An infographic is a visual way of presenting information. Whether you’re explaining a complex concept or conveying data, using an Infographic is more engaging than using plain old text.
Infographics are a powerful and effective way to deliver an important message and to share information in a fun and interesting way. Infographics are a great way to convey your data and message. There are a number of tools out there that will allow you to make infographics for free or a low price with a variety of ease.
Making an infographic is something that will be quite easy to do. You can make an infographic for about any occasion, information, idea, class, homework assignment, etc. It all depends on what you want to make your infographic about. The infographic formula has been perfected over the years. You do your research, collect your data or points, and lay it out in logical sections. You then use data visualizations to convey the important information along with some supportive text.
Canva
Canva is the preferred design tool for non-designers. You’ll find an easy to use interface, an extensive collection of free assets like photos and icons, and easy export options. And most of the features in Canva are available to use for free.
It’s a similar story with the Canva Infographic Maker. Similar to the presentation maker, you start with a template. You can then change any text, delete any image, or move any icon to suit your needs. Feel free to add your own images like logos and assets.
To create logos, you can rely on Canva itself, or you can go with free online logo generators. Canva has more than two million assets you can pick from (most of the images are either free or cost $1 for a single use license).
The simplicity of the app is also its limitation. If you find a template that’s a perfect fit (and the chances are that you will), it will be smooth sailing. Edit the text, move things around and call it a day. If you don’t, creating an infographic from scratch is a long and painstaking process. But if that proves to be the case, you should look at the alternative options below.
Visme
If a simple template doesn’t meet your needs, try using Visme. It’s a versatile infographic creation tool built on a block system. After logging in, you can browse through the collection of templates and see if anything strikes your fancy.
But the best way to approach Visme is to create your own infographic from scratch using blocks. The chances of finding the perfect infographic template are much lower than finding an infographic block.
After you’ve created a blank template, head over to the Suggested Content section to browse through blocks for headers, stats, figures, graphics, diagrams, and more. When you see something that appeals to you, just click on it to add it to the block. Then you can resize and edit it.
You can also import elements created from other apps and websites. For example, you can use one of the best free online flowchart makers to create a flowchart and then import it into Visme.
If you don’t want to create an entire infographic from scratch, that’s OK too. Every template in Visme is built on the same blocks framework. So it is easy to delete and edit parts of the infographic by changing the blocks. This is a much easier thing to do than editing a full template in something like Canva.
For example, in Canva, you can only change the background of the entire infographic. But in Visme, every block (or section) of the infographic can have its own individual background, be it a photo or a solid color.
Visme’s free plan gives you access to five projects, but there are limited templates and you can only download your infographic as a JPG file. To download it as a PDF and to get access to premium templates, you’ll have to sign up for the standard plan at $14/month.
Piktohart
On Piktochart, you can create dynamic infographics, printables, and even presentations. You can start with a blank template or click the “Inspire Me” button to get complete examples of projects made by other users and work from there.
Upload photos to use or choose from a gallery of images curated by the Piktochart staff. Easily pick a premade color scheme and add maps, video, and charts to presentations. Paid plans feature PDF and HD image exports, and the ability to create custom colors. There’s a unique plan for teams that allows for role assignments and collaborations.
Venngage
Venngage is a bit of a step up from Canva. While it doesn’t boast the blocks system like Visme, it has myriad tools for adding text, assets, photos, graphics, and charts.
You can choose a template to edit, or start with a blank canvas. To make editing easier for a big infographic, you can group elements and lock them as well. Using the grouping feature, you can duplicate the functionality of a block. This will help you visually differentiate different parts of the infographic.
To create new parts for your infographic, use one of the sections from the left sidebar to get started. You can add icons, charts, maps, photos, and more.
Google Charts
If you need any web-based tool, chances are Google has a free one. Infographics are no exception. Since they are interactive and HTML-based, using Google Charts involves a lot of copying and pasting HTML code into a .html file and then opening it in a browser.
