Design is no longer just for designers. Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, content creator, or part of a design team, the right tools can make your work faster, more professional, and more creative. From lightweight drag-and-drop editors to powerful professional suites, today’s graphic design software covers everything: branding, social media, marketing visuals, web assets, even 3D and animation. But which tool is right for you? In this article, we review the best graphic design tools in 2025 — with their strengths, weaknesses, and bottom lines — so you can pick the one that matches your workflow.

Best

Graphic Design Tools

Tools at a Glance

Luminar

Best For Photographers, Content Creators, Social Media Visuals

LogoAI

Best For Startups, Small Businesses, Freelancers

BrandCrowd

Best For Startups, Small Businesses, Freelancers

Looka

Best For Startups, Small Businesses, Freelancers

RelayThat

Best For Marketing Teams, Agencies, Small Businesses

Snappa

Best For: Content Creators, Social Media Managers, Small Businesses

Stencil

Best For Social Media Marketers, Bloggers, Small Business Owners

DesignBold

Best For Marketers, Bloggers, Small Businesses

Creative Market

Best For Marketers, Bloggers, Small Businesses

DesignCuts

Best For Designers, Creatives, Small Businesses

Placeit

Best For Entrepreneurs, Marketers, Small Business Owners

Fotor

Best For Beginners, Social Media Creators, Marketing Professionals

Pixlr

Best For Entrepreneurs, Marketers, Small Business Owners

VistaCreate (Crello)

Best For Entrepreneurs, Marketers, Small Business Owners

Adobe Creative Cloud

Best For Designers, Video Editors, Photographers, Creative Professionals

99designs

Best For Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses, Startups, Marketing Teams

DesignCrowd

Best For: Startups, Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, One-off Design Projects

Adobe Illustrator CC

Logo design, icon creation, digital illustrations, and print media graphics.

Bluebeam Revu

Logo design, icon creation, digital illustrations, and print media graphics.

Envato Elements

Best for Designers, Content Creators, Marketing Teams

YouCam Online Editor

Social Creators, Small Businesses, Influencers

Logo AI

Logo drafts, branding mockups, identity kits, export-ready logos.

Gravit Designer

Best lightweight, cross-platform design tool

Inkscape

Best free, open-source vector editor

CorelDRAW

Best for print and vector design veterans

Affinity Designer

Best budget-friendly alternative to Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator

Best for vector graphics and logos

Adobe Photoshop

Best for photo editing and advanced design

VistaCreate

Best Canva alternative for social media design

Figma

Best for UI/UX design and collaboration

Canva

Best beginner-friendly, drag-and-drop tool

Luminar

Luminar is an advanced AI-driven photo editing software designed to help photographers and content creators enhance their images quickly and creatively. It uses AI technology to automatically improve lighting, color balance, contrast, and details while offering creative filters and effects for artistic expression. Luminar also features tools like sky replacement, portrait enhancement, and object removal, enabling users to transform ordinary photos into professional-quality visuals without extensive manual editing. Its intuitive interface and AI-powered automation make it suitable for both beginners and professionals. Luminar can be used as a standalone application or as a plugin for popular photo editing software, providing flexibility for diverse workflows.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ AI-powered enhancements speed up photo editing.	✖️ Paid software; one-time purchase or subscription required.
✔️ Creative tools like sky replacement, filters, and portrait enhancement.	✖️ Advanced features may have a learning curve for beginners.
✔️ Can be used standalone or as plugin for flexibility.	✖️ Some users may prefer more manual control for specific edits.

Bottom Line: Luminar is a powerful AI photo editing tool that simplifies professional-quality image enhancement, offering intelligent automation and creative tools for photographers and digital content creators.

Try It Now

LogoAI

LogoAI streamlines the logo design process by utilizing advanced AI algorithms to understand user preferences and industry trends. Users input their company name, industry, and select design styles or elements, and LogoAI provides a wide array of customizable logo options. It offers intuitive tools for color adjustments, font selections, icon modifications, and layout variations, enabling users to fine-tune their generated designs to perfection without needing graphic design expertise.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Rapid generation of professional logo concepts through AI.	✖️ AI-generated logos may occasionally lack a truly unique artistic touch.
✔️ Intuitive interface makes logo design accessible to non-designers.	✖️ Deeper conceptual or highly intricate design work may be limited.
✔️ Offers a wide range of customization options for generated designs.	✖️ Full features and high-resolution outputs typically require a paid plan.
✔️ Significantly more affordable and faster than traditional design services.	✖️ Design output can be somewhat generic if initial user inputs are vague.
✔️ Provides high-resolution files and comprehensive branding kits.	✖️ Customization, while good, doesn't match the granular control of professional software.

