15 Best Graphic Design Software & Tools (2025)

You don’t have to be a professional to use graphic design software to design artworks, logos, or improve your photos.

No matter the design project you want to bring to life, technology has leveled the playing field for both expert graphic designers and complete beginners.

I’ll show you how to pick the perfect graphic design software that will suit your needs.

Designs in general have become an important aspect of growing a successful business. According to WebFX, 73% of businesses invest in design to help differentiate their brand from the competition.

This is the complete guide to the best graphic design software programs that are easy to use, comes with a library of high-quality stock images and icons, and make it easy to manipulate any design.

Some of these graphic design software programs are completely free, while some offers free versions and affordable premium plans to help you do even more. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Affinity Designer, and CorelDRAW are great examples.

In this guide, you’ll discover:

• What the best graphic design software applications are
• What to consider when choosing graphic design software
• How ‘not’ to lose money on graphic design software that are dated & hard to use
• The benefits of using graphic design software to manipulate, improve, and bring your designs to life
• And lots more…

If you’re ready as I am, let’s dive right in.

What is the Best Graphic Design Software?

Here are my top picks for the best graphic design software applications for 2025. Right after this list, I’ll share an in-depth review of each graphic design tool.  

1. Adobe Photoshop
2. Canva  
3. Adobe InDesign  
4. Adobe Illustrator
5. Corel Draw  
6. Snappa
7. Affinity
8. Xara Designer Pro X
9. Vectr
10. Sketch
11. GIMP
12. Inkscape
13. Gravit Designer
14. Autodesk Sketchbook
15. Genially

1. Adobe Photoshop

Best graphic design software for professionals

Adobe Photoshop is a popular graphics editor and graphic design software. It’s developed by Adobe Inc. and published by Creative Suite.

It was originally created in 1988 by Thomas and John Knoll. Since its release, it has become the standard in raster graphics editing and digital art.

Creating an image collage is also a great way to enhance a photograph. And you can even use the “Matte Painting” feature to add a creative touch to a picture.

Photoshop is incredibly powerful and a necessity for graphic artists, web developers, and photographers.

It can be used to create, edit, and retouch images as well as create image compositions.

You can also use Photoshop to design website layouts and mockups. And once you’ve learned how to use Photoshop, you can export your images to other programs.

Key Features

• An intuitive graphic design tool
• Create custom graphics with easy-to-use tools
• Retouch and remix your photos
• Enhance image edits with neural filters
• Utilize Adobe Illustrator vector content in Photoshop (for color, stroke, and layers)
• Improve portions of images using the quick-click option

Pros

• A huge list of editing tools for touch-ups and retouching
• Extensive custom graphics & image management tools
• Use lots of filters, brushes, and presets to render stunning artwork
• Bring images to life with multi-layer editing and 3D designs
• A handful of color-grade presets to help you fix image colors

Cons

• It requires a high learning curve (lots of tools to master)
• Adobe Photoshop might be daunting at first, especially for beginners (because of too many tools & features to learn)
• It doesn’t support auto removal of image background

Pricing

Adobe Photoshop can be purchased as an individual photo editing program or as a bundle. Here are ways to get it:

• Photography ($9.99/month): With the Photography plan, you get access to Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop on desktop and iPad, and 20GB of storage space.
• Creative Cloud All Apps ($52.99/month): This is a bundle plan that gives you access to 20+ Creative Cloud apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and more.
• Photoshop ($20.99/month): This is the official subscription plan to access Photoshop software. You can create beautiful graphics, photos, and art on both desktop and iPad. You can also draw and paint with Adobe Fresco.

Creative Cloud for teams

With the Creative Cloud for teams bundle, you can access Photoshop and other programs.

• Creative Cloud All Apps ($79.99/month): Businesses and Teams can access Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and other programs when they subscribe to the Creative Cloud All Apps for teams.
• Single App ($33.99/month): With this license, you get to choose one app from the Creative Cloud. In this case, it could be Adobe Photoshop.

2. Canva

Best graphic design software for beginners

Canva is a free, user-friendly alternative to Photoshop and Illustrator. It comes with an extensive library of pre-designed templates, which can be easily modified.

Canva is ideal for people who love to design but don’t have the technical know-how to use a professional design program.

Moreover, you can download millions of free and paid resources to use in your own designs.

With its easy-to-use interface, Canva is an excellent choice for beginners.

The free version offers pre-designed templates. You can choose a template that suits your needs.

The free version comes with limited content, so it’s best for those who need quick graphic design work.

The paid version comes with additional features.

If you want to create a professional-looking graphic, it’s recommended to upgrade. Canva offers a range of premium templates that are quite easy to customize.

