11 of the Top Graphic Design Software

Graphic design is an essential aspect of many businesses and creative projects. Whether you’re a professional designer or a beginner, having the right graphic design software can greatly enhance your productivity and help you create stunning visuals. In this article, we will explore the top graphic design software options available in the market.

1. Adobe Creative Cloud: Best Graphic Design Software

Adobe Creative Cloud is a suite of tools that offers a wide range of graphic design apps and services for photography, video, and web design. With thousands of quick how-tos, tutorials, and templates, Creative Cloud is ideal for both beginners and experts. The suite includes popular tools like Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Adobe Spark, AfterEffects, Photoshop Sketch, and Premiere Pro, allowing you to explore your creativity and work more efficiently. Creative Cloud is compatible with Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.

Key Features

• Industry-leading graphic design tools
• Cloud integration and collaboration features
• Custom brushes
• Adobe Fonts
• Best-in-class templates
• 3D effects and textures
• File portability between Adobe applications
• Short-format digital & print layouts

Pros

• Integrates with other applications
• Simplifies workflow and enhances productivity
• Offers 100GB cloud storage
• Comprehensive suite of powerful tools
• Intuitive interface
• Good performance

Cons

• Can be expensive for individuals and small businesses
• Some features can be complex and may require a learning curve

Pricing

• Monthly plan: $82.49 per month
• Annual plan: $54.99 per month
• Annual prepaid plan: $599.88 per year

2. Canva: Best for Beginners

Canva is a free web design tool that offers professional, easy-to-customize templates for various design projects, including podcast feature images, infographics, social media posts, posters, logos, and ads. With its drag-and-drop interface and photo editor, Canva simplifies the process of enhancing images, adding text to videos, and creating stunning visuals. The platform also provides an AI-powered image generator that creates beautiful images from text prompts.

Key Features

• Free stock images
• Image enhancer
• Photo blur
• Text animations
• Background remover
• Design and photo grids
• Free AI image generator
• Collaboration tools
• Social media integration
• Photo filters
• Saturation and tint

Pros

• Free to get started
• User-friendly interface
• Huge library of assets
• Over 250,000 drag-and-drop templates

Cons

• Limited free plan
• Can’t create unique design elements
• Mobile app isn’t as intuitive or feature-rich as the web version

Pricing

• Free: $0
• Pro: $6.49 per user, per month
• Teams: $8.49 per month (for the first 5 people)

3. Adobe Photoshop: Best for Digital Image Editing

Adobe Photoshop is the industry-standard software for professional graphic designers. It offers a wide range of tools for digital image editing, graphic design, and one-click transformations. With Photoshop, you can create or edit pixel-based or raster graphics, work with photos, and create artistic effects and professional marketing content. The software also provides extensive support through its Help content and in-app guided tutorials.

Key Features

• Complete customization tools
• Pixel perfect precision
• Custom brushes
• Image layering (compositing)
• Photo editing and transformation
• Short-format digital & print layouts
• Adobe Stock search to find graphic design elements
• Easy collaboration and project sharing tools
• Maximum control for refining and remixing photos
• Nondestructive filters and tools
• Machine learning technology for difficult tasks

Pros

• Extensive library of stock photos, fonts, templates, icons, and videos
• Intuitive editing features
• Supports multiple file formats
• Integrates with other Adobe programs

Cons

• Expensive plans
• Lacks 3D effects & textures
• Resource-demanding
• No long-format print and digital layouts

Pricing

• Monthly: $31.49 per month
• Yearly: $20.99 per month
• Yearly: $239.88 per year (billed upfront)

4. Adobe Illustrator: Best for Creating Vector Graphics

Adobe Illustrator is the go-to software for creating vector graphics such as business logos, web graphics, and packaging designs. It allows you to create graphics that can be scaled up or down without losing sharpness or blurring, making it suitable for various formats. Illustrator offers a wide range of vector design tools, allowing you to combine shapes, types, and colors to create unique graphics. It also provides features like Generative Recolor and Vector Recoloring, which make color selection and variation easier.

