Have you been looking for the best-free graphic design software for mac? Or have you been looking for the best-free design software for mac? Whatever the answers to these questions may be, there is a lot of information available online. Below are a list of some of the best-free design/graphic design softwares:
SketchUp:
If you’re getting into 3D and still don’t want to spend big bucks on software, check out SketchUp to get started building models.
Jing:
Jing can do a lot. Mainly, it takes still screen captures, but it also captures video screen casts. The Screencast.com account you get with it lets you store 2GB worth of files for sharing with others online.
Gimp:
Gimp is probably one of the most popular free graphic design software tools. It is used for editing and enhancing images as well as full-scale graphic design work. The open-source software is quite well known as a free Photoshop alternative, although it doesn’t have as many features. However, you can edit the source code to customize it, and there are hundreds of third-party plugins you can find if you’re looking for specific functionality. There is a steep learning curve if you haven’t used similar software before, but there are many tutorials available online.
The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) remains our favourite free image editor for good reason: This open source classic has all the high-end tools you could want, short of spending a ton of money on Photoshop.
Best for: Graphic design with full features
Level of expertise required: Medium
Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux
Paint.NET:
Paint.NET is free raster graphics editing software and a more advanced version of the well-known Paint app by Microsoft. It doesn’t have as advanced functionality as some of the more complex apps, but there are many plugins available to expand the features to your needs. It’s extremely quick and responsive, even when working with fairly large files.
Best for Quick and simple image edits and designs
Level of expertise required: Low
Available on: Windows
Inkscape:
Inkscape is open-source vector graphics software, available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. It’s comparable to Adobe Illustrator and offers great features for creating digital illustrations and logos. It has amazing features and should not be underestimated just because it’s free. Inkscape uses SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) which is great for creating large banners and other media without losing quality. The interface and tools work quite differently from similar software, so it may take some time to learn how to use Inkscape, but there are great tutorials on Youtube.
Most vector-based drawing programs, like Adobe Illustrator, will cost you big bucks – but Inkscape is open source. It uses the SVG format for files to support features like markers, clones, and alpha blending.
Best for: creating complex vector graphics
Level of expertise required: Medium/high
Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux
Krita:
Krita is an open-source raster graphics editor. It’s most useful for 2D animation and digital painting. Krita is designed for ease of use with a drawing tablet, although it is possible to use the software without a drawing tablet. It also supports vector artwork.
Best for: Digital painting and 2D animation
Level of expertise required: Low to Medium
Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Chrome OS
Pablo by Buffer
Buffer, the popular social media scheduling and management app, has created Pablo. It’s a lightweight design tool, intended to speed up and simplify the process of creating great visuals for social media posts. The intuitive interface means anyone can use it, no matter the level of skill. It is perfect for quick social media artwork, but it does have very limited functionality otherwise.
Best for: Social media graphics
Level of expertise required: None
Available on: Web
Vectr:
Vectr is a vector editing tool with versions for web and desktop. It is suitable for beginners, with an intuitive interface and tools that are easy to master without a huge amount of experience. It allows online collaboration in real-time, which is a huge advantage for those who work in teams. It uses SVG format, meaning you can create large-scale logos, presentations, website mockups, or any other graphics.
Best for: Basic vector graphics
Level of expertise required: Low
Available on: Web, Linux, Windows, Chromebook
SUMO Paint:
SUMO Paint is another great free Photoshop alternative. It’s a web app that’s great for digital drawing. It also has quite powerful photo editing tools, but many of those features are exclusive to the paid version. SUMO Paint has many of the same tools and features as Adobe Photoshop, although its strength lies in its illustration capabilities.
Best for: Digital illustration; basic image editing
Level of expertise required: Medium
Available on: Web, mobile app
Canva:
Canva is a web-based software, which has the advantage of saving to the cloud so your designs are available on any device you log in on. It provides templates you can choose from and has a very user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. It’s a great tool for beginners and those with limited time because you can create professional-looking designs really easily and quickly. However, because it’s template-based, the designs can sometimes look a little generic. Canva also has a mobile app, which offers a pared-down version of the same functionality.
Best for: Basic, quick, professional-looking designs
Level of expertise required: None
Available on: Web; mobile app
Easel.ly:
Easelly is a specialised web-based design tool used for creating infographics and visualising data. It has a simple drag-and-drop interface and is suitable for total beginners. The designs can be created quickly and look neat and professional, but because they are based on templates and elements, they’re difficult to customise and you may struggle to create something unique.
Best for: Infographics; data visualisation
Level of expertise required: None
Available on: Web
SVG-Edit:
SVG-edit is a web-based free and open-source vector graphics editor. If you have experience with Adobe Illustrator you’ll find its functionality and interface quite similar. It’s a browser-based app, and is great for creating and editing Scalable Vector Graphics images.
Best for: Creating and editing SVGs
Level of expertise required: Medium
Available on: Web
Gravit designer:
Gravit is a full-featured, web-based vector graphic design app. The SVG editing tool makes it perfect for all kinds of designs, from UI to posters and everything in-between. The free version has many great features, but unfortunately, some relatively basic features are exclusive to the pro version, including font import, bezigon, swatches and various blending modes.
Best for: Vector graphics
Level of expertise required: Low
Available on: Web
Conclusion:
All the best graphic design programs for mac are on this list. These are the best graphic design software packages for designers who require an upper-level program for their work.