This article is full of the best graphic design software recommendations. We’ll be going over some of the best graphics software for beginners and professionals alike. Whether you are new to graphic design or have been doing it for years, we will be sharing the latest and greatest. The only way to learn graphic design is with graphic design software.
Here are my top picks!
Canva
What is the best free app for graphic design? Canva, as it is available at Web, iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. It is a fantastic graphic design software choice for beginners and professionals looking to create complex art projects in minutes. From designing creative ad copy to graphic design and visual art, Canva can be easily used for different graphic requirements. The simple navigation and the user-friendly, sleek interface make it even more remarkable.
Key features:
- Collaboration: Using Canva, you can edit in real-time with your teammates from any device.
- Snapshot Straightening: This feature allows you to sharpen your project by squaring up the photos.
- Drag and Drop Speech Bubble: Now, you can add speech bubbles to your images with a simple drag and drop option.
Pricing:
- Free
- Pro – US $119.99/year
- Enterprise – US $30.00/month per person
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Super easy to use | ➖ Cannot create unique objects |
| ➕ Easily change text, fonts, layouts, and colors | ➖ Generic templates and photos |
| ➕ Design from existing templates | ➖ Hard to use on smaller screens |
Infinite Design
Infinite Design is an easy-to-use graphic crafting mobile application available only on Android. With a convenient pen tool and the designer’s creativity in action, users can freely draw graphics from eye-catching designs to complex arts with ease. The app offers freedom to designers with an infinite canvas to experiment with features and create exceptional beauties.
Key features:
- Transform tool: Translate, Scale, Rotate, Flip, Distort, and Skew the graphic.
- Rotate and flip the canvas: Not just the image but the whole canvas can rotate.
- Automatic shape detection: This software can detect the shape of the object automatically.
- Grid for reference or snapping: Grid lets users have full control over editing.
- Vectorize: This feature turns any image into fully editable vector paths.
Pricing:
- Free
- In-app purchases for additional features
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Easy to learn and use | ➖ Must purchase in-app features |
| ➕ Convenient pen tool | |
| ➕ Can draw 3D cityscapes | |
| ➕ Import and export SVG graphics |
Inkscape
Inkscape, an open-source graphic design software, is best known for its ability to smoothly create vectors. With a wide variety of vector editing and designing tools, this application proves handy for graphic designers.
Key features:
- Regular Updates: This tool has a robust community of developers who provide regular updates and new features.
- Manual Improvement: Designers can enhance the software by editing the open-source code.
- Excellent User Experience: As a free software, the user experience is considered quite impressive. Also, designers familiar with Adobe can efficiently operate this tool.
Pricing:
- Free
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Includes several well-designed and full-featured tools | ➖ The Mac version has bugs |
| ➕ Enhance with downloadable plugins | ➖ Processing can be slow |
| ➕ Create complex combinations using a special tool. | ➖ Illustrator compatibility isn’t promising |
BEST FOR ORIGINAL DESIGNS
CorelDRAW
Turn nearly any sketch into a logo using CorelDRAW’s vector tracing tools.Pros
- Subscription or one-time purchase options
- Includes a full graphics suite
- In-app hints for guidance
Cons
- Higher learning curve
- No mobile app
- Few integrations
Released in 1989, CorelDRAW is the oldest software and a well-known competitor to the popular Adobe Illustrator. Its reasonable subscription cost and illustration-to-vector-image capabilities make CorelDRAW the best choice for business owners who created an image and need to turn it into a vector design.
You can buy CorelDRAW as a download for Windows or Mac. Or choose the subscription model which uses a web-based application. If you’ve used other graphic editors before, then CorelDRAW is similar. It’s not a logo generator, so it helps to have some design or editing program knowledge. You will appreciate the in-app video and tool hints, along with many tutorials.
If you have an existing sketch or want to hand-draw your logo, check out the LiveSketch tool. You can use any pen-enabled device to sketch your design while the software adjusts it for vector curves or use its intelligent vectorization tool called PowerTRACE™ to scan a file and turn it into a vector image. Other features include:
- More than 7,000 clipart, images, and vehicle wrap templates
- Over 1,000 fonts
- Symmetry, block shadow, and capture tools
All plans come with seven applications, such as CorelDRAW and Corel Font Manager. You have three pricing options:
- One-time download: $499
- Month-to-month subscription: $34.95
- Annual subscription: $249
MOST COMPREHENSIVE
Gravit Designer
Use advanced vector editing tools for completely custom designs using the feature-rich Gravit Designer.Pros
- Video tutorials
- Tons of icon and illustration templates
- Works on all operating systems
Cons
- Limited features on free version
- Need graphic design editing experience
- Few collaboration tools
In 2018, the Corel Company acquired Gravit Designer, which added a great cloud-based tool to their software line.2 Gravit Designer’s feature-rich program allows you to zoom up to 25,600%, allowing for editing the finest of details. This affordable tool provides everything a small business owner needs, making it the winner as the most comprehensive logo design software.
