Tools You Need, All in One Place
Tools for Graphic designers
Freemium
Vector Editing Tools
Vector graphic editors enable designers to create scalable designs with clean lines and precise shapes. Designs that look the same across different devices and can be easily modified and repurposed without losing quality. Vector editing software can be used for a variety of tasks: logos, icons, package designs, web designs, UI elements, infographics, and more…
Adobe Illustrator
5/5
High-end design editor for creating vector graphics for print, web, and other digital media.
Professional-grade
Adobe Illustrator requires a paid subscription. It can be purchased on its own for ~21$ a month.
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It can also be purchased as part of Adobe Creative Cloud together with all other adobe creative software like adobe inDesign, adobe after effects, adobe photoshop, adobe character animator, adobe animate, and more.
A creative cloud subscription is ~55$ a month
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Discounts for students and teachers are available.
- Powerful vector drawing tools
- Advanced typography controls
- Highly precise boolean features
- Perspective drawing option
- Support for multiple artboards and layers
- Ability to create and edit gradients and patterns
- Live gradients and effects and gradient mesh feature
- Customizable brushes and strokes
- Advanced color management options
- Workflow automation tools
- Script and Plug-in support
- Integration with other Adobe tools
Mac , Pc and iPad
Pros:
- Wide range of advanced vector editing tools
- Lots of available tutorials and other learning resources
- Seamless integration with Photoshop, Indesign, Adobe After Effects and other Adobe software
- Supports Collaborative work
- Industry-standard software
Cons:
- Requires time and effort to master
- Overwhelming for beginners
- Limited bitmap image editing features
- Requires strong hardware to work fluently on large files
Affinity Designer
4.5/5
Vector graphic editor for creating illustrations, logos, icons, UI designs, typography, and more.Â
Professional-grade
Affinity Designer is available as a one-time payment purchase for ~65$ for Mac/PC or ~20$ for the iPad version. Â Affinity designer can also be purchased as part of the Affinity Universal license that comes also with Affinity Photo and Affinity publisher and includes all apps for all platforms including the iPad versions. The universal license is offered for ~ 160$ . Discounts may be offered. |
- Advanced vector tools
- Wide range of natural-looking vector brushes
- Pixel perfect control and alignment options
- Multiple Artboards
- Live effects and non-destructive adjustment layers
- Integration with other Affinity software
PC, Mac and iPad ( each platform requires its own purchase)
Pros:
- Modern and simplified interface
- User Friendly
- One-time fee, no subscription payments
- Fast and responsive software even when working on large and complex files
- A wide range of brushes makes it easier to achieve realistic results
Cons:
- Limited amount of third-party plugins
- Limited amount of learning resources
- Limited Color Management
- Limited 3D Capabilities
- Limited Typography Tools
Corel Vector
3.5/5
Online vector design software for users of all levels.
Entry-level
Paid app , available for ~63 € a year
A 15-day free trial is available
- Powerful vector editing tools
- Advanced typography tools
- Supports import and export of a wide range of file formats
- Design templates
- Pixel-perfect accuracy
- Color management tools
Webapp
Pros:
- Can be assessed anywhere, due to it being a web-based app
- User friendly
- lots of design templates
- Unlimited project space in the cloud
Cons:
- Not widely used, may be difficult to find learning material and community support
- No collaborative editing
- Limited export options
- Limited integration with other software
Inkspace
3.5/5
Free, open-source, powerful vector platform for creating and editing vector graphics
Professional-grade
Free, open source
- Advanced tools for object manipulation
- Advanced tools for creating complex shapes and paths
- Advanced typography tools
- Bitmap tracing
- Basic 3D Tools
- Extension system for adding new features and tools
Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Can be slow when working on complex projects
- May not feel as polished as other commercial platforms
- Not as intuitive as some other vector editing software
Vectornator
4/5
Powerful professional-grade vector design platform
Professional-grade
Free
- Advanced vector tools
- Customizable brushes and strokes
- Support for popular file formats : SVG, PDF, AI and more
- Non-destructive boolean operations
- Perspective grids
- Live gradients and effects
Mac, iPad
Pros:
Cons:
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CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
4/5
Professional design toolkit with a set of tools: CorelDRAW and its web app for working with vectors and page layouts, Corel Photo-Paint for working with images, Corel Font for working with fonts. Screen-capture and raw photo editors are also included.
