18 Best Graphic Design Software Tools Of 2023

It doesn’t matter if it’s intricate illustrations, gigantic billboards or documents for business, the appropriate designs and tools are crucial in the process of design. So let’s see some of the best Graphic Design tools for you.

So let’s get started.

 

How Do You Choose Graphic Design Software Tools?

There is a myriad of graphic design software, but how do you know which to pick? The best graphic designing company in Singapore will help you choose the best software available in the market. Do you choose to go with well-known brands such as Adobe Creative Cloud, simply because you aren’t sure what else is available?

It could be that you’re a professional designer looking for new alternatives to software, or someone with no design experience, or who needs easy and quick assistance with the basics of marketing. It’s best to know some things before you are overwhelmed by all the options be sure to ask the following questions:

• My design requirements? What features do I require to design? Do I require advanced or only basic features?
• My budget?
• Are you looking for online software or download software?
• Do I require an app for my mobile device to create in the field?
• How many GB of storage do I require?
• Do I want an annual subscription, or am I will I pay more at the end to get an annual subscription?
• Do I require something that can support a team or just one person?
• What is my current level of experience and am I prepared to dedicate time and effort to learn about new software? Do I have the ability to handle a long learning curve?
• What are the features I am seeking?
• Do I have to complete an online course in conjunction with the software I buy?

 

The Best Graphic Design Software In 2021

The market for graphic design software is constantly evolving. Although updates are constantly happening and new software is constantly appearing, the most popular software tools listed below are fairly sturdy, versatile and worthy of keeping in mind.

Vector Design Software

Professional designers require advanced vector editing software and vector illustration programs for scaling images indefinitely, without sacrificing quality. Vector-based design software uses mathematical equations to create simple shapes that are formed by points rather than pixels.

Software for vector designs has become advanced and advanced to offer an abundance of creativity and accuracy and is highly regarded by many artists, designers, and even amateurs with no experience. We the leading Graphic Design Company in Mumbai have listed the top tested and trusted vector design tools below.

1.     Adobe Illustrator

As the industry’s leading vector graphics software, Adobe illustrator is always changing to stay at the forefront of graphics design tools. Illustrator is a vector graphic program utilized by thousands of professional designers and is an integral part of Adobe Creative Cloud. Illustrator comes with a wealth of advanced features that offer you the opportunity to create with the utmost precision.

Additionally, you are in a position to design everything using Adobe illustrator, from logos to billboards, book illustrations to freehand drawings, and much more, you can also enjoy the ability to design anywhere using features such as cloud sync that allow users to save and access documents directly from your computer or iPad which makes the mobile design even easier.

Best Features:

• Cloud document storage as well as advanced controls for the export
• Advanced recoloring which lets you move color palettes easily
• The Snap to Glyph feature is extremely useful
• Extremely precise tool for writing
• Stability and high performance
• Access to all Adobe stock assets

Pros: (Aside from the tons of awesome features) you can also expand your artwork to an unlimited extent without sacrificing quality.

Con: The biggest disadvantage of Adobe products – it’s expensive and has different keyboard commands that are compatible with other Adobe applications.

Pricing:

• $24.14/mo. for a one-app
• $34.49 to get Creative Cloud all-app access
• 7-day trial for free

Expertise level: Professional with an arduous learning curve for those who are new.

Compatible: macOS, Windows, iPad

2.     Affinity Designer

Affinity Creative suite also known as “Affinity Trinity” is a suitable option to replace Adobe’s Creative Cloud. It is a top-quality, industry-standard program. The greatest thing is that Affinity is that it is available at only a fraction of the cost of Adobe as well as offering incredible sales. They have cut prices to 50% off from 2020 to help with the world recession.

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics program that includes all the features you require to create stunning designs. A lot of graphic designers are looking for software that is less affordable than Adobe’s Creative Suite, and have discovered that Affinity Designer is in fact an excellent alternative. Although it doesn’t have as many features in comparison to Illustrator, however, Affinity Designer is more efficient in its approach by offering exactly what’s required for optimizing prices without restricting the creative potential.

