Are you looking to enhance your graphic design skills and streamline your workflow? With the advancements in technology and generative AI, the market for graphic design software has grown immensely, providing designers with a plethora of options to choose from. In this article, we will explore some of the industry-leading graphic design software available in 2024, suitable for beginners, professionals, and those on a budget.
From Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to CorelDraw Graphics Suite and Inkscape, we will compare and contrast each software’s features and capabilities to help you find the right tool for your design needs. Additionally, we will provide a price comparison and answer some frequently asked questions to assist you in making an informed decision. So, let’s dive in and explore the best graphic design software for 2024.
What is Graphic Design Software?
Graphic design software is a suite of digital tools used to create and manipulate images and artwork. These tools are commonly used to design website and app interfaces, social media banners, and 3D presentations for architecture. Popular graphic design software includes Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator, which have long been industry leaders, as well as newer tools like Canva and Figma, which offer more user-friendly solutions. With graphic design software, you can create professional-looking designs and artwork without needing extensive artistic skills.
The Best Graphic Design Software (Compared)
When it comes to graphic design, having the right software can make all the difference. There are many options available, each with its own set of features and capabilities. In this section, we’ll compare the top graphic design software options to help you determine the best fit for your needs.
1. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a versatile graphic design software that has been the industry standard for vector graphics design for years. It offers a comprehensive toolkit for creating everything from logos to floor plans. Its built-in tools allow designers to draw, paint, or modify any digital masterpiece that can easily scale to any size. This makes it an ideal choice for creating SVGs that provide scalable high-resolution graphics for web design and other use cases.
One of the standout features of Adobe Illustrator is its compatibility with digital graphic tablets, replicating the experience of creating physical art. Additionally, its unique AI-powered generative recolor feature allows users to input text prompts, streamlining the color adjustment process.
Best For: Adobe Illustrator is the go-to for graphic designers, illustrators, and creative professionals hungry for pixel-perfect precision. It’s ideal for vector-based artwork, logo design, and intricate illustrations. Whether you’re a freelancer aiming to impress clients or an agency crafting brand identities, this tool elevates your design game to gallery-worthy heights.
Pricing: Starts from $20.99/mo or $54.99/mo for all Creative Cloud Apps
2. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the premier choice in the realm of photo editing and manipulation software. It boasts a comprehensive editing tool suite that empowers users to create digital art with a broad range of applications. Photoshop has similar capabilities to Illustrator, but one that sets it apart is its editing capabilities, especially when it comes to images.
When it comes to image refinement, Photoshop stands unrivaled. Its extensive features and algorithms make it ideal for those who demand precision and versatility in their work. With the recent integration of Adobe Firefly, its Generative Fill and Expand feature utilizes Artificial Intelligence to enhance and expand designs based on text prompts.
Best Suited For: Adobe Photoshop is a cornerstone product for photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists. It excels in photo editing, retouching, and manipulation. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a budding creative, this tool offers a suite of features that can transform your work from mundane to mesmerizing.
Pricing: Starts at $20.99/mo or $54.99/mo for all Creative Cloud Apps
3. CorelDraw Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW is still considered one of the best full-featured graphic design editors. It specializes in vector illustration and page layouts, making it a versatile solution for digital and print designs. It comes with a suite of tools you can use to add more powerful features for editing photography and typography. You can use CorelDRAW Graphics Suite on all major computer platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web, and iPad.
CorelDRAW has been an industry standard due to its extensive file format support. Its versatile file support is especially beneficial for professionals collaborating with various vendors. Web designers will appreciate the support of WEBP file format, which is the new standard for image optimization for the web.
Best For: CorelDRAW is designed for graphic designers, small business owners, and print professionals. It’s a versatile vector illustration, layout design, and photo editing tool. CorelDRAW is particularly strong in the realm of print projects, offering specialized features for brochures, signage, and merchandise design.
Pricing: Subscription pricing at $22.42/mo (paid yearly) or LTD at $549
4. Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is the undisputed leader when it comes to producing print media. It is purposely designed for text-centric projects, including magazines, newspapers, and books. It provides designers with unparalleled flexibility in arranging texts around graphics to create stunning layouts with precision.
InDesign is an ideal solution for branding because of its unique interactive features. You can add immersive elements to your design that can wow clients with an elevated presentation of their brand assets. For example, you can add animation that opens and flips through a brochure or magazine you designed.
Best For: Adobe InDesign is best suited for designers working on print media projects, particularly those that require text-heavy layouts. It’s ideal for creating magazines, newspapers, and books, and offers a suite of features to create stunning layouts with precision.
Pricing: Starts at $20.99/mo or $54.99/mo for all Creative Cloud Apps
5. GIMP
GIMP is a free and open-source image editor that offers many of the same features as Adobe Photoshop. It’s a great option for those who don’t want to pay for expensive software but still need a powerful image editor. GIMP is
Graphic Design Software: Price Comparison
Compare the prices of popular graphic design software below to find a tool that fits your budget:
| Software | Price |
|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud | $52.99/month |
| Affinity Designer | $49.99 one-time purchase |
| CorelDRAW Graphics Suite | $249 one-time purchase |
| Canva | Free or $12.99/month |
| Gravit Designer | Free or $49/year |
| Inkscape | Free |
Consider the cost of a subscription versus a one-time purchase, as well as any additional features or benefits that each software may offer. It’s important to find the right balance between cost and productivity to maximize your design efforts.