If you are comfortable with HTML, Google Charts offers around two dozen infographic types to choose from, including the basics like pie charts and timelines, and more unique options like a candlestick or bubble chart. The guides are easy to read and follow, and copying the codes can be done in a click. You can customize the colors to your website and data is updated in real time. Best of all, the service is completely free.
Infogram
If HTML isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of options to help you make infographics. Infogram provides free infographic templates that help you display information:
- In a report scheme
- As a process
- As statistical information
- As a timeline
- As a map
You can also create single line, bar, radial, column, or pie charts, or use a “facts & figures” template.
Above is an example of an infographic report template. You just click on an element to edit it and a spreadsheet pops up so you can easily input information.
Infogram also offers other layouts that may be useful for presenting information. There are basic monthly and annual report templates. You can even use Infogram to help you design social media posts for every social media platform, including an email header, YouTube thumbnail, or LinkedIn post.
Upgrading your plan gives you access to premium infographic layouts like a photo story or an icon infographic. The premium plan also has a data analysis feature.
Mind the Graph
Mind the Graph is the most industry-specific free infographic maker on our list. But if you’re in a scientific, educational, or animal-related industry, it’s the perfect option for you. They offer:
- Comparison charts
- Cycle charts
- Facts & figures charts
- Flow charts
- Timelines
- Maps
- Process charts
The free version is unfortunately only good for testing the service, but the “Researcher” plan includes:
- External uploads
- Private mode for images
- High resolution exports
If you like the editor layout, you can make Mind the Graph work for you no matter what industry you’re in.
Snappa
Snappa is a well-rounded choice for any small business owner’s graphic design needs, be it an infographic, social media post, or ad. The free version gives you access to all templates and images that the service offers, a rarity among its competitors.
You can also connect up to two social accounts with a free plan. Infographic layouts are not named, so it’s hard to pin down what layouts meet your specific needs quickly, but the category offers 50+ ways to display information in layouts, such as:
- A flow chart
- A comparison chart
- Labeled diagrams
- Facts & figures
- Decorated checklists
This is one of the best services for a start-up business owner to use. A paid subscription will give more team members access to your account, plus unlimited downloads, and the ability to save designs and folders.
PicMonkey
PicMonkey’s “free” option is just a week-long trial. That being said, if you like what you see, it can be a great option for anyone wanting to learn a bit of graphic design. They’re known for their tutorials and for being an image editor, but they also have a section of infographic templates as well.
There are “Basic” and “Pro” paid subscriptions. The features are the same in each, but the Pro plan provides unlimited storage on the site and the ability to organize your work into different collections.
BeFunky
BeFunky is a photo editor, collage maker, and “designer” with a business section that allows you to create basic infographics, ads, and social graphics for your company.
There is a very small number of templates available for free accounts, and few options when it comes to customization. That said, if you have a designer’s eye but not much practice making infographics, this could be all you need. There are plenty of templates in different sizes, and a number of elements you can use to create your design, but not much base structure in the templates.
BeFunky Plus gives you access to features like more layout options and a selection of graphics.
AniMaker
Animaker is the only video infographics maker on our list. While most of our other options help you elevate a plain infographic into something more, Animaker can help you take it to a completely new level.
They have both an infographic and business category, with several themes that overlap. Some of the business-themed videos you can create are:
- A product explainer
- A service promotion
- A sales meeting
- A sales report
- A business presentation
- A product advertisement
- A company history
Infographics themes include:
- Social media reports
- “Story” videos
- Fact presentations
There are six unique video styles to choose from, which you can mix and match in order to create something truly unique.
Conclusion: Infographics are just the visuals that exist within a post or article that display data, facts or figures. What you do with them further incorporates an idea for an infographic. The data is usually shown in charts and graphs to accommodate this. Although it’s technically considered a type of art, infographics are quite popular online because it helps attract visual usability within the content being presented.