A free, open-source vector editor with robust features similar to Illustrator. Vectr: A free web-based vector editor.

All of these alternatives avoid the subscription model and are fully legal, supported, and secure.

You pay a single, highly affordable one-time fee for a perpetual license.

Released in 2010, CS5 was a powerhouse. It introduced the , which finally let designers draw in 3D space with ease, and the Bristle Brush , which made digital strokes look like actual oil paint. For many veterans, CS5 represents the "Golden Age" before everything moved to a monthly subscription model. It was fast, it didn't need a constant internet connection, and once you owned it, it was yours forever. The Hunt: The "Serial Number List" Trap

: A completely free, open-source vector graphics editor capable of handling complex design tasks.

If your budget is zero, Inkscape is a professional-grade, completely free vector graphics editor.

For a list of Adobe Illustrator CS5 serial numbers, there are a couple of ways.