Professional-grade
Paid software: ~369€ a year or ~31€ a month
- Advanced vector illustration tools
- Advanced photo editing tools
- Advanced typography tools
- Advanced layout tools
- Perspective drawing tools
- Color management tools
- Web and UI design tools: prototyping tools for interactive mockups, features for creating responsive designs, image optimization tools, no code website creation options and more
- Asset management and organization tools
- Collaboration and sharing features
PC, Mac
Pros:
- A comprehensive set of tools for graphic design, layout design, typography, illustration, and more.
- Easy to use
- The software has a strong user base and active community
- Include collaborative design features
- Support plug-ins and addons
- supports a wide range of file formats, including AI, EPS, PSD, and PDF
Cons:
- More expensive than some other design software
- Some features may be unnecessary for certain users
Xara Designer Pro
4/5
Vector design software for professional designers and illustrators
Professional-grade
Xara Designer Pro is offered as a monthly subscription for ~ 15$Â a month
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Windows and Mac
Pros:
- Fast and responsive even when working on complex projects
- Variety of templates for websites, business cards, brochures, and more
- Advanced vector and design tools
- Non-destructive image editing
- Integration with other Xara products
- Multi-page document support
Cons:
- Not many plugins or extensions are available
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- A relatively small user community and therefore may be hard to find learning resources
Boxy SVG
3/5
Easy-to-use tool for creating svg graphics for the web
Entry-level
Paid, 2 paid plans are offered
- Intuitive interface
- Advanced shape tools for the easy creation of complex shapes
- SVG fonts and filters
- Supports collaboration
- Google drive/Dropbox integration
Windows, Mac, Linux, webapp
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Compatible with most platforms
- Customizable interface
- Allows real time collaboration
Cons:
- Lacks bitmap editing tools
- Lacks advanced features like perspective grids, envelope distort, image tracing, and more.
- Limited file formats. Primary designed for work with svg files
- Not widely used, therefore fewer learning resources are available
Image Editing Tools
Raster image editing tools are used for tasks that require control over the color, tone and other details of each individual pixel. Those editors are used for a variety of different purposes : retouching photos by applying filters and effects, digital painting, creating unique textures, prints with high levels of details, photo collages, advertising materials, social media graphics and more
Adobe Photoshop
5/5
Professional-grade
Paid
Using Photoshop requires a subscription. There are several plans and pricing options available
It can be purchased as part of the photography plan for ~10$ a month.
It can also be purchased as part of Adobe Creative Cloud together with all other adobe creative software like adobe illustrator, adobe after effects, adobe inDesign, adobe character animator, adobe animate, and more.
A creative cloud subscription is ~55$ a month
Discounts for students and teachers are available.
- Advanced tools for editing images including layers, masks, filters, blend modes, and many more
- Vector graphic editing tools
- Advanced color correction options
- Text and typography toolsÂ
- 3D modeling and texture painting
- Video editing and animation toolsÂ
- Plug-in and script support
Available on:Â Mac, PC and Ipad
Pros:
- A diverse set of tools and features
- Industry-standard for professionalsÂ
- Regular updates and improvements from Adobe
- Large community and lots of learning resources availableÂ
Cons:
- Due to a large number of features and tools, Photoshop can be overwhelming for new users
- Some of the more advanced features may take a significant time to learn properly
Canva
4/5
Web-based graphic design platform with premade templates, graphics, and tools that allow users to create a wide range of visual content including social media graphics, fliers, posters, presentations and more.
