10 Best Graphic Design Tools

The appropriate tools may significantly increase your talent, whether you are a newbie graphic designer or a skilled digital artist. Well-made graphic design software includes flexible settings that even a newbie may readily use, as well as far more advanced features for more seasoned users.

Getting your hands on the tools and experimenting with them is the greatest approach to determining which software would fit you the most. Each piece of software is differentiated by its features, usability, performance, price, and accessibility. Many commercial graphic design programs offer customers a free trial to help them learn more about the software.

Here is a list of the top graphic design tools for creatives, both free and premium, that are perfect for producing amazing digital art.

Canva

Canva stands out for its attractive, contemporary design templates for social networking, presentations, and printing. The desktop, mobile, and web apps are all free, but you can access many more templates and stock material by paying an annual subscription. Strong collaborative tools are included with the Canvas for Teams subscription.

Canva caters to non-designers that need to produce material for social media, marketing, and promotions. Professionals will, however, value the simplicity it gives to developing attractive designs.

PROS

• even with the free edition, competent content creation
• no prior design experience is necessary
• generally simple to use and straightforward interface
• stunning collection of six new tools
• excellent resources for learning

CONS

• free version templates cannot be resized.
• no spellcheck

CorelDraw Graphics Suite

Like Adobe Illustrator, Corel is for creating and altering vector graphics. However, it comes with several features for which the Adobe software would need add-ins and is also less priced.

Professionals that require sure of its special effects tools can also use it. Additionally, Corel offers the option to buy to own for a one-time fee if you don’t want to pay a subscription.

PROS

• characteristics at the professional level, some of which are exclusive
• immediate pleasure, fun, and ease of use
• extremely flexible interface
• affordable prices, subscriptions, and perpetual licenses are offered
• an advanced tool that is simpler to use than Illustrator

CONS

• for teams committed to an Adobe process, it is inconvenient
• some difficulties with usability
• not right away compatible with the font manager for Extensis Suitcase Fusion

Corel PaintShop Pro

PaintShop Pro delivers many of the same features found in Adobe’s market-dominating software but at a lower price. Additionally, you may deal with both raster and vector pictures.

PROS

• features similar to Photoshop at a cheaper rate
• powerful editing and effects tools
• extensive instruction and guidance
• a good selection of vector drawing instruments
• automatic noise cancellation

CONS

• unstable user interface
• no version of macOS
• some procedures take time.

Sketch

Although Adobe XD and now Figma are making headway, Sketch has established itself as a standard in the interface design and prototype space. A vast user community, a clear, user-friendly interface, and a lot of assistance are all provided. Its advantages include teamwork and the ability to produce prototypes for clients.

Similar to Adobe XD, The Sketch is particularly made for people who need to create shareable prototypes and wireframes for app or website interface design. It requires a membership but is significantly less expensive than Adobe XD. Sketch, in contrast to XD, only works with macOS.

PROS

• logical user interface
• minimal learning curve
• useful tools for teamwork.
• use resources from Illustrator.

CONS

• Mac only.
• per license, a single device only
• no choices for automated layout flow

Adobe Express

Adobe’s newest product, Creative Cloud Express, competes with Canva’s enormous popularity. In other words, it’s a design tool with templates for non-designers who need to produce marketing materials or social media postings. The program has Adobe’s extensive depth of imaging expertise and enables you to produce something attractive without spending a lot of time fussing and fiddling with minutiae. Many people will be satisfied with the free version. Still, the subscription edition offers more stock content and allows you to save, manage, and share fundamental assets for several businesses, such as logos, color schemes, and typefaces. It supports both static and moving photographs, works with both, and allows you to publish in PDF or social network-compatible formats.

PROS

• many stock assets and flexible layouts
• powerful and practical options for altering images and videos
• features for converting files
• contains 100GB (premium version) and 2GB (free version) of cloud storage

CONS

• If you’re used to Creative Cloud desktop programs, it’s first not straightforward.
• unexpected menus appear 
• there are no new features in the website category 

Adobe Photoshop

Without Photoshop, graphic artists who use raster pictures and require compositing layers will struggle to complete their work. Any clients or vendors you work with will accept files from Adobe’s top-of-the-line image program because it is the industry standard. Other solutions exist that accept its file types, but occasionally compatibility isn’t 100% and those products lack Photoshop’s smooth user interface and state-of-the-art image-manipulation features.

