Prologue
Graphic design tools are essential for creating visual content. In 2025, graphic design software will continue to evolve, with new features and tools developed to meet the needs of designers. Whether you are pro or just starting, having the right tools is essential. From advance standard design software to user-friendly free design tools, the following 10 best graphic design tools are essential tools for designers.
Table of Contents
1.Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
Adobe Creative Suite has a lot of tools for graphic designers, video editors and website developers, here we will talk about the Adobe tools for graphic designers.
Just like how Nike is the go-to brand for sportswear, Adobe creative suite is the go-to for designing. Adobe creative suite remains the gold standard for professional graphic designers. It provides a whole range of applications like Adobe Photoshop for photo editing, Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics and Adobe InDesign for layout designing. It also has cross platform integration which allows you to work on your projects across different devices and Adobe softwares. This feature helps you to continue your work without any hassle. This makes Adobes creative suite undeniably best graphic design tool.
2.Figma
Figma has quickly become one of the most popular design software, particularly for web and UX/UI design. It is a cloud based platform. It offers real-time collaboration which means it allows multiple users to work on the same project at the same time. Figma is perfect for both individual designers and design teams. It also has a feature called Prototyping which helps in creating interactive designs without coding. It’s a great way to test ideas and get feedback before moving to development.
3.Sketch
While Figma is popular for its collaborative tool, Sketch for designers continues to be a go-to choice for macOS users as it was specially designed for them. It’s lightweight, powerful, and has an expensive plugin ecosystem that helps in the design process.Sketch for designers is often favoured by professionals who need precision and flexibility.
Lunacy is a free Sketch alternative, ideal for Windows users, with similar features to Sketch and Figma.
4.Canva and Canva Pro
Canva has become a go-to design software for non-designers, small businesses, and marketers. Its drag and drop interface makes it easy to select elements from sidebar and drag them onto canvas and rotate, resize and position these with few clicks. Canva Pro offers even more advanced tools, such as resizing designs for multiple formats, access to premium templates and brand kit. Just like Figma, Canva provides collaboration feature making it easy to work with a team.
Canva Alternatives
Tools like Visme, Snappa, Crello and Piktochart are great Canva alternatives.
For the beginners who need essential tools for designers, Canva and Canva alternatives are perfect options for creating stunning designs with minimal effort.
5.Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator and one of the best graphic design tools for those on budget. It offers similar editing capabilities with a one-time purchase fee and no subscription fee. One of its key feature is its ability to work in both vector and raster formats. For graphic design students, affordable yet standard design software like Affinity Designer is always an excellent choice when they seek affordable options.
6.Procreate (iPad)
Are you used to traditional tools like pencil, markers etc. Procreate is digital illustration app that works like a sketchbook but on IPad. It has a toolset that mimics traditional art tools like pencils, brushes, and markers. Not just for artists, Procreate is also an amazing design software for graphic designers as it offers a wide range of features that helps in detailed illustrations, logos, etc.
7.Blender
Blender is an open-source tool for 3D modeling and animation. From modeling, animation, video editing to even game creation everything can be done on this design software. It is for graphic designers who want to create 3D designs. It’s a great tool to expand their designing skills into 3d designing which can help them stand out in their field.
8.CorelDRAW
CorelDRAW has been around for years, and it remains a strong competitor to Adobe Illustrator. It offers tools for drawing, typography and colour management, making it one of the best graphic design tools for vector work. One of its key feature is its ability to work with vector graphics which lets you scale designs without losing quality. It’s especially popular among those in the print industry.
9.GIMP
GIMP is a free open source raster graphics editor used for photo editing and graphic designing. It is like a free version of Adobe Photoshop. It has various editing tools and customisable interface. So you can organise your tools from most to least used accordingly.
10.Vectr
For beginners or for those needing basic design software platform, Vectr is a free design tool and easy to use platform. It is browser based and provides many tools needed for simple designs making it ideal for quick projects. It also allows you to resize your design with clarity.
Conclusion
From standard design software tools like Adobe to free design tools like Canva, GIMP, Vectr and Figma; the tools listed above represent the best graphic design tools, each offering unique features that cater to different aspects of design. Each has its unique strengths and is designed to cater to specific design needs, ensuring that you can work efficiently, collaborate with others, and create stunning designs. Investing in the best graphic design tools will set you up for success in this creative industry. Explore new software, experiment, and adapt to stay at the top of your design game!