Fireworks, formerly known as Macromedia firework and was acquired by Adobe in 2005. It is a better application for new designers and many people stick with it for a long time. It is best used for creating a quick website model and prototypes.
The design of the software integrates easily with the previous Macromedia software products like the Macromedia flash and dream weaver. Fireworks is more user friendly when compared to illustrator.
Illustrator is another adobe product; it is one of the products that was produced and also marketed by adobe. The original illustrator was developed for apple Macintosh by adobe in 1986. Illustrator is more complex, and the application has powerful illustration capabilities. Most times, illustrator is used by professionals only.