PROS

• large selection of tools for editing and manipulating photos
• great UI with lots of instructions
• web and mobile design 
• rich collection of typographic and drawing tools
• Cloud Documents and Synced Libraries

CONS

• no option for a permanent license
• pricey resources are in high demand.
• sometimes interfaces may be intimidating.

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Adobe Illustrator

Without a doubt, Illustrator is the best tool for editing and designing vectors. Several other applications in our list—particularly CorelDraw—allow you to edit vector drawings. That program even enables you to create some more challenging effects in Illustrator. However, the industry standard Adobe Illustrator serves most graphic artists the best. Additionally, it offers amazing type support and complimentary tablet programs for drawing digitally.

PROS

• top vector design tools available
• Fantastic Touch Type functionality
• Free Transform tool that is simple
• effective puppet warp capability enables the modification of certain pictures.
• numerous enhancements to current features

CONS

• no option for a permanent license
• Key commands in Photoshop and InDesign are not consistent.

Adobe InDesign

Another Adobe tool established as an industry standard is InDesign, used for designing publications. Years ago, it ejected QuarkXpress from that position. Adobe continues to improve InDesign with tools for the constantly shifting publishing scene and creative and user-friendly features. This is similar to what it has done with its other Creative Cloud stablemates. Along with stock images from Adobe Stock, you now receive unrivaled typography options with Adobe Fonts.

PROS

• incredibly well-balanced UI
• simple, intelligent global page adjustment
• number of fonts available for download

CONS

• calls for a subscription.
• Integration of PDF comments still requires work.

Adobe XD

One example of an Adobe product that isn’t the industry standard is Adobe XD. The industry leader in its sector (interface design and prototype) is Sketch, which is currently challenged by Figma, which Adobe just bought. Despite entering the market a bit later, XD delivers fantastic responsive-design capabilities, robust team functionality, and the comfort of familiar Adobe tools.

PROS

• For Creative Cloud users, an intuitive workspace with familiar key commands
• Excellent and perfect teamwork
• leading support for responsive design
• responsive user communities and tutorials
• compatible with both Windows and macOS

CONS

• fewer plug-ins available than Sketch

Serif Affinity Designer

The primary argument for using Affinity Designer is “no subscription.” However, you also receive a substantial amount of vector drawing tools, extensive font compatibility, and its special Contour tool for naturally connecting forms for a modest one-time cost.

PROS

• fully functional and quick
• UI that is cleverly designed and feels familiar
• quick tool interactions
• It’s inexpensive and doesn’t require a membership.

CONS

• not producing accurate vector patterns
• several issues with documents and non-Affinity programs.

What programs are used by graphic designers?

Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite of applications is the most popular option for most working graphic designers. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects are the primary graphic design software programs. You can purchase a single-app membership or the entire Creative Cloud suite. In any case, you’ll also get access to Adobe Fonts and the Behance portfolio service. Check out the Creative Cloud discount guide to ensure you receive the greatest deal.

Affinity’s suite of programs, which includes Affinity Photo, Affinity Design, and Affinity Publisher, offers a close equivalent to Adobe’s tools for graphic designers on a budget. But there isn’t anything like After Effects.

Which graphic design program is ideal for beginners?

Several programs let beginners in graphic design get started for free. Canva is a lightweight software for creating rapid designs in your browser and is one of our top recommendations. Unless you wish to unlock more sophisticated features and resources, you don’t need to download or pay anything.

Canva will enable you to put the theory you study about graphic design into practice. Once you’ve mastered a certain skill, you’ll inevitably turn to one of the premium applications on our list to access more advanced features.

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Conclusion

Most of the top graphic design software is expensive since it takes money to develop and update the applications. The greatest graphic design software should be your top priority whether you’re a professional designer or aspire to be one.

There are many competing subscription-free options, so you don’t need to subscribe to Adobe’s Creative Cloud. However, agencies and even direct clients could require you to utilize Illustrator and Photoshop.

However, whether you’re just getting started or require sporadic design work for personal projects, the finest free graphic design software is something to consider. Free versions of Adobe Creative Cloud Express and Canva will meet the needs of those who need to deliver quick and simple graphics projects.