The best graphic design software

Adjust Colors panel in Photoshop
(Image credit: Adobe)

The best graphic design software can make the difference between a slick, professional finish and something that screams "first attempt." So whether you're crafting a logo or social media content, choosing the right tool is key.

These days, there's no shortage of options. You’ve got Adobe’s Creative Cloud Suite (pricey, but packed with features), as well as a new wave of challengers offering smart tools and more budget-friendly price tags. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best graphic design software for 2025, weighing up things like functionality, ease of use, learning curve, and value for money.

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Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Subscription-only, expensive

★★★

Features

Extensive range of tools

★★★★★

Works with other software?

Fully integrated with Creative Cloud

★★★★★

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Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Subscription-only, premium pricing

★★★

Features

Comprehensive professional toolset

★★★★★

Works with other software?

Full integration with Creative Cloud

★★★★★

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Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Subscription-free, cheap

★★★★★

Features

Strong core toolset

★★★★

Works with other software?

Compatibile with AI/PSD files, integrates well with other Affinity products

★★★★

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Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Cheap and subscription-free

★★★★★

Features

Comprehensive editing toolkit

★★★★

Works with other software?

Good PSD compatibility

★★★

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Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Totally free

★★★★★

Features

Quite powerful but complex to learn

★★★

Works with other software?

Extensive file support

★★★

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Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Freemium model with decent free tier

★★★★★

Features

Excellent for UI design and collaboration

★★★★

Works with other software?

Strong export options and developer handoff features

★★★★

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Subscription-only, expensive

★★★

Features

Extensive range of tools

★★★★★

Works with other software?

Fully integrated with Creative Cloud

★★★★★

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Key features

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Free version available, Pro version good value

★★★★★

Features

Extensive templates and assets, limited advanced tools

★★★★

Works with other software?

Good export options, limited import capabilities

★★★

Tom May
Freelance journalist and editor

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World, T3.com and Tech Radar. He also writes for Creative Boom and works on content marketing projects.

With contributions from