10 Free Graphic Design Tools for Creating Stunning Visuals
Build with Retainr
Sell your products and services, manage clients, orders, payments, automate your client onboarding and management with your own branded web application.
Get Started1. What are the top 10 free graphic design tools for creating stunning visuals?
Top 10 Free graphic design tools for creating visuals
For those who are either just starting out in graphic design or who are professionals looking to cut back on expenses, there are many free graphic design tools available. These tools offer robust features and capabilities, allowing users to create stunning visuals without burning a hole in their pockets. Here are the top 10 free graphic design tools you should consider:
- GIMP: An open-source tool that's quite powerful, allowing for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.
- Canva: Popular for its easy-to-use features. You can design anything from social media graphics to presentations.
- Gravit Designer: A full-featured vector design app suitable for all manners of jobs, from screen designs to icons and presentations.
- Inkscape: A professional tool for creating and editing vector graphics.
- Vectr: A simple but powerful cross-platform software that you can use online or download for offline use.
- Pixlr: Has a similarity to Photoshop and offers a collection of powerful tools.
- Crello: Offers templates to create professional and unique designs.
- Adobe Spark: An easy-to-use tool offering custom graphics, web pages, and video stories.
- Desygner: Allows you to create posts, ads, graphics, banners, covers and more.
- Artboard Studio: The first online graphic design application mainly focused on product mockups.
Comparing Graphic Design Tools
To help you make a more informed decision on which tool to use, here is a comparative table concluding the strengths and ideal uses of each tool:
Graphic Design Tool | Strengths | Ideal Use |
---|---|---|
GIMP | Perfect for advanced photo editing | Professional image manipulating |
Canva | Wide range of templates | Presentations and social media posts |
Gravit Designer | High-quality vector designs | Screen designs, icons, and presentations |
Inkscape | Powerful tools for vector graphics | Professional vector designing |
2. Do these free graphic design tools offer professional quality features?
Features of Free Graphic Design Tools
Free graphic design tools come with a plethora of features that can help in making visuals look professional. Despite being free, these tools don't compromise on the quality, offering features that are comparable to premium design apps.
- Layers: This refers to the arrangement of graphics, images, or texts in a sequence above or below each other. It's a common feature available in all graphic tools, including free ones.
- Color Management: Free tools also offer a color management system that assists in maintaining the uniformity of colors across different devices. It helps to keep the visual designs consistent and professional.
- Vector Graphics: Many free tools provide vector graphic support which helps in creating crisp and clear images irrespective of the size.
- Filters & Effects: Most free apps come with in-built filters and effects that can enhance your images in a single click, saving a lot of time and effort.
Comparison of Free Graphic Design Tools
Here is a comparison of some free graphic design tools in terms of their most widely used features:
Canva | GIMP | Inkscape | |
---|---|---|---|
Layers | Yes | Yes | No |
Color Management | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Vector Graphics | No | No | Yes |
Filters & Effects | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
In conclusion, free graphic design tools do provide many of the high-quality features needed to create professional visuals. However, they may come with limitations, such as limited storage, ads, or fewer features than their premium counterparts. Nevertheless, they can be an excellent starting point for budding designers or small businesses on a budget.
3. How do I use these graphic design tools to create visuals?
Understanding the Graphic Design Tools Aesthetics
The first step in using these design tools is understanding the different visual aesthetics each offers. For instance, Canva has a sleek, user-friendly interface with numerous free templates and design elements. Whereas Gravit Designer, though a bit complex, offers full-featured vector design for creating intricate visuals.
- Navigate through the tools to familiarize yourself with them.
- Experiment with various templates and design elements to see their effect.
- Use tutorials or guides provided by the tools to get in-depth knowledge.
Creating a Design Project
Once you've explored the tools, you can begin your project. The process might vary slightly from tool to tool, but primarily involves a few steps.