Bottom Line : LogoAI is an intelligent online logo maker that leverages artificial intelligence to generate unique and professional logos in minutes, designed for businesses, startups, and individuals seeking a strong visual identity. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, startups, marketers, content creators, and individuals seeking professional logo design without the cost or time commitment of hiring a traditional designer. LogoAI is a highly efficient and accessible tool for creating distinctive brand identities, leveraging artificial intelligence to democratize professional logo design for a wide audience.

Try It Now

BrandCrowd

BrandCrowd offers an intuitive online logo maker leveraging artificial intelligence to help users create unique and memorable brand identities. By simply entering a business name and industry, users receive hundreds of logo suggestions tailored to their specific needs. The platform provides extensive customization options for colors, fonts, and layouts, ensuring the final design aligns perfectly with their brand vision. Beyond logos, BrandCrowd extends its services to full brand kits, including business cards, social media posts, letterheads, and website graphics, making it a comprehensive solution for establishing a consistent and professional brand presence.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Large library of diverse logo templates and design assets.	✖️ AI-generated designs may sometimes lack true originality or a unique artistic touch.
✔️ AI-driven suggestions significantly streamline and accelerate the logo design process.	✖️ Customization options, while extensive, might not match the depth of professional design software.
✔️ Offers comprehensive brand identity kits for consistent branding across platforms.	✖️ Full access to high-resolution files and brand kit features often requires a paid subscription or one-time purchase.
✔️ User-friendly interface makes it accessible for individuals without graphic design skills.	✖️ Relying solely on templates can lead to a less distinctive brand identity compared to custom-designed work.

Bottom Line : BrandCrowd is an AI-powered online platform that allows users to swiftly generate professional logos and comprehensive brand identity kits from an extensive library of designs. It streamlines the branding process for startups, small businesses, and individuals seeking high-quality visual assets. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, startups, and marketing professionals who need a fast, affordable, and effective solution for creating professional logos and developing a complete brand identity without requiring extensive design experience. BrandCrowd stands out as an efficient and accessible platform for individuals and businesses to quickly create compelling logos and cohesive brand identities. Its powerful blend of AI-driven design, extensive template library, and user-friendly tools makes it an ideal choice for establishing a strong visual presence without the need for advanced design expertise or significant investment.

Try It Now

Looka

Looka offers an intuitive online logo maker experience, guiding users through selecting industry, style, and color preferences. The AI then presents numerous logo concepts that can be further refined with various fonts, symbols, and layouts. Beyond just logos, Looka provides a comprehensive Brand Kit subscription, which includes essential marketing assets like social media profiles, business card designs, and brand guidelines, making it a holistic solution for establishing a consistent brand presence.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ AI-powered design rapidly generates numerous unique logo options.	✖️ Customization depth is inherently limited compared to professional design software.
✔️ Offers a comprehensive brand kit for consistent identity across platforms.	✖️ Output can sometimes feel template-based, potentially lacking truly unique differentiation.
✔️ User-friendly interface simplifies the logo creation process for non-designers.	✖️ High-resolution logo files and full brand kit require a paid subscription.

Bottom Line : Looka is an AI-powered platform that enables entrepreneurs and small businesses to quickly design professional logos and develop a complete brand identity. It leverages artificial intelligence to generate a wide array of customizable logo options based on user preferences.

Try It Now

RelayThat

RelayThat streamlines the design process by leveraging AI to adapt your brand's assets (logos, colors, fonts, text) into an extensive library of templates and sizes. Users input their core content once, and the platform automatically generates variations for social media, ads, banners, and more, ensuring brand consistency and accelerating content production without requiring advanced design skills.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Generates thousands of designs from one set of assets.	✖️ Less flexibility for highly custom, artistic designs.
✔️ Ensures complete brand consistency across all outputs.	✖️ Interface can have a slight learning curve for new users.
✔️ Significantly speeds up visual content production.	✖️ Primarily focused on static image generation, not advanced animations.

Bottom Line : RelayThat is an AI-powered design automation platform that instantly generates thousands of on-brand, perfectly sized designs from a single set of assets. It's ideal for marketers, agencies, and businesses needing to produce consistent visual content across multiple channels rapidly. RelayThat is designed for marketing teams, social media managers, advertising agencies, small business owners, and content creators who need to produce high volumes of branded visual content efficiently and consistently, without extensive graphic design expertise. RelayThat stands out for its powerful AI-driven automation, allowing businesses to rapidly generate a high volume of on-brand visual content with minimal manual effort. It's an indispensable tool for maintaining brand consistency and scaling marketing efforts efficiently, especially for those managing multiple campaigns and channels.

