If you want to learn the fundamentals of graphic design, there’s no need to splash out on costly premium software – there are some superb programs programs available to download completely free, many of which are comparable to their premium counterparts.
For seasoned professionals there’s no real substitute for Adobe Creative Cloud, but if you’re not ready to invest in a subscription yet, these free graphic design programs are ideal.
Whether it’s creating and editing vector graphics, illustrations or infographics, we’ve picked out the best free software for the job. All of these tools will help you achieve great results, and won't spoil your work with watermarks.
1. Inkscape
A powerful vector graphics tool that's free and open source
Download Canva - Graphic Design Creator and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad. We've got thousands of free ready-made templates and photo grids created.
Comprehensive toolkit
Can be slow
Open source vector graphics editor Inkscape is widely known as the free counterpart to Adobe Illustrator – and for good reason. This free vector editor is a great choice for budding graphic designers thanks to its huge array of advanced tools and effects, including complex path operations, node editing, bitmap tracing and path-based text.
Like most free vector editing software, Inkscape’s chief format is SVG (scalable vector graphics) – an open source standard based around XML.
Inkscape is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and is a great cornerstone of any amateur graphic designer’s toolkit.
2. Krita
Free software packed with advanced drawing aids and templates
Lots of drawing aids
Krita was created by artists, for artists, with the belief that top-quality drawing software should be accessible to all graphic designers – regardless of income.
Krita is designed primarily for comic book artists, with a set of carefully designed tools including halftones and pre-made templates, but it’s also great for other forms of drawing. It offers a great set of drawing aids, including vanishing points, smooth shapes, layer masks and advanced selection functions.
If you’re venturing into illustration or comics, Krita is amazing. It's so feature-packed, you might find it a little overwhelming, but there's an excellent set of tutorials to get you started.
3. GIMP
An incredible tool for any designer who works with photos
Regularly updated
Interface can be inconsistent
GIMP is the free photo editing and graphic design software we use most here at TechRadar, for one simple reason: it's brilliant.
Whether you're adjusting photos, creating a digital painting or compositing several different elements, GIMP is fantastic. It doesn't have all the tools you'll find in Photoshop, and the fact that it's produced by a huge team of volunteers from around the world means its interface can be a little inconsistent in places, but it's packed with advanced brushes, filters, layers and masks.
In the event that it doesn't provide everything you need, you can always expand it using a huge archive of extensions, or install Photoshop plugins.
4. Blender
The ultimate free tool for graphic designers creating 3D content
Highly customizable
Steep learning curve
Blender is a 3D content creation suite that's completely free – even if you use your creations commercially. Whether it's modeling, rigging, rendering or animating, Blender has it covered.
Animators use Blender to create short films, TV shows, and even feature films, and its creators are constantly working to develop it further.
Its interface might look intimidating at first, but it's fully customizable and you can even create your own tools and extensions to suit the way you want to work.
5. Easel.ly
Infographics made easy with free templates and a clear interface
Excellent templates
When you need to create an infographic, you can do it manually using a vector graphics suite like Inkscape, or you can reach for a dedicated tool like Easel.ly.
There's no shortage of web apps for visualizing data, but Easel.ly is one of the best. It offers a good selection of templates for you to experiment with, plus a wide selection of shapes and other tools for editing the existing designs or creating your own from scratch.
![Windows 10 graphic design apps Windows 10 graphic design apps](http://www.wizardz.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/top-3graphic.jpg)
You can download your completed infographics in PDF or JPG format, with quality settings optimized for web and print use.
The basic tool is free and extra elements are available for a small fee, but unlike many free data visualization tools, Easel.ly won't watermark your work.
- Check out the best free photo editors to download right now
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Offers in-app purchases
Canva makes design and video editing amazingly simple (and fun)! ? Create stunning logo & poster designs with your photos and videos—even if you’re not a design expert!
A versatile free graphic design app: full editor, Instagram story maker, video maker, video editor, logo maker and poster maker, book creator & mood board creator — Canva is the ultimate editing app.
Design your Instagram Highlight cover, Instagram Story or no crop posts, create a logo and banner for social networks: Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. You can also make birthday invitations & wedding invites.
Stay on brand with our logo creator or logo designer for your business cards, posters or Instagram posts. Available on your phone & computer to jump back into your design anytime, anywhere.
How to Use Canva
1. Start from scratch or a ready-to-use design
Create a design with our blank canvas, or save time and use any of our 60,000 FREE templates created by professional designers, including a logo & video. No need for a tutorial or to hand draw designs. Use our logo designer & logo maker, poster and video editing tools for your masterpiece.
2. Use the perfect image
Upload pictures and videos from your device gallery, or pick from our library of premium photos & illustrations to make the perfect logo, poster and video.