Key Features

• 1000+ professional templates, images, and graphics to choose from
• Collaborate with ease (invite people to edit with you)
• Save color palette for future designs
• Intuitive and user-friendly photo editing tools
• A huge learning resources (videos, articles, demo videos)

Pros

• Automatically remove the image background
• Import your own photo and improve it with graphics and texts
• It’s easy to pick and customize a template to suit your style
• A huge collection of custom graphics and images for your design
• The free version comes with amazing features and tools

Cons

• No option to create unique elements with Canva, as you’d with CorelDRAW
• Free users have a limitation in storage space

Pricing

Comes offers 3 pricing plans based on the number of users:

• Free ($0.00): 250,000+ free templates, free photos, and graphics, 5GB of storage space, invite up to 5 members to your team, and more.
• Pro ($119.99/year or $12.99/month): Up to 5 people, 100+ million premium stock photos, videos, audio & graphics, and everything in the Free plan.
• Enterprise ($30.00/user/month): An ideal plan for a team of 25 people, unlimited storage, everything in the Pro plan, and more.

Note: Canva is free for classrooms and nonprofits. There’s also a free 30-day trial to test the graphics and photo-editing tool before upgrading to Pro.

3. Adobe InDesign

Best for digital publications

Adobe InDesign is the industry-standard graphic design software for layout, print & digital media.

It allows you to create beautiful graphic designs with jaw-dropping typography from world’s best foundries and imagery from Adobe Stock.

If you are a graphic designer or a publishing professional, then you are probably familiar with Adobe InDesign.  

A major benefit of using Adobe InDesign is its versatility. The application is suitable for many different types of content, from digital to print layouts.

It’s also compatible with other Adobe applications, including Photoshop and Illustrator. These programs can help you improve your workflow speed and increase your creativity.  

Creative Cloud is an affordable subscription option, which gives you access to the full version of InDesign. It is also available for macOS and Windows.

Key Features

• A wide array of imagery from Adobe Stock
• Easily manage production with Adobe Experience Manager
• Create and publish interactive PDFs, digital magazines, eBooks, etc.
• Deliver immersive experiences in any design format
• Publish your design directly to the web
• Import color themes and shapes from Adobe Capture Extension

Pros

• Design stunning graphics in minutes
• Quickly get Adobe Fonts suggestions based on a raster image
• Lots of collaboration tools to help you share your designs with others
• Pick a free template and customize it with ease
• Easily run InDesign on devices that feature the Apple M1 chip
• Enjoy up to 2X faster text reflow and PDF exporting

Cons

• It requires a high learning curve
• Too many tools can be overwhelming for beginners
• The workspace can be more intuitive to work with

Pricing

Adobe InDesign is part of the Creative Cloud membership. Let’s see how you can get it:

• For Individuals ($20.99/month): You’re getting InDesign for yourself.
• For students and teachers ($19.99/month): Get InDesign, 20+ desktop apps, and more, requires valid ID for an education discount.
• For teams and businesses ($79.99/month): Get InDesign, 20+ desktop apps, mobile apps, and more.
• For schools and universities ($34.99/month): This is the perfect licensing option for schools, labs, and other tertiary institutions. Get InDesign and 20+ other apps.

4. Adobe Illustrator

Best for vector graphics

Adobe Illustrator is one of the most widely used graphics software programs today, and it’s often used to design banners, brochures, and website content.

Although this program was originally designed for Macintosh users, it’s now very compatible with Windows.

The new version includes several new features, including customizable workspace options, custom key commands, and more.

With the latest version, you can create multiple repositionable pages, use Illustrator presets to resize your Artboards, and define width and height values for each.

The program also offers a number of improvements in its artboard control, positioning, and a maximum number of boards.

The program’s ease of use makes it a popular tool for graphic designers. It’s simple to learn and can be used to create a wide range of printed and digital images.

You can also manipulate text using Illustrator, making it a popular choice for creating visual designs with text. You can also place text around curves and shapes, enabling you to be in control of your designs.

Key Features

• Create professional designs, icons, logos, web graphics, etc.
• Sharp designs on any size, not pixelated
• Recolor, add custom effects, and manipulate graphics quickly
• Illustrator works everywhere on any device
• Create resizable graphics with the highest quality

Pros

• Edit multiple artboards simultaneously with ease
• Quickly move panels anywhere using the drag-and-drop feature
• The user interface is friendly and offers space-saving features
• Illustrator is compatible with numerous devices (from Mac to Windows)
• Get access to millions of graphics and templates from Adobe Stock library

Cons

• A lot of features can be overwhelming for non-graphic designers
• Illustrator can take a lot of space in your computer or tablet (it’s not lightweight)

Pricing

You can get Adobe Illustrator by subscribing to the Creative Cloud services:

• For Individuals ($20.99/month): You’re getting InDesign for yourself.
• For students and teachers ($19.99/month): Get InDesign, 20+ desktop apps, and more, requires valid ID for an education discount.
• For teams and businesses ($79.99/month): Get InDesign, 20+ desktop apps, mobile apps, and more.
• For schools and universities ($34.99/month): This is the perfect licensing option for schools, labs, and other tertiary institutions. Get InDesign and 20+ other apps.