Key Features

• Repeat for Patterns or Global Edits
• Shape Builder
• Vector Recoloring (AI tool)
• Review link for collaboration
• Built-in tutorials, tool guides, and creative inspiration
• Intertwine for text and objects

Pros

• Wide range of vector design tools
• Multi-format support
• Integration with other Adobe tools

Cons

• Expensive
• Resource-demanding
• Steep learning curve

Pricing

• Monthly: $31.49 per month
• Yearly: $20.99 per month
• Yearly: $239.88 per year (billed upfront)

5. Affinity Designer: Best for Professional Designers

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics software that offers a range of advanced features for professional designers. It allows you to create unique graphics, high-quality print projects, mockups, UI designs, video art, and concept art. Affinity Designer provides a comprehensive set of graphic design tools similar to Adobe Illustrator, along with an intuitive user interface and support for both vector and raster graphics.

Key Features

• Layer groups
• Color tagging
• Live outline view
• Intuitive user interface
• Fully featured vector and raster workspaces
• Custom brushes
• Grids, guides, and planes
• Pixel preview mode
• Unlimited artboards
• Sophisticated typography options
• Detailed version history

Pros

• Live, responsive, and fast
• Versatile
• Works with multiple devices
• Multiple file format support
• Budget-friendly one-off payment

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• No cloud service

Pricing

• Affinity Designer (version 1): $ (one-off)
• Affinity Designer (version 2): $52.99 (one-off)
• Affinity V2 Universal Licence: $123.99 (one-off)

6. Figma: Best for UI Design

Figma is an online design tool that allows you to create, share, and test digital art designs for mobile apps, websites, and other assets. It offers flexible features for solo designers and teams, enabling multiple people to work and collaborate on the same project. Figma provides real-time collaboration, feedback sharing, and version control, making it easy to work with others and ensure a smooth design process.

Key Features

• Auto layout
• Pre-loaded frames
• Collaboration tools
• Sections and pages
• Branching and merging
• Intuitive interface
• Smart select
• OpenType and variable fonts
• Plugins and widgets for task automation
• Dev Mode

Pros

• Free plan available
• Cloud-based tool
• Lightweight and fast
• Auto-saves your work

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Lacks enhanced typography for consistent designs
• No offline mode
• Limited customization options
• Few animation capabilities
• Limited third-party integrations

Pricing

• Free: $0
• Professional: $12 per editor, per month
• Organization: $45 per editor, per month
• Enterprise: $75 per editor, per month

7. Adobe InDesign: Best for Desktop Publishing

Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing program that allows you to create and publish books, posters, ebooks, interactive PDFs, and digital magazines. It works seamlessly with other Adobe programs and offers a wide range of graphic design tools and collaboration features. InDesign is particularly suitable for image-heavy designs and provides standout layouts for any output.

Key Features

• Layout and typesetting tools
• Cloud documents
• Auto Style
• Seamless copy and paste
• Modern graphics support
• (HEIC, JP2K and WebP images)

Pros

• Standout layouts for any output
• Keeps everything organized
• Built for collaboration
• Good for image-heavy designs

Cons

• Expensive
• Steep learning curve

Pricing

• Monthly: $36.21 per month
• Yearly: $24.14 per month
• Yearly: $275.86 per year (billed upfront)

8. Inkscape: Best Free Graphic Design Software

Inkscape is a free and open-source design tool for creating vector images. It allows you to create professional-grade designs and export them in friendly formats for publication. Inkscape is a cross-platform software that can be run on Windows, Linux, and MacOS devices. It offers a wide range of customization options and supports various file formats.