Try It Now

Snappa

Snappa streamlines the graphic design process with a robust library of pre-made templates, high-quality stock photos, and a straightforward drag-and-drop interface. It's engineered to help users produce professional-looking graphics for social media, blogs, ads, and other digital content in minutes, focusing on efficiency and accessibility for non-designers.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Extremely intuitive and fast workflow, ideal for quick content creation.	✖️ Less advanced design features compared to professional desktop software.
✔️ Vast integrated library of royalty-free stock photos, icons, and templates.	✖️ The free plan has significant limitations on downloads and features.
✔️ Excellent automatic resizing for various social media platforms.	✖️ Custom font uploads are only available on higher-tier plans.

Bottom Line : Snappa is an intuitive online graphic design tool built for speed and ease of use, enabling marketers, bloggers, and small businesses to create stunning visuals quickly without extensive design experience. Snappa is ideal for content creators, social media managers, bloggers, small business owners, and marketing professionals who need to produce consistent, high-quality visual content rapidly without investing in complex software or extensive design training. Snappa is a highly effective graphic design tool for anyone needing to produce high-quality visual content quickly and efficiently without deep design skills. Its user-friendly interface and extensive asset library make it a top choice for marketers, bloggers, and small businesses focused on consistent digital presence.

Try It Now

Stencil

Stencil provides a highly efficient workflow for graphic creation, offering access to an extensive library of millions of stock photos, icons, and professionally designed templates. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows users to easily customize visuals with text, logos, and branding elements, making it ideal for high-volume content production where time and simplicity are critical factors. Users can instantly resize designs for various platforms and share them directly.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Very intuitive and user-friendly interface, ideal for beginners.	✖️ Lacks advanced editing features found in more professional design tools.
✔️ Extensive library of stock photos, icons, and templates included with all plans.	✖️ Limited options for complex layouts or multi-page document design.
✔️ Excellent for rapid creation of social media graphics, blog images, and ad creatives.	✖️ The free tier has significant limitations on the number of images saved and uploads.
✔️ Browser extension significantly enhances workflow for on-the-fly design from any webpage.	✖️ Less suitable for print design or highly customized, intricate brand assets.

Bottom Line : Stencil is a streamlined online graphic design tool optimized for speed, enabling marketers, bloggers, and small businesses to create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and advertisements without requiring advanced design skills. Stencil is perfectly suited for social media managers, content creators, small business owners, bloggers, and digital marketers who need to produce high-quality visual content frequently and efficiently, without investing in complex design software or extensive training. Stencil excels as a rapid graphic creation tool, empowering users to produce engaging visuals quickly and efficiently, particularly for social media and content marketing, though its simplified feature set may not suit complex or professional-grade design projects.

Try It Now

DesignBold

DesignBold provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making professional graphic design accessible to individuals without extensive design experience. It offers thousands of customizable templates for various purposes, including social media, marketing materials, presentations, and documents. Users can access a rich collection of stock images, fonts, and icons, along with tools for image editing, text manipulation, and branding kit management. The platform is designed to streamline the creative workflow from concept to export, supporting multiple file formats.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Intuitive drag-and-drop interface ideal for beginners.	✖️ Free version has limited access to premium templates and features.
✔️ Large library of professional templates and high-quality stock assets.	✖️ May lack the advanced customization depth of dedicated professional design software.
✔️ Supports a wide range of design project types, from social media to print.	✖️ Integration options with other marketing platforms might be fewer than some competitors.

Bottom Line : DesignBold is an online graphic design platform that simplifies content creation with a vast library of templates, stock photos, and design elements. It empowers users to produce professional-quality visuals quickly and efficiently, making design accessible to non-designers. Small business owners, marketers, social media managers, bloggers, non-profit organizations, educators, and individuals who need to create visually appealing content without specialized design software or extensive design skills. DesignBold is a robust online graphic design tool that democratizes visual content creation, offering a powerful yet easy-to-use solution for individuals and businesses to produce compelling visuals efficiently and professionally.

