15 Best Graphic Design Software [Free and Paid]

Whether you’re a newbie designer, a well-versed professional, or simply a non-designer looking to create some simple graphics, you’ll need reliable graphic design software. ‍

Graphic design programs offer powerful tools, such as a drag-and-drop editing dashboard, free stock templates, font customizations, and the power of AI, that help you create stunning graphic designs in minutes.

There are various free graphic design software out there, which can be a great asset, regardless of your skill level - for example, Canva, Krita, or Gimp.

However, if you want advanced features like AI art generation and premium design templates, you can choose paid graphic design software like CorelDRAW Graphics Suite or Adobe Illustrator.

So, do you want to know more about what software do graphic designers use? Let’s jump into the article.

What are the best free graphic design software?

Some of the below-mentioned software are completely free, while some offer free plans with limitations. You can try any of these free graphic design software or graphic programs with free plans and then move on to the paid plans if needed. 

Canva

Some designers criticize Canva for its template-oriented and simplistic approach and opt for some of many Canva alternatives. However, it remains widely popular as one of the best free graphic platforms with great features. 

Canva is extremely useful for non-designers as well as experienced professionals. Its free templates library offers thousands of assets for various projects, such as social media posts, business cards, invitations, logos, posters, even websites. 

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Why use Canva?

Canva offers a wide range of social media templates, which you can simply select, customize, and go live within minutes.

Canva pricing

Canva has various plans, including a free version with ony the key features and three paid plans.

• Free: $0/year
• Pro: $14.99/month or $119.99/year
• Teams: $120/year for the first five people. For additional users, contact their sales team.

Canva also offers two 100% free plans for schools and teachers.

Krita

Krita is one of the best digital art software programs, and it offers all of its functionalities for free. This is one of the best graphic design software for beginners because it's free and simple to learn.

Krita offers powerful tools for photo editing, illustrations, and digital painting. Krita also allows animation at no cost, making it a great free alternative for paid tools like Clip Studio and Photoshop. 

Why use Krita?

Even though Krita is open source, it provides 100+ brush selections, 9 brush engines, and supports industry-standard file formats.

Krita pricing

Free to use.

Gimp

Gimp is one of the most popular free software for graphic design, and rightly so. This photo-editing program works on any OS, making it incredibly versatile. 

In contrast, GIMP’s main paid competitor, Photoshop, is only available for Windows and Mac OS. Gimp has a similar interface to Photoshop, which makes it easy to use, especially if you’ve used Photoshop before.

Why use GIMP?

You can extend GIMP’s functionalities with its plugins. It excels in tasks like photo retouching, image composition, transcoding between file formats, and specialized graphic endeavors.

GIMP pricing

Free to use.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free graphics editing software that offers vector-based editing with node customization, various filters and effects, and a tool for object creation.

Inkscape allows users to create and manipulate vector graphics using tools such as pens, pencils, shapes, and text. Its supportive community of users contributes tutorials, tips, and resources to help others learn and improve their skills.

Why use Inkscape?

Inkscape provides designers with powerful and flexible tools for creating high-quality vector graphics, making it a valuable addition to any designer's toolkit.

Inkscape pricing

Free to use.

Blender

Blender is a versatile program that can help you create anything from 3D models, photo edits, and simulation to fully rendered animation.

Blender has great features and tools for animators, VFX artists, or anyone in video editing. It can export your projects in various file formats, making it extremely valuable for different projects.

Why use Blender?

Blender has a great sculpting tool that allows you to create stunning objects you can later animate. 

Blender pricing

Free to use

Vista Create

Vista Create, formerly known as Crello, is an online graphic design tool developed by the same company behind the well-known stock photo platform Depositphotos. 

Like many other free graphic design software, it has a simple drag and drop interface that allows you to create graphics even with no design knowledge.

Why use Vista Create

Vista Create offers a vast library of templates, although some of them will require payment. Another one of VistaCreate's standout features is the ability to create animated graphics. Users can add animated objects, transitions, and effects to make their designs more dynamic, which is particularly useful for social media content and digital ads.

Vista Create pricing

Aside from the free plan Vista Create also offers a paid option at $10 a month. The subscription grants access to premium templates, background remove feature, brand kits, and more. 

Pixlr

‍

Pixlr is a free graphic design software similar to Photoshop. It’s much simpler to use than Photoshop, but of course with more limited features. Aside from the free version, there are also paid options with more extensive features.

Why use Pixlr?

Pixlr is one of the best graphic design software tools for quickly creating graphics and editing images. With a variety of professionally designed templates, it also has a mobile version allowing marketers and content creators to design graphics on the go. 

Pixlr pricing

Aside from the free version, Pixlr also offers three different pricing options.

• Plus: $1.99 a month for 80 monthly AI credits, unlimited saves, and ad-free experience.
• Premium: $7.99 for 1000 AI monthly credits, private mode for AI generation, more templates, fonts, and design elements.‍
• Team: $12.99 for 5 seats for the whole team to work together.

What is the best software for graphic design? [Paid]

If you want advanced features to level up your graphic design, you must use advanced graphic design software. 

These are some of the best graphic design software that offer powerful features like AI-generated graphic design, font suggestions based on design, and even data analysis for personalized designs.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is widely regarded as the best image editing and design tool. Renowned for its comprehensive feature set, it excels in photo editing, digital painting, and graphic design. 

It does have a slightly steeper learning curve than some of the other software. Still, mastering Photoshop will enable you to use other Adobe products easily, such as Adobe Spark, Illustrator, or InDesign.

Why use Adobe Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular digital art software for its extensive image manipulation tools.

