I’ve used a lot of graphic design tools over the years. Some because I had no choice, others because I was actively looking for something better than Canva. I’ve designed landing pages, blog headers, pitch decks, social ads, UI mockups, onboarding screens, and more, often under time pressure and without a dedicated designer.
What I’ve learned is that “graphic design tool” is a broad category. Some tools are built for speed, some for collaboration, some for precision, and some for people who actively dislike design work. This list reflects that reality.
Below are the best graphic design tools I’ve personally used or seriously evaluated, along with when they actually make sense to use.
Quick comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Why I’d use it |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Fast visuals | Lowest friction, decent results |
| Figma | Serious design | Precision and collaboration |
| Adobe Express | Marketing teams | Canva with Adobe polish |
| Affinity Designer | Power users | Adobe-level without subscriptions |
| Visme | Presentations | Structured, polished outputs |
| VistaCreate | Social graphics | Canva-like, different template feel |
| Snappa | Speed | Almost zero learning curve |
| Piktochart | Infographics | Data-heavy visuals |
| Easil | Brand control | Guardrails for teams |
| Stencil | Blogging | Simple blog and social images |
Pricing comparison
Here’s a clear comparison table showing free tier availability and entry-level pricing for each graphic design tool we talked about. I’m using typical or commonly available pricing where possible. Actual pricing may vary by region or promotions, so consider this a realistic baseline rather than a guaranteed up-to-the-penny quote.
| Tool | Free Tier? | Free Tier Limitations | Entry-Level Paid | What You Get at Entry Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canva | Yes | Limited templates/assets, limited brand kits, some export features locked | ~$12.99/mo Pro | Brand kits, full asset library, advanced export, Magic Resize |
| Figma | Yes | 3 projects limit, no team libraries | ~$12/editor/mo | Unlimited projects, team libraries, better permissions |
| Adobe Express | Yes | Limited templates, Adobe watermark on some exports | ~$9.99/mo | Full template library, removes branding, premium assets |
| Affinity Designer | No (one-time purchase) | N/A — fully paid outright | ~$55 (one time) | Full desktop app, no subscription |
| Visme | Yes | Watermarked exports, template restrictions | ~$15–$25/mo | Full templates, branding controls, no watermarks |
| VistaCreate | Yes | Many premium templates/assets locked | ~$10/mo | Full asset library and export options |
| Snappa | Yes | Limited downloads per month | ~$10–$15/mo | Unlimited downloads, full assets |
| Easil | Yes | Limited exports/templates | ~$7–$20/mo | Brand kits, better templates, more downloads |
| Stencil | Yes | Monthly download cap | ~$9/mo | Unlimited downloads/assets |
| Sketch | No free tier (trial only) | N/A | ~$9/mo | App access, basic features |
| Inkscape | Yes (open source) | No limitations, but less polish | Free | Full app |
| GIMP | Yes (open source) | No limitations, dated UI | Free | Full app |
| Photopea | Yes | Ads, some export limits | ~$5–$7/mo | Removes ads, faster performance |
| Pixlr | Yes | Ads, restricted features | ~$5–$10/mo | Ad removal, additional assets |
| Piktochart | Yes | Limited exports/templates, watermarks | ~$10–$20/mo | Removes watermarks, more templates/assets |
1. Canva
I’ve used Canva more times than I can count, usually when I needed something quickly and didn’t want to think too hard. It’s the tool I open when a designer isn’t available or when the output just needs to be “good enough”. Social posts, blog headers, internal slides, one-off visuals. It’s hard to beat for speed.
Where Canva starts to frustrate me is when I try to be precise. Spacing can feel slippery, alignment isn’t always predictable, and once you care about consistency across multiple assets, things get messy fast. It’s also very easy to end up with designs that look like everyone else’s, even if you start with good intentions.
I still use Canva, but I treat it like fast food. Useful, convenient, and occasionally necessary. Just not where I want to spend all my time.
Free tier limits: The free version is generous for basics, but many template packs, brand kit features, and export options (like transparent PNGs and animated exports) are locked behind paid plans.
Paid plan: Canva Pro starts at around $12.99/month (discounts if paid annually). Upgrading gets you brand kits, more assets, Magic Resize, priority support, and a much larger library.
AI features: Canva has built-in image generation and text-to-image, background removal, and layout suggestions. It’s useful for filling gaps quickly, though the outputs can feel generic.
Best for: Non-designers, fast turnaround
Not great for: Complex layouts, brand rigor
2. Figma
Figma was the point where I stopped fighting my tools. The first time I used it properly, it was obvious this wasn’t just a design app, it was a collaboration tool pretending to be one. I’ve used it for landing pages, UI mockups, onboarding flows, and even structured marketing diagrams.
The big difference for me is control. Things line up properly. Components behave predictably. When something looks wrong, it’s usually my fault, not the tool’s. Collaboration is also genuinely good. I can work alongside designers or developers without version chaos.