Try It Now

Creative Market

Creative Market distinguishes itself as a community-driven platform, offering a curated selection of handcrafted digital products from thousands of independent artists and designers. Users can browse and purchase a wide array of high-quality assets, including fonts, graphic packs, website templates (for WordPress, Shopify, etc.), Photoshop brushes, Lightroom presets, stock photos, 3D assets, and more. The platform emphasizes originality and quality, making it a valuable resource for those looking to differentiate their work with unique creative elements. It also features weekly free goods and bundles, providing accessible options for its community.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Deep control over scripts/styles to remove bloat.	✖️ No built-in caching; needs to pair with a caching plugin.
✔️ Many performance tweaks beyond basic caching (lazy load, preload, remove defaults).	✖️ Some features require careful testing, may break theme/plugins if misconfigured.
✔️ Lightweight, minimal overhead, good UI with one-click toggles.	✖️ Premium plugin; no free version to try all features.

Bottom Line : Creative Market is a vibrant online marketplace where independent creators sell digital design assets worldwide. It serves as a go-to platform for designers, developers, marketers, and creative professionals seeking unique fonts, graphics, website themes, photos, and other digital resources to enhance their projects. Creative Market is ideal for graphic designers, web developers, marketing professionals, small business owners, freelancers, and content creators who need high-quality, unique digital assets to elevate their projects. It caters to individuals and teams looking for more unique and distinct options than what is typically found in large stock libraries. Creative Market is an indispensable resource for designers and creatives who prioritize originality and quality in their digital assets. Its focus on independent creators provides access to a diverse and unique collection of design elements that can elevate any project, fostering a thriving community where artistry meets utility. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a budding creative, Creative Market offers the distinct resources needed to stand out.

Try It Now

DesignCuts

DesignCuts provides a carefully curated collection of premium design assets sourced from top creators worldwide. Beyond its expansive permanent marketplace, the platform frequently releases limited-time bundles that offer exceptional value on a wide range of creative tools. Each asset typically comes with an extended license, enabling use in commercial projects without additional fees. The focus is on quality, usability, and empowering designers with essential resources for their projects, from branding and web design to illustration and print media.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ High-quality, curated design assets from top artists.	✖️ Bundles are time-limited, requiring quick decisions to get discounts.
✔️ Exceptional value through deeply discounted, professional bundles.	✖️ Not a subscription model, so unlimited downloads aren't available for a fixed fee.
✔️ Most assets include an extended commercial license by default.	✖️ Permanent marketplace items can be pricier than bundle items.
✔️ Regular freebies and excellent customer support.	✖️ Asset categories, while broad, might not cover every niche compared to larger, less curated marketplaces.

Bottom Line : DesignCuts is a leading online marketplace offering high-quality design resources, including fonts, graphics, templates, textures, and add-ons. It's particularly renowned for its deeply discounted, curated design bundles and an extensive permanent marketplace, catering to professional designers and hobbyists alike. DesignCuts is ideal for graphic designers, illustrators, web designers, UI/UX designers, freelancers, marketers, and small business owners who require high-quality, professional design assets. It suits those looking for exceptional value through curated bundles or specific premium resources from a trusted marketplace. DesignCuts stands out as a premier destination for designers seeking curated, high-quality resources and unparalleled value through its signature bundles. Its commitment to quality, generous licensing, and regular deals makes it an indispensable tool for both professional creative work and personal projects.

Try It Now

Placeit

Placeit provides an extensive suite of web-based tools for generating high-quality visual content. Its core strength lies in its diverse range of mockups for apparel, digital devices, and print, allowing users to showcase their designs in realistic contexts. Beyond mockups, the platform includes a user-friendly logo maker, dynamic video templates for social media and promotional content, and a wide array of graphic design templates. It's designed for ease of use, making professional visual creation accessible to individuals and businesses of all sizes, often with a drag-and-drop interface and minimal learning curve.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Extremely easy to use, no design skills required.	✖️ Less flexibility and customization compared to dedicated design software.
✔️ Massive library of high-quality, professional templates and mockups.	✖️ Subscription model can be costly for infrequent users.
✔️ Quick turnaround for visual content creation across various media.	✖️ Template-driven design can lead to less unique outcomes if not heavily customized.
✔️ All assets are royalty-free for commercial use, simplifying licensing.	✖️ Requires a stable internet connection as it is a purely web-based platform.

Bottom Line : Placeit is an all-in-one online design platform offering a vast library of mockups, logos, video templates, and design assets, enabling users to create professional-grade visual content quickly and efficiently without specialized software or extensive design skills. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, marketers, social media managers, graphic designers, content creators, and anyone needing to produce high-quality visual assets quickly and cost-effectively without relying on complex design software. Placeit stands out as an incredibly efficient online design tool for individuals and businesses aiming to produce high-quality, professional visual content—especially mockups and videos—without needing advanced design software or expertise. Its extensive template library and user-friendly interface make it an invaluable asset for rapid content creation and branding efforts.