Beginner-friendly
Freemium
Canva can be used for free with a limited (but impressive) set of features. The paid plans offer more features and design resources. Paid plans are offered on a monthly/annual subscription basis. ( ~13$ a month when paid annually )Â
- Come with a variety of design templates for various purposes
- Offers libraries of images, graphics, and fonts that can be used in the designs
- Drag-and-drop functionality for easy design creation
- Supports Collaborative editingÂ
- Supports the upload of custom images and graphics
- Includes tools for managing Brand kits and design style guide tools
Webapp – can be accessed from almost any device
Pros:
- Very intuitive and Easy to use (does not require design experience)
- A large selection of templates and design options
- Support collaborative work on designs
- Can be accessed from almost any device with an internet connection
- Affordable pricing
Cons:
- Limited control over design elements
- Limited customization options
- Limited file types support
- Dependence on internet connection
- Can be slow when working with large files
Gimp
3.5/5
Free and open-source image editing software that offers many similar features to commercial image editors. Offers tools for image manipulation, retouching, and graphic design.Â
Entry-level
Free and Open-Source
- Customizable interface
Wide range of tools for image manipulation, retouching, and creating graphics and designs, including text, shapes, and paths.
- Advanced selection tools
- Supports layers and masks
- Support for various file formats
- Supports third-party plugins
Windows, Mac, and Linux
Pros:
- Completely Free to use
- A powerful set of features
- Customizable interface
- Supports vector graphics
- Available on multiple platforms
- Allows advanced customization and automation with scripts and plug-ins
- Active community and learning resourcesÂ
Cons:
- May be challenging to learn for beginners
- Some tools and features may not be as refined as those in paid programs like Photoshop
- There is no official support team to help with issues or bugs
- updates may not be as frequent as other paid image editing software
- Limited support for some file formats, does not support: raw, .ai (Adobe Illustrator)Â , .cdr (CorelDRAW), .eps , PDF
- Less advanced features such as non-destructive editing and layer styles
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Photopea
4/5
A cost-effective online image editing platform with advanced image editing tools similar to ones found in high-end premium image editing software
Professional-grade
Entry-level
Freemium.Â
Both free and paid versions offer mostly the same features. However, the free version displays ads, has less drive space, and fewer history steps. The premium version is offered for only 5$ a month.
- Advanced image editing tools: layers, masks, blend modes, filters, etc…
- Vector Editing tools
- Built-in basic web design features
- Support for many different file formats including .psd, .ai, sketch, xd
Webapp
Pros:
- A broad range of image editing tools and features.
- Supports a wide range of file formats
- Vector graphics editing option
- Web design features
- Accessible from almost any platform
- The free version includes most of the features
Cons
- May be overwhelming for beginners
- Some of the features may not run as smoothly as on a downloadable software
Pixlr
3.5/5
A collection of easy-to-use online tools for image editing and creating social media graphics.
Entry-level
Freemium
Free to use for basic features and limited project saves.
A Premium version costs ~5$ a month and includes all the templates
Team version is ~10$Â a month and includes collaboration features
- A variety of filters, effects, and overlays
- A range of drawing and painting tools
- Various Text and typography tools and templates
- User-friendly interface
- Layers and masks for advanced editing
- Support for various file formats, including PSD, PNG, and JPEG
Webapp
Pros
- Easy to use
- Wide range of effects and filters
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Not as feature-rich as some other image-editing software
- Not advanced enough for professional image editing
- Has limited online learning resources or communities that can help troubleshoot issues
PicMonkey
3/5
A web-based platform for creating graphics, editing photos, and designing social media content. Suitable for casual users and beginners.
