It goes without saying, but a well-crafted image or graphic has the ability catch a potential customer’s eye.
The right visual will elevate a blog or a website from a jumble of words to a stunning visual message, but it takes a number of different tools to get there. Graphic design software encompasses many kinds of software tools that can help you get the job done.
G2 Crowd breaks down graphic design software into three different subcategories.
First up is desktop publishing software. If you’re looking to turn media and copy files into visual layouts for publications such as magazines, books or newspapers, this would be an ideal category of software to consider. The second subcategory, drawing software, is a good choice for those looking to create original artwork. Finally, users seeking to design and manipulate computer vector graphics images can do so with vector graphics software.
The list we’ve outlined here includes any graphic design solution with an available free offering. It should be noted that this does not include products that are only free on a temporary basis, such as limited trial versions for new users. They may only support one user or one project, but they’re truly free offerings. Scaling, however, will often require full investments.
These products alone have well over 230 validated user reviews on G2 Crowd as of July 25, 2018, and only represent a small portion of the 60-plus graphic design software offerings listed on our platform. Whenever possible, the products are ranked by user satisfaction score.
For each product we provide:
For products with G2 Crowd verified user reviews, we have included:
Product reviews and G2 Crowd star ratings were updated as of June 24th, 2019.
G2 Crowd star rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Overview
Krita is an open-source graphic design software geared toward comic book artists, illustrators, texture painters and more. This tool’s extensive features make it work for both amateurs and expert artists alike.
Pricing
Krita is completely free, which means that users have full access to all features at no cost.
Features
Image courtesy of Krita
What users like
“I really like its brushes. I don't have to spend hours setting them up. I just choose the one I need and start painting. I also like its customization. I can set the shortcuts up just as I want.” — Krita review by Jorge H.
What users dislike
“The interface is a little dated. Some of the UI icons are plain ugly and this makes the workscape look ‘old.’ Also, some of the options and shortcuts are very different from other apps, making the learning curve a little steeper than necessary.”
— Krita review by Kev Z.
Recommendations for others considering the product
“Krita is easy to use and has amazing tools once you discover them, so my advice is that when you start using it, go through all the tools and test them to see what they do and how to access them.”
— Krita review by Tanya M.
G2 Crowd star rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Overview
Mischief is a graphic design software intended for creating concepts and ideas. Users can create with either pixel or vector files in Mischief. This tool is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Pricing
For a one-time fee of $25, users can upgrade to the full version of Mischief. This includes additional features such as layers and custom color swatches.
Features
Image courtesy of Mischief
What users like
“The fluidity and speed of this software is just phenomenal. It feels and looks like pencil and paper. The infinity canvas is also another thing I enjoy a lot. I can lay out ideas quickly and keep them all together easily and lightly for review.”
— Mischief review by Michael M.
What users dislike
“Learning the initial system, I'm not well-versed in graphic design, but it seemed to take off after figuring out the basics.”
— Mischief review by an Industry analyst/tech writer
Recommendations for others considering the product
“At the price it is hard to go wrong with Mischief, and while not as full-featured as some other sketching apps, it offers a ludicrously quick drawing engine, which pares everything down to the basics, which unlike a lot of applications is a good thing.”
— Mischief review by Mike G.
G2 Crowd star rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Overview
Inkscape is a graphic design software that can run on a number of operating systems. This platform’s tools can assist at all stages of the design process, from mockup to a profession grade design ready for publication. It can be used to design graphics such as logos, icons, diagrams and more.
Pricing
Inkscape is completely free and open source.
Features
Image courtesy of Inkscape
What users like
“I like that I can export my files to various formats easily. I also am really pleased with the flexibility offered to create a design using basic shapes and weld them OR I can hand-draw or trace designs.”
— Inkscape review by Wendy L.
What users dislike
“Not so user-friendly, unable to do something that I can in other programs. That some of the tools are on each side of the screen and that there is not a quick guide.”
— Inkscape review by Abby R.
Recommendations for others considering the product
“Watch tutorials on how to use it before you use it. Using the tools through trial and error doesn't really work. Once you learn this program, it's worth more than its weight.”
— Inkscape review by McKenna K.
G2 Crowd star rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Overview
Venngage is an infographic, chart, and graphic design making SaaS platform for content teams in need of more visually-appealing content without outsourcing their needs to an agency.
Pricing
Venngage has a free entry-level student tier that comes with 5 infographics a month. They also have a business plan at $49 a month and a premium plan at $19 a month. Both come with a variety of templates, exporting features, custom branding, and more.
Features
Image courtesy of Venngage
What users like
“I am not a classically trained graphic artist and I like to create the way I like to create. Venngage allows me to start with a templates idea to get the party started. OR I can begin with a clean slate and go wild with all the elements that they provide. It's like a playground for the creative mind."
— Venngage review by Russ J.
What users dislike
“It can't be completely modified like Illustrator/Photoshop. However, it is useful for fundamental use.”