Best Features:

• The Zooming: quickly zoom past 1,000,000%; Zoom and pan at 60fps, and achieve perfect precision
• The rich history features include undo/redo more than 8000 historical steps
• Highly customizable, with an easy workflow
• Supported by Apple hardware
• Switch between pixel and vector mode

Pro: It’s affordable for the level of quality and once-off purchase that includes no-cost updates

Con: There aren’t smartphones that can do this.

Pricing:

• $24.99 one-time payment with a 50% discount from $49.99
• 90-day trial for free

Level of experience: Professional, but it is also possible for beginners to teach themselves using the appropriate learning materials.

Compatible with: macOS, Windows, and iPad

 

Best Raster Graphic Design Software

Raster graphics are images that use pixels unlike vector images that can be defined as geometric shapes that are derived from mathematical formulas. We’ve listed the top tested and reliable vector design tools below.

1.     Procreate

Made exclusively for the iPad Procreate, a digital drawing software which lets you create digital art that is expressive with any style, from vibrant oil paintings, to sharp charcoal drawings, precise illustrations, and much more. Procreate is adored by designers and artists around the globe due to the freedom in the creative process that this digital art studio offers.

Procreate can be used by artistic professionals, such as illustrators and tattoo artists, as well as by artists who are getting started in the art of expression. Procreate is extremely intuitive, and allows the freedom to express and accuracy to meet any need and level.

Top features

• Rich brush studio featuring more than 200 brushes ranging from pencil to ink, charcoal and artistic brushes that are highly customizable and even give you the possibility of creating your personal brush.
• Dynamic color control, color harmony and color-related features allow selecting, exploring the colors you want to use an enjoyable experience.
• Multi-touch gestures that facilitate the experience of touch that is intuitive
• The super-fast 120fps painting speed is amazing.
• Time-lapse recording lets you capture and transmit what you’ve created as art becoming real
• Animation assistance – bring your artwork to life with the motion.

Pro: It does a great job of resembling a real-world painting experience

Con: It’s only available on iPad

Pricing:

• $9.99 in the App Store

Level of experience: Beginner to professional

Compatibility: iPad and iPhone

2.     Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is perhaps the most popular among all graphic design software and has earned the distinction of being commonly used as an adjective (you probably have experienced the expression “Photoshop it” at some time throughout your life).

Adobe Photoshop has risen to its position as the King of graphics design software for raster thanks to the myriad of options that allow you to edit and create everything without limit, from logos, web design posters, and 3D renderings as well as digital artwork. In contrast to the other Adobe software, it’s more accessible to people of any ability to master and create using Photoshop, particularly thanks to the learning tools they provide.

The best features

• Layers, which allows you to create and edit different parts of your work in a separate way.
• Tools for selecting finer items that cannot be matched by any other program.
• “Generator” technology allowing you to create images quickly while you work.
• Advanced 3D tools
• Camera shake reduction

Pros: You can accomplish many things with just one software

Con: The most infamous disadvantage of Adobe products: it’s expensive and has very little support for templates

Pricing:

• $24.14/mo. for a one-app
• $34.49 to get Creative Cloud all app access
• 7-day trial free for 7 days

Level of experience: Professional with an arduous learning curve for novices, however there are many great resources available that can help you learn

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, iPad and Android tablets, as well as iPhone and Android phones

3.     Gimp

From 1996 onwards, GNU Image Manipulation Programme GIMP is a well-established quality tool on the market of graphic design software. GIMP lets you edit, retouch and design images from basic digital drawings, to the most intricate designs.

It’s loaded with sophisticated features that were developed by a team of people who collaborate to create this open-source software, which makes it cost-free. GIMP is a favorite option for professionals in the field of design, photography as well as digital artists. It’s is possibly the best alternative to photoshop. GIMP can also be a fantastic tool for novices to learn about graphic design.

Best Features

• Detailed layer system GIMP has more layer modes than Photoshop does blending modes, according to this statement.
• Animation tools that help bring images to life
• Basic vector graphic capabilities are offered
• Multiple hardware support options that can be connected to many devices
• Customization of the user interface
• More than 100 plugins available to make it easier to achieve

Pro: it’s designed by a small group of developers, which has created an incredible community of passionate coworkers around the software for designing.