Beginner-friendly
Paid
PicMonkey used to offer a “freemium” version in the old platform but currently, only the mobile version is free. Pic Monkey offers different subscription options paid monthly or annually. ( A basic plan is ~8$ a month , pro plan ~ 13$ a month and a business plan ~23$ a month )
- Wide range of templates and design elements
- Basic photo editing tools
- User-friendly interface
Webapp
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Offers a variety of templatesÂ
Cons:
- Does not have enough tools for professional use
- Web app may be slow and buggy
Fotor Photo Editor
3/5
Easy-to-use platform for basic photo enhancement and editing tasks
Entry-level
Freemium
A free version offers basic features while more advanced features require a paid subscription(a Pro subscription plan is offered for ~9$ a month, and a pro+ subscription plan is ~20$ a month)
- Wide range of filters and effects
- Basic editing tools: Crop, Resize and Rotate
- Color correction and retouching tools
- Collage and design templatesÂ
- Batch processing and editing
- RAW image support
PC,Mac,Webapp,Mobile
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Various basic photo editing tools and design features
- Ability to edit multiple photos at once using batch processing
- Available on multiple platforms
Cons:
- Not advanced enough for professional use
- Mobile app has fewer featuresÂ
PhotoPos Pro
2.5/5
Photo editing software designed for amateur photographers, graphic designers, and digital for enhancing and manipulating digital images.
Entry-level
Free and Paid versions are available. The free version includes basic features while the Paid version offers more advanced tools and templates. The premium version can be purchased for a one-time fee of 49$ ( discount offers may be available)
- Supports many popular and less common image formats
- Advanced Controls for color and brightness adjustments
- Image retouching and restoration tools
- Special filters and effects ( an option to create custom filters is also available)
- customizable elements for graphic design and photo collages
- Batch processing – provides the option to apply the same edits to multiple images at once
Windows
Pros:
- A wide range of basic and advanced editing tools and features
- User-friendly interface
- Good for both beginners and experienced users
- Affordable price
Cons
- Only works on Windows
- Some of the advanced features are less straightforward and may require time to learn effectively
- Not compatible with some of the files from the other image editing software
Affinity Photo
4.5/5
A high-end image editing software with an advanced set of tools for professional graphic designers, photographers, and illustrators
Professional-grade
Affinity Photo is available as a one-time payment purchase for ~50$ 0r ~20$ for the iPad version. Â Affinity designer can also be purchased as part of the Affinity Universal license that comes also with Affinity Designer and Affinity publisher and includes all apps for all platforms including the iPad versions. The universal license is offered for ~ 160$ . Discounts may be offered. |
- Advanced selection and retouching tools
- Non-destructive editing and live filter layers
- RAW processing
- HDR merging and tone mapping
- Panorama stitching tools allow an easy merge of multiple images into a panoramic image
- Batch image editing
- Support for a wide range of Photoshop plugins
Pc, Mac, iPad (the license for each platform should be purchased separately)
Pros:
- Powerful professional features at an affordable price
- User-friendly
- Non-destructive editing
- Integration with other Affinity applications
- Support for a wide range of file formats
- Relatively large and active community
Cons:
- Requires investment of time to master advanced features
- May be overwhelming for beginners
- Lack of some of the more advanced features that are available in Adobe Photoshop
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer
4/5
Design software with a wide range of tools for photo editing, graphic design, and illustration
Professional-grade
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer is offered as a monthly subscription for ~ 7$Â a month
- Advanced photo editing tools
- Filters and Effects
- Vector drawing tools
- Web design tools
- Large customizable template library for business cards, flyers, brochures, social media graphcis, websites and more
- Non-destructive editing for both photos and vectors
- Panorama stitching
- Supports PDF editing
- RAW image support
Mac and Windows
Pros:
- A comprehensive set of tools for photo editing, graphic design, and illustration.
- Non-destructive editing
- Support for a wide range of file formats
- RAW image support.
Cons:
- Advanced features may be difficult to master
- Some features may be slow
Layout Editing & Publishing Tools
Page layout and publishing tools are used to create visually appealing and easy-to-read layouts for print and digital media. These platforms allow precise control over the placement of different design elements and are used for various projects like designing books, magazines, brochures, newsletters, flyers, advertisements, business cards, catalogs and more.
Adobe InDesign
5/5
Professional desktop publishing software for creating print and digital content
Professional-grade
Adobe Indesign requires a paid subscription. It can be purchased on its own for ~21$ a month.
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It can also be purchased as part of Adobe Creative Cloud together with all other adobe creative software like adobe illustrator, adobe after effects, adobe photoshop, adobe character animator, adobe animate, and more.