Steps | Description |
---|---|
Choose a template or create a new design | Pick a ready-made template related to your project or start from scratch. |
Add design elements and text | These elements may include images, icons, shapes, and text. |
Customize the visuals | Change color schemes, fonts, or rearrange elements to achieve your desired look. |
Exporting and Using Your Visuals
When you're satisfied with your design, the final step is to save and export it. Most tools provide options to save in different formats like JPG, PNG, or PDF depending on how you plan to use the visual.
- Select the 'Export' or 'Save as' option in the tool.
- Choose your preferred file format.
- Save the file in your designated location.
Thereafter, you can use the design for your website, presentation, social media platforms, and more.
4. Are these free graphic design tools beginner-friendly or more suitable for professionals?
Beginner-Friendliness of Free Graphic Design Tools
The majority of free graphic design tools are designed to be user-friendly and accessible to both beginners and professionals alike. This way, they can accommodate a wide range of users with varying levels of expertise in graphic design.
The List of Beginner-Friendly Free Graphic Design Tools
- Canva: Known for its drag-and-drop design features and a multitude of templates, Canva is perfect for beginners with little to no graphic design experience.
- Gravit Designer: For beginners who desire more functionality, Gravit Designer offers versatile design features without the confusion of complex interfaces.
- Inkscape: Inkscape's free tool supports SVG format to create vector graphics, welcoming beginners to experiment and grow their skills.
Comparison of Free Online Design Tools
Tool Name | User-Friendly for Beginners | Suitable for Professionals |
---|---|---|
Canva | Yes | Yes |
Gravit Designer | Yes | Yes |
Inkscape | Yes | Yes |
5. What kind of visuals can I create using these free graphic design tools?
Types of Visuals You Can Create Using Free Graphic Design Tools
The versatility of free graphic design tools is immense. With these tools, you can create various types of visuals. Firstly, you have social media graphics. These can include cover photos, profile pictures, or any imagery you plan to post on your social media channels. Similarly, you can also design infographics to present complex information in a more digestible and visually engaging manner. Other than that, you're also able to create flyers, posters and advertisements, perfect for both digital and print media.
Next, you can develop presentations for your professional or educational needs. The benefit of this is having the ability to design slides that are tailored to your personal or company's brand image. In addition, you can design e-books or digital magazines. With these tools, you get to design engaging covers, layout the pages, and enhance your content with visually appealing graphics. Last but not least, you have branding materials like logos, business cards, or even website layouts to give your venture a strong visual identity.
Type of Visuals | Description |
---|---|
Social Media Graphics | Imagery designed for social media use. |
Infographics | A visually appealing representation of complex information. |
Flyers, Posters, Advertisements | Print and digital media promotional materials. |
Presentations | Customized slides for effective storytelling. |
E-books / Digital Magazines | Digital content enhanced with visually appealing graphics. |
Branding Materials | Visual elements that promote a company's identity. |
6. Are there any additional costs to access more features in these free tools?
Consideration of Additional Costs
While the fundamental features of these graphic design tools totally come free of charge, certain platforms do offer premium packages or "freemium" models for additional benefits and functionalities. These costs vary from tool to tool and typically contribute to advanced features like expanded asset libraries, larger cloud storage capacities, and use of exclusive templates. However, the base functionalities are usually plentiful in creating engaging visuals for users on a tight budget.
Cost Distribution in Popular Free Tools
The following list includes certain popular tools that introduce additional costs for advanced features:
- Canva: Starts free, but Canva Pro which offers more templates and storage costs $9.95/month.
- Adobe Spark: Free but Spark Premium offering custom branding and collaboration tools costs $19.99/month.
- GIMP: Totally free, but donation is encouraged to support the project.
- Gravit Designer: Free but the pro version offering offline usage and more color space costs $49/year.
