5 Popular Graphic Design Software and How to Choose One

Chances are, you've heard of Canva or Adobe. These are just two popular graphic design software tools that creatives use to make images, videos, and other media or art for brand marketing and other creative pursuits. Graphic design software refers to apps and programs that graphic designers use to create, edit, and manipulate digital images.

They allow designers to edit and resize images, produce original illustrations, combine text, colour, and shapes, and bring their vision to life. The finished products may appear in brochures, websites, mobile apps, and social media. 

Keep reading to explore five popular software programs for graphic designers and some steps to choosing the best one for you.  

5 popular software programs for graphic design 

You’ll find a wealth of software programs for graphic design to choose from, depending on your preferences. Below are details about some popular options. 

1. Adobe Illustrator

Available through the Adobe Creative Cloud app, available for PC and macOS

• Category: Vector graphics

• Features: Templates, blank document presets, workspaces for touch-enabled devices, sync with InDesign

• What it’s best for: Designing vector graphics that can be scaled larger or smaller without affecting image quality

• Cost: £21.98 per month

2. Canva for Teams

Available in the cloud

• Category: Display ad design, photo editing, desktop publishing, data visualisation, design systems

• Features: Collaborate on designs, brand templates, design approval, asset and permission management

• What it's best for: Scaling the entire design process, teamwide, for people at any skill level

• Cost: £90 per year for the first 5 people

3. Adobe InDesign

Available through the Adobe Creative Cloud app, available for PC and macOS

• Category: Desktop publishing

• Features: Templates, blank document presets, workspaces for touch-enabled devices, sync with Illustrator

• What it's best for: Creating long-form multi-page documents, such as books, magazines, reports, or brochures

• Cost: £21.98 per month

4. Coral Draw

Available for PC

• Category: Vector graphics

• Features: Cross-platform and cloud integration, high compatibility, comprehensive tool kit for design. 

• What it's best for: All-in-one illustration and page design

• Cost: USD 22.42 per month

5. Adobe Photoshop

Available on PC or macOS

• Category: Photo editing

• Features: Pixel-level editing, synced libraries, mobile and web design tools, photo correction and manipulation 

• What it's best for: Professional photo editing

• Cost: £21.98 per month

How to choose graphic design software

Given the range of prices, features, and use cases for different graphic design apps and software, it is important to choose software that aligns with your goals and interests. Follow the steps below to make the best software selection for your needs.

Professional designers may want the advanced features of Creative Cloud, while a marketing manager working on social media content may need easy-to-use software for beginners, such as Canva.

Reflect on your design goals.

What are your design goals? You may be searching for jobs as a graphic designer, starting a graphic design business, doing freelance work, or designing graphics to promote your business. Try asking these questions to get you started:

• What kind of graphic design projects do you want to complete?

• What areas of graphic design do you want to focus on?

• How would you describe your long-term interest in graphic design? 

Take a graphic design course. 

Learning graphic design skills and concepts can make selecting the right software easier. Look for courses that introduce you to different software programs and guide you through using them to complete projects. 

Research graphic design software. 

Become familiar with software programs and what they offer, how much they cost, and how you can use them to complete projects. Consider examples such as DesignWizard, Canva, Adobe Express, and Lunacy as the best free programs for beginners and marketers. 

As you gather more information, list features like a photo editor or background remover that you need a software program to have. Below, find some examples of features you may be looking for: 

• Intuitive, easy-to-navigate user-friendly interface

• Templates and pre-made designs that you can customise without having to start from scratch 

• A help desk or support documentation for learning the different features

• Pro-level features and capabilities for completing advanced designs 

• Features optimised for specific tasks or projects 

What software programs do employers use?

Adobe Creative Cloud is popular with graphic designers, while Canva has a design that makes it easy for anybody in any industry (not just designers). Peruse LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed job listings to determine which program employers prefer their designers to be proficient in. If you're hoping to go freelance, review social media profiles and portfolios of freelance designers who offer the kind of services you want to provide. 

Experiment with different software tools. 

Before deciding on graphic design software, you can sign up for free trials or basic software plans that suit your needs. That way, you can feel confident selecting a program and investing long-term in it. Be sure to give yourself enough time to complete a project, even a small one, and test all of the features of each software before committing to your favourite. 

Learn graphic design on Coursera.

The best graphic design software depends on your abilities and design goals. Choosing a program to support your aspirations is only one way to advance your graphic design skills. Online courses can help you increase your expertise and gain exposure to crucial graphic design software and skills for today’s business world. 

Consider taking the CalArts' Graphic Design Specialisation, which covers the fundamentals of graphic design, typography, image making, the history of graphic design, and brand development. This series of courses may inspire graphic design beginners to embark on this exciting and creative career path.