5. CorelDRAW

Best for digital illustration

CorelDRAW is a powerful graphics suite for designers and artists. It gives you the pro tools required for vector illustration, layout, photo editing, typography, and collaboration.

With CorelDRAW, you can create vector designs, edit images, and format text and saves the project in a variety of formats.

Its user-friendly interface allows for great freedom in designing and handling jobs, while the program’s many features make it a great choice for many types of work.  

This software is designed for graphic designers. It features a wide variety of design tools, including the ability to adjust perspective on bitmaps and photos.

The user can use a variety of drawing tools to create vector shapes.

The program offers layers for non-destructive editing, so it is very easy to make changes without losing your work.

CorelDRAW has many online tutorials to help you create beautiful artwork. Despite the number of tutorials, the program is also easy to use.

Key Features

• Create vector-rich illustrations
• Design gallery: gain creative inspiration from CorelDRAW designs around the world
• New Pointilizer: CorelDRAW offers cutting-edge pointilizer with variable parameters that doesn’t limit your designs
• Gain access to high-resolution digital images, templates, fonts, and interactive
• frames, gradients, and bitmap files
• Customizable UI environment for desktop

Pros

• It has an intuitive user interface
• There’s an active community of CorelDRAW users to get some creative inspirations from
• Enjoy smooth transition from desktop to tablet
• You can export files in different file types
• CorelDRAW offers app-wide workflow (so that you can continue from where you left on, no matter the device)

Cons

• It requires a steep learning curve (there’s a lot of tools and features to master if you want to get the best out of CorelDRAW)
• It’s quite expensive compared to Adobe Illustrator

Pricing

CorelDRAW offers free trial for 15 days. You can experiment with the graphic design software and use all the features.

You can get CorelDRAW through the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite subscription:

• Annual Plan ($36.58/month billed annually): Professional graphic design for Windows.
• One-Time Purchase ($859.00): Get the latest version, collaboration tools, and a lot more.
• CorelDRAW Standard ($419): For the complete package
• CorelDRAW Essentials 2021 ($155): Design with easy-to-learn graphics tools.

6. Snappa

Best for ease of use

Snappa is user-friendly graphic design software that has a free version and a paid plan.

While the free version comes with the same design resources, you’ll have to be careful about which templates you use, and you’re limited to three designs per month.

If you’re a beginner, you might want to check out the free plan before committing to a premium plan.

If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at graphics, then Snappa is a great way to do so.

Snappa allows you to create stunning graphics with a range of tools and features.

You can use assets for free from the stock library of photos and art galleries to create a dazzling graphic.

Many of the images are royalty-free, and you can use them for commercial or non-commercial purposes without attribution.

You can also custom-size images using Snappa’s editing tools or even rotate them for a more professional look.

Key Features

• Graphic design tools for beginners and non-designers
• Add texts, graphics, and effects in seconds
• Remove image backgrounds in seconds
• Third-party integrations with other applications
• 5 million+ free, high-resolution stock images and icons
• Powerful collaboration tools for your team members

Pros

• Pick a template, customize it, and create amazing graphic designs
• You can easily export images in retina quality
• Snappa has an intuitive graphic editor and folder organization structure
• Intuitive photo editing tool with responsive dimensions for flyers, posters, and more
• Non-designers can easily improve and touch-up their photos

Cons

• It doesn’t support vector graphics format yet, only raster formats
• It comes with mostly basic features for beginners
• It doesn’t support animations and GIFs

Pricing

Here’s the breakdown of the 3 different plans and pricing from Snappa:

• Free ($0/month): 1 user, 3 downloads per month, 6,000 templates, and 5 million+ photos and graphics.
• PRO ($15/month): Everything in the Free plan, plus unlimited downloads per month and social media integrations.
• TEAM ($30/month): Everything in the PRO plan, plus 5 users, custom font uploads, remove image backgrounds, and social media integrations.

Note: Get 4 months free when you pay annually. That’s a huge savings of 33%.

7. Affinity

Best for affordable drawing

Affinity Designer is a vector-based app that supports both CMYK and RGB color spaces.

Its advanced tools and support for Pantone color management help you create vibrant designs.

The program also has excellent performance and accuracy.

The company’s product reviews are constantly growing and there is no need to wait too long to try out this product. Its price is affordable and you can trust the designers behind it.