Price Table for Popular Tools
Tool | Free Usage | Premium Pricing |
---|---|---|
Canva | ✔️ | $9.95/month |
Adobe Spark | ✔️ | $19.99/month |
GIMP | ✔️ | Donation-based |
Gravit Designer | ✔️ | $49/year |
7. What are the options for exporting and sharing the visuals created with these tools?
Exporting options with Graphic Design Tools
Modern graphic design tools offer a multitude of ways to export and share your creations. The most common formats include JPEG, PNG, SVG, and PDF which are compatible with most devices and platforms. Some tools may also allow exports in DWF, EPS, or other file types. These options facilitate easy sharing and allow your designs to retain their quality across different viewing mediums. The exact procedures may vary from one tool to another, but the 'export' or 'save as' function is typically used to achieve this.
Sharing options with Graphic Design Tools
Once you have created and exported your design, sharing it becomes a quite straightforward process. Most tools will provide an option to share your design directly from the platform, typically utilizing options such as email, social networks, or cloud storage services. Some cloud-based tools feature an extensive collaboration suite, featuring options such as shareable links, team projects, and comment sections. In particular:
- Email: Most tools provide an option to directly email your design to recipients of your choice.
- Social Media: Tools often include the ability to share visuals directly to platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
- Cloud Storage: Many tools integrate with popular cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, allowing users to store and share their designs easily.
Example of Tools and their Exporting and Sharing Options
Tool | Export Formats | Sharing Options |
---|---|---|
Canva | JPEG, PNG, PDF, GIF | Email, Social Media, Shareable link |
Gravit Designer | PDF, SVG, Bitmap | Email, Cloud Storage |
Adobe Spark | JPEG, PNG, Video Formats | Social Media, Web page |
8. How do these top 10 graphic design tools compare to paid ones?
Comparison of Free Vs. Paid Graphic Design Tools
Setting the right choice between free graphic design tools and their paid counterparts depends on a multitude of factors, including the design needs, budget, and level of skills. Typically, free tools such as Canva, GIMP, Inkscape, and Google Charts provide a broad range of functionality, such as photo editing, graphic design and visual data representation. However, they generally lack advanced features found in paid tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or CorelDRAW.
Features | Free Tools | Paid Tools |
---|---|---|
User-friendly Interface | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Basic Editing and Design | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Advanced Design Features | ❌ | ✔️ |
Customer Support | ❌ | ✔️ |
While free graphic design tools provide a suitable starting point for hobbyists or small businesses, professional designers tend to lean towards paid options. Dealing with extensive design projects demands greater capabilities and features that are often limited in free versions. Moreover, professional paid tools frequently offer comprehensive customer support that might be negligible or nonexistent in free alternatives. Nonetheless, a smart practice would be to start with a free tool to understand basics and then transition to a more sophisticated, paid platform as per your enhancing designing needs and skills.
9. Can these tools be used for commercial purposes without violating copyright rules?
Commercial Usage of Free Graphic Design Tools
Most free graphic design tools allow individuals and businesses to use their resources for both personal and commercial purposes without infringing copyright rules. However, it is always necessary to ensure to follow the terms of service or licensing agreements associated with each tool. These conditions may specify restrictions or special steps that need to be taken to use the content legally for commercial purposes. Moreover, it's crucial to understand the difference between free and royalty-free - while the former might still necessitate certain attributions, the latter usually means that the image can be used without recognition or payment.
List of Free Graphics Design Tools for Commercial Use
- Canva: All elements in Canva's free library can be utilized for commercial and noncommercial purposes.
- GIMP: The GNU Image Manipulation Program is open-source and can be used for commercial designs.
- Gravit Designer: Gravit allows you to create commercial designs with its free version, but certain resources may require purchase.
- Inkscape: As an open-source vector graphic design tool, Inkscape allows commercial use with its free resources.
