10 Best Free Graphic Design Software

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The graphic design software is an essential choice for professional and amateur designers to satisfy their creative needs.

Design jobs will be more convenient if you have high-quality support software for free. However, the process of finding such a perfect version is not easy.

I have reviewed the pros and cons and tested each software’s performance, compatibility, and usability. That’s why your graphic creation is sure to be easier and more efficient with one of the helpful suggestions below!

1. Adobe Express

Abode Express

Specifications

  • Platform: Android, iOS, and browsers
  • Publisher: Adobe
  • Software Type: Photography

Key Features

Adobe Express free graphic design software is ideal for providing a bright vision and creating and developing skill levels. It’s available with everything from thousands of unique templates to a ton of editing programs’ core tools.

I love using this software to resize content and add animation effects to my projects. It allows me to be productive and collaborate quickly with my team members through printing and sharing PDF documents. This software is a great advantage to increase its victory when competing with other versions.

In short, Adobe Express is my top pick for free graphic design software.

Website Link: https://www.adobe.com/express/

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Include thousands of unique designs
  • Very intuitive user interface and tools
  • Excellent connectivity and collaboration features

Cons

  • It needs more features

2. Canva

Canva

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
  • Publisher: Canva

Key Features

Regarding fast performance and no need for graphic design experience, I think a few versions are available except Canva. I use it for my stand-alone creative ideas and do various tasks like scheduling, downloading, printing, and sharing.

It is worth mentioning that it always gives me a lot of exciting surprises. I am impressed with the design and collaboration experiences on the computer. It does not include annoying tabs or browsers to distract me while working.

The resolution and sustainable printing is a big plus. I am delighted with Canva’s sharp print quality and free shipping service.

Website Link: https://www.canva.com/

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Rich resources
  • Come with many useful
  • Sustainable print quality

Cons

  • The free version does not include team tools and features

3. Pixlr X

Pixlr X

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, Android
  • Publisher: Inmagine Lab

Key Features

Pixlr X is the easiest-to-use graphic design software I have ever known. It includes many professionally crafted templates, from creating animations to editing photos and videos and adding effects.

Great tools and an intuitive interface saved me research time as a beginner.

I appreciate the animation presets feature of this software. It gives my project a lot of charm and makes a big difference from other simple images.

The only complaint about this software is the relatively thick frequency of annoying ads. They delay project completion and sometimes even distract me.

Website Link: https://pixlr.com/

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Intuitive interface
  • Rich editing ability
  • High-resolution image support

Cons

  • Many annoying ads

4. Photomash

Photomash Studio by Pixlr

Specifications

  • Background Platforms: Phones, browsers.
  • Publisher: Inmagine Lab

Key Features

Photomash Studio by Pixlr is software for advanced editing needs, brief background removal, and visual and outstanding content creation.

I realized my first ideas with it. One-click instantly removes most backgrounds to create fantastic product portraits and thumbnails.

The free version is straightforward to use for its scientific interface design. But consider the paid version if you want unlimited access to content without ads.

In general, Photomash Studio by Pixlr is the optimal option if the project you are working on has high background quality and content requirements.

Website Link: https://pixlr.com/photomash/

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Friendly interface
  • Rich built-in design
  • Highly effective background
  • Excellent image resolution

Cons

  • It lacks some extra features

5. GIMP

Created with GIMP

Specifications

  • Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD, and Solaris
  • Publisher: GIMP

Key Features

GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is free cross-platform graphic design software with many customizable, sophisticated, and creative tools.

One outstanding advantage only in this tool is the programming algorithm. It provides me with a high-quality framework with multilingual support for image processing. It is essential for professional content creators, but I think it can be difficult for newbies because you need to know C, C++, and Python.

In general, you can improve your productivity. Work with this software thanks to premium customizations and support from third-party plugins.

Website Link: https://www.gimp.org

Pros

  • Quality editing tools
  • Unique flexibility
  • True color reproduction high
  • Compatible with operating systems

Cons

  • No Photoshop plugin supported

6. LUNACY

LUNACY

Specifications

  • Platform: PC, Mac, Linux…
  • Publisher: Lunacy

Key Features

If you are looking for the best software for vector graphics editing, LUNACY seems to be a good choice.

I love this software’s image enhancer, making it easy for me to enlarge every image to the size I want and enhance its resolution. Along with that is the super-quality background removal feature. It makes the background transparent for each photo as per my request and instantly creates the user’s avatar.

The software has a built-in text generator to keep the placeholders for the user interfaces. In my opinion, when you want to create your brand statements, this feature is essential.

Last but not least, this software supports a lot of free icons and illustrations.

Website Link: https://icons8.com/lunacy

Pros

  • Great support team
  • Fast and consistent user interface
  • Work seamlessly on all platforms.
  • Easy and convenient document sharing

Cons

  • Few tools for advanced users

7. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows
  • Publisher: Corel

Key Features

If you are just starting or have long experience in graphic design, CorelDRAW is an essential pocket software.