Affinity Designer helps professional designers to create vector graphics.

You can zoom over 1 million percent. This is particularly useful if you need to work with detailed artboards.

Affinity Designer comes with a flexible grid system that lets you set up grids for everything from icons to isometric video game graphics.

You can also set up multiple layouts to suit your needs. And since you can export a canvas to a variety of formats, Affinity Designer is a must-have for all creatives.

Key Features

• Professional photo editing software
• Available for Mac, Windows, and iPad
• Create concept art, print projects, mockups, and more
• Image retouching software with multi-layered compositions
• Make beautiful graphics layouts for publication to the web or print
• Workflow tools such as saveable histories and keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity

Pros

• Easy and simple user interface
• Set up multiple layouts to suit your design needs
• Smooth transitions when designing posters (no delays)
• Easily combine images, graphics, and text to make beautiful layouts read for publications
• Lock and position objects and elements including grids, alignment guides, shapes, and nodes

Cons

• No AI enhancements tools like you’d find in Illustrator and InDesign
• Lack of beginner-friendly learning resources to improve your design skills with Affinity Designer

Pricing

Affinity is an all-in-one software for graphics and visual marketing. For the purpose of graphics design, Affinity Designer is the main software and here are the plans:

• Mac: €54.99
• Windows: €54.99
• iPad: €21.99

Note: You can take advantage of Affinity for your team for a free 30-day trial. You and your team can test out all of the apps at no cost.

8. Xara Designer Pro X

Best for web and print

Xara Designer Pro X enables you to use vector images in a variety of ways, including page layouts and graphic designs.

Its drag-and-drop interface lets your staff combine and edit elements with ease.

The software even allows you to import SVGs and other third-party elements, and you can even create collages with your designs.

It allows you to manage your collaborative workflow and save your work for future use.

The multi-award-winning Xara Designer Pro combines desktop publishing, web design, illustration, and photo editing into one intuitive program.

Its user-friendly interface makes creating your own website easy, and it has a range of tools and templates for various tasks.

Key Features

• A single application for all your creative work
• Web graphics and WYSIWYG web design functionality
• Ultra fast processing vector graphic application
• Create professional effects (transparency, shadowsn bevels, gradient fills)
• Drag and drop import of files
• Collaboration tools through Xara’s cloud functionality

Pros

• Design simple or complex web pages with page layout tools and text control
• It’s fast and intuitive to use
• Easily upload your content to the cloud and share with colleagues
• It supports a ton of file formats. You can sync files with your Google Drive or Dropbox, Adobe PSD, or export in bitmap file formats
• Quickly find what you’re looking for in one environment, from blending to photo editing, everything is accessible

Cons

• The masking feature can be improved. It feels clunky sometimes
• It’s only available for Windows OS
• Not a lightweight graphic design software (it can take up 300 MB of storage space)

Pricing

Here’s a breakdown of Xara’s plans and pricing:

• Free ($0/month): Ideal for 1 user with a lifetime access. 50MB of storage, templates, import PDFs, docx, ppt, jpeg, etc.
• Pro ($18.95/month): This plan is for 1 user and gives full access to Xara Cloud, which includes 1 GB of storage, commercial-grade output, photo tools and effects, etc.
• Pro+ ($22.95/month): 1 user, Designer Pro+, online/offline integration, 1,000+ additional templates, website builder (no coding), and more.

You can also get Xara Designer Pro X through these annual subscription plans:

• Xara Designer PRO+ ($16.95/month billed annually): Get started with 500 textures, 250 Truetype and PostScript fonts, Live Effects plug-ins, and more.
• Xara Designer TEAM+ ($9.98/month billed annually): This plan can accommodate up to 3 users and it comes with online content catalog with 1,000+ print, web graphic and website templates, and more.

9. Vectr

Best for in-browser editing

Vectr is a free vector graphics editor that works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebook.

Unlike some other design programs, Vectr has a very low learning curve. It comes with an interactive tutorial that will help you create 2D designs quickly.

Vectr is perfect for both beginners and advanced users and is designed for quick design creation.

There are a number of useful features and tutorials available online, and the app is also compatible with a number of operating systems.

Vectr is very easy to use and has a user interface that’s both intuitive and professional.

There are a number of options for creating and editing images.

Some of these features include a selection of shapes and the ability to draw freehand with a pencil tool.

It also allows you to import bitmaps and SVGs. The software offers many other advanced features including color blending, border, and shadow.