Try It Now

Fotor

Fotor provides a robust platform for transforming digital images and crafting compelling visual content. Users can access professional-grade photo editing functionalities, including AI-driven enhancements, background removal, and a wide array of filters and effects. Beyond editing, Fotor integrates a versatile graphic design module with customizable templates for social media, marketing materials, and personal projects, alongside a dedicated collage maker. Its cloud-based nature ensures accessibility from any device, empowering efficient visual content production.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Comprehensive suite of photo editing and graphic design tools in one platform.	✖️ Free version contains ads and limits access to premium features.
✔️ User-friendly interface, making it accessible for beginners and non-designers.	✖️ Advanced features require a paid subscription, which might be a barrier for some.
✔️ Powerful AI features like background removal and image enhancement save time.	✖️ While robust, it may not fully replace specialized professional software for intricate tasks.

Bottom Line : Fotor is an all-in-one online photo editor and graphic design tool, offering a comprehensive suite of features for image enhancement, creative design, and collage creation. It combines user-friendly interfaces with advanced AI-powered capabilities to cater to both beginners and professionals. Fotor is ideal for content creators, social media managers, small business owners, marketers, and individuals seeking an intuitive yet powerful tool for photo editing and graphic design without needing extensive professional software experience. It serves those who require quick, high-quality visual assets for online and offline use. Fotor stands out as a versatile and accessible online platform, empowering users to create stunning visuals through a blend of intuitive photo editing capabilities, extensive design templates, and advanced AI-powered tools, making it an excellent choice for efficient content creation.

Try It Now

Pixlr

Pixlr provides a versatile, cloud-based platform for transforming images without the need for complex software installations. It encompasses two primary editors: Pixlr E for advanced edits with layers, masks, and precise adjustments, and Pixlr X for rapid, intuitive enhancements with one-click filters and effects. The suite also includes specialized tools like Photomash Studio for product photography and a dedicated background remover. Its browser-based nature ensures accessibility from any device, making it ideal for content creators, marketers, and individuals seeking efficient visual content production.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Highly accessible as a browser-based suite, requiring no software installation.	✖️ Free version includes advertisements and limitations on tools and templates.
✔️ Offers two distinct editors (Pixlr E for advanced, Pixlr X for quick edits) catering to different skill levels.	✖️ Performance can sometimes lag with very large files or complex projects compared to desktop applications.
✔️ Includes AI-powered tools for background removal, object removal, and quick enhancements.	✖️ Requires a stable internet connection for full functionality, limiting offline use.
✔️ Freemium model allows basic functionality for free, making it budget-friendly.	✖️ Advanced features and a broader template library are locked behind a paid subscription.

Bottom Line : Pixlr is a comprehensive suite of AI-powered online photo editing and graphic design tools, offering robust capabilities for both quick edits and more advanced image manipulation directly in your browser. It serves a broad audience from casual users to professional designers seeking accessible and powerful visual content creation. Content creators, social media managers, small business owners, students, marketers, and anyone needing a powerful yet accessible online image editor for quick touch-ups, graphic design, or complex photo manipulations without investing in expensive desktop software. Pixlr stands out as an excellent, highly accessible online image editing suite that effectively bridges the gap between simple photo enhancers and professional-grade desktop software. It’s a powerful and flexible choice for efficient visual content creation across a wide range of needs.

Try It Now

VistaCreate (Crello)

VistaCreate offers a comprehensive suite of design tools, an extensive library of templates, photos, videos, and objects, alongside features like a background remover and a brand kit. It's built to streamline the content creation process for individuals and businesses, enabling them to produce professional-looking designs quickly across various digital and print formats.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Extensive and diverse library of templates for various formats.	✖️ Performance can sometimes lag with complex designs or slower internet connections.
✔️ Intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it ideal for beginners and non-designers.	✖️ Lacks some advanced professional editing features found in dedicated desktop software.
✔️ Strong capabilities for creating animated graphics and short videos.	✖️ Custom font uploads and full brand kit features are locked behind the Pro plan.
✔️ Competitive pricing with a generous free plan available for essential tools.	✖️ Occasional limitations in specific customization options compared to top rivals.

Bottom Line : VistaCreate, formerly known as Crello, is an intuitive online graphic design platform designed to help users create stunning visual content for social media, marketing, and web without requiring advanced design skills. Small business owners, social media managers, marketers, content creators, bloggers, educators, and individuals who need to produce high-quality visual content quickly and efficiently without relying on complex professional design software. VistaCreate is a robust and user-friendly graphic design platform that democratizes visual content creation. It offers a compelling alternative to more established tools for individuals and small businesses seeking quick, high-quality, and diverse design solutions, particularly excelling in animated and video content.

Try It Now

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud offers industry-standard tools essential for virtually every creative discipline. Operating on a subscription model, it provides access to popular applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign, and more. Beyond core desktop software, it integrates cloud storage, an extensive font library (Adobe Fonts), collaboration features, and portfolio publishing via Behance, establishing a powerful ecosystem for individuals and teams to create, manage, and share digital content efficiently.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Industry-standard tools for professional output across all creative disciplines.	✖️ Subscription-only model can be costly over time, especially for individuals.
✔️ Comprehensive suite with tight integration between applications for seamless workflows.	✖️ High system resource demands for complex projects, requiring powerful hardware.
✔️ Robust cloud services, including storage, fonts, and collaboration features.	✖️ Steep learning curve for beginners due to the depth and breadth of features in individual applications.
✔️ Continuous updates and new AI-powered features enhance capabilities regularly.	✖️ Potential vendor lock-in and dependency on the Adobe ecosystem for specific file formats.

Bottom Line : Adobe Creative Cloud is a comprehensive collection of desktop and mobile applications, along with cloud services, designed for professional creative work across photography, video, audio, design, and web development. Creative professionals, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, web developers, UX/UI designers, marketing teams, educational institutions, and any individual or organization requiring industry-standard tools for digital content creation. Adobe Creative Cloud remains the unrivaled choice for professionals seeking a complete, integrated, and continually updated suite of creative tools, despite its premium subscription cost and resource demands.

Try It Now

99designs

99designs by Vista is a leading online platform designed to simplify the process of obtaining custom graphic design work. It serves businesses of all sizes, from startups needing a logo to established companies requiring comprehensive branding or website designs. Users post a detailed brief, and designers from around the world submit their creative solutions. This model allows businesses to review multiple options and select the design that best fits their vision. Alternatively, clients can hire a specific designer directly for more tailored, iterative projects.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Access to a vast global pool of diverse freelance designers.	✖️ Quality can vary among designers, requiring careful vetting or contest tier selection.
✔️ Contest model provides multiple design options for selection, minimizing risk.	✖️ The contest model can be seen as less ethical by some designers (unpaid work for non-winners).
✔️ Streamlined process for obtaining professional design work quickly and efficiently.	✖️ Less direct, real-time collaboration compared to working with a dedicated agency or local designer.

Bottom Line: 99designs stands out as a robust and efficient platform for businesses seeking custom graphic design solutions, offering unparalleled access to a global network of creative talent. Its flexible model, whether through competitive contests or direct 1-to-1 projects, empowers businesses to find the perfect visual identity for their brand with convenience and quality.

Try It Now

DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd offers a crowdsourcing marketplace for virtually any graphic design need, including logo design, website design, business card design, flyers, and more. Clients can launch a design contest, providing their project brief and budget, and then receive dozens of unique designs from designers worldwide. This model allows for a wide range of creative options and ensures clients only pay for the design they love. DesignCrowd also provides options for clients to hire designers directly or buy ready-made designs, offering flexibility beyond the contest format.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Access to a large global pool of freelance designers.	✖️ Quality of submissions can vary significantly.
✔️ Receive many unique design concepts for a single project.	✖️ Managing many submissions can be time-consuming for clients.
✔️ Competitive pricing due to the contest model.	✖️ Limited direct communication with designers until a winner is selected.
✔️ Money-back guarantee offers risk reduction for clients.	✖️ Higher-quality outcomes often require higher prize money.

Bottom Line: DesignCrowd is an effective crowdsourcing platform for obtaining a diverse range of graphic design concepts efficiently and cost-effectively. It is particularly beneficial for those seeking extensive creative options for projects like branding and marketing materials. While quality can vary, the contest model and money-back guarantee provide a compelling value proposition for businesses and individuals looking to explore multiple design directions.

