10 Popular Graphic Design Tools & Software Suitable for Business Use

Powerful visuals are no longer a luxury for businesses. They’re a necessity. From social media posts to captivating presentations, design is the language that connects with your audience. But with a sea of graphic design tools available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. The good news? The perfect fit can elevate your brand identity, streamline workflows, and ultimately boost your bottom line. Let’s dive into 10 popular options to empower your business with stunning visuals.

How Important is Graphic Design for Your Business?

Graphic design is far more important than just making your business look pretty. It’s a powerful tool that can directly affect your bottom line. Here’s why:

Think of it this way: Your business is like a book. Great graphic design is the cover that entices people to pick it up and start reading. It’s what creates that initial spark of interest and compels them to learn more about what you have to offer. By investing in graphic design, you’re investing in the future of your business.

Which Sectors of the Business Rely on Graphic Design Tools?

Graphic design tools hold significance across various sectors of a business, impacting how a brand is perceived and interacts with its audience. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas:

1. Brand Identity & Communication:

   • Logo Design: Crafting a professional logo that represents your brand essence.

   • Marketing Materials: Creating visually appealing brochures, flyers, presentations, etc. for clear communication.

   • Social Media Graphics: Designing eye-catching posts and stories for effective brand storytelling.

2. Visual Content Creation:

   • Website & App Design: Building user-friendly interfaces with a strong visual hierarchy for a seamless user experience.

   • Product Packaging & Branding: Designing packaging that grabs attention on shelves and reflects your brand identity.

   • Infographics & Presentations: Developing clear and concise visuals to present data and information in an engaging way.

3. Marketing & Sales:

   • Digital Marketing Materials: Creating impactful visuals for emails, ads, and landing pages to increase click-through rates and conversions.

   • Proposals & Sales Collateral: Designing professional proposals and presentations with clear visuals to win more clients.

   • Promotional Materials: Developing visually appealing designs for branded merchandise and swag to enhance brand awareness.

4. Efficiency & Collaboration:

   • Streamlining Workflows: Tools allow designers to work faster and more efficiently, meeting deadlines and maximizing productivity.

   • Version Control & Feedback: Enabling easy collaboration by tracking design iterations and facilitating feedback from clients and teams.

   • Design Consistency: Tools help maintain brand consistency by providing access to shared fonts, colors, and design assets.

Essentially, graphic design tools enable companies to produce excellent images that promote their brand, captivate viewers, and help them reach their target market and revenue targets.

10 Popular Graphic Design Software & Tools for Businesses

Here are 10 Popular Graphic Design Tools & Software for Businesses:

1. Adobe Illustrator

   • Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. It has a diverse set of drawing tools and features that help you create illustrations, charts, diagrams, logos, maps, and complex artwork for any medium.

   • Pricing: Adobe Illustrator is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, which starts at $20.99/month for individuals and $79.99/month for teams.

   • Features: Industry-standard vector graphics software, top-tier editing, type, and vector drawing tools, AI capabilities, and continual updates.

   • Pros: Compatibility with other Adobe products, versatile vector design tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Cons: Expensive subscription plans, steep learning curve, complex file management, and limited photo editing capabilities.

   • Platform: Windows, Mac, iPad, Android.

2. Sketch

   • Sketch is a vector graphics editor for macOS developed by the Dutch company Bohemian Coding. It is primarily used for UI and UX design of mobile apps and web.

   • Pricing: Sketch offers a free trial, and the full version costs $99/year.

   • Features: Vector-based tool, UI and UX-related usages, icon design, prototyping, and creating user flows.

   • Pros: User-friendly features, custom keyboard shortcuts, and high-rated customer support.

   • Cons: Expensive, limited free plan, and only available on macOS.

   • Platform: MacOS.

3. Figma

   • Figma is a cloud-based design tool that is similar to Sketch in functionality but with added features like component libraries, real-time collaboration, and versioning.

   • Pricing: Figma offers a free plan, and the professional plan starts at $12/month.

   • Features: Design systems enable scalable development, realistic prototyping, quick iteration, and feedback, and Dev Mode bridges the gap between design and development.

