What else will you find in this guide?<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Other graphic design software and tools (paid and free) worth knowing about<\/li>\r\n \t
- The best graphic design software for beginners<\/li>\r\n \t
- How to choose the right graphic design tools for your stack<\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn more about graphic design (further resources)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Ready to discover the top graphic design tools and do your best creative work? Keep reading.<\/p>\r\n
The best paid graphic design software and tools<\/h2>\r\n
In this section, you\u2019ll find an overview of the best paid-for graphic design software and tools.<\/p>\r\n
1. Adobe Illustrator<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Official](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Inside1-49.webp\" "\\"Official")
\r\n\r\nAdobe Illustrator <\/a> is a vector-based illustration software that is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud <\/a> family of design tools. Something of a graphic design staple, you can use Adobe Illustrator to create everything from logos and web graphics to icons, packaging designs, infographics, and more.<\/p>\r\n
Skill level:<\/h4>\r\n
Adobe Illustrator is a valuable tool for beginner and advanced graphic designers alike, but newcomers can expect a steep learning curve. Still, you can ease your way into the tool with the many tutorials and templates on offer. Some Graphic Design Courses<\/a> also teach the tool in detail.<\/p>\r\n
Available on:<\/h4>\r\n
Windows and MacOS.<\/p>\r\n
Pros:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- A very versatile graphic design tool, great for creating a variety of different assets from scratch<\/li>\r\n \t
- Illustrator is vector-based, so all your creations are scalable. This means that, no matter how much you enlarge your artwork, it\u2019ll retain its crisp, clear quality<\/li>\r\n \t
- Includes access to Adobe Express\u2014a whole host of time-saving features which enable you to whip up great designs in no time. To learn more about Adobe Express as a free standalone tool, scroll to number 10 on this list.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Banner-Ads-Student-Work-GIF-Graphic-Design-CTA1.gif\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nCons:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Involves a relatively steep learning curve for beginners<\/li>\r\n \t
- Limited photo editing options<\/li>\r\n \t
- Takes up a lot of memory and may lag or even crash from time to time<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Price:<\/h4>\r\n
You can try Illustrator for free with a 7-day trial. After that, it costs $20.99 per month (if you subscribe to the annual plan). Alternatively, you can pay $54.99 per month for the entire Creative Cloud suite. You\u2019ll find all available price plans here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
2. Adobe InDesign<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Landing](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Inside2-46.webp\" "\\"Landing")
\r\n\r\nAnother member of the Adobe Creative Cloud family, InDesign<\/a> is a graphic design app focused specifically on layout and page design. You can use it to design brochures (both digital and print), business cards, ebooks, presentations, posters, PDFs and more.<\/p>\r\n
Skill level:<\/h4>\r\n
Adobe InDesign is not renowned for being the most beginner-friendly tool. Inexperienced graphic designers (or newcomers to Adobe tools) can expect some difficulty in learning to use this tool.<\/p>\r\n
Available on:<\/h4>\r\n
Windows and MacOS.<\/p>\r\n
Pros:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Ideal for designing beautiful, image-rich documents for both digital and print<\/li>\r\n \t
- Allows you to work with multiple pages<\/li>\r\n \t
- Expansive library of features, allowing you full control and customization <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Cons:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Doesn\u2019t sync up so well with other Adobe tools<\/li>\r\n \t
- Not the most beginner-friendly platform<\/li>\r\n \t
- Like all Adobe products, it\u2019s rather pricey<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Price:<\/h4>\r\n
You can try Adobe InDesign for free with a 7-day trial. After that, it costs $20.99 per month (if you subscribe to the annual plan). Alternatively, you can pay $54.99 per month for the entire Creative Cloud suite. You\u2019ll find all available price plans here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
3. Adobe Photoshop<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Adobe](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside3-37.webp\" "\\"Adobe")
\r\n\r\nAlso part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop <\/a>is a popular graphic design software used for creating and editing images (primarily used for photo editing). It\u2019s a raster-based program (unlike Adobe Illustrator which is vector-based). This means that it uses pixels to create detailed images. However, you can still use Photoshop to open and edit vector-based files.<\/p>\r\n
Skill level:<\/h4>\r\n
Photoshop<\/a> is a complex, feature-rich program that will take a while to learn and master. Beginners may want to start with Adobe Photoshop Elements<\/a>, Photoshop\u2019s simpler (and less expensive) sibling program.<\/p>\r\n
Available on:<\/h4>\r\n
Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android.<\/p>\r\n
Pros:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- A feature-rich tool with extensive photo-editing capabilities (and a vast library of templates and ready-to-use assets)<\/li>\r\n \t
- Mobile apps available for both iOS and Android<\/li>\r\n \t
- Lots of tutorials and learning support<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Cons:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Complex; involves a long and steep learning curve<\/li>\r\n \t
- Fairly expensive<\/li>\r\n \t
- Takes up a lot of space (an issue common to most Adobe products)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Price:<\/h4>\r\n
