Graphic design software has forever changed the way designers and fine artists work, with AI further accelerating developments. PCMag has been evaluating graphic design software for more than a decade, so you can trust that we know what's best for every artistic need. We've tested programs that have been around since the beginning (such as CorelDraw, Illustrator, and Photoshop), as well as newer arrivals that help you create marketing content for social media platforms (such as Adobe Express, Canva, and Figma).
Our top image editing pick is Adobe Photoshop, but our selections also span the collaboration, interface design, page layout, typography, and vector editing categories. May 15, 2026: With this update, we added Affinity to our list of recommended graphic design software. If you work with raster images and need compositing layers, Photoshop is hard to beat. Adobe's software is the industry standard, so any clients or vendors you deal with likely want files from it. Other apps support its formats but don't guarantee full compatibility and lack Photoshop's slick interface and cutting-edge image manipulation tools.
Adobe’s flagship tools for professionals
Professional graphics designers: Designers usually work in Illustrator and InDesign, but they often need to edit photos as well. That's where Photoshop comes in, with its state-of-the-art precision tools for working with layers of raster and vector images alike.
Professional photographers: Retouchers, in particular, as well as those who need to make composite images, rely on Photoshop. The app lets you make detailed pixel-level edits and apply advanced features and effects, such as automatic noise reduction.
Serious amateur photographers and students: This group of users can greatly benefit from learning to use Photoshop, and the program includes multifarious help and tutorial resources. Adobe's painting, sketching, and watercolor app makes creating art feel incredibly natural. It also includes effective animation tools and excellent help resources. The app is now entirely free, meaning you get all the once-premium brushes and shapes at no cost. Adobe provides 5GB of cloud storage for your creations. You must have an iPad, iPhone, or Windows device (such as the Microsoft Surface) to use Adobe Fresco. You also need a stylus, such as the Apple Pencil or Surface Slim Pen.
Vector editing and typography supremacy
Illustrator is the premier vector editing and drawing application. Yes, you can edit vector graphics and pull off some effects a bit easier in some other apps (namely CorelDraw). But most graphics designers are still better off learning and creating with the industry standard Illustrator. With it, you also get companion tablet apps for creating digital drawings and impressive type support.
After Effects users: Illustrator provides vector characters, shapes, and paths for use in Adobe's motion graphics application. Professional graphics designers: If you want to produce attractive icons and logos, Illustrator is the best tool for the job. It's also appropriate for creating jobs you intend to send to printers, such as packaging and posters. Hobbyists: Do you want to create visual art but don't have drawing skills? The Bézier curves, shapes, and vector paths allow you to create geometric line art and cartoons. Technical Illustrators and typographers: Anyone who needs to produce diagrams, infographics, or patterns can find all the tools they need in Illustrator. Likewise, no other competitor allows as much detailed control over fonts.
Publication layouts and templates
InDesign is another Adobe product that's the default choice among pros; it's the preeminent publication layout software. It pushed QuarkXpress out of that spot years ago. As with its Creative Cloud stablemates, Adobe continues to enhance InDesign with tools for the ever-changing publishing landscape, as well as add creativity and ease-of-use features. Layout design professionals: If you're putting out a magazine, newsletter, or newspaper that requires multipage layouts, InDesign is the go-to software. Appealing modern design templates for presentations, printing capabilities, and social media tie-ins are the highlights of Canva.
Accessible design for marketers and non-designers
The desktop, mobile, and web apps are free, though you can access a wealth of extra templates and stock content for an annual fee. Canva now lets you use AI to generate images and even videos based on text prompts. Marketers without design training: Canva's template-based process lets non-designers create attractive graphics. It's highly intuitive. Professional designers: Even pros with time constraints might appreciate Canva's handholding and stock content. Just keep in mind that you might run into some restrictions if you are used to having granular control over every last element of your design.
Collaborative and modern interface design
The core Figma Design component provides a superb set of tools, including deep font options, extensive design kits, and useful templates. If you work on a team of designers, you will benefit from branded design systems, convenient coworking features, and robust version control. You can even hand off important aspects of your design to your developer team to vet before they start coding. The whole experience is extremely intuitive, and Figma provides lots of help resources and tutorials to help you out. Collaborative interface creators: If you frequently need to collaborate with others for your design prototyping work, Figma is by far the best platform we've tested. It's a complete solution that's accessible no matter your level of experience.
Specialized options for artists on tablets
Procreate is a premium, low-cost iPad app for artists of every kind, from professionals to hobbyists. Hobbyists and students: Given its low price, Procreate is a good fit for amateurs and learners. You won't feel restricted by its capabilities, either. Professional artists: Whether you're an iPad owner who illustrates, paints, or sketches for clients or your own company, Procreate lets you express your visual creativity.
Alternate and affordable suites
Aff initiated: Affinity is a slick, free creative suite for macOS and Windows that conveniently combines image, layout, and vector editing capabilities. The app is intuitive to use, with its components organized into easily accessible Studios. With the Pixel Studio (photo editing), you can open most raw images and adjust all the standard color and lighting levels you might expect. Several special effects are available, alongside a competitive selection of editing brushes. Meanwhile, the Layout Studio provides standard tools for arranging text and graphics, and the Vector Studio gives you a compelling set of drawing brushes. Just keep in mind that you don't get every feature from dedicated software in these areas, and that some overlapping tools don't quite perform to the same level. Cost-conscious creatives: If the high subscription costs of Adobe's apps and others are hindering your design dreams, Affinity gives you a capable set of tools for free. Yes, paid apps are better in some areas, but that shouldn't dissuade you from at least getting started with Affinity. Multidiscipline artists: Why limit yourself to just one artistic pursuit? Affinity combines image manipulation, layout design, and vector editing tools in a friendly interface that lets you easily switch between various Studios.
Additional notes on file compatibility and workflow
Adobe's software is the industry standard, so any clients or vendors you deal with likely want files from it. Other apps support its formats but don't guarantee full compatibility and lack Photoshop's slick interface and cutting-edge image manipulation tools. Illustrator provides vector characters, shapes, and paths for use in other Adobe products, and InDesign remains a staple for multipage publications.
| Category | Popular Tools | Notable Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Image editing | Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, Canva | Pixel-level edits, advanced effects, broad format support |
| Vector & illustration | Illustrator, CorelDraw, Affinity Designer | Bezier curves, typography control, scalable graphics |
| Layout & publishing | InDesign, Canva | Multipage layouts, professional templates |
| UI/UX & prototyping | Figma, Sketch (legacy) | Collaboration, design systems, rapid prototyping |
| All-in-one / multi-studio | Affinity (Studio groups) | Unified image, layout, vector workspaces |
Infographics and diagrams can help readers quickly compare capabilities across tools, so a concise visual aid is included above.
Graphic Design Basics | FREE COURSE
A short overview video can help readers grasp the ecosystem and tool roles, included here for quick context.