3. Edit & add text to photos or videos
Easily add quotes or multiple text to any graphic. Change font (we've got 500+ options!), size, color, spacing, and position.
4. Edit pictures like a pro
Use our free image editor to apply photo filters, change brightness, add vignette, and more.
5. Show it off to the world
Share designs directly to Instagram, WhatsApp, email, or simply save to your device.
Use Canva for Social Media
• Create a memorable instaquote with the Instagram Highlight cover, Instagram highlight icons maker, and Instagram story maker
• Create Facebook Posts & Facebook Covers
• Design Pinterest & Twitter banners & Youtube thumbnails
• Make cards, evites, photo collages & use Canva as a picture maker, poster creator or logo creator for all social media
Use Canva for Everything
• Logo designer, book cover, blog design for any project
• Evites for any event: birthday card maker, wedding invitation maker, evite creator
• Simple, free image editing app
• Photo collage maker, flyer maker, banner maker for any occasion
• Design motivational quotes and humorous memes
• Stunning Instagram Story templates
• Party invitation maker, school poster maker, video banner maker
• For business: logo editor, brochure, resume, presentation, promo poster maker
Create Designs Quickly
Use Search to find templates faster. Type your theme: 'birthday card,' 'baby photo collage, 'sale flyer,' “save the date card,” 'music poster maker,' 'beauty social media post,' more.
Collaborate on Canva
Create a free team to easily share & edit designs with friends or colleagues. Work together on presentations, business cards, brochures, & other design needs. Upgrade to Canva Pro to set your brand colors & upload brand fonts.
Canva Makes You Look Good
Use Canva as an invitation creator, poster creator, logo maker, online invitation maker, business card maker. Add a video to your next Instagram Story to make it come to life!
---
Follow @canva on Instagram for design tips. Got feedback? https://canva.me/android/
Permissions:
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: Add images from your photo gallery.
CAMERA/WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: Take a photo in the app & store designs in your gallery.
A versatile free graphic design app: full editor, Instagram story maker, video maker, video editor, logo maker and poster maker, book creator & mood board creator — Canva is the ultimate editing app.
Design your Instagram Highlight cover, Instagram Story or no crop posts, create a logo and banner for social networks: Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. You can also make birthday invitations & wedding invites.
Stay on brand with our logo creator or logo designer for your business cards, posters or Instagram posts. Available on your phone & computer to jump back into your design anytime, anywhere.
How to Use Canva
1. Start from scratch or a ready-to-use design
Create a design with our blank canvas, or save time and use any of our 60,000 FREE templates created by professional designers, including a logo & video. No need for a tutorial or to hand draw designs. Use our logo designer & logo maker, poster and video editing tools for your masterpiece.
2. Use the perfect image
Upload pictures and videos from your device gallery, or pick from our library of premium photos & illustrations to make the perfect logo, poster and video.
3. Edit & add text to photos or videos
Easily add quotes or multiple text to any graphic. Change font (we've got 500+ options!), size, color, spacing, and position.
4. Edit pictures like a pro
Use our free image editor to apply photo filters, change brightness, add vignette, and more.
5. Show it off to the world
Share designs directly to Instagram, WhatsApp, email, or simply save to your device.
Use Canva for Social Media
• Create a memorable instaquote with the Instagram Highlight cover, Instagram highlight icons maker, and Instagram story maker
• Create Facebook Posts & Facebook Covers
• Design Pinterest & Twitter banners & Youtube thumbnails
• Make cards, evites, photo collages & use Canva as a picture maker, poster creator or logo creator for all social media
Use Canva for Everything
• Logo designer, book cover, blog design for any project
• Evites for any event: birthday card maker, wedding invitation maker, evite creator
• Simple, free image editing app
• Photo collage maker, flyer maker, banner maker for any occasion
• Design motivational quotes and humorous memes
• Stunning Instagram Story templates
• Party invitation maker, school poster maker, video banner maker
• For business: logo editor, brochure, resume, presentation, promo poster maker
Create Designs Quickly
Use Search to find templates faster. Type your theme: 'birthday card,' 'baby photo collage, 'sale flyer,' “save the date card,” 'music poster maker,' 'beauty social media post,' more.
Collaborate on Canva
Create a free team to easily share & edit designs with friends or colleagues. Work together on presentations, business cards, brochures, & other design needs. Upgrade to Canva Pro to set your brand colors & upload brand fonts.
Canva Makes You Look Good
Use Canva as an invitation creator, poster creator, logo maker, online invitation maker, business card maker. Add a video to your next Instagram Story to make it come to life!
---
Follow @canva on Instagram for design tips. Got feedback? https://canva.me/android/
Permissions:
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: Add images from your photo gallery.
CAMERA/WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: Take a photo in the app & store designs in your gallery.
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