What is the Best Graphic Design Software for 2023?
If you are a vector artist looking for software with a comprehensive set of tools, Adobe Illustrator is the best choice. Its AI-based generative recoloring, font recognition, image tracing, and color theme extraction features make it a superior choice for illustrations.
For photo editing and manipulation, Adobe Photoshop is the best graphic design software. Its high-caliber algorithm for making pixel-perfect edits, AI-powered content-aware fill, face-aware liquify, neural filters, and auto reframe features take its quality even further than any other software can offer in this category.
If you are searching for a worthy alternative to Adobe, CorelDRAW is a great option. Its graphic suite offers everything you need to design vector graphics, edit photos, and create page layouts for print media.
It is important to note that there are different software options for different purposes that must match your specific needs and wants. Therefore, it is recommended to start with one and see how it works out for you.
Consider the following table for a quick comparison of the features of each software:
| Software | Features |
|---|---|
| Adobe Illustrator | AI-based generative recoloring, font recognition, image tracing, and color theme extraction |
| Adobe Photoshop | AI-powered content-aware fill, face-aware liquify, neural filters, and auto reframe |
| CorelDRAW | Vector graphics design, photo editing, and page layout for print media |
Choose the software that best fits your specific needs and preferences to achieve the best results in your graphic design projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are you looking for the best graphic design software? Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you choose the right software for your needs.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the best software for graphic design? | Adobe Photoshop is the best graphic design software due to its extensive array of tools and filters. It is versatile and can be used for photo editing, digital banners, promotional materials, websites, and any imaginable design. |
| What is the best free graphic design software? | GIMP is the best free graphic design software for all major operating systems. It is open-source and has native Linux support. You can also use free plugins to enhance its capability further to get professional outputs. |
| What is the best Adobe graphic design software? | Adobe Illustrator is the best graphic design software made by Adobe. It is used to make vector-based graphics that can be scaled indefinitely without losing quality. You can also import the files into a raster-based app like Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo and make further improvements. |
| What is the best graphic design software for beginners? | Canva is the best graphic design software for beginners as it has an easy-to-use interface and provides many ready templates, elements, shapes, and patterns. It works on the browser, so there is no dependency on the operating system, and the free plan includes all the essential features. |
| How much is the cost of graphic design software? | Plenty of graphic design software comes free of cost in every category. However, if you want to use professional tools, Adobe provides each software separately for a monthly subscription of around $20. CorelDRAW and Affinity Photo come with a one-time fee of $70-$155. |
| Which software do you need for t-shirt design? | If you plan to screen print a large quantity of t-shirts, then a vector-based graphic design software would be better as it offers better compatibility with CMYK printing. Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and similar tools would be best for t-shirt design, where sharpness and color accuracy will be guaranteed. |
| Which graphic design software is best to design logos? | Vector-based graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator is the best for logo design. It ensures sharpness and supports print-friendly colors and geometric shapes. It is compatible with graphic tablets, merging freehand creativity with vector precision. This flexibility even allows for the transformation of hand-drawn sketches into polished logos. |
| Is there an AI graphic design software? | Yes, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and Pixlr Editor are some of the best graphic design tools with artificial intelligence support. These tools help you generate vector and raster graphics, improve the precision and quality of your work, and expand your working canvas with different elements. |
| Where can I learn graphic design? | As a beginner, you must pick the graphics industry you’re interested in. Based on that choice, you can pick software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Figma and then start learning from YouTube. |
| What is the best graphic design certification course? | You can consider the Adobe Certified Expert program to have a solid credential. Coursera also has some certification courses offered by different institutions on graphic design. |
In conclusion, choosing the right graphic design software can be a daunting task, but by answering these frequently asked questions, you can make an informed decision based on your needs and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What software do professional graphic designers commonly use?
Professional graphic designers commonly use Adobe Creative Suite, which includes software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Other popular software options include CorelDRAW, Sketch, and Affinity Designer.
What is the most user-friendly graphic design software for beginners?
For beginners, Canva is a popular and user-friendly option. It offers a variety of templates and tools for creating graphics, and its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use. Other beginner-friendly options include Gravit Designer and Figma.
Is Canva an effective tool for graphic design tasks?
Canva can be effective for basic graphic design tasks, such as creating social media posts or simple flyers. However, it may not have all the advanced features that professional designers require. It’s important to consider the specific needs of your project before deciding if Canva is the right tool for the job.
Which operating system is preferred for graphic design work?
Both Mac and Windows operating systems can be used for graphic design work. However, many professional designers prefer Macs due to their high-quality displays and the availability of Adobe Creative Suite software.
What are the top free graphic design software options available for download?
Some of the top free graphic design software options available for download include GIMP, Inkscape, and Krita. These programs offer a range of features for creating and editing graphics, and can be a great option for those on a budget.
Can you recommend any robust graphic design programs for Windows 10 users?
For Windows 10 users, some robust graphic design programs include Adobe Creative Suite, CorelDRAW, and Affinity Designer. Additionally, GIMP and Inkscape are both free options that can be downloaded and used on Windows 10.