Key Features

• Design and edit vector graphics like via web & desktop
• Vectr’s intuitive design tools let you create beautiful graphics
• Collaborate in real-time via URL
• Create blur-free logos, presentations, cards, brochures, 2D graphics, etc.
• Render graphics effects with AI (a huge time-saver tool)
• Communicate as changes are made via the chat feature

Pros

• The basic graphics editor is completely free forever
• An easy-to-use visual editing tools
• A customizable design interface
• A chrome extension helps for a smoother design experience
• Easily create crisp and clean graphics in minutes

Cons

• No extension for other browsers (only for Chrome)
• Lacks advanced graphics editing features such as masking and wireframes

Pricing

Vectr is 100% free to use. And there’s no hidden cost associated with it. Just sign up to start using it online (so software download is needed).

10. Sketch

Best for prototypes and vector-based sketching

Sketch is a powerful graphic design tool for collaboration, prototypes, and creating pixel-perfect artwork.

It gives you the chance to experiment with playable prototypes and developer handoff.

While collaborating on new concepts, it’s easy to freshen up an old flow with the perfect icon, everything from the design process to rendering is available with Sketch.

Sketch is a native macOS editor.

It comes with an intuitive user interface, and all the benefits you’d expect from a great Mac app — such as support for P3 color profiles, native font rendering, and super-fast Apple Silicon performance.

Key Features

• Real-time collaboration: With together in the same document with your team
• Prototyping: Bring your designs to life with powerful tools
• Build out beautiful designs, all in one place
• Sketch Workspace: Store your files, share ideas, and get feedback from others
• Advanced features: Corner controls in the Canvas, Copy CSS in the web app, Color Tokens, and more.

Pros

• Great flexibility when designing in the canvas
• Lots of draggable elements for your designs
• An intuitive user interface
• Advanced design tools for developers
• A collection of icons, templates, and imagery to speed up your designs

Cons

• It’s not suitable for beginners. Too man advanced features may overwhelm users
• The Standard plan has limited features for any meaningful graphic design project
• It’s a native editor for Mac, no support for Android devices

Pricing

Sketch offers 2 straightforward plans and pricing:

• Standard ($9/user/month or $99/user/yearly): Get started with unlimited free viewers, a native Mac editor, and more.
• Business: Get in touch with the sales team for a custom quote. Get Single Sign On (SSO), Unlimited Cloud Storage, Invoice-based billing, Priority support, and more.

11. GIMP

Best open source

GIMP is a GNU Image Manipulatation Program. This cross-platform image editor is open source and availble for Linux, macOS, and Windows OS.

It’s completely free to use and you have the chance to change its source code and distribute your changes accordingly.

The GIMP graphic design software is free to download and use.

The GIMP graphics design software has a rich set of tools to help you create and edit your graphics.

Its editing tools include a paintbrush, pencil, airbrush, eraser, and ink tools. Its bucket fill tool lets you fill in a pattern or color. Its blend tool enables you to create gradients.

Another useful tool is the Smudge tool, which blurs the selection. There are 150 standard filters and effects you can use.

Key Features

• Flexibility: You have access to user-friendly features for manipulating images
• GEGL Scripts: A much-needed feature that makes GIMP perfect for image processing
• GIMP is compatible with macOS, Windows, BDS, and Solaris
• A community of developers to get some inspiration from
• Plenty of customization options and third-party plugins

Pros

• It’s free to use and learn
• Join a community of passionate developers and graphic designers
• Use GIMP on any device or operating system
• Customize your canvas to suit your design style
• Sketch easily with handy tools such as pencil, airbrush, cloning, and more.
• You can work on a modular or single-window interface
• It’s lightweight to ensure speedy performance

Cons

• It’s not as intuitive on MacOS as it’s with Windows OS
• When you’re stuck and don’t know what to do, there’s no customer support team to call (because it’s open source and a community)

Pricing

GIMP is 100% free to use.

12. Inkscape

Best free vector software

Inkscape is a free, open-source graphic design program that is capable of handling a variety of graphics and image-related tasks, including vector creation.

Its main features include a fully anti-aliased display, high-quality colors, flat colors, gradients, and transparency color levels.

Its image quality and accuracy are also very high, and it uses the vector-graphics standard, meaning that you can change every component of the picture without impacting its quality.

Its workflow revolves around vector objects, and it has numerous tools to manipulate them.

You can use tools to create a variety of 3D objects, such as gears and roulette curves. Inkscape supports multiple file formats, including PSD, EPS, and PostScript. It also supports live editing and exporting.

Key Features

• Flexible drawing tools
• Broad file format compatibility
• Powerful text tool for bring your designs to life
• Bezier and spiro curves
• A huge community of passionate developers and designers
• Lots of books, manuals, tutorial videos, and animated demos to learn from

Pros

• An intuitive vector graphics editor
• It’s perfect for beginners to use
• You can learn and master Inkscape in minutes (lots of learning resources)
• Get creative inspiration from a community of 100,000+ users
• Easily report bugs and help developers to make smarter decisions

Cons

• It requires a bit of a learning process
• Not lightweight: It may take up storage space in your computer

Pricing

As an open source graphic design platform and community, you don’t have to pay anything to use it. However, to support the platform, you can donate to Inkscape via PayPal.

