Best Graphic Design Software Free Download
Are you looking for the best graphic design software free download? If so, this is a program that you can get and install on your computer in just a few minutes. It’s not very hard to find out how to do this either, as there are many free downloads that are designed specifically for people who want to be able to create their own graphics for webpages, advertisements and other projects using their own hands.
You can easily learn how to use the software by watching some tutorials online or even reading some books about it. Some of these tutorials will take you through step-by-step processes that will teach you everything from how to use the tools within the program, to how to create your first graphic design project.
The best part about learning how to use these programs is that once you’ve mastered the basics, you can then try out more advanced features and even make your own designs! You can never really stop learning new things when it comes to graphic design, which makes it a great field for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge and skills. The possibilities are endless!
Best Graphic Design Software Free Download
THE BEST VECTOR SOFTWARE
01. Adobe Ilustrator
The best graphic design software for vector editing overall
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, macOSPayment model: SubscriptionTODAY’S BEST DEALSAdobe Illustrator£19.97/mthVISIT SITEat Adobe
REASONS TO BUY
+Industry-standard toolset+Time-saving AI features+Top vector and type tools
REASONS TO AVOID
-Requires subscription
If you want the best graphic design software for vector drawing and editing, there’s little need to look further than Adobe Illustrator. It remains the industry-standard software for a reason and still offers the most powerful range of tools and features for vector editing. Compatible with PC, Mac and even the iPads, Illustrator allows you to create everything from illustrations to logos with all the creative freedom you could wish for, while it has tons of features and shortcuts to help speed up your workflow.
Illustrator is part of Adobe Creative Cloud, and to use it you’ll need to subscribe, either for Illustrator alone or to Adobe’s full suite of creative apps, which includes Photoshop, InDesign and many more. The advantage of the subscription model is that you automatically get the latest updates to the software. The downside is that it’s fairly pricey, although Adobe does run regular offers and there’s a discount for students. See our guide to how to download Adobe Illustrator for more.
02. Affinity Designer
The best vector software without a subscription-free
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, macOSPayment model: One-off paymentTODAY’S BEST DEALS£33.59VIEW AT MICROSOFT UK IE£47.99View at Serif Europe UK
REASONS TO BUY
+Great value+Lots of useful tools+Good Illustrator compatibility
REASONS TO AVOID
-Lacks some advanced features
If you feel Adobe’s subscription model is a little too pricy then Serif’s Affinity Designer is a very strong alternative. The best graphic designs software available for a one-off payment, Affinity Designer has become very popular as it adds more and more features, coming close to rivalling Illustrator. In fact, it actually offers some tools you don’t find on Illustrator, such as infinite redos and one million per cent-plus zoom.
Affinity Designer works with both Illustrator AI and Photoshop PSD files, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility if colleagues or clients work with Adobe’s software. Chances are that you’ll find Affinity Designer runs faster than Adobe illustrator too. But the best part, of course, is that you only have to make a one-time outlay and a fairly reasonable one at that. There are no subscription fees, but you still get software updates included.
See our full Affinity Designer review for more details.
03. Sketch
The best graphic design software for UI and icons
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: macOSPayment model: one-off paymentTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Good for UI and icons+Easy to learn
REASONS TO AVOID
-Mac-only-Lacks Illustrator’s depth
If you’re looking for the best graphic design software specifically for UI design, prototyping and/or making icons, then you might well want to consider Sketch – if you work on a Mac, that is. While it doesn’t have the depth of software like Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer, Sketch has everything you need for UI design, and is easier to use if you have that one specific purpose. It has a minimal interface, which makes it easy to get started, but it offers a wide range of features if you need them thanks to a big library of plugins.
The software came in for a major revamp in 2021, with the addition of new features focusing on better collaboration. For example, developers can now view, inspect, and measure your Sketch designs in any browser, on any operating system, all for free.
Read our full Sketch review for more details on this piece of software.