A creative cloud subscription is ~55$ a month
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Discounts for students and teachers are available.
- Advanced Layout and design tools
- Advanced typography controls and support for OpenType fonts
- Robust table creation and formatting tools
- Features like clickable buttons and forms for creating interactive digital documents
- The built-in pre-flight feature helps check for errors before printing
- Collaboration tool
PC , Mac
Pros:Â
- Powerful layout and design tools
- Integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications
- Extensive support for print and digital publishing
- Collaboration tools for sharing and reviewing content with others
- Lots of helpful resources are available
Cons:
- Powerful layout and design tools
- Integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications
- Extensive support for print and digital publishing
- Collaboration tools for sharing and reviewing content with others
- Lots of helpful resources are available
Design Wizard
3.5/5
Online graphic design platform that makes graphic design accessible to users without any prior design experience. Â
Entry-level
Design wizard offers a freemium pricing model. 3 options are offered. The first is a free version with limited features and additional payment for each graphic used in the design. The free version does not support custom image uploads, making it actually a very pricy and limited option. The second ” Pro ” plan is ~10$ a month, it does support custom image uploads, but just a few more features. And the “Business” plan includes the use of all graphics from the library and all the features of the platform for ~50$ a month.
- Customizable design templates
- Easy-to-use interface
- Support for collaboration between team members
- Built-in social media sharing options
Webapp
Pros:
- No learning curve or prior experience required
- Lots of customizable templates
- Provide the ability to work with others on designs
Cons:
- The trial version is limited
- High price for the number of features offered
- Not enough advanced features
- Other comparable platforms may have a larger selection of templates
QuarkXPress
4/5
Professional desktop publishing software for layout and design
Professional-grade
2 paid options are available.
- Annual subscription for ~ 259$ a year
- One-time purchase for ~699$ ( However the upgrades and support are offered only for 1 year)
- Advanced tools for working with typography
- Advanced Layout and design tools
- Image and color management
- Interactive design tools for digital publishing
Windows and Mac
Pros:
- Powerful and flexible design tools for print and digital media
- Good support for accessibility features
- Ability to handle large projects
- Customizable workspace
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Cons:
- High price
- Not widely used and therefore not that many learning resources are available
- Beginners may find it challenging to learn
- Some users experience occasional bugs
Affinity Publisher
4.5/5
Publishing software for creating professional layouts for print and digital media.
Professional-grade
Affinity Publisher is available as a one-time payment purchase for ~50$ 0r ~20$ for the ipad version. Â Affinity designer can also be purchased as part of the Affinity Universal license that comes also with Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo and includes all apps for all platforms including the iPad versions. The universal license is offered for ~ 160$ . Discounts may be offered. |
- Professional publishing tools
- Advanced typography controls
- Advanced color management tools
- Comprehensive photo editing tools
- Robust features for working on multi-page documents
- Customizable grids and guides
- Full support for PDF/X standards
Pc, Mac, iPad (the license for each platform should be purchased separately)
Pros:
- Modern Interface
- One-time payments, no subscriptions or add-on payments
- Powerful tools
- Seamless integration with other Affinity products
- Full support for PDF/X standards
Cons:
- Limited third-party plugins
- Limited online resources and tutorials
Scribus
3.5/5
Free, open-source desktop publishing software for creating page layouts for print or digital media
Professional-grade
Free, open-source
- Advanced Layout tools
- Advanced typography and typesetting features
- Support for Multi-page documents
- Color management tools
- Built-in support for creating PDF files
- Supports scripts and automation
PC, Mac, and Linux
Pros:
- Powerful tools
- Free
- Large active online community and lots of learning material
Cons:
- Less intuitive interface
- May require time and effort to learn
Marq
4/5
Web-based design and publishing platform for creating various types of print and digital materials.
Entry-level
Freemium
Marq offers a free plan with limited features, as well as paid plans starting at ~10$ per month
- A drag-and-drop user-friendly interface
- Large template library for a variety of document types
- Collaboration tools that allow working simultaneously on the same project
- Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, and HubSpot
Webapp
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Tools for working on projects with team members in real-time
- Large library of templates
Cons:
- Lack of advanced design tools
- Does not have an offline work mode
- Supports limited file formats
- Limited customization options for the offered templated
Microsoft Publisher
3/5
Desktop publishing application designed for easy creation of print and digital materialsÂ
Entry-level
This software can be purchased on its own as a one time payment of ~160$. It can also be purchase as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription together with many other microsoft apps, like Microsoft word, excel and more. Different subscription plans are offered, starting at 70$ a year.
- Wide selection of templates
- Customizable page layout and design elements
- Basic tools for creating and editing images
PC
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Integration with other Microsoft tools
Cons:
- Limited advanced design features
- May not be compatible with other design software
- Limited export options
Viva Designer
3.5/5
Publishing software designed for creating high-quality print and digital documents with precise control over layout, typography, and color.
High-end
Viva designer has different licensing options. Starting at ~139$ for a personal license and 399$ for a commercial license. Special prices are available for teachers and students.
- Advanced layout and design tools
- Sufficient image editing and manipulation tools
- Advanced typography and text layout options
- Multi-page documents
- Includes interactive features like forms, hyperlinks, buttons, multimedia and navigation tools that help create engaging and interactive publications
- Advanced color management features
- Integration with Adobe InDesign files and libraries
- Collaboration and review tools
Windows, Mac, Webapp
Pros:
- Advanced design features
- Highly customizable user interface
- Supports a range of file formats, including PDF, XML, and HTML, and can import and export files from other design software such as Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Publisher
Cons:
- Relatively high price
- Smaller user community which may result in fewer learning resources
- A complex interface that may require time and effort to adapt to
- Limited third-party integration
Swift Publisher
3/5
Intuitive desktop publishing app for Mac that does not require extensive design skills to create professional-looking documents.
Beginner-friendly
This software can be purchased for a one-time payment of ~20$Â ( for a single user)
It can be purchased together with a large pack of stock images and fonts for a one-time fee of ~28$
A family pack is offered for ~36$
Discounts are offered for students, teachers and non-profit organizations
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Mac
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Lots of customizable pre-designed templates
- Affordable
- Integration with iPhoto and Aperture libraries
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Limited advanced features
- Limited third-party integration
- Only works on Mac
PageStream
3.5/5
Desktop publishing software with tools to create high-quality layouts for print and digital media
Professional-grade
PageStream is available as one-time purchase with different pricing options starting at ~99$
- Powerful layout tools: text and image frames, grids and guides, layers, and more
- Advanced typography tools
- Customizable templates
- Extensive color control and management options
- Support for multiple page sizes and orientations
- Prepress options: support for bleed and crop marks, imposition, trapping, and color separation
- A range of output file formats: PostScript, PDF, EPS, HTML, EPUB, Kindle, and more
Windows, Mac, and Linux
Pros:
- A comprehensive set of features
- Wide range of output options, including print and digital media
Cons:
- May require a significant time to learn how to use it properly
- Not as many learning resources available as there are for some other software
- Limited third-party integrations
Istudio Publisher
3.5/5
User-friendly desktop publishing software designed for Mac
Beginner-friendly
Available for purchase as a one-time payment starting at ~30$ for a single user. Teachers and students get a 40% discount.
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Layout and Design Tools
- Vector graphics editor
- Templates and design resources
- A range of prepress and output options
Mac
Pros:
- Easy to use
- User-friendly interface
- Integration with other software
- Affordable
Cons:
- Only works on Mac
- Does not support the creation of interactive PDFs
- Limited advanced features
- Limited Template Selection
- Limited ability to automate repetitive tasks
- Difficult to work with large documents, less suitable for creating books, magazines or catalogs
Easil
3.5/5
Browser-based intuitive design platform for creating a variety of visual content
Entry-level
Freemium The basic version is offered for free, premium plans start at ~7.5$ a month |
- A library of customizable templates
- Easy to use drag-and-drop interface
- Wide range of design elements, including images, fonts, shapes, and icons
- Design tools for photo editing, color management, and graphic effects
- Supports collaboration and sharing
Webapp
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Large template library
- Affordable pricing
- Collaboration and sharing tools for team projects
- Integration with other software: Canva, Dropbox, Google Drive
Cons:
- Limited file format support. May not support specialized file formats like RAw, SVG, and more
- Lack of advanced image editing tools
- Limited design capabilities
VistaCreate (in the past Crello)
3.5/5
Online graphic design platform that makes it easy for users to create professional designs
Entry-level
Freemium
A basic plan is offered for free and already comes with lot of creative content, the premium plan is ~10$ a month and gives more creative assets, collaborative work features, unlimited storage and more
- A giant (100,000+) library of customizable templates and elements (static and animated)
- Intuitive interface
- Access to stock photos, videos and vectors
- Collaboration and team management tools
- Design asset management
- Direct social network sharing features
- Background removal feature (ai powered tool)
Webapp and mobile app
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Huge library of design templates
- Support for Collaborative work
Cons:
- Limited customizability (some user might want more control over what they create)
- Limited integration with other design software
- Limited file format support, supports mostly JPEG and PNG
Snappa
4/5
Easy and intuitive online platform for creating professional-looking graphics
Entry-level
Freemium
Snappa offers a free plan with limited project downloads per month,
A premium plan with unlimited downloads per month is offered for ~10$ a month, and a team plan with collaboration features is ~20$ a month
- Large library of customizable templates and graphics
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Image and text effects
- Collaboration and sharing tools
- Integration with stock photo websites like Unsplash and Pixabay ( access to 5,000,000+ free photos)
- Auto-saving
- Built-in integration with social media
- Image background remover (ai feature)
Webapp
Pros:
- User friendly
- Easy to use, does not require any learning curve
- Large library of design templates
- Easy sharing features
Cons:
- Limited customization options for the provided templates ( may be problematic for users who want to have complete control over their design)
- Does not have a mobile app( however, the web app can be accessed from any device)
Stencil
4/5
Browser-based graphic design platform that helps non-designers create high-quality graphics quickly and easily
Beginner-friendly
Freemium
Basic and features limited plan is offered for free
2 premium plans are offered
- ~9$ a month (limited project saves and limited features)
- ~ 12$ a month unlimited features
- A giant library of stock photos and graphics
- A variety of design templates
- A drag-and-drop editor
- Integration with social media scheduling tools like Buffer and Hootsuite
Webapp
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Large selection of customizable templates
- Access to stock photos and graphics
- Real-time collaboration tools
Cons:
- Offers fewer advanced features and customization options than other design software
- Limited templates selection
- Limited fonts selection
Typography Tools
Font editors are used for creating unique custom fonts or modifying existing ones. Custom typography is used for a variety of reasons: to improve readability, to establish brand identity, to support specific characters, to add a unique touch to a project and more. While some design platforms do have typography tools , most of them do not offer the same level of control over typography as a dedicated font editor.