You can try Photoshop for free with a 7-day trial. After that, it costs $20.99 per month (if you subscribe to the annual plan). Alternatively, you can pay $54.99 per month for the entire Creative Cloud suite. You\u2019ll find all available price plans here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
4. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite<\/h3>\r\n
![\"CorelDRAW](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside4-17.webp\" "\\"CorelDRAW")
\r\n\r\nCorelDRAW <\/a> is an entire suite of graphic design tools. You can use it for vector illustration, layout design, typography<\/a>, photo editing, and collaboration. Users who don\u2019t want to subscribe to the full suite can access individual tools such as Corel Vector<\/a> , a web-based vector app geared towards \u2018design hobbyists and aspiring pros\u2019, or CorelDRAW Standard 2021 <\/a>, an all-in-one design and layout tool.<\/p>\r\n
Skill level:<\/h4>\r\n
The CorelDRAW suite is a pro-level tool that is relatively easy to learn, making it suitable for hobbyists and professional designers alike.<\/p>\r\n
Available on:<\/h4>\r\n
Windows, MacOS, iPad, and in-browser.<\/p>\r\n
Pros:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Comprehensive library of learning resources<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Affordable pricing options compared to some competitors<\/li>\r\n \t
- A versatile and feature-rich tool with a fairly smooth learning curve<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Cons:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Regular product updates can make it hard to keep up<\/li>\r\n \t
- Some users report issues with image conversion (e.g. converting files to PNG format or saving CorelDRAW files as JPEG)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Price:<\/h4>\r\n
You can try the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite for free with a 15-day trial. The annual subscription costs $22.42 per month or $269 per year if you pay upfront. For a cheaper option, consider the 2021 version for a one-time payment of $549.<\/p>\r\n
5. Affinity Designer 2<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Affinity](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside5-14.webp\" "\\"Affinity")
\r\n\r\nLaunched in November 2022 as an upgrade to the original Affinity Designer software, Affinity Designer 2 <\/a> aims to set a new industry standard in the world of design. This vector graphics tool gives Adobe Illustrator a run for its money\u2014in terms of both performance and functionality. From logos, icons, and typography to full mock-ups and print projects<\/a>, this is a versatile tool for graphic designers.<\/p>\r\n
Skill level:<\/h4>\r\n
For those who are new to vector design, Affinity Designer 2 is considered much easier to learn than other programs (e.g. Adobe Illustrator), making it suitable for beginners and advanced designers alike.<\/p>\r\n
Available on:<\/h4>\r\n
Windows, MacOS and iPad.<\/p>\r\n
Pros:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- One of the more affordable graphic design software on the market<\/li>\r\n \t
- A fast, high-performance tool\u2014can handle thousands of objects with no lag<\/li>\r\n \t
- Includes fully-featured vector and raster workspaces for maximum creative freedom<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Cons:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Not as feature-rich as some competitors (e.g. Adobe Illustrator)\u2014users often lament the lack of an image trace feature<\/li>\r\n \t
- No auto-save function on Mac, so users must be diligent about saving their work<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Price:<\/h4>\r\n
You can try Affinity Designer 2 for 30 days with a free trial. If you decide to buy, it\u2019ll cost you a one-time payment of $69.99 for MacOS or Windows, and $19.99 for iPad.<\/p>\r\n
6. Sketch<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Sketch](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside6-10.webp\" "\\"Sketch")
\r\n\r\nSketch <\/a> is a web and graphic design app for MacOS. At its core, Sketch is a vector editing tool, popular among designers for its infinite canvas and flexible artboards which can be customized to suit the needs of your project. While it\u2019s commonly used by UI and UX designers<\/a> for prototyping<\/a> and handing designs off to developers, graphic designers<\/a> can also use it to create all kinds of different assets from scratch.<\/p>\r\n
Skill level:<\/h4>\r\n
Sketch boasts a user-friendly interface, offering a relatively smooth learning curve for beginners.<\/p>\r\n
Available on:<\/h4>\r\n
MacOS.<\/p>\r\n
Pros:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- User-friendly, intuitive interface\u2014and a free Sketch 101 course <\/a> to help beginners get started<\/li>\r\n \t
- Enables real-time collaboration<\/li>\r\n \t
- Sketch works both online and offline<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Cons:<\/h4>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Only available for Mac<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Price:<\/h4>\r\n
Individual users can get Sketch for $9 per month or $99 per year, with the option to cancel at any time. For business and team pricing, see all available plans here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A comparison of the best paid graphic design tools at a glance<\/h3>\r\n\r\n
- User-friendly, intuitive interface\u2014and a free Sketch 101 course <\/a> to help beginners get started<\/li>\r\n \t
- Comprehensive library of learning resources<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
![\"Canva](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside7-9.webp\" "\\"Canva")
\r\n\r\n![\"Lunacy](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside8-9.webp\" "\\"Lunacy")
\r\n![\"GIMP](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside9-7.webp\" "\\"GIMP")
\r\n![\"Adobe](\"https:\/\/www.andacademy.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/inside10-5.webp\" "\\"Adobe")
\r\n