's input!