— Venngage review by John R
Recommendations for others considering the product
“For those without a lot of Graphic Design experience, use Venngage! A great solution for those that don't want to shell out a bunch of cash for Adobe products and would like to get some quality promotional materials out to their audience.”
— Venngage review by Twin A.
G2 Crowd star rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars
Overview
DesignEvo is a graphic design software used to create custom logos using vector graphics. This solution was created so that users with no previous design experience could still create with ease.
Pricing
DesignEvo offers two pricing plans beyond its free option. The basic plan can be purchased for a one-time fee of $19.99. Additional features in the platform include high-resolution files, lifetime support, the ability to edit and re-download any file and more.
The plus plan is available for a one-time fee of $39.99. Every feature from the free and basic plans are available in this plan. The plus option includes even more features, such as the ability to work in vector files, the ability to download font files and copyright ownership.
Features
Image courtesy of DesignEvo
What users like
"It has a user-friendly interface that makes creating logos very quick and easy. There's a decent library of ready-to-use graphics and fonts to pull from, which are included.”
— DesignEvo review by a user in food and beverages
What users dislike
“It's hard to move with the mouse objects that have a lot of white space. Icons don't have shadow as an effect, free users are only limited to a size of 500 x 500 px.”
— DesignEvo review by Bruna A.
Recommendations for others considering the product
“It's always amazing to see how something simple can be powerful. With thousands of symbols to choose and the layer management, you can create almost anything with this simple tool. In a few clicks, you can start creating logos for free.”
— DesignEvo review by Ingrid M.
G2 Crowd star rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars
Overview
GraphicsJS JavaScript Graphics is a free and open-source graphic design tool. This software is intended for drawing HTML5 graphics and animation from scratch. GraphicsJS’ API allows users to customize the tool any way that they need.
| TIP: Learn more about how Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) work. |
Pricing
GraphicsJS JavaScript Graphics is completely free and open source.
Features
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Image courtesy of AnyChart
What users like
“GraphicsJS JavaScript Graphics doesn't have a lot of frills, but that's probably the best thing I like about it. It's all JavaScript Graphics all the time (meaning it's very consistent). On top of all that, it's very simple to use with GitHub.”
— GraphicsJS JavaScript Graphics review by Candance C.
What users dislike
“Despite GraphicsJS claims, it is not easy to use out of the box.”
— GraphicsJS JavaScript Graphics review by Jeannette H.
Recommendations for others considering the product
“If you are new to JavaScript you will like the simplicity of use. Definitely recommended for new users that have the slight knowledge of JavaScript.”
— GraphicsJS JavaScript Graphics review by Candance C.
G2 Crowd star rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
Overview
This software is open source and completely free of charge. Scribus is designed for users who are beginners in desktop publishing.
Pricing
Scribus is an open-source and free graphic design software, giving users access to all features with no additional cost.
Features
What users like
“Scribus is available for Linux, including Ubuntu and other flavors that are user-friendly, so it is available free of charge. Unlike many commercial software packages that beta test on paying users, Scribus encourages everyone to experiment with the software without charging you any money.”
— Scribus review by Victoria G.
What users dislike
“Text editing is a nightmare. When adding text, you need to open up a different window for the editing. But if you don't highlight the text correctly, it seems like it doesn't accept the changes.”
— Scribus review by Ryan S.
Recommendations for others considering the product
“You must be aware of the limitations of Scribus. Although it fulfills most of the common tasks of desktop publishing, it’s not a perfect substitute for commercial software like InDesign.”
— Scribus review by Roberto D.
G2 Crowd star rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Overview
This free graphic design software is a mobile app that allows anyone to create interactive books and textbooks. This tool allows you to add elements such as video, diagrams, 3D objects and more. iBooks Authors is compatible with iPad and Mac computers.
Pricing
iBooks is available for free from Apple’s app store.
Features
Image courtesy of Apple
What users like
“I was immediately impressed by its simplicity. I did not find it very hard to learn. I have recently published a children’s book to the iBooks store and it took less than a day to complete the setup.”
— iBooks Author review by Seth R.
What users dislike
“I have not had any major issues using iBooks Author yet. The only thing I wish it had, was multiple publishing formats that would be kindle or nook compatible.”
— iBooks Author review by Stephanie L.
Recommendations for others considering the product
“I absolutely recommend it to teachers who want to use more digital books. You can use iBooks Author for any subject.”
— iBooks Author review by Nathalie B.
Decide which features are a requirement in your graphic design software. If you are specifically looking for an open-source graphic design software solution or one that can potentially scale with your business, keep those conditions in mind.
The features in the solution you select should allow you to effectively reach your end goal, such as creating designs or artwork that elevate your business. Once you have chosen, read through some more verified user reviews to allow you to make the best decision for your business.
Ready to take your graphic design skills to the next level? Learn how you can use graphic design tools as logo design software to help you break into brand design and marketing.
* Please note: Reviews may have been edited for spelling and grammar.
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