Adobe Photoshop pricing

You can buy Adobe Photoshop separately for $22.99 per month or as part of Creative Cloud All Apps for $59.99/month.

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor used for creating and designing scalable graphics, such as logos, illustrations, and print layouts. It's a powerful tool favored by graphic designers, artists, and illustrators for its precision and versatility.

Illustrator is also a better option for creating websites than Photoshop.

Why use Adobe Illustrator?

There are many convincing reasons to opt for this graphic design software. It’s industry-standard and most designers and clients will accept Illustrator file formats. It also offers tools like the Pen tool, which allows for precise control over curves and shapes. This precision is crucial for detailed design work, such as creating intricate illustrations or typographic designs.

It also comes with a comprehensive set of tools for drawing, coloring, and manipulating designs. Features like the Pathfinder tool, gradient mesh, and shape builder make complex designs easier to create.

Adobe Illustrator pricing

You can buy Adobe Illustrator separately for $22.99 per month or as part of Creative Cloud All Apps for $59.99/month.

Rebelle 7

Rebelle 7 is an award-winning online painting software that allows you to create hyper-realistic digital art with its intuitive interface and real-world painting experience.

The Pro version has exclusive additions, including a unique Metallic Material Layers system and an advanced brush engine with over 250 brushes.

Why use Rebelle 7?

Rebelle 7’s realistic drawing experience and a one-time fee for lifetime access make it one of the most affordable graphic design software programs.

Rebelle 7 pricing

Rebelle comes in two versions.

• Rebelle 7 - $89.99
• Rebelle 7 Pro - $149.99

You can even buy some applications for added functionalities.

Procreate

If you’re a digital artist or illustrator this is one of the best graphic programs to invest in. Designed for use on iPads, primarily with the Apple pencil, it’s a great choice for Apple users.

As a drawing software, Procreate has many useful features, such as an array of brush tools, canvas rotation, animation assist, gesture detection and many more.

Why use Procreate?

As a software designed for portable devices, Procreate is a program that allows you to work on the go. It’s also a one-off purchase, which is usually more affordable for those looking to get into design in the long term.

Of course, as a drawing software it offers powerful functionalities and features that aren’t available in every graphic design software.

Procreate pricing

Although purchasing Apple gadgets like an iPad and Apple Pencil will cost a pretty penny, this software is quite affordable. Procreate for iPad costs just $12,99, while you can also get the scaled down version for iPhones for $5,99.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024 is a versatile graphic design software suitable for professionals, businesses, and hobbyists. It offers powerful tools for vector illustration, page layout, image editing, and font management. 

Additionally, features like CAPTURE for screen capture and CorelDRAW.app for browser-based design and collaboration enhance its usability. With tools like AfterShot HDR for photo enhancement, it caters to diverse design needs.

Why use CorelDRAW?

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite streamlines your design workflow, allowing you to produce unique illustrations, logos, signage, and more. Whether on Windows or Mac, CorelDRAW.app lets you design on the go.

CorelDRAW pricing

• Annual Plan: For $22.42/month, you get the latest version, exclusive cloud features, and more.
• One-Time Purchase: Pay $549.00 to own the 2024 version forever.
• Subscription for Business: Subscribe for $39/month or buy it once for $549.00.

You can even try CorelDRAW for free with its 15-day free trial.

Figma

Figma is a web app, which means you can run it from your browser (or download the desktop app). If you need affordable (or free) and user-friendly web design software, then definitely check out Figma. 

From user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design to website and app prototyping, Figma enables real-time collaborative design and prototyping.

Why use Figma?

Figma’s powerful design functionalities have made it an industry standard for creating websites, user interfaces, and graphic design. 

Figma pricing

Figma offers a free plan called Started. However, you’re limited to 3 files, while all the paid plans offer unlimited cloud storage.

• Professional: $15/mo
• Organization: $45/mo
• Enterprise: $75/mo

 Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a versatile raster graphics editor available on iOS, macOS, and Windows. It offers advanced features like non-destructive RAW development and a Live Mesh Warp filter. 

While it lacks some of Photoshop's features, many users consider Affinity Photo an affordable Photoshop alternative since it excels in image rendering, metadata editing, and HDR merging.

Why use Affinity Photo?

Affinity Photo is your best bet if you’re looking for an affordable Photoshop alternative with just as powerful features.

Affinity Photo pricing

Affinity Photo offers you platform-wise plans:

• Windows - $69.99
• macOS - $69.99
• iPad - $18.49

You can even purchase a Universal Licence for $164.99, covering all platforms.

Xara Designer Pro

Xara Designer Pro is a comprehensive graphic design software that offers a range of tools for vector illustration, photo editing, page layout, and web design.

Xara is highly optimized for performance, allowing for smooth and fast editing even with complex projects. It’s particularly praised for its rendering speed, which can be much quicker than some other design tools. 

If you want to download the program, you need to have Windows OS. Alternatively, you can pay a monthly subscription and use the Xara web application.

Why use Xara Designer Pro?

This is another great all-in one graphic design program, suitable for illustrations, photo editing, digital design, and web design. 

Xara Designer Pro pricing

Monthly subscription for the online version of this design software costs $22 a month, or $16 if you purchase the annual subscription. 

If you want to pay the one-time fee to download the program, the price is $299.

Conclusion

When choosing graphic design software, consider your project type and skill level. For animation and video editing, try free options like Canva or Blender. Beginners should start with simpler programs and gradually challenge themselves. 

While DIY design can be time-consuming, consider your company's needs; ManyPixels offers a subscription for all graphic design projects. With affordable monthly flat-fee plans and a talented team, we can design anything from logos to websites for you.

Book a free demo call, and let’s get started.