04. CorelDRAW
Storied graphic design software that’s had some major updates
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, MacPayment model: One-off purchase or subscription
REASONS TO BUY
+Feature-rich+Strong community of users
REASONS TO AVOID
-No longer the industry standard-Still expensive
First launched in 1989, CorelDRAW lost some of its popularity to Adobe Illustrator but it still has legions of fans, and the 2021 version of the software introduced some major updates. Long available for Windows only, a Mac version has been available since 2019, serving to broaden the appeal of a package that now has a lot of Illustrator’s features, and at a slightly more affordable price. You have more flexibility in how you pay too since you can choose between a one-off payment or a subscription.
So why is CorelDraw lower on our list of the best graphic design software? It’s actually hard to decide which is whether CorelDRAW or Illustrator is the ‘better’ tool. Both have tons of features, but the interfaces are quite different. While fans of CorelDRAW insist that it’s easier to use than Illustrator, the fact remains that Illustrator is the industry-standard tool, and in many jobs, you’ll be expected to use it.
That said, there’s no issue with importing and exporting AI and PDF files to CorelDRAW. The main reason to choose one over the other however is because you prefer the interface and workflow. If you’ve never used either and you have the time, we’d suggest signing up for the free trial of both so you can compare them for yourself.
See our full CorelDRAW review for a more detailed evaluation.
05. Creative Cloud Express
The best free graphic design app
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Browser and mobile appPayment model: Free and subscriptionTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Very intuitive interface+Huge library of images and assets+Free-forever plan
REASONS TO AVOID
-Occasional bugs / lag issues-Missing some shortcuts-No guides / margins
Formerly Adobe Spark, Adobe Creative Cloud Express (or CC Express) is the newest addition to the Adobe family, and the brand’s attempt to compete with affordable entry-level graphic design software like Canva and Picsart. Available online and as a mobile app for both iOS and Android, it takes the basic photo/video editing tools and the Asset library from across Adobe’s suite of apps and puts them into an accessible one-stop package.
Best of all the app is free to download and free to use forever – for a limited number of basic tools. You can unlock more features if you sign up for a premium CC express account for $9.99 / £10.10 a month or $99.99 / £101.15 per year. There’s a 30-day free trial of the premium version so you can try it out before you commit.
graphic design software for beginners
- Lucidpress
- Adobe Photoshop
- CorelDraw
- Inkscape
- Adobe Illustrator CC
- Gravit Designer
- Canva
- Pixlr
- Vectr
- Krita
Comparison Of Best Graphic Design Tools
| Tool Name | Main Features | Usability/Reliability | Starting Price | Our Rating (Out of 5 stars) |
| Lucidpress | •Online Platform •Allows for storage of brand assets •Automate branding data such as telephone number, email address, etc. •Quick import and export to online storage sites such as Dropbox. | You can easily access your brand assets and manipulate them using any browser. Allows for the use of YouTube video. | Free Basic option Pro – From $10 Team – From $12 for a team of 3 users Business – Custom Quote based on number of users | 4.7 |
| Adobe Photoshop | •Very high image manipulation features •Allows creation of 3D-like images •High-Quality border selection to cut of unwanted elements in a picture. | The tool is quite powerful but has a steep learning curve. It is reliable when you want high-quality image creation and manipulation | Available with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (All Apps) Individual – $39.95/Month Business – $59.99/Month Students & Teachers – $19.99/Month Schools & Universities – Custom quote based on use. Photoshop Alone – $20.99/Month | 4.7 |
| CorelDraw | •Best suited for vector art creation •Basic image manipulation features | All those who want extreme illustrations (vector) find this tool very useful. | Annual Subscription – $399 One-time Purchase – $785 | 4.6 |
| Inkscape | •Flexible drawing tools •Broad file format compatibility •Powerful text tool •Bezier and spiral curves | Excellent tool for vector graphic creation and manipulation. | Free Forever | 4.5 |
| Adobe Illustrator CC | •Create illustrations using basic elements •Great manipulation of SVG vector images | This is an ideal tool for vector graphics artists. Comes with a host of templates to start from | Available with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (All Apps) Individual – $39.95/Month Business – $59.99/Month Students & Teachers – $19.99/Month Schools & Universities – Custom quote based on use. Adobe Illustrator CC Alone – $29.99/Month |
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines