15 Free Graphic Design Software

Whether you’re a self-taught graphic designer or have years of experience, everyone loves free design tools. While there are many premium software options, especially AI tools, we want to highlight completely free graphic design software. These tools are great to add to your design toolbox or to experiment with if you’re just learning graphic design basics. These free design tools can be useful for a variety of tasks, from creating simple graphics to working on more complex projects, making them ideal for both beginners and seasoned professionals. While some of the software we’ll mention offers paid versions we made sure to include software that still offers substantial design capabilities on their free offer as well.

‍

1. Canva

Canva is a versatile graphic design tool known for its drag-and-drop interface and extensive template library, making it accessible for both beginners and professionals.

Free Features:

• Over 2 million templates
• 3 million free images, videos, and graphics
• 5GB cloud storage
• Basic photo editing tools
• Limited use of AI tools

Paid Features:

• Unlimited premium stock photos and templates
• 1TB cloud storage
• Advanced photo editing tools
• Custom templates and brand kits
• Social media scheduling

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Pro: $12.99/month or $119.99/year
• Teams: $30/user/month (minimum three users)

Best Use Case: Ideal for social media managers, small business owners, and individuals needing quick, professional designs.

2. Vectr

Vectr is a free, web-based vector graphics editor for creating scalable graphics like logos and icons, with an easy-to-use interface.

Free Features:

• Basic vector editing tools
• Real-time collaboration
• Cross-platform support (web and desktop)
• Various export formats (PNG, JPG, SVG)

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Best for creating vector graphics such as logos and icons, especially for beginners.

3. Design Wizard

Design Wizard offers an online platform with a wide range of templates for creating marketing materials, social media graphics, and more.

Free Features:

• Access to free templates and images
• Basic editing tools
• Limited downloads (2 free images per month)

Paid Features:

• Extended template and image library
• Unlimited downloads
• High-resolution exports

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Pro: $9.99/month
• Business: $49.99/month

Best Use Case: Great for businesses and individuals needing a variety of templates for marketing materials.

4. Pixlr

Pixlr is a web-based photo editor offering a range of tools from basic adjustments to advanced features like layers and effects.

Free Features:

• Basic photo editing tools
• Filters and effects
• Layer editing

Paid Features:

• Advanced editing tools
• Premium fonts, overlays, and stickers
• Ad-free experience

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Premium: $7.99/month or $59.88/year

Best Use Case: Ideal for photographers and designers needing robust photo editing capabilities.

5. Adobe Express

Adobe Express, formerly Adobe Spark, allows users to create social media graphics, short videos, and web pages with ease.

Free Features:

• Access to thousands of templates
• Basic photo and video editing tools
• Limited cloud storage

Paid Features:

• Premium templates and design assets
• Advanced editing tools
• Custom branding options

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Premium: $9.99/month

Best Use Case: Perfect for content creators who need to produce high-quality social media graphics quickly.

6. Visme

Visme is an all-in-one content creation tool for presentations, infographics, reports, and other visual content.

Free Features:

• Basic templates and design assets
• Up to 5 projects
• Basic charts and widgets

Paid Features:

• Full access to all templates and assets
• Unlimited projects
• Advanced data visualization tools

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Standard: $15/month
• Business: $29/month

Best Use Case: Best for professionals needing to create data-driven presentations and reports.

7. Figma

Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that enables real-time design and prototyping.

Free Features:

• Unlimited cloud storage
• Basic design and prototyping tools
• Real-time collaboration

Paid Features:

• Advanced prototyping and animation tools
• Team libraries
• Additional collaboration features

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Professional: $12/editor/month
• Organization: $45/editor/month

Best Use Case: Ideal for UX/UI designers needing a collaborative design environment.

8. GIMP

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source image editor with professional-grade tools.

Free Features:

• Comprehensive photo editing tools
• Support for various file formats
• Customizable interface

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Perfect for graphic designers and photographers needing a powerful, free alternative to Photoshop.

9. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor ideal for creating illustrations, diagrams, and logos.

Free Features:

• Comprehensive vector editing tools
• Support for SVG and other formats
• Extensive community support

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Best for illustrators and designers needing a robust vector graphics editor.

10. Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation suite that supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline.

Free Features:

• Full suite of 3D creation tools
• Advanced simulation and animation tools
• Extensive plugin support

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Ideal for 3D artists, animators, and game developers needing comprehensive 3D creation tools.

11. Krita

Krita is a free, open-source painting program designed for digital artists, offering various tools for concept art and illustrations.

Free Features:

• Wide range of painting tools
• Brush stabilizers and custom brush engines
• Layer management

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Ideal for digital painters and illustrators looking for a powerful painting tool.

12. Lunacy

Lunacy is a vector graphic software for UI/UX design that supports .sketch files and offers real-time collaboration.

Free Features:

• Vector graphic tools
• Real-time collaboration
• Design assets and templates

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Perfect for UI/UX designers needing a free, collaborative tool compatible with Sketch files.

13. Linearity

Linearity is a vector graphic design software that allows users to create illustrations, logos, and more with powerful vector tools.

Free Features:

• Full suite of vector tools
• Design Assets
• Cross-platform support

Pricing:

• Free: $0

Best Use Case: Great for illustrators and graphic designers needing a robust vector design tool.

14. Sketch

Sketch is a vector graphic design tool for macOS, widely used for designing user interfaces, websites, and mobile apps.

Free Features:

• 30-day free trial
• Basic vector editing tools
• Plugin ecosystem

Paid Features:

• Advanced prototyping tools
• Unlimited cloud storage
• Real-time collaboration
• Shared libraries and design systems

Pricing:

• Individual: $9/editor/month (billed annually) or $99/year
• Teams: $20/editor/month
• Discounts for students and educators

Best Use Case: Best for UI/UX designers needing a powerful tool for creating and collaborating on interactive prototypes.

15. Mega Creator

Mega Creator offers a vast library of customizable illustrations, photos, and AI-generated content to create professional graphics.

Free Features:

• Limited templates and design elements
• Basic editing tools
• Limited downloads

Paid Features:

• Full access to illustrations, photos, and AI content
• Unlimited downloads and high-resolution exports
• Advanced editing tools

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Pro: $12/month or $96/year

Best Use Case: Ideal for content creators, marketers, and social media managers needing to create professional visuals quickly.