Try It Now

Adobe Illustrator CC

Illustrator CC offers precision drawing tools like the Pen and Curvature tools, advanced color management, and extensive typography options. It integrates seamlessly with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, enhancing workflow efficiency. Recent updates have introduced generative AI features, such as the Firefly Vector AI model, enabling users to generate custom vector graphics and patterns using text prompts.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Industry-standard vector editing tools	✖️ Subscription-based pricing
✔️ Seamless integration with Creative Cloud apps	✖️ Steep learning curve for beginners
✔️ Regular updates with new features	✖️ Requires a powerful computer for optimal performance

Bottom Line : Adobe Illustrator CC remains a top choice for professionals seeking powerful vector editing capabilities, though it comes with a subscription cost and requires a robust system to run efficiently.

Try It Now

Bluebeam Revu

Bluebeam Revu offers a suite of tools for creating, editing, and annotating PDFs, facilitating real-time collaboration across teams. Its features include advanced measurement tools, batch processing, and integration with Bluebeam Cloud for seamless access on desktop, web, and mobile platforms. The software is designed to streamline workflows, improve communication, and enhance project efficiency in the AEC industry.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Industry-standard vector editing tools	✖️ Subscription-based pricing
✔️ Seamless integration with Creative Cloud apps	✖️ Steep learning curve for beginners
✔️ Regular updates with new features	✖️ Requires a powerful computer for optimal performance

Bottom Line: Adobe Illustrator CC remains a top choice for professionals seeking powerful vector editing capabilities, though it comes with a subscription cost and requires a robust system to run efficiently.

Try It Now

Envato Elements

Envato Elements is a subscription-based platform offering a vast library of digital assets—like graphics, fonts, videos, music, photos, and templates—for creatives and businesses.With one monthly fee, users gain unlimited access and can download and use assets commercially, avoiding individual licensing headaches

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Wide variety of assets: graphics, photos, templates, music, video.	✖ Overlap of similar assets can make uniqueness harder.
✔ Unlimited downloads under one commercial license.	✖ Subscription cost may be heavy for occasional users.
✔ Constantly updated with new content.	✖ Search & filtering can be frustrating per user feedback.

Bottom Line : Envato Elements is an excellent choice for designers, agencies, and content creators who frequently need high-quality assets under a predictable cost model.

Try It Now

YouCam Online Editor

YouCam Online Editor is a web-based photo editing tool from Perfect Corp that uses AI to simplify tasks like background removal, object erasing, color correction, and avatar generation. It also supports AI image extension, headshot creation, and video enhancement for short clips.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Web-based — edit from browser, no install required.	✖ Free tier has limited credits and features.
✔ AI tools: background removal, object erase, avatar generation.	✖ Some AI removals struggle with complex backgrounds.
✔ Affordable subscription: $2.50/month starting plan.	✖ High-res video enhancement and extended features require paid plan.

Bottom Line : YouCam Online Editor is a flexible browser-based AI image editor for creators needing quick enhancements, avatar generation, and background edits without heavy software.

Try It Now

Logo AI

Logo AI enables users to input their brand name, style preferences, icons, and colors, then automatically generates multiple logo options. You can customize layouts, fonts, and colors, preview mockups, and download high-resolution files including PNG and vector formats. It also supports brand identity assets and automates parts of brand building like social media graphics

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔️ Designing is free — you pay only when you download	✖️ Cannot export high-resolution or vector files in free mode
✔️ Offers multiple plans for different needs (Basic, Pro, Brand)	✖️ More advanced brand assets locked under expensive tiers
✔️ Generates branding kits and animations in Brand plan	✖️ Some customization options are limited compared to manual design

Bottom Line : Logo AI offers a practical, no-frills solution for instantly creating and downloading logos with optional upgrades for branding features.

Try It Now

Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is a lightweight, cross-platform design tool that works online and offline. It’s simple but effective for basic graphics.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Works on all platforms	✖ Limited compared to pro tools
✔ Clean interface	✖ Pro plan needed for offline use
✔ Affordable pricing	✖ Smaller community

Bottom Line: Gravit Designer is perfect for lightweight, cross-platform graphic design needs.

Try It Now

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor. While not as polished as Illustrator, it’s a fantastic tool for hobbyists and budget-conscious designers.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Completely free	✖ Dated interface
✔ Strong vector tools	✖ Slower performance with large files
✔ Community-driven	✖ Limited advanced features

Bottom Line: Inkscape is a great free alternative for vector graphics enthusiasts.

Try It Now

CorelDRAW

A veteran in the design industry, CorelDRAW specializes in vector graphics and is still widely used in print, sign-making, and traditional industries.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Excellent vector + print tools	✖ Less popular with modern designers
✔ Long-standing industry reputation	✖ Subscription or high one-time cost
✔ Customizable interface	✖ Smaller community compared to Adobe

Bottom Line: CorelDRAW is ideal for print and branding professionals who prefer classic workflows.