As a web-based program, you can use Gravit Designer on Mac, Windows, and Linux systems. It’s easy to export your logo in a PNG, JPG, PDF, or SVG file. While you do need some familiarity with graphic design software, the user interface is uncluttered and straightforward to use.
Furthermore, the program includes vector editing features, such as:
- Selection tools
- Precision alignment
- Blending modes
- Symbol library
- Google integration
- Preset canvas sizes
- Print on demand templates
- Premade shapes such as emojis, frames, illustrations, icons, and stickers
Gravit Designer’s free version is robust, but many professionals opt for the annual subscription to access more color palettes and full support for all features. The plans include:
- Free: Comes with 500MB of cloud storage, PDF export, and RGC color palette
- Pro: For $99 per year, you get unlimited cloud storage, can work offline, and use a CMYK palette
BEST FOR INSTANT BRANDING
Looka
Use Looka’s AI-enabled logo generator to create a design, then get an entire brand kit for one low price.Pros
- Several payment options
- More than 300 branded templates
- Fast and easy to use
Cons
- Not as custom as vector editing tools
- Lesser-known industries may not find desired icons or symbols
- Mixed quality on some AI-generated logos
Looka launched in 2016 to give small business owners access to great designs at an affordable price. Its AI-capabilities mean you can develop a new logo within minutes and download a complete suite of branded assets. For small companies wanting to quickly produce images for email signatures, social media, and business cards, Looka is the best logo generator for instant branding.
Since Looka uses AI, you simply answer a few questions about your favorite design styles, colors, and symbols, then you’re presented with logos based on various templates. Editing is easy. Adjust shapes, colors, text spacing, or layout with a few clicks. Once you’re done, you can preview your logo on various branded assets, from T-shirts to business cards. Branding assets include:
- 20 business card templates
- Over eight email signatures and blog banners
- Get over 20 versions of your logo for social channels
- More than 10 letterhead designs
- Receive a custom branding document
When you’re happy with your design, you can buy the logo by itself or as part of a logo and brand kit. The logo and brand kits require an annual payment for a subscription:
- Basic: $96 per year for your logo, posters, and flyers
- Premium: $192 per year for all features with more than 300 ready-to-use branded assets
If you only want a logo, then you can make a one-time purchase. The logo-only packages consist of:
- Basic: $20 for one PNG logo file
- Premium: $65 for several high-resolution files in PNG, EPS, SVG, or PDF
- Enterprise: $80 for a social media kit and business card designs
BEST FOR MOBILE
Hatchful
This simple and intuitive logo maker’s features make it the best mobile app on the market.Pros
- User-friendly mobile interface
- Free
- No design skills needed
Cons
- Limited design and editing capabilities
- Less customizable than vector editing software
- PNG download only
Hatchful is Shopify’s logo maker that uses machine learning to deliver users a variety of design options. Hatchful created the logo generator for “the entrepreneur on the go,” making it the best choice for mobile users.
While Hatchful provides an easy-to-use mobile application for iOS and Android devices, you can also use the software on your desktop via a web browser. As a logo generator, you don’t need any special skills to use it.
Instead, you choose your industry, visual style, and where you’ll use your logo. The AI tool automatically generates dozens of logo variations. You can then edit the icons, colors, and fonts. Your free logo download comes with:
- A high-resolution logo
- Meta profile and cover image
- Instagram profile design
- Twitter banner, banner variation, and profile image
- Pinterest profile and board photo
- LinkedIn profile image and two banner variations
- YouTube profile photo
Hatchful is free to use.
Conclusion
If the graphic design software program you use is already in the list and you are not happy with it, please share your thoughts and experiences with that specific program. If you like some of the listed graphic design softwares but would like to know more about some features of them, please write your questions below in the comment section and we shall do our best to answer them all in one article dedicated to answering user’s queries.