13. Gravit Designer

Best HTML-based app

Gravit Designer offers an intuitive interface for creating attractive and effective vector graphics.

You can create beautiful images for your web pages and social media accounts, and create impressive presentations.

This software includes a large selection of pre-designed templates that make it easy to start designing.  

If you’re unsure about the size of your canvas, you can choose a custom canvas size or import a font to create a personalized version of your design.

Using Gravit Designer is easy. The interface is intuitive and customizable, and it lets you work with multiple documents without any difficulties.

It has three tabs that provide comprehensive drag-and-drop tools, a tutorial tab for new users, and a list of open layers.

The start screen of the program offers a wide selection of templates for you to choose from.

If you have limited time, you can start your design by selecting a template.

Key Features

• Design graphics from any place (works in all browsers)
• Built with top web technologies such as HTML Canvas, WebGL, and JavaScript
• Accelerated rendering engine for improved graphics processing with no delays
• Built-in auto-update mechanism (so you never lose your updates)
• Design with precision at any scale from tiny UI icons to huge Graffiti Wall size artworks

Pros

• Easy and intuitive graphic design editor
• It’s highly customizable
• You can work with multiple documents without any lag
• A simple drag-and-drop tool makes designing fun
• Lots of templates to pick from and customize

Cons

• It’s not ideal for beginners due to its advanced set of design tools
• The free version is limited (as you can’t work offline and touchscreen isn’t supported)

Pricing

Gravit Designer comes with 2 plans for you to choose from:

• Gravit Designer FREE ($0/year): 500MB Cloud Storage, PDF export (72 and 150 DPI), and more.
• Gravit Designer PRO ($59.99/year): Unlimited Cloud storage, PDF export (up to 300dpi), work offline, space color (CMYK, HSB, and RGB), and more.

14. Autodesk Sketchbook

Best digital drawing for tablets

Sketchbook is a drawing app with an intuitive interface, preferred by both professionals and artistic people. It supports 100 mpx canvases.

The user interface is very intuitive, and the software stays in an incognito mode until needed.

The tools in the program are customizable, and there are a number of features that make it a popular choice for drawing.

The app is also capable of importing and exporting to Adobe Photoshop, so you can create high-resolution images.

The software is compatible with several formats, including PSD. All layers in PSD are fully preserved during the import, including names, blending models, and groups.

The Autodesk SketchBook software comes with 140 different brushes, realistic pencils and ink, and a wide variety of canvas sizes.

Key Features

• Drawing tools for desktop, mobile, and tablet
• Intuitive and streamlined UI for drawing
• Hundreds of brushes: pencils, markers, airbrushes, paint, etc.
• Build up color with color fill tools
• Dynamic symmetry to capture your ideas
• Natural pen interaction
• 190+ customizable brushes

Pros

• Choose from more than 100 mpx canvases
• It’s intuitive and has a user-friendly interface
• You can import and export to Adobe Photoshop to enhance your photos
• Easy to use brushes, realistic pencils, and ink
• A huge list of ‘getting-started’ tutorials to help you learn Sketchbook

Cons

• Sometimes, adding a color or layer can be glitchy
• The free version usually free while you’re working on a project

Pricing

You can use Sketchbook for free. In April of 2018, the full-featured version of Sketchbook was made completely free to all users.

The subscription plans were phased out, and all premium features (perspective guides, flood fill, layer effects, and brush customization) have been unlocked.

15. Genially

Best user-friendly graphic design software

Genially allows graphic designers (both beginners and experts) to create interactive content using presentations, custom graphics, infographics, and artworks.

Using Genially graphic design software is very simple and quick. This program has 1,000+ templates that are available for use.

This is a great option for anyone who does not have the time to learn or develop their own design.

It’s also easy to use, and its community includes eLearning experts, educators, business professionals, and learning institutions.

Genially also supports rich media from different platforms. It can import and add content from Dropbox, Google Maps, Infogram, YouTube, and Twitter, and several others.

This means that a person can add a new layer of interactivity to their presentation.

Another great feature of Genially is its ability to generate reports, so a user can measure the impact of their presentation on the audience.

Once the presentation has been created, it can be shared on the web.