Try It Now

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is the budget-friendly challenger to Illustrator. It’s powerful, smooth, and comes at a one-time purchase cost.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Affordable, no subscription	✖ Smaller ecosystem than Adobe
✔ Fast and professional-grade	✖ Learning curve for new users
✔ Great for vector + raster work	✖ Limited collaboration tools

Bottom Line: Affinity Designer is perfect for professionals and hobbyists who want Illustrator-level power without the recurring costs.

Try It Now

Adobe Illustrator

Illustrator is Adobe’s powerhouse for vector graphics. It’s the go-to tool for creating logos, illustrations, and scalable designs.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Best-in-class vector tools	✖ Expensive subscription
✔ Scalable, professional-grade output	✖ Steep learning curve
✔ Widely supported in the industry	✖ Requires strong hardware

Bottom Line: Illustrator is essential for designers working on branding, logos, or detailed vector graphics.

Try It Now

Adobe Photoshop

The gold standard of graphic design, Photoshop is synonymous with digital creativity. It offers unmatched tools for photo editing, digital painting, and advanced graphics.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Industry-standard photo editing	✖ Steep learning curve
✔ Huge library of tools & brushes	✖ Subscription-only (costly)
✔ Excellent for advanced design	✖ Overkill for simple projects

Bottom Line: Photoshop is the ultimate tool for professionals who need precision and advanced features in image manipulation and design.

Try It Now

VistaCreate

VistaCreate is a Canva-like tool focused on social media visuals. It offers drag-and-drop templates, animations, and easy exports

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Very easy to use	✖ Less versatile than Canva
✔ Animated templates available	✖ Premium assets require subscription
✔ Great for social marketing	✖ Limited customization

Bottom Line: VistaCreate is a strong Canva alternative for social-media-focused designers and marketers.

Try It Now

Figma

Collaborative UI/UX design tool for web and app interfaces with prototyping capabilities.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Cloud-based, real-time collaboration	✖ Requires internet connection
✔ Great for UI/UX workflows	✖ Limited for advanced print/graphic design
✔ Free plan available	✖ Can get pricey for teams

Bottom Line: Figma is unbeatable for collaborative interface design and product workflows.

Try It Now

Canva

Drag-and-drop design platform for creating social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials.

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
✔ Extremely easy to use	✖ Limited advanced features
✔ Thousands of templates	✖ Requires Pro plan for premium assets
✔ Great for social & marketing visuals	✖ Output not as customizable as pro tools

Bottom Line: Canva is the best tool for beginners, marketers, and small businesses that need fast, polished designs without complexity.

Try It Now

Comparison Table

Tool

Best For

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Get it

Best For

Luminar

Pros

AI tools automate complex edits
Supports RAW, layers, masking, standard workflows

Cons

Requires strong hardware for best performance
Slightly less specialized than niche professional tools

Pricing

Starting Price: $79

Best Graphic Design Tools (reviews included!)

On this page

On this page

Best Tools at a Glance

Luminar

Pros & Cons:

LogoAI

Pros & Cons:

BrandCrowd

Pros & Cons:

Looka

Pros & Cons:

RelayThat

Pros & Cons:

Snappa

Pros & Cons:

Stencil

Pros & Cons:

DesignBold

Pros & Cons:

Creative Market

Pros & Cons:

DesignCuts

Pros & Cons:

Placeit

Pros & Cons:

Fotor

Pros & Cons:

Pixlr

Pros & Cons:

VistaCreate (Crello)

Pros & Cons:

Adobe Creative Cloud

Pros & Cons:

99designs

Pros & Cons:

DesignCrowd

Pros & Cons:

Adobe Illustrator CC

Pros & Cons:

Bluebeam Revu

Pros & Cons:

Envato Elements

Pros & Cons:

YouCam Online Editor

Pros & Cons:

Logo AI

Pros & Cons:

Gravit Designer

Pros & Cons:

Inkscape

Pros & Cons:

CorelDRAW

Pros & Cons:

Affinity Designer

Pros & Cons:

Adobe Illustrator

Pros & Cons:

Adobe Photoshop

Pros & Cons:

VistaCreate

Pros & Cons:

Figma

Pros & Cons:

Canva

Pros & Cons:

Comparison Table

Tool

Best For

Pros

Cons

Pricing

Get it

Conclusion

Frequently ask question