Graphic design tools
Social posts, thumbnails, templates, print. 6 tools we track, checked .
Short answer page: What's the best graphic design tool?
Ranked by fit for solo businesses: tools we profile in depth first, then those used in our research notes, then the rest. Affiliate status never changes the order.
- 1
Canva
Pick this if you want fast templated design for non-designers.
Online design tool with templates for social posts, slides, print and video.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · $0 · then US$144/year for one person · Difficulty 1/5
- 2
Figma
Pick this if you want uI design and precise layouts.
Collaborative interface and graphic design tool in the browser.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 3/5
- 3
Adobe Express
Pick this if you want canva-style design inside Adobe.
Adobe's template-based design app with Firefly built in.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 1/5
- 4
Kittl
Pick this if you want t-shirt and merch designs.
Design tool for typography-heavy graphics and print-on-demand designs.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 2/5
- 5
Affinity
Pick this if you want pro design without a subscription.
Professional design, photo and layout app from Canva.
Free · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 3/5
- 6
Inkscape
Pick this if you want free vector and SVG work.
Free, open-source vector graphics editor.
Free, open source · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 3/5
Side-by-side
| Tool | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Difficulty | Output rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canva | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then US$144/year for one person | 1/5 | You own or may use output commercially | Fast templated design for non-designers |
| Figma | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | 3/5 | – | UI design and precise layouts |
| Adobe Express | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | 1/5 | – | Canva-style design inside Adobe |
| Kittl | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | 2/5 | – | T-shirt and merch designs |
| Affinity | Free | Yes | Free | 3/5 | – | Pro design without a subscription |
| Inkscape | Free, open source | Yes | Free | 3/5 | – | Free vector and SVG work |
"Starting price" is shown only for tools we profile in depth, where we read the official pricing page on . For the others, check the official site.