Key Features

• Create and incorporate interactive elements into your presentation, report, dossier, or business proposal
• Design interactive infographics to explain complicated concepts
• Design interactive games such as quiz or escape room
• Enrich your image by including audios, external links, and videos
• A set of graphic design tools for colleges and universities

Pros

• Design extensions are easy to use
• Choose a template from the huge collection and customize it
• Easily create interactive visual content for your audience
• Design presentations of high quality like a pro easily
• You can create your own template and download it

Cons

• It takes some practice to understand how Genially works
• It’s not easy to collaborate with others simultaneously

Pricing

Genially offers 4 plans with flexible pricing structures:

• Free ($0/forever): Try Genially at no cost, create unlimited graphics, unlimited view, free templates, and more.
• Pro ($9.90/month): Every feature in the Free plan, plus privacy control, importing PowerPoint files, inserting audio from PC, etc.
• Master ($39.90/month): Get access to all the premium benefits, including integration with Google Analytics, easy removal of the Genially watermark, and more.
• Team ($79.15/month): Every feature in the Master plan, plus 5 master accounts and a dedicated account manager.

Note: Save 48% when you pay annually.

What is a Graphic Design Software?

Graphic design software is a solution that allows designers and creators to manipulate, retouch, improve, and create bring graphics projects to life.

Some graphic software programs are designed to handle vectors and illustrators, while programs can help you create stunning animations, edit photos, and create engaging videos.

Good graphic design software should have the ability to integrate different elements, such as photos, fonts, and motion graphics. It should also support common file formats, including PSD and EPS.

This way, you can work on any project, whether it’s for personal or commercial use

What to Look for in Graphic Design Software

Do you need the best graphic design software for your Windows or Mac computer, or simply want to use it on your tablet?

No matter where you intend to use the tool, there are essential features you should consider when making your decisions. Here they are:

1. Editing ability

Good graphic design software should have editing ability.

This is important because you will have to make changes to existing images to create something new.

Some programs have a lot of features that you might not need right away.

For example, if you need to make a logo for your business, you should choose software that is vector-based.

To produce professional-quality images and artworks, graphic design software must have editing ability.

It should support the most common file formats. It’s also helpful if the software has built-in collaboration tools.

These features can enhance productivity and accountability. You must equally consider printing capabilities.

You may need to print your work often and these features will help you achieve that.

For example, you will need to use the software’s print feature if you want to present it to people.  

2. No watermarks

Using a graphic design software that leaves watermarks is frowned upon by most people.

Even when used correctly, watermarked images make your work appear unprofessional and make you look like a cheapskate.

This can damage your brand and make you look like a cheapskate.

While you can easily remove watermarks from your work in the same software, this can be a time-consuming and tedious process.

This is why you should only use a professional watermark software for your images (if you so choose).  

3. Intuitive design and features

Intuitive design and features are essential to make your work as a graphic designer easier.

When choosing a program, look for one that supports a wide range of common file formats.

You should also be able to personalize your workspace to maximize your efficiency.  

Good graphic software should have an intuitive design and features that are easy to use.

ntuitive design and features are vital for creating effective designs. You don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out how to use a program.

4. Precision

There are many things to consider when choosing graphic design software, but it’s important to choose one that uses Precision.

You should be able to adjust the tiniest detail of your work, minimize/maximize, and work on perfecting your project.

To make sure that your work is pixel-perfect, graphic design software must support precision.

Some applications allow you to copy and paste images from one system to another, but this is not always possible.

If you are looking to create a high-quality image, you’ll need a tool that allows you to use Precision. The tools you use for precision will also be compatible with other programs.

5. Templates and tools

A good graphic design software should include several templates, tools, and other useful features.

The basic building blocks of the software must include drag-and-drop features and can be expanded with additional paid tools as needed.

A good graphic design software is easy to use, with a low learning curve and the latest trending tools to customize a template.  

Templates are the foundation of any design, and they can save time and create a consistent look and feel for a variety of projects.

Whether you’re creating a logo, a website, or a brochure, using a template will ensure you’re producing a professional-looking final product.

These templates also provide quick shortcuts to a professional-looking design.

Benefits of Using Graphic Design Software

A graphic design software is essential to every designer who wants to create visually stunning artworks.

Here are some of the benefits of using graphic design software for your projects

1. Flexibility to design what you want

You can create any kind of design with graphic design software.

Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are the industry standard, but you can also expand your skills with the latest releases in the Creative Cloud.

If you are a beginner, you can try Canva for a fun and easy way to design graphics.

Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create any kind of design you want, and its library of stock photos and ready-made assets can help you get started quickly.

If you want to start making your own designs, you’ll need a graphic design software program.

Using the right software will help you create the visual content you need to make your site stand out from the competition.

People respond more to visual content than to the text, which means you’ll need to be able to deliver the right message with a compelling visual.

2. Cost-effective

There are so many free graphic design software out there.

If you’re just getting started with graphics, you can start off with the free tools or free versions, no need to spend money on premium graphic design tools.

