2Dex Plain comparisons of image and design tools

Vector Dad alternatives in 2026

Compare Vector Dad alternatives for tracing images to vector shapes, including Vectorizer.AI, Vector Magic, VTracer, AutoTracer and VectorMagik.

By 2Dex ·

2Dex is published by the makers of SageThumbs 2K, RēDesign and VectorMagik, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Vector Dad says all its apps, downloads and mockups are free to use. [1] A designer who wants to trace a picture into editable vector shapes can compare Vectorizer.AI, Vector Magic, VTracer, AutoTracer and VectorMagik, each of which converts bitmaps into vector output. [2] [3] [4] [5]

OptionWhat it doesPrice
Vector DadFree-to-use apps, downloads and mockups [1]Free to use [1]; revenue comes from display ads [1]
Vectorizer.AIConverts PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP to SVG, EPS, DXF, PDF online [2]not published
Vector MagicConverts JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF to SVG, EPS, PDF online, plus AI and DXF on desktop [6] [6]Online US$9.95 per month [7]; Desktop US$295 once [7]
VTracerOpen source raster-to-SVG tracer with a Windows desktop app [3] [8]not published
AutoTracerFree online vectorizer with SVG, PDF, AI, DXF, EPS output [4] [4]Free [4]
VectorMagikTraces a picture into vector shapes and saves SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG [5] [5]Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0) [5]

Why designers look past Vector Dad

Vector Dad offers a set of apps, downloads and mockups that are free to use. [1]

A designer who wants to trace a picture into editable vector shapes may compare what each tool's converter actually does.

Its Photo Engraving Studio shows what a laser burn will look like. [1]

Vectorizer.AI: browser tracing for PNG and JPG

Vectorizer.AI converts PNG, JPG, GIF, and WebP images to SVG, EPS, DXF, and PDF vectors online. [2] It says no software installation is required because everything runs in the browser. [2]

Its output is SVG, EPS, DXF, and PDF vectors. [2] It also produces a cleaned up PNG pixel output. [2]

There is a maximum image pixel size of 3 megapixels [2] and a maximum file size of 30 megabytes. [2] Uploaded images and results are kept for 24 hours then deleted. [2] [2]

Vector Magic: an online and desktop tracer

Vector Magic converts JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF bitmaps to SVG, EPS, and PDF vectors online by uploading them, with no software to install. [6] The desktop edition also produces AI and DXF output. [6]

The Online Edition is US$9.95 per month billed monthly with unlimited use [7], and the Desktop Edition is US$295 once per license with unlimited use. [7]

VTracer: an open source tracer with a Windows app

VTracer is open source software that converts raster images such as jpg and png into SVG vector graphics. [3] It can handle colored images. [3]

The page promotes a VTracer Desktop App for Windows with native speed, curve simplification, and higher tracing quality. [8] That app includes an A/B comparator to compare the trace against the original [3] and a curve inspector to inspect fitted curves up close. [3] Curve simplification gives fewer nodes, often half the file size. [3] There is also a Download as SVG option. [8]

VTracer is released under the MIT license. [3]

AutoTracer: a free online vectorizer

AutoTracer is a free online image vectorizer. [4] It does not require registration or email. [4]

It can output SVG, PDF, AI, DXF, EPS, Sketch, and XFIG formats. [4]

VectorMagik: a desktop and browser tracer with editable curves

VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site. It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. [5] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [5]

A tolerance slider merges neighbouring curve pieces, and Auto picks the largest tolerance that keeps the picture. [5] You can move or delete curve nodes and round individual corners after converting. [5] You can compare the vector with the bitmap side by side, or flip between them with the B and V keys. [5]

You can limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours [5], click shapes to delete them or merge two shades into one [5], and add a die-cut sticker outline with a border, white rim and optional drop shadow. [5] A command-line version does the same work without a window and lets an AI assistant trace pictures on your computer [5], and a version runs in the web browser using the same engine. [5]

It is free for everyone; business use needs a licence under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. [5] Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Linux x64, plus a browser version. [5]

How to pick the right Vector Dad alternative

If you want the conversion done in the browser with no install, Vectorizer.AI says everything runs in the browser. [2] AutoTracer says it does not require registration or email. [4] Vectorizer.AI sets limits of 3 megapixels [2] and 30 megabytes [2], while AutoTracer lists its upload details on its own page.

If you want a desktop app on your own machine, Vector Magic's desktop edition produces AI and DXF output [6], VTracer promotes a Windows app with an A/B comparator and curve inspector [3] [3], and VectorMagik offers desktop downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. [5]

If you want to edit the traced curves by hand, VectorMagik lets you move or delete nodes and round corners. [5] If you want the output saved in several formats, compare the lists: AutoTracer names SVG, PDF, AI, DXF, EPS, Sketch and XFIG. [4] VectorMagik saves SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [5]

If you want a free tool, AutoTracer is described as free [4] and VectorMagik is free for everyone, with business use under a PolyForm licence. [5] Check the price of Vector Dad's converters on its own page, and check any browser tool's limits against the images you will trace.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vector Dad free to use?

Vector Dad says all its apps, downloads and mockups are free to use. [1] Check the page for the limits that apply to the specific tool you want before relying on it for paid work.

Which Vector Dad alternative traces images in the browser?

Vectorizer.AI runs everything in the browser with no software installation. [2] AutoTracer is an online vectorizer that requires no registration or email. [4] Compare each tool's upload limits against the images you plan to trace.

Which alternative converts PNG or JPG images to SVG?

Vectorizer.AI converts PNG, JPG, GIF, and WebP images to SVG, EPS, DXF, and PDF vectors online [2], AutoTracer outputs SVG among other formats [4], and VectorMagik saves the result as SVG among others. [5] VTracer is open source software that converts raster images such as jpg and png into SVG. [3] Match the input format you have to each tool's list.

Is VectorMagik free?

VectorMagik is free for everyone; business use needs a licence under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. [5] It is made by the team that publishes this site. It traces a picture into vector shapes [5] and saves the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. [5] Compare that against any price on the alternatives you are considering.

Can a designer edit the curves after tracing?

VectorMagik lets you move or delete curve nodes and round individual corners after converting [5], and a tolerance slider merges neighbouring curve pieces. [5] VTracer's Windows app includes a curve inspector to inspect fitted curves up close [3] and curve simplification for fewer nodes. [3] If editing traced curves is central to your work, compare what each tool offers on its own page.

Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). [5]

Try VectorMagik

Sources

  1. Vector Dad, vectordad.com, read 2026-10-09
  2. Vectorizer.AI, vectorizer.ai, read 2026-10-07
  3. VTracer, github.com/visioncortex/vtracer, read 2026-10-07
  4. AutoTracer, autotracer.org, read 2026-10-09
  5. VectorMagik's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  6. Vector Magic, vectormagic.com, read 2026-10-07
  7. Vector Magic, vectormagic.com/pricing, read 2026-10-07
  8. VTracer, visioncortex.org/vtracer, read 2026-10-07

Related comparisons