Cons: Since it’s collectively generated, there’s no benchmarked standard that you can adhere to.

Pricing: Free!

Expertise Level: Professional, with the steepest learning curve for novices

Compatibility: Windows, macOS & Linux

 

Full Suite Design Software

There are some excellent applications that simplify the process with a complete vector and raster solution. Explore our top-rated and reliable programs mentioned below by one of the best graphic designing company in Mumbai.

1.     CorelDraw Graphics Suite

CorelDraw Graphics Suite is a full suite of graphic design tools. Starting with vector designs, photo editing editorial design and much more, CorelDraw offers a wide variety of tools to meet every need for graphic design, whether you’re designing clothing or business cards, and everything in between.

CorelDraw offers amazing collaboration tools that help you collaborate with colleagues and friends, in real-time, extremely simple and enjoyable. This multi-purpose creative software increases efficiency by providing tools that produce outcomes in a shorter amount of time.

Best Features:

• “Next-generation” collaboration that includes live comments as well as a central hub sharing and storing files, and live comments to allow collaboration in real-time.
• The user interface is designed to be touch-friendly and compatible with a range of styluses
• Live Sketch driven by AI technology that converts sketching into vector curvatures
• Materials for learning and samples of projects to facilitate ease of use
• Pointilizer effect – Create vector mosaics of bitmap and vector objects
• Symmetry drawing mode in CorelDraw allows you to create symmetrical objects and designs in real-time using an option that is specifically dedicated to Symmetry which automates what could otherwise be a time-consuming process.

Pro: It’s a practical and high-quality, all-in-one application.

Con: This isn’t an industry standard

Pricing:

• 15-Day trial for free
• Annual plan of $198
• The price is $669 for the complete perpetual version

Experiential Level: Basic to professional, with some training which must take place but with less than other products.

Compatibility: Windows, macOS & Linux

2.     Xara Designer Pro

Xara Designer Pro is a complete, cloud-based graphic design software program. It allows you to create graphic designs in raster and vector formats using Xara and also desktop publishing tools as well as editing of photos.

In essence, “It is a single integrated solution for all your creative work, for print and the web.” It’s an extremely complete tool that is all-in-one however, can it have the same capabilities as the similar tools like Adobe or Affinity?

Since it’s designed specifically for Windows the short solution is not. With regards to features it’s competing. There are a lot of modern tools that allow for creative freedom and professional design as well as being simpler to master for those who are not designers.

Best Features

• A plethora of templates and layouts for design to help you
• More than a million pictures to pick from within the library
• Marketing materials that allow for the creation of content that is easy to brand
• Rich Web capabilities for creating pages

Pros: The software is quick and simple to use.

Con: The program is only available only on Windows

Level of experience: Beginner to professional

Pricing:

• Pro version costs $12.99/mo.
• Pro+ $19/mo.
• 14-Day trial for free

Compatibility: Windows

3.     Adobe Fresco

Digital Drawing and Drawing application Adobe Fresco is an amazing digital art app that works on your iPad, iPhone, Microsoft Surface Pro device or desktop. Adobe Fresco is perfect for creating your masterpiece with a realistic painting and drawing environment, later transferring it into Illustrator and Photoshop to make it perfect.

Best Features

• The extensive library of brushes includes more than 200 vectors, rasters and live brushes
• Adobe Sensei works really well to recreate an experience that is live, like mixing and smudging brushes
• Unlimited layers
• Multicolor eyedropper tool, a great time!

Pro: It can work in conjunction with photoshop and illustrator.

Con: Can’t customize brushes

Pricing:

• $9.99
• Access via Creative Cloud

Experience levels: Beginning to advanced

Compatibility Compatible devices include: Tablet, iPhone, Microsoft Surface Pro device or desktop otherwise $9.99 one-time charge

 

Best Desktop Publishing Software

Desktop publishing applications are utilized to create editorial layouts for magazines, books brochures, newspapers and other digital media, in essence, anything you’d be reading. Desktop publishing software offers design tools to turn copy-heavy layouts into easily digestible visual content.