   • Pros: Real-time collaboration, component libraries, and versioning.

   • Cons: Limited free plan, and primarily web-based (though there is a desktop app).

   • Platform: Web, Windows, Mac.

4. Canva

   • Canva is a graphic design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents, and other visual content.

   • Pricing: Canva offers a free plan, and the Pro plan starts at $12.99/month.

   • Features: User-friendly platform, comprehensive template library, AI tools, and real-time collaboration.

   • Pros: Comprehensive template library, AI-powered tools, and printing services.

   • Cons: Limited design capabilities compared to professional software.

   • Platform: Web, iOS, Android.

5. Adobe Photoshop

   • Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. It has become the de facto industry standard for raster graphics editing, and it has been contributing to digital art, graphic design, and photography.

   • Pricing: Adobe Photoshop is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, which starts at $20.99/month for individuals and $79.99/month for teams.

   • Features: Raster graphics editor, 2D and 3D image manipulation, compositing, video editing, and image analysis.

   • Pros: Industry-standard image editing software, versatile design capabilities, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Cons: Expensive subscription plans, steep learning curve, complex file management, and resource-heavy.

   • Platform: Windows, Mac, iPad, Android.

6. Inkscape

   • Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor. It can be used to create or edit vector graphics such as illustrations, diagrams, logos, and cartoons.

   • Pricing: Free and open-source.

   • Features: Vector graphics editor, diverse set of drawing tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Pros: Free and open-source, versatile vector design tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Cons: Steep learning curve, and may not be as polished as commercial software.

   • Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux.

7. Affinity Designer

   • Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editor developed by Serif Europe as part of the Affinity suite.

   • Pricing: One-time purchase of $54.99.

   • Features: Vector graphics editor, automation, templates, collaboration tools, and analytics.

   • Pros: Affordable one-time purchase, user-friendly features, and high-rated customer support.

   • Cons: Limited free plan, and primarily available on macOS and PC.

   • Platform: MacOS, PC.

8. GIMP

   • GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image retouching and editing, free-form drawing, converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks.

   • Pricing: Free and open-source.

   • Features: Raster graphics editor, diverse set of image manipulation tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Pros: Free and open-source, versatile image manipulation tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Cons: Steep learning curve, and may not be as polished as commercial software.

   • Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux.

9. Gravit Designer

   • Gravit Designer is a free vector design app for all platforms, built with performance in mind. It lets you create stunning graphics, illustrations, and interfaces in a single, consistent workflow.

   • Pricing: Free and open-source.

   • Features: Vector graphics editor, diverse set of design tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Pros: Free and open-source, versatile vector design tools, and supports multiple file formats.

   • Cons: Steep learning curve, and may not be as polished as commercial software.

   • Platform: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux.

10. Vectr

    • Vectr is a free vector graphics editor that’s available on the web or as a desktop app. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that lets you create vector graphics, illustrations, and designs with ease.

    • Pricing: Free and open-source.

    • Features: Vector graphics editor, diverse set of design tools, and supports multiple file formats.

    • Pros: Free and open-source, user-friendly interface, and supports multiple file formats.

    • Cons: Limited features compared to professional software, and may not be suitable for complex designs.

    • Platform: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux.

The best design tool depends on your budget, skill level, and project needs. Powerful options may cost more and require learning, while free tools offer a starting point with limitations. Ultimately, the key is to find a tool that fits your business’s needs and allows you to create high-quality designs that resonate with your audience.

What are the Best Free Graphic Design Software for Businesses on Budget?

Here are some of the best free graphic design tools for businesses on a budget:

These are just a few of the many free graphic design tools available for businesses on a budget. With a little creativity and exploration, you can find the tool that is right for your needs and help you create professional-looking graphics for your business.

How to Choose the Best Graphic Design Software for Your Business?

Choosing the right graphic design software depends on your needs and budget.

Struggling to choose the best graphic design tool? StaQ.ai has got you covered! Explore our curated selection and find the software that seamlessly integrates with your workflow.