It’s important to find graphic design software that is affordable and easy to use. If you are a beginner, Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator are excellent choices.

The Adobe Creative Cloud will expand your design capabilities and helps you save money.

Canva is also a popular choice among beginners and professionals.

It makes it easy to create a wide variety of graphics from simple banners to complex logos. Canva is inexpensive and easy to use.

3. Brand consistency

Visual branding is a key to maintaining brand consistency.

Using graphic design software to create a brand identity is a great way to maintain brand consistency. Because you can save and reuse the same assets over and over again, without altering how they look.

It’s not just about making sure that your logo and copy look the same.

Having your brand appear the same on all your materials will help you create a more cohesive overall message that is easier to remember.

The right software will help you keep your designs consistent, and your content consistent.

If your audience doesn’t recognize and associate your brand with the same emotions, they won’t be able to recognize and trust you.

For this reason, it’s important to use a reliable graphic design software to ensure that your brand remains consistent.

4. Design it yourself

A great graphic design program is one that allows you to work with a variety of projects without any prior design experience.

It is user-friendly, with an easy drag-and-drop interface.

The app also offers a huge variety of fonts, templates, and images.

While some items are free, others require in-app purchases, which can make the overall cost of the program higher.

However, many designers swear by Adobe Creative Cloud Express and its features.

How Does Graphic Design Software Work?

Graphic design software is a must for graphic designers. These programs contain various tools and libraries to help them in their job.  

A good graphic design software must come with a huge image database of images and graphics to aid in your work.  

With that said, here’s how the Adobe Photoshop works and how to use it in 6 simple steps:

Step 1: Create a New Document.

Launch the Photoshop application and click on the “File” option, then “New Document.”

You’ll be given the option to either start with a template or customize the size of the document manually.

Step 2: Enter The Camera Raw-Panel

This is where you visualize what the camera raw panel actually looks like in Photoshop. You may choose the crop tool available in the sidebar to resize your design.

Step 3: Workspace Overview

In the workspace window, you’ll be able to see the project you are working on. It may come with multiple tabs.

This depends largely on how many projects you’re working on simultaneously.

See what Adobe Photoshop workspace looks like

4. Get to know the Basic Tool Icons

It’s important to know what the Basic Icons stand for, and how best to use them to design your graphics.

Take a closer look at the tool icons that you’re required to know by heart to effectively use the Adobe Photoshop software.

5. Layers & Groups

You may want to experiment with layers. They’re very important when it comes to creating visually appealing graphic designs. To create a new layer, follow this path:

Layer > New > Layer’ or tick the box with the folded corner at the bottom right of the window. You may also lock the layers to avoid editing them accidentally.

6. Create a Wallpaper

When using Adobe Photoshop, you’re exposed to several tools that can be used to transform simple images into stunning visuals.

After enhancing these images, you can use them as as high-resolution wallpapers or for a web project (such as web design).

How to Choose the Right Graphic Design Software for You

Choosing the right software for your needs is essential.

1. Easy to learn: Many graphics design programs come with an intimidating learning curve, so choose a program with simple tools and a low learning curve.

It should also have tutorials and documentation that can guide you through the basic functions.

2. Budget: Essentially, you should also consider the budget you have before choosing software.

3. Free & paid tools: There are free or affordable graphics design software, and you can find the one that works best for your needs.

4. Layout: The layout and design of the software should be user-friendly for beginners. You should be able to find the elements easily.

5. Stock images: Look for graphic design software that has high-quality stock images with no blurred pixels or missing details.

7. User interface: Last but not least, the user interface of the software should be easy to navigate. The user interface and documentation should make it easy for you to understand and use the program.

Fortunately, there are plenty of tools for beginners to make amazing designs.

FAQs About Graphic Design Software

Here are some frequently asked questions about graphic design software.

Best Graphic Design Software – Summary

Thank you for going through this huge list of the best graphic design software programs.

You don’t need professional design skills to use a graphic design application like Canva.

To help you make the best decisions, make sure that you choose graphic design software with lots of learning resources (how-to videos, demo content, and more).  

The best graphic design software will have clean and intuitive user interface, affordable (with free versions), and the ability to import and expert files into another software.

Here are my final recommendations:

• Adobe Photoshop – Best graphic design software for professionals
• Canva – Best graphic design software for ease-of-use
• Adobe InDesign – Best for publishing
• Adobe Illustrator – Best for vector graphics
• Snappa – Best graphic design software for beginners

I’d like you to contribute.

What is your favorite graphic design software or which one would you like create stunning graphics and edit your images with?

Leave a comment below. I’ll be sure to read and respond to you.

Further reading on Navid.me: Here’s a list of the best photo editing software tools available. You can also check out my guide to the best webinar software and even more in-depth online software reviews here.