These tools for desktop publishing are great for anyone looking to self-publish either a book or magazine as well as for small-scale business owners or freelancers that need assistance in creating professionally designed business documentation. Check out our best picks down below!

1.     Adobe InDesign

InDesign can be regarded as a multi-platform application that has remained a leading desktop publishing program with its reputation being one of the most effective software to design layouts for every kind of print and dig, as well digital documents such as PDFs.

InDesign introduced some new cool improvements in 2021 like “content-aware wrap,” which wraps text with a natural context to image information, an improved share options for review and HSB colour swatches.

Top features

• Size of the map optically to the font size
• Seamless, interactive content reviews
• Highly sophisticated text wraps and subject detection
• Liquid content- Create multiple pages and sizes, allowing you to be able to view across any devices.
• Master Pages- reduces time by applying consistent elements to many pages.
• Split window- check out different designs from the same file

Pro: It’s the most effective available, and industry standard

Con: The most infamous disadvantage of Adobe products is that it’s costly plus there aren’t any currently available collaboration tools yet.

Expertise level: Professional with an arduous learning curve for novices

Pricing:

• $24.14/mo. for a one-app
• $34.49/mo. to access Creative Cloud all app access
• 7-day trial free for 7 days

Expertise level: Professional with an arduous learning curve for those who are new.

Compatible: macOS, Windows, iPad

2.     Lucidpress

Lucidpress is a web-based design and branding software that allows you to create brand-specific collateral incredibly easy. This program is mostly directed at non-designers, allowing users to design and create brand-name printed and digital media products using ease and speed.

Lucidpress isn’t nearly as professional software with the same features as InDesign. This is design for desktop publishing at its simplest but extremely efficient, specifically for making anyone an effective brand and marketing designer using a user-friendly interface and plenty of templates guidelines.

The best features

• It’s extremely collaborative, with options such as team management, real-time collaboration, and a central center to manage assets
• “Template locking” allows you to “lock” branded elements in your designs that cannot be changed to ensure the brand’s consistency
• Editor Drag and Drop for fast and simple creation
• A plethora of templates that have been designed for flyers, business cards, and much more.
• Multi-channel distribution allows you to transfer and save files to any location.

Pros: It’s easy to make use of!

Cons: There are a lot of restrictions on the free version

Pricing:

• Free version
• $10/ mo. pro version
• $12/ mo. Team version

Level of experience: Complete beginner up to professionals who wish to reduce time.

Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux

3.     Quark Express

In 1987, QuarkXPress was a brand that was pioneering in the market for design software. A lot of publishing houses and designers employed it in the 90s before InDesign existed, and continue to use it to this day. QuarkXPress is a direct competitor to InDesign with the same features and many more.

This comprehensive, feature-rich graphics software tool comes with everything you require to design precise, professional beautiful layouts and designs for digital media along with mobile apps, as well as illustration design and photo editing tools.

Top features

• Mobile app publication: develop iOS and Android apps with a focus on print design.
• Convert and gain access to Adobe InDesign files in 3 simple steps
• Flex layout sallow graphic designers to develop responsive web designs without any programming knowledge, for example banner advertisements, landing pages, and so on.
• Illustration tools to create perfect images and graphics
• Pre-designed templates that can be used for fast and efficient design creation.

Pro: It’s an established market leader and a solid, professional-grade software

Con: It was replaced By InDesign which is now no anymore the industry standard

Pricing:

• A one-time payment of $474 for each user
• 7-day trial for free

Level of experience: Professional, quite steep learning curve, which is possible to conquer by using the appropriate training tools.

Support for: Desktop- macOS and Windows 8.1 and 10 64-bit only

 

Social Media Design Tools

With a limited amount of time to spare It’s extremely helpful to have tools for design that can create social media content quickly and also make the process enjoyable (even if you’re a professional designer who can create it by hand). We’ve listed our favorite social media design tools below.

1.     Canva

It’s the web-based design program that has turned anyone into a designer it appears. While Canva provides you with the tools needed to create various digital publications it’s been gaining popularity in the design of social media assets since there are a lot of pre-designed templates and sizes-appropriate canvas designs that are suitable for all the major social media platforms.