Free Software and Their Terms of Service
Software | Terms of Service |
---|---|
Canva | Allows use of free resources for commercial purposes but premium elements require purchase. |
GIMP | Being open-source, it allows free usage of its resources for commercial purposes. |
Gravit Designer | Permits commercial use of designs made with free resources but has certain limitations which require purchase for complete access. |
Inkscape | Allows unrestricted commercial usage being an open-source tool but suggests users to support the community voluntarily. |
10. What type of user support is available for these free graphic design tools?
Customer Support Channels
Free graphic design tools are equipped with comprehensive user support dedicated to addressing the concerns of their users. Key forms of user support provided by these online tools include:
- Email Support: Users can send queries via email and expect a timely response within a specified number of business days.
- Online Chat: Some design tools feature real-time chat support where users can get instant answers to their queries.
- FAQs and Forums: Online spaces where users can find answers to commonly asked questions or post inquiries for community responses.
- Online Tutorials: These include step-by-step guides, video demonstrations, and webinars to guide users on how to effectively use the tools.
Popular Free Design Tools and their Support Channels
Below is a table outlining some top-rated free graphic design tools and the support they offer:
Design Tool | Email Support | Online Chat | FAQs/Forums | Online Tutorials |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canva | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
GIMP | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Gravit Designer | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
User Support Quality
While these graphic design tools offer numerous support avenues, how efficient and responsive each one is will vary. It is worth noting that while all these tools are free, some may put restrictions on access to customer support. Some might offer immediate assistance, others could take longer to respond, and few might only offer limited support unless a premium subscription is purchased. That said, these tools are intuitive and user-friendly, with extensive online resources made readily available to users.
Conclusion
Free Graphic Design Tools for Outstanding Visuals
In today's digital age, visual content has taken a dominant role in marketing and communication. With the abundance of information at hand, creators are constantly seeking ways to make information visually appealing and easy to consume. To support this, numerous free graphic design tools are available.
1. Canva
An easy-to-use design platform that offers thousands of free templates for social media designs, presentations, flyers, and others.
2. Gravit Designer
A full-featured vector graphic design app suitable for all sorts of jobs such as screen designs, high-quality icons, and other visual imagery.
3. Adobe Spark
Allows users to create graphics, web pages, and video stories ideal for amateurs or less tech-savvy individuals.
4. Inkscape
Open-source graphic editor equivalent to Adobe Illustrator, competent at creating complex drawings without overwhelming beginners.
5. Pixlr
Browser-based apps for editing photos instantly which is available in two flavors: Editor and Express.
6. Vectr
A free vector graphics software which allows you to create vector graphics easily and intuitively.
7. GIMP
Often compared to Photoshop as it offers similar functionality and features.
8. Crello
A free graphic design editor that helps create images for social media posts, ads, and other graphic designs.
9. Desygner
It specializes in tailored templates for social media posts.
10. Snappa
A graphic design tool for digital marketing. It has a cloud-based interface where you can create online graphics in a snap.
Using Retainr.io to Manage Creative Works
With so many choices at hand, keeping track of your creative works can be a daunting task. Retainr.io enters the picture to make the management of your design works a breeze. This all-in-one solution allows you to sell, manage clients, orders, and payments with your own branded app, ensuring that you can focus on what you do best: creating. Try out Retainr.io today and experience the simplicity and efficiency that it brings to the management of your creative work.
Boost Your Agency Growth
with Retainr Accelerator
Uncover secrets, strategies, and exclusive blueprints to take your agency's growth to the next level — from marketing insights to effective presentations and leveraging technology.
SOPs, Cheatsheets & Blueprints
Leverage 50+ SOPs (valued over $10K) offering practical guides, scripts, tools, hacks, templates, and cheat sheets to fast-track your startup's growth.
Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share experiences, and get expert insights within our exclusive Facebook community.
Join a thriving community of growth hackers. Network, collaborate, and learn from like-minded entrepreneurs on a lifelong journey to success.
Gain expertise with recorded Courses, Live Bootcamps and interactive Workshops on topics like growth hacking, copywriting, no-code funnel building, performance marketing and more, taught by seasoned coaches & industry experts.