The tradeoff is learning curve. If you’re coming from Canva, Figma can feel intimidating at first. But once it clicks, everything else starts to feel limiting.
Free tier limits: The free plan lets you have 3 projects and unlimited personal files, but team libraries and advanced versioning require a paid tier.
Paid plan: Figma Professional is about $12/editor/month. That unlocks shared libraries, team projects, and better permissions.
AI features: Figma has plugins with AI assistance (like auto-layout helpers and content generation), but they’re generally third-party rather than baked in.
Best for: SaaS teams, collaboration, precision
Downside: Steeper learning curve than Canva
3. Adobe Express
I came to Adobe Express expecting a Canva clone and ended up using it more than I thought I would. It’s clearly aimed at marketers rather than designers, and that shows in the templates and workflows.
What stood out to me was typography and brand handling. Things tend to look more “finished” without as much effort. If you already trust Adobe as a brand, Express feels like a safer, more professional option than Canva.
That said, it’s still very template-driven. I don’t reach for it when I want full creative freedom. I use it when I want speed, polish, and fewer surprises.
Free tier limits: Free users get a smaller template library and Adobe branding on some exports.
Paid plan: Around $9.99/month (often included with other Adobe subscriptions). Upgrading removes limitations and gives access to premium assets.
AI features: Adobe’s Sensei tech shows up in smart cropping and auto-adjust features. Not as flashy as generative AI, but genuinely useful.
Best for: Marketing teams using Adobe
Downside: Still template-first
4. Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is what I use when I’m in a “no subscriptions” mood and want serious control. I’ve used it for vector work, icons, and more detailed layouts where Canva simply isn’t capable.
It feels closer to Illustrator than anything else on this list, but without the Adobe tax. Performance is good, exports are reliable, and it doesn’t try to hold your hand.
The downside is collaboration. This is very much a single-player tool. If you’re working with a team, you’ll feel that limitation quickly.
Free tier limits: There isn’t one. It’s a one-time purchase.
Cost: Roughly $55 for desktop (often discounted). You own it outright.
AI features: None built in. All control is manual.
Best for: Designers, vector work
Downside: No real-time collaboration
5. Visme
I’ve used Visme mainly when presentations actually mattered. Not internal slides, but decks that were going in front of clients, partners, or stakeholders where polish and structure mattered more than creative freedom.
Visme feels opinionated in a way Canva doesn’t. It nudges you toward layouts that look like proper reports or presentations, not just big text on colourful backgrounds. That’s helpful when you’re short on time and don’t want to second-guess every design decision.
Where it can feel limiting is when you want to break the structure. It’s not a blank canvas tool. It’s best when you accept its constraints and let it do its thing.
Free tier limits: Watermarked exports and restricted templates.
Paid plan: Starts around $15–$25/month. You get full templates, branding controls, and no watermarks.
AI features: Some automated layout suggestions and asset recommendations, but nothing like generative image AI.
Best for: Presentations, reports
Downside: Free tier is restrictive
6. VistaCreate (formerly Crello)
I first tried VistaCreate out of mild Canva fatigue. After a while, Canva templates all start to look the same, and I wanted something familiar but different.
VistaCreate feels like Canva from a parallel universe. The workflow is almost identical, but the templates skew slightly differently. I’ve used it mainly for social graphics where originality matters just enough to stand out, but not enough to justify full custom design work.
I wouldn’t switch to it permanently if you’re deeply invested in Canva, but it’s a useful alternative when you want a similar experience without the same visual tropes.
Free tier limits: A lot of premium templates and assets are locked.
Paid plan: Around $10/month. Unlocks the full library and team features.
AI features: Limited compared with Canva; mainly search suggestions.
Best for: Social graphics
Downside: Limited depth
7. Snappa
Snappa is what I use when I want zero friction and zero thinking. It’s the closest thing I’ve found to “open app, make thing, close app”.
I’ve used it for quick social posts and blog headers when the output just needed to exist. Not win awards. Not build a brand. Just exist.
The tradeoff is obvious. You hit the ceiling quickly. But if speed is your only requirement, that ceiling might never matter.
Free tier limits: You’re limited to a handful of downloads per month.
Paid plan: Around $10–$15/month. Unlimited downloads and access to assets.
AI features: None.
Best for: Fast social images
Downside: Not flexible
8. Piktochart
I’ve mainly used Piktochart when I needed to turn data into something readable without designing everything from scratch. Reports, infographics, and explanatory visuals are where it shines.
It’s opinionated in a good way. You’re guided toward sensible layouts, which saves time when the goal is clarity rather than creativity. I wouldn’t use it for general design work, but for data storytelling, it’s one of the better options.
Free tier limits: The free plan is usable for trying it out, but you quickly hit limits around premium templates/assets, downloads, and branding (watermarks or Piktochart branding depending on what you export). It’s enough to validate whether the workflow fits you, not enough if you’re publishing client-facing work regularly.
