I Tested 7 FREE Vectorizer Apps to See If Any Can Replace Vectorizer.AI for Print on Demand

Of recent, as many of you already know, most people often use AI-generated images from ChatGPT as the basis for their Print on Demand designs. The problem is, these images are raster PNG files which usually don’t scale well and often have fuzzy edges—not ideal for printing on apparel and merch .

That’s why a vectorization tool like Vectorizer.AI has been a game-changer generally. With just one click, it can convert any raster image into a clean scalable SVG perfectly suited for POD mockups and production.

The results have been so good that Vectorizer.AI became a staple of my design workflow.

But then the not so good news came—Vectorizer.AI adopted a paid subscription model seemingly overnight. At $9.99 per month, it’s now out of reach for many bootstrap POD designers on a budget.

Fortunately, Vectorizer.AI is not the only vectorization game in town. There are a number of free or more affordable tools that can get the job done. But which ones come closest to matching Vectorizer.AI’s flawless vector conversions? I tested out 7 top contenders to find out.

Here’s How the Vectorizer Alternatives Stacked Up

I put each tool through the ultimate test—attempting to vectorize a complex ChatGPT-generated image of a shrimp gumbo dinner. This intricate illustration has different colors, textures, gradients, and line weights that will pose a challenge for any vectoring tool.

I scored each one on how well it handled details, smoothness of lines, color accuracy, absence of artifacts or glitches, and file size compared to Vectorizer.AI’s result.

Here’s how they stacked up, from weakest to strongest:

7. Rasterizer Vector – Fast But Extremely Inaccurate

Right away I could tell Rasterizer Vector was basic by how quick and seamless the vectorization process was. It only took a few seconds to generate the SVG file.

Unfortunately, the result was quite disappointing. The converted image lost most of its original quality, including its rich textures and accurate colors. The image had rough, pixelated edges, uneven color transitions, and the colors were off.

Rasterizer Vector might work well for simple images with solid colors. But when it comes to complex images, it didn’t perform well in my test.

6. AutoTracer – Produced Glitchy Pixel

I had high hopes for AutoTracer because of the expansive advanced settings available before processing an image. However, changing these settings didn’t really improve the results.

AutoTracer technically creates a vector, but it turned my detailed “shrimp dinner” image into a patchwork of small vector pieces that were all over the place. When I zoomed in, the elements were badly distorted and there were glitchy errors that didn’t capture the subtlety of the original image.

Unless you want your image to look like a colorful QR code, I wouldn’t recommend using AutoTracer for detailed vector work.

5. Vectorizer.com – Better But Still Rough Around the Edges

With its slick UI GaN clean vector preview, Vectorizer.com shows more promise than the previous contenders. But when I inspected the image closely, the shapes and lines appeared bumpy rather than silky smooth. There were also some noticeable changes in the gradient colors, some colors were less vibrant compared to the original PNG image.

Despite this, Vectorizer.com does reasonably well preserving key details. So for tasks that don’t require high precision, its free vectorization option can get the job done. However, don’t expect the level of refinement you would get from Vectorizer.AI.

4. DGBL.lol – Passable Job with Simple Graphics

DGBL.lol is a quirky free tool that supports various photo editing features aside vectorization, like upscaling images without losing quality. However, it struggled to convert the detailed picture of the shrimp dinner into an accurate vector image.

Although the colors were mostly correct, when zoomed in – the edges were noticeably rough rather than sharp. Some parts of the image were blurry and compressed, compared to the kind of quality perfect produced by Vectorizer.AI.

So for simple graphics or logos with solid colors, DGBL.lol could work. But it struggles slightly with complex images.

3. SVG Convert – A Solid Contender

Of all the free tools, SVG Convert delivered one of the best vectorizations in my test. It preserved all colors well aside from slightly muddying some dark gradients.

The shapes and lines were mostly smooth, but not quite as polished as Vectorizer AI when compared side by side. There were small rough spots in some curves, but overall, the image quality remained high.

For a free tool, SVG Convert is quite impressive. However, be prepared for occasional minor issues with complex details, unlike its more precise paid version.

2. Kaleido – Impressively handed Complexity

As a popular general graphic design platform with a lot of features on its free tier, Kaleido doesn’t advertise itself primarily as a vectorization tool. Unknown to many users, it has a powerful AI feature that can convert images into vector graphics, similar to what standalone apps can do.

After using its background removal feature to isolate my shrimp dinner, Kaleido’s Image Vectorizer produced an impressively accurate result. Smooth gradations, crisp edges, no glitches or color bans whatsoever. It even did a better job than some paid tools in accurately handling fine details.

The only area where it fell short was in smoothing shapes, where Vectorizer.AI did a better job. But other than that, the results were almost identical. So, if you’re looking for a free alternative for vectorizing images, Kaleido is a surprisingly strong contender.

1. Adobe Illustrator – The Pricey Choice For Standard Vector Graphics

Coming as no surprise, Adobe’s Illustrator graphics software topped my test results. It was able to recreate my shrimp dinner scene almost perfectly using its built-in vectorization feature.

After sampling various parameter presets, I settled on a custom configuration optimized for complex photos. The results were impressive – smooth lines, accurate colors, and sharp details, outperforming all other options.

The only minor issue was some small irregularities in shapes when zoomed in very closely.

But keep in mind, to get this high-quality rendering from Illustrator, you need a paid Creative Cloud subscription, which is more expensive than Vectorizer.AI. However, for artists and designers who need perfect vector graphics, Illustrator is the best choice.

Conclusion

Testing seven top vectorization tools revealed several free options that can do a decent job, similar to what Vectorizer.AI offers. None of them were perfect, but a few were pretty good, especially considering they’re free.

SVG Convert and Kaleido stood out as they were able to create smooth and accurate conversions, which are great for printable merchandise graphics. DGBL.lol and Vectorizer.com also did a fair job, producing usable vectors for less critical tasks.

While these free tools might need a bit more adjustment compared to the easy-to-use Vectorizer.AI, they can still help you design great merchandise without any monthly fees. I’m likely to go for Vectorizer.AI because it’s just so convenient. But it’s good to know there are quality alternatives out there for designers who are just starting out or on a tight budget.

Have you tried using any vectorization apps or services for your print-on-demand designs or other vector graphics? I’d love to hear what’s worked well for you in the comments below!