FontLab
4.5/5
Professional font editor software for creating, modifying, and refining digital fonts
Professional-grade
Fontlab offers a perpetual -one time payment license for ~499$ Teacher and student licenses are also available for discounted price
- Advanced drawing tools for font design
- Compatibility with OpenType, TrueType, and other font formats (for creating fonts that can be used on any device)
- Advanced metrics and kerning controls
- Support for variable fonts
- Font validation and optimization tools
- Integration with other font management software, FontExplorer X ,Suitcase Fusion and more
Windows and Mac
Pros:
- Widely used in the font design industry
- A powerful set of tools that offers precise control over every element
- Ability to create fonts that can be used on any platform or device
- Automated features
- Designed to help users work efficiently and productively
- User-Friendly Interface
Cons:
- Relatively high price
- Learning how to use the software properly may require sufficient time and effort
- Requires a powerful hardware to work smoothly
- Limited support for the software
FontForge
3.5/5
Free and open-source font editor that allows users to design and customize their own fonts
Professional-grade
Free, open-source
- Font creation and editing tools
- Support for various font formats, including TrueType, OpenType, and PostScript
- Advanced glyph editing and spacing tools
- Batch conversion of font files
- Powerful scripting capabilities
Windows, macOS, and Linux
Pros:
- Free
- Large community with lots of learning resources
- Wide range of design tools
- Custom scripts help automate repetitive tasks
- Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Cons:
- May require time to master
- Limited support
- Crashes or bugs may occur while working with the software
- The user interface is not as visually appealing as other font editors
RoboFont
4/5
Professional font editor for Mac OS specifically designed for type designers, graphic designers, and typographers
Professional-grade
Robofont is avaialble for a one time payment of ~490$
- Advanced glyph editing tools
- Metrics and kerning
- Font info and naming
- Layers and backgrounds for working on multiple versions of a glyph simultaneously
- Interpolation and multiple master fonts
- Support for UFO, OpenType, and TrueType font formats ( to ensure that the created font is compatible with a variety of devices)
- Support for scripting
Mac
Pros:
- User-friendly customizable interface
- Powerful font editing tools
- Python scripts can be used to automate repetitive tasks
- supports multi-dimensional design
- Integration with other software: Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, and Glyphs
- A large and active community of users and developers, lots of script and learning resources available
Cons:
- Expensive
- Only works on Mac
BirdFont
3.5/5
Simple and intuitive platform for beginners for creating custom fonts
Entry-level
Free
- A variety of customizable glyph templates
- Vector drawing tools : paths, anchors, curves, and shapes
- Advanced kerning controls
- Preview mode for testing fonts
- Support for TrueType, OpenType, and SVG
PC, Mac, and Linux
Pros:
- User friendly interface
- Support for variable fonts
- Customizable glyph templates
Cons:
- Limited vector editing capabilities
- Limited advanced typography tools
- Some users reported that tehy have experienced bugs when working on large files
FontCreator
4/5
Powerful font editor for creating high-quality custom fonts
Professional-grade
Font creator is offered as a one-time purchase at cost of ~49$ for a home license(limited features), ~149$ for a standard license (more features but there are still limitations), or 199$ for a professional license with all available features
- Advanced glyph and character editing tools
- Metrics and kerning controls
- Validation and optimization tools
- Customizable Font Properties
- Support for OpenType, TrueType, and web fonts
- Support for scripts and Automation
Windows
Pros:
- User friendly
- wide range of tools
Cons:
- Only works on windows
- Limited drawing tools
- No collaboration tools
- may take some time to learn how to use
TypeTool
3/5
Simple and affordable tool for creating basic custom fonts. Particularly good for beginners or users who don’t require advanced features
Beginner-friendly
Tupetool is offered for a one type payment of 49$ , teacher and students can get it for half of the price
- Tools for drawing and editing glyphs
- Metrics and kerning controls
- Basic validation and optimization tools
- Multiple font masters
- Support for OpenType, TrueType, and web fonts
Windows and Mac
Pros:
- Easy to use
- No learning curve required
- Affordable
Cons:
- Limited feature set
- Limited compatibility with other font editing software
- Limited automation options
- No advanced font optimization tools
Fontself Maker
4/5
A powerful font-making tool that allows creating custom fonts directly within Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
Beginner-friendly
Fontself Maker can be purchased as a plugin for just adobe illustrator- for one time fee of ~39$ , or as an add-on for both photoshop and illustrator for ~59$
- Ability to create fonts within Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop ( works as an extension for Adobe Software)
- Live preview feature
- Importing and exporting font files in various formats (OTF, TTF, SVG)
- Set of drawing tools for creating customizable glyphs
- Kerning and ligature support
- Ability to create color fonts which can include multicolor glyphs, gradients, and other visual effects
PC and Mac
Pros:
- User-friendly and easy to use
- Integration with Adobe Creative Suite
- Support for various font formats
- Affordable
Cons:
- Limited feature set
- Less suitable for complex font design projects
- Requires access to Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop
- Only creates vector based designs, not for creating bitmap-based fonts
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