Paid plan: Piktochart’s entry paid plan is typically in the “around $10–$20/month” range depending on current pricing and whether you pay annually. The upgrade is mainly about removing branding/watermarks, unlocking more templates/icons, and getting more export options and project flexibility. If you’re producing infographics more than occasionally, you end up needing paid.
AI capabilities: Piktochart has been adding AI-assisted features (things like helping generate or structure content and speeding up layout creation). In practice, it’s helpful for getting a first draft started, but you still need to sanity-check output and tighten wording.
Best for: Charts, infographics
Downside: Not a general design tool
9. Easil
I’ve seen Easil work well in teams where brand consistency is a real concern. It’s the kind of tool you introduce after someone has already broken the brand once too often.
The strength of Easil is control. You can lock things down, limit what people can change, and still let non-designers produce usable assets. I’ve used it in situations where that balance mattered more than creative freedom.
It’s not a tool I reach for personally unless I’m thinking about governance. But if you manage a team, it makes a lot of sense.
Free tier limits: Very limited downloads and templates.
Paid plan: Around $7–$20/month depending on tier. Gets you brand kits and better templates.
AI features: None.
Best for: Brand consistency
Downside: Less flexible than Figma
10. Stencil
Stencil feels like it was built specifically for bloggers and content marketers. I’ve used it mainly for blog images and simple social graphics.
There’s not much to learn, which is both its strength and its weakness. You’re productive immediately, but you also don’t grow with it.
If your design needs stop at “make image for post”, it does the job. If they grow beyond that, you’ll move on quickly.
Free tier limits: Downloads per month are capped.
Paid plan: Around $9/month. Unlimited assets and downloads.
AI features: None.
Best for: Bloggers
Downside: Very limited
11. Sketch
I used Sketch heavily before Figma became dominant. At the time, it felt like a breakthrough. Clean interface, vector-based, and much better than the alternatives.
The problem is not that Sketch got worse. It’s that everything else moved on. Collaboration, especially, now feels dated compared to Figma.
If you’re already embedded in Sketch on macOS, it still works. But I wouldn’t start there today.
Free tier limits: None; it’s paid only.
Cost: About $9/month for individual plans, more for teams.
AI features: None.
Best for: macOS-only workflows
Downside: Collaboration lagging, and desktop based
12. Inkscape
I’ve used Inkscape when budget was zero and vector work was unavoidable. Logos, icons, simple illustrations.
It’s powerful. There’s no denying that. But it’s also clunky, and you feel that clunkiness constantly. Simple tasks take longer than they should.
I respect it more than I enjoy it. It’s a tool of necessity, not preference.
Free tier limits: Completely free with all features intact. Support and polish are the compromises.
AI features: None.
Best for: Free vector design
Downside: UX feels dated
13. GIMP
GIMP is the tool I open when I need Photoshop-level image editing and don’t want to pay Adobe. I’ve used it for image manipulation, masking, and cleanup tasks.
It can do almost anything Photoshop can, but it makes you work for it. The interface is not forgiving, and the learning curve is real.
Once you know it, it’s powerful. Until then, it can feel hostile.
Free tier limits: Always free, but UI and usability are dated.
AI features: None native; some plugins exist.
Best for: Image manipulation
Downside: Learning curve
14. Photopea
Photopea has saved me more than once. Usually when someone sends a PSD and I don’t have Photoshop handy.
It’s surprisingly capable for a browser-based tool. I wouldn’t use it for heavy work, but for quick edits, it’s excellent.
It’s one of those tools you don’t think about until you need it. Then you’re very glad it exists.
Free tier limits: Ads; some advanced export options are limited.
Paid plan: A small monthly fee (~$5–$7) removes ads and speeds performance.
AI features: None.
Best for: Quick Photoshop-style edits
Downside: Not for large projects
15. Pixlr
Pixlr sits somewhere between “photo editor” and “design tool”. I’ve used it mainly for quick image tweaks when opening a heavier tool felt like overkill.
It’s fast and accessible, but I don’t rely on it for anything critical. More of a utility than a workspace.
Useful to have bookmarked. Not something I’d build a workflow around.
Free tier limits: Ads and limited save options.
Paid plan: Around $5–$10/month. Removes ads and adds some assets.
AI features: Some automatic adjustments and background removal tools.
Best for: Quick edits
Downside: Limited depth
Final thoughts
What all of this has taught me is that there is no “best” graphic design tool in isolation. There are only tools that fit a situation well and tools that fight you.
Canva is fast. Figma is precise. Affinity is powerful. The mistake is expecting one tool to do all three.
If I had to simplify it:
- Fast and simple: Canva, Snappa, VistaCreate
- Professional work: Figma, Affinity Designer
- Presentations and data: Visme, Piktochart
Pick tools based on the job, not the trend.
Missing a tool?
Am I missing an email marketing tool from this list? Let me know!
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Disclosure: Editorial rankings are based on hands-on testing, evaluation of public user feedback, and real-world usage.