With the increasing number of non-designers using social media platforms to advertise their businesses and to create content, Canva has become a very helpful tool for helping millions of users create stunning professionally-designed designs on their own. Canva is also a great tool to create invitations and flyers for printing and digital circulation.

The best attributes:

• Many templates to pick from
• Canvases are custom-sized for every social media platform. If you’re in search of tools that allow the user more flexibility in their creativity.
• Text and animated elements that transform designs into reality through motion
• Basic tools for editing photos
• A wide range of grid designs

Pro: It has empowered millions of users to express their creative side with design thanks to its simplicity

Con: The functions are simple and therefore very limited.

Pricing:

• Free plan
• Premium plan starts at $12.95per month.

Level of experience: Complete from beginner to expert who wish to reduce time.

Compatible: Web, macOS and Windows Mobile apps compatible with iOS as well as Android.

2.     Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is good for various things, such as the creation of web pages as well as short video creation and a range of other basic visual materials like flyers, however we’ve decided to focus on it due to its social media graphic capabilities.

Adobe Spark is part of the Creative Cloud Suite which means that anyone who has access to all the apps can access Adobe Spark. There’s also an alternative free version however.

Adobe Spark is a basic graphic design program that is easy to use for non-designers that is available for mobile devices and the web. The program offers size-appropriate canvasses for all major social networks, lots of templates, as well as great tools to help you build your brand. It’s an easy but efficient design tool in general.

• Templates and themes that are brand-named for creating the brand’s identity
• Templates and layouts that are easily customizable which help to improve the design process
• You have access to Adobe stock images, as well as Unsplash free images
• Invite other people to join in
• Create using mobile
• Editing and creation of videos

Pros: It’s a fast method of creating social media design ideas, specifically for cloud-based users with creative ideas.

Cons: There are limitations with the free version. Plus, you are able to create videos of with a maximum length of 30 seconds.

Pricing:

• Free version
• $9.99 on the store app for the one app

Level of experience: Complete beginner No experience is required.

Compatibility: Mobile and Web application

 

Design Software for Logos

Some people do not have the option of employing a professional graphic designer to design their logo. Many people who could consider starting a company simply enjoy making it their own. There are plenty of tools for graphic design that allow anyone to design their own logo. Look at these two examples below.

3.     Looka

An easy and quick solution for creating a logo that is original, Looka is perfect for freelancers, small-scale businesses, freelancers, and any other person who might require a custom logo. Looka was created to help people create their own identity and can be used by people who aren’t designers or marketers by profession.

Looka makes use of AI software to create logos based on the style you prefer and guides you through the journey to establish your complete brand starting from there.

The best features

• Find your style by looking through various logos
• Select the logos that are most suited to your personal taste to create a theme that is to you.
• Create your own logo automatically for yourself
• Logo mockups of the preview on items such as business cards and t-shirts

4.     Squarespace

You’ve probably heard of Squarespace as a website builder however did you know that they also offer an awesome logo maker?

It’s basic software, but usually, all you require for logo design is the basic and it’s the ideal tool for an entrepreneur or an individual creative building your own Squarespace website and building your own brand.

Best Features

• Extensive icon library
• The platform is available without the Squarespace subscription. Visit the website for logo-makers here.
• Simple to use

Pro: It’s free!

Con: Limited color palette

Pricing:

• Free!

 

Best Photo Editing Software

While software similar to Adobe Photoshop is perfect for creating and manipulating images when you’re working with photos you’ve taken yourself it is necessary to use software designed specifically for editing photos. It’s true that almost everyone needs photo editing software nowadays.

Here we’ll provide a few good programs that focus on editing photos and retouching in particular.

Lightroom is cloud-based image editing software that lets users edit, save and share photos. “Lightroom” is available on desktop, mobile, and the web and is different in comparison to Lightroom Classic in that it’s exclusively for desktops.

The main differentiator in Lightroom, as opposed to Photoshop, lies in the fact that with Photoshop you have access to advanced graphic design tools that allow you to modify and enhance photos with layers systems, whereas Lightroom is solely focused on editing and retouching photos.