Due to its powerful toolkit and many valuable extras, all of my beautiful vector design projects take only a few minutes. That’s a great bonus and use value!

Plus, it comes with Corel Vector’s unlimited cloud storage. All my projects are always safe, available, and synced across devices compatible with this software.

Website Link: https://www.coreldraw.com/en/product/vector/

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Super flexible
  • Intuitive features
  • Unlimited cloud storage

Cons

  • Non-editable offline

8. KRITA

KRITA

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, Mac, Android, Linux
  • Publisher: Krita

Key Features

I have always been interested in free and highly flexible open-source painting software. I hardly have to pay any additional costs for the upgrades of this software. So, I decided to choose and wish to stick with KRITA for a long time.

It looks professional with hundreds of preloaded brushes and comes with handy managers. I start my project right away on it with just one click start without having to follow a particular method. Because there are no restrictions and they can be modified freely, I love this tool even more.

Website Link: https://krita.org/en/

Pros

  • High flexibility
  • Very easy to use
  • Handy resource manager
  • All code is open source
  • Professional and friendly interface

Cons

  • Missing some advanced tools

9. Blender

Blender

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
  • Publisher: Blender

Key Features

Like KRITA, Blender is excellent open-source software with more advanced 3D graphics capabilities. Many reviews show that this software is indispensable for creating unique and different beauty for 3D content.

It offers a comprehensive range of creation tools, from sculpting to subdivision and painting. It helps me make transitions and edits quickly and easily.

This software also includes valuable tools in the state of production-ready and object tracking. It always allows users to import footage, track motion, and review their models directly in 3D footage.

Website Link: https://www.blender.org/

Pros

  • High-quality tools
  • Creative freedom
  • It comes with many add-ons.
  • Offer an unsurpassed workflow.
  • Consistent, super flexible interface controls

Cons

  • Not ideal for beginners
  • Complex features and tools

10. Design Wizard

Design Wizard

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows
  • Publisher: Design Wizard

Key Features

Getting started with designing and creating unique visuals with Design Wizard is ideal for you to consider.

I spent a whole day just researching the accessible features of this software. What impressed me most was its personalization feature.

It offers customizable sizes and a wide range of colors and fonts, and I think this will be the premise for creating projects with each user’s style.

I love the design this software has to offer. It’s simple and easy to use and saved me a lot of time for initial research and learning.

Website Link: https://designwizard.com/

Pros

  • Easily create highly personalized designs
  • Offer standard resolution
  • Create quality content in minutes
  • Wide range of fonts, images, and designs
  • There are no complications with copyright

Cons

  • Restrictions on uploading your images

Buying Guide

There are many factors to consider when searching for a free graphic design software, as everyone has specific skills and needs. Therefore, check out the list of factors below to choose the ideal software.

Ability to edit

The ability to edit is an important feature that significantly influences your ability to edit and design your project right from the start.

Surely you or any consumer wants to make some minor changes or add content to your existing graphics and images. With this in mind, I would like to suggest tools that come with easy editing capabilities.

Intuitive design and features

The question is whether complex editing tools are suitable for efficient work. I recommend you should watch a demo or an introductory video of the Graphic Design software before buying it.

It should be noted that having the most intuitive layout and design is better.

Accuracy

Accuracy is the premise for the success of most graphic design projects. It might include full size, sharp pixels, and clean details.

Templates and tools

For those new to or with little design experience, I think the versions that provide templates and specific tools are the ideal choice. They allow you to organize your projects scientifically and logically for better management.

FAQs

Does Google have a free graphic design program?

Yes. One of Google’s best workspaces and design spaces is Pictograph. This tool allows users to drag and drop to maximize their creativity quickly.

Is there a free program like Photoshop?

There are many free alternatives to Photoshop today, such as GIMP. It comes with many useful features and has most of the tasks, like in Photoshop.

How can I make my graphics for free?

There is no shortage of ways and solutions for you to create your graphic design projects, but it is essential to have the best supporting software first:

  • Canva
  • Krita
  • Blender
  • Adobe Express
  • Lunacy

Can I use Canva for free?

Yes, of course. Canva is a free tool for graphic design and editing tasks. On the other hand, if you want to unlock more features and get various designs, consider upgrading to Canva Pro.

Is graphic design easy?

Graphic design is not complicated but not too easy either. You need talent, a dedication to the arts, and a creative mind to succeed in design projects.

In addition, make sure you are prepared with an understanding and proficient application of the principles and theories of the discipline.

Conclusion

Graphic design is essential for providing visual value and giving users a fresh impression. An excellent first impression is the basis for long-term cooperation.

This post provides my recommendations for free graphic design programs. They help you find the suitable version for all needs.

If I had to choose only one to recommend, Adobe Express would probably be the first version that comes to mind.

Most of the free software I mentioned above is helpful for different design purposes. Don’t forget to share your choice in the section below this article.

Thank you for reading!