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What Software Do You Use For Graphic Design?
With the best free graphic design apps, you can equip yourself with any of the design resources you need without needing to spend a dime. And there’s no reason to go hunting for them because we’ve compiled a list of all the best choices right here.
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If you want to use it, there’s a surprising number of fantastic free graphic design tools available. Of course, most design professionals would like the high-end software and features available in industry-standard options like Adobe Creative Cloud. If you’d rather save your Adobe subscription money on something else, the right mix of the resources below would enable you to tackle almost every design work, and if you’re just starting out in design, you’ll notice that these free tools are much simpler to get to grips with than pro kits, allowing you to polish your skills without needing to fight overly-complex applications.
If you don’t find what you’re searching for here, check out our best computer art applications and best 3D modelling software articles for more choices. You may also look at our collection of the best video production tools or free logo design applications.
01. Gravit Designer
Gravit Designer is a full-featured vector modelling software developed by the same company that created Corel Draw. It’s appropriate for a wide range of production tasks, including computer, software, and icon design, as well as presentations, illustration, and animation.
This free graphic design programme comes with a plethora of resources for designing detailed and stunning vector imagery, including non-destructive booleans, a knife method, route diagrams, various fills and blending modes, and a versatile text engine, as well as a simple and intuitive gui that changes itself as you need it.
You can use Gravit Designer online or transfer a copy to your computer; keep in mind that when you sign up, you immediately begin a (free) trial of Gravit Designer Pro, and once your trial expires, you move to the free edition but lose the Pro features – unless you opt for a membership, of course.
Gravit Designer’s free edition, on the other hand, is always excellent. You can upload as PDF, SVG, or bitmap, and you get access to the Gravit Cloud service, which allows you to operate from wherever. The direct contrast of the Pro and free models can be found here.
02. Vecteezy
Vecteezy is a downloadable, in-browser web editor that lets you modify and customise Vecteezy’s existing vectors as well as build vector designs from scratch. It’s extremely simple to use and remarkably effective for a free tool, with keyboard shortcuts and sophisticated transformations built in. To save your job, you must first build an account, and upgrading to the pro edition unlocks a slew of additional software and services.
03. Vectr
Vectr is a free editor for making 2D vector graphics that is available as a browser-based web software as well as a stand-alone desktop app. It’s flexible enough for day-to-day design projects, with all the vector functionality you’d imagine, as well as a plethora of tools for using filters, shadows, and fonts. Its live communication and synchronisation options are especially useful, since they effectively allow others to watch you design in real time, making it extremely simple to build in tandem or give input. This is a true substitute for Adobe Illustrator CC.
04. SVG-Edit
There are a few online editors that can do the job almost as well as Adobe Illustrator whether you need to easily output SVG or update a current SVG file. SVG (scalable vector graphics) is a free format that helps you to programmatically replicate the Vector drawings, and one of the best projects is SVG-Edit.
This is entirely based on HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, with no server-side processing needed. Not only can you use it to build and update papers, but since it’s open source, you can even import and change the code using one of the best code editors, creating your own edition if you like.
The normal – though primitive – toolset of any vector-image editor is included, and although it is restricted to the SVG format, it is remarkably capable. It should be noted that if you are unfamiliar with coding, this choice is probably not for you.
05. Inkscape
Inkscape, like many of the free alternatives available, utilises the SVG format as the main file format. This powerful editor has excellent SVG integration, and it supports several advanced features that aren’t often accessible in other applications, such as alpha blending, cloned elements, and markers.
With full support for various colour modes, this is a suitable alternative to Illustrator for both print and web design, and although the gui is somewhat easier than Illustrator, highly advanced artwork is still feasible. The ability to trace bitmap pictures, support for variable width strokes, and native import of Illustrator files are all noteworthy features.
06. Canva
It seems unfair to lump Canva into the category of “Image Editing Software” when it does so much more. Canva is a photo editing, colour palette app, font combination picker, learning resource, and photo collage builder that also includes a dedicated infographic maker with hundreds of free design elements and fonts.
It’s more like a complete graphic design suite than a photo editor, and although it falls shy of Adobe Creative Cloud’s range of capabilities, Canva’s accessibility, array of helpful resources, and impressive learning materials render it a success. Canva should be used in the browser for the complete experience, although the majority of apps are still accessible for Android and iOS.
07. RawTherapee
RawTherapee allows users to fix distortion, improve colours, restore data, and much more, allowing them to fine-tune their images so they appear just as they want them to.
This free, open-source app also allows you to batch process images, which speeds up the workflow. If you like, you may even submit photos to other apps, such as GIMP.