Best Features

• The Lightroom community is an online platform to meet fellow photographers, browse the latest content, share photos and discover the best presets.
• Presets let you combine filters and settings to create an appearance that can apply to any photograph. Presets are great for branding consistency. Some photographers earn money by selling Lightroom presets!
• Adobe Sensei machine learning helps to arrange photos more efficiently by recognizing themes and people.
• Interactive tutorials in the app help you improve and develop your editing skills.
• It is easy to transfer images effortlessly between Photoshop and Lightroom using the iPad

Pro: There’s plenty of help available to improve your skills and knowledge, and discover new ideas by joining Lightroom’s community and tutorials. Lightroom community and tutorials.

Cons: Other than Adobe costs there aren’t any plugins available for Lightroom to boost the features.

Pricing:

• $9.99
• The free version comes in a constrained version.

Experience level: Beginner up to professional

Compatible: Desktop macOS and Windows Web, mobile apps available for iOS as well as Android.

1.     Capture One Photo Editing Software

Capture One is a professional photo editing program with advanced features. It is highly widely recommended by designers and photographers. Capture One is distinctive in that it has camera-specific versions of the program to maximize the use of your cameras. You can select among Fujifilm, Nikon, and Sony-specific versions, or go to go with an “every camera” version.

Best Features

• Speed edit- perform the work effortlessly with hotkeys, and edit several images at the same time using “batch edit.”
• Color editing software with advanced features
• Masks and layers feature that allows as many as 16 layers to be used for accurate editing
• They also offer a student price plan that is 65% cheaper than the “all cameras” plan.

Pro: this will allow you to maximize the performance of your camera and images with software that is tailored to the specific camera you own.

Con: There is no HDR stitching

Pricing:

• Camera-specific options are available for $16.00/mo.
• “All camera” $21.85/mo.
• Student pricing plans are available for 65 percent with the “all camera” option
• 30 days free trial

Expertise Level: Beginning up to professional

Compatibility: macOS and Windows

 

Infographic Design Software

Entrepreneurs and business executives typically require design expertise only to design data visualization Professional designers are able to use this kind of software to improve their workflow. Below are our top picks suggested by a creative design agency in Singapore.

1.     Venngage

It is easy to create infographics such as mind maps, timelines guides, reports and other documents to manage your project and strategy using Venngage. The simple-to-use design program is built on an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes the creation of documents packed with information simple and fun. Venngage creates stunning immersive, interactive, and complete visualization of data. It is loved and utilized by the top companies and institutions in the world such as to the New York Times to Harvard.

Best Features

• Over 7500 professional templates for you to use
• Drag-and-drop icons images texts, charts, and drag-and-drop icons
• Collaboration between teams
• Export interactive PDF and PNG.

Pro: You are able to easily select from a variety of project and team-specific templates to help you determine the best design.

Con: Free plan with limited features

Experience Level: a complete beginner. It’s also useful for professionals too!

Pricing:

• Free plan
• Premium $20/mo.
• Business $50/mo.
• Find the complete cost selection here (options for classrooms and non-profit organizations)

2.     Visme

Online design tool for people who aren’t designers and professionals. Visme allows you to create visually all kinds of visual content, from social media posts to animations videos, documents with a brand name, and much more. Their infographic and chart generation tool is among the top and well worth a purchase Visme to create this!

Visme is a fantastic option to cut time and expenses for your business, or as a student or freelancer.

• A variety of fun interactivity features that will bring your infographics to life.
• Option to utilize offline
• Create audio and video
• Simple, user-friendly interface
• New templates are added each month to 40+ types of content
• Browse templates easily using dynamic keyword search

Pro: A wealth of educational material to assist your efforts to create and enhance your content along with business expertise.

Cons: There are limitations with the free version of the software, which includes no download of videos

Pricing:

• Free
• Premium plans start at just $15.

Experience level: Beginner up to professionals looking to reduce time.

Compatibility: Web

 

Conclusion:

As you can see at the moment there are plenty of possibilities. Even experienced designers can find themselves overwhelmed by the options. As we said in starting, it’s crucial to know your requirements!

This will allow you to select the right software for you and your team. Hope that our suggestions will help! If you’d like to read more, then read our previous blog post on 10 simple steps to become a graphic designer in 2023.