Key Features

• Flexible text, shaping, and drawing tools
• Transformation tools
• Layers and grouping objects
• Color selector and picker tool
• Copy and paste style
• Dashed strokes
• Pattern fills (vectors/bitmaps)
• Node editing
• Boolean operations
• Kerning, line spacing, and letter spacing adjustments
• Alpha transparency support
• Broad file format compatibility
• Command-line options for export and conversions

Pros

• Free to use
• Multiple customization options
• Works with SVG file format
• Can be incorporated into other programs
• Can import AI and CorelDRAW files
• Cross-platform compatibility

Cons

• Sluggish controls
• UI isn’t as intuitive

Pricing

• Free

9. GIMP: Best for Raster Graphics

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source program for creating and editing raster graphics. It provides similar functionality to Adobe Photoshop and offers advanced features for customizing and enhancing your designs. GIMP supports multiple file formats and provides a wide range of third-party plugins to enhance your design capabilities.

Key Features

• Customizable interface
• Digital retouching
• Powerful image editing tools
• User-friendly navigation
• Top-notch color management

Pros

• Offers similar functionality to Photoshop for free
• Lightweight compared to other programs
• Outstanding, helpful support
• Robust and feature-rich
• Frequently updated
• Multi-language support

Cons

• Steep learning curve

Pricing

• Free

10. CorelDRAW: Best for All-in-One Illustration

CorelDRAW is a popular choice among graphic design professionals. It offers advanced illustration capabilities, precise design tools, and collaboration features. CorelDRAW is suitable for both occasional graphics users and experienced designers. It provides various graphic design options for different skill levels.

Key Features

• Vector illustration tools
• Collaboration tools
• Scaling tools
• Objects and color styles
• Automation support
• Enhanced color management
• Multiple file format support

Pros

• Pro-level features
• Easier to learn than Illustrator
• Highly customizable interface

Cons

• No AI features
• Lacks many shortcuts other competitors offer
• No smooth transition between pixel and vector-based designing

Pricing

• Free: $0
• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: $859 (one-time) or $36.58 per month
• CorelDRAW Standard: $419.00 (one-time)
• CorelDRAW Essentials: $155.00 (one-time)

11. Sketch: Best for Mac Users

Sketch is a complete design platform for Mac users. It offers an intuitive interface and thoughtful features that make design tasks simple and efficient. Sketch allows you to create designs, build prototypes, collaborate with others, and more within your design workflow. The web version of Sketch provides collaboration tools, making it easy for team members to contribute, give feedback, and inspect designs.

Key Features

• Vector editing
• Intuitive prototyping
• Shared styles, components, and libraries
• Color profile control
• OpenType and variable font support
• Reusable design templates
• Offline and local file support
• Drag-and-drop between apps
• File organization
• Customizable shortcuts
• Artboard templates

Pros

• Works in any browser
• Offers workspaces for collaboration
• User-friendly interface
• Strong community support

Cons

• Mac-only use
• Lacks version comparison

Pricing

• Standard: $12 per editor, per month
• Business: $20 per editor, per month (billed yearly)
• Mac-only license: $120 per license

What to Look for in Graphic Design Software for Your Business

When choosing graphic design software for your business, there are several factors to consider:

Features: Look for software that offers the features necessary for your design needs, such as image editing, vector graphics, typography, etc.

Cost/Budget: Consider the pricing structure of the software and whether it fits within your budget. Some tools offer free versions or free trials, while others have different pricing plans.

Usability: Ensure that the software can create the actual designs you need and that it has a user-friendly interface.

Precision: Choose a tool that delivers graphics with high precision and clarity, without missing details or blurred pixels.

Templates and Tools: Look for software that provides a wide range of templates and design elements to streamline your projects.

Platform: Consider the platform compatibility of the software and choose one that works with your operating system.

Skill Level: Pick a tool that matches your skill level and offers an intuitive interface. Beginners may prefer tools with a lower learning curve, while professionals may need more advanced features.

Collaboration: If you work with a team, choose software that facilitates collaboration, feedback sharing, and version control.

Conclusion

Graphic design software plays a crucial role in creating stunning visuals for businesses and creative projects. The options listed in this article are among the best in the industry, offering a wide range of features, usability, and customization options. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional designer, there is a graphic design software that suits your needs. Consider the features, cost, usability, and collaboration capabilities to find the perfect tool for your business.