best graphic design apps for surface pro

best free graphic design software

Working on the design of graphical interfaces will be more convenient if you use a good free graphic design software. In this case, Adobe programs fully deserve the leading positions, however, you will have to pay each month. Just count the amount of money you will be paying during a couple of years of using it and you will be terrified.

If you are just beginning to work with graphic design or want to save your money on such programs, the best choice for you will be to use free graphics software. In this article, I am offering you 12 free tools for graphic designers that are resource-tolerant don't require purchasing the best computer for graphic design.

1. Vectr

FixThePhoto editors' choice

Editors' Rating (5/5)
Windows / Linux / Chrome OS / Web

Pros+

Cross-platform and browser versions
Intuitive, easy to use interface
Easy project sharing
WordPress integration

This is a graphic design free software for creating different projects – from t-shirt prints to full-fledged graphics for websites. Vectr has a simple and intuitive interface, allows you to export created files in real-time.

Also, this software provides functionality for exchanging the information between different devices, which makes it convenient for team design.

Their website tells you several times that it's not difficult to use and the developers can help you any time and with any question.

The Vectr's learning curve is low. That's why if you can't afford to buy more expensive vector programs, this will be a great option for you to start.

It's very simple to find various tutorials using Vectr software as there are about 30 of them on their website. You can use this software both online and via download. As for your work, it will be automatically saved and synched.

Read more about the best Adobe Illustrator alternatives.

2. Inkscape

A powerful software for vector graphics. Free even for commercial use

Editors' Rating (4.5/5)
Windows / Mac / Linux

Pros+

Completely free
Plenty of filters
Contains new nice effect tools
A lot of educational content

Cons-

Can be very slow in large projects

This open-source vector free graphics program is widely known as a free analog of Adobe Illustrator. The difference between them is in the fact that Inkscape uses Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) as the main format. Designers, who are familiar with vector graphics, will easily master this program. Here you can create projects of any complexity.

It is a winner in Inkscape vs Photoshop battle, if you need a program for beginning graphic designers as it provides a large number of modern tools and effects, including complex path manipulations, node editing, bitmap tracing, and path-based text.

As soon as you enter their website, Inkscape immediately shows that it's a professional tool for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. However, there is a separate page that contains instructions and tells how to download it.

Read more about how to buy Adobe InDesign without subscription?

3. Visme

The largest library of visual assets

Pros+

Lots of templates
Saves color palettes
Suitable for teamwork
Can create animation and videos
Integrates with other apps

Cons-

More expensive than competitors

Visme is an online tool for branding and creating visual assets such as charts, slideshows, storyboards, and even social media ad units. You can cope with such a variety of tasks thanks to an extensive stock library of graphic resources. Visme focuses on brand aesthetics and has features to preserve color palettes, images, videos and other assets of your brand/company.

In addition to classic presentations, you can create short videos and animations with transitions. The software offers numerous templates and allows you to add text or select the transition you want.

One of the most important innovations is the possibility to work as a team on the same file. You can draw up a special plan and develop a report or diagram of your business for your design team.

Visme integrates with many applications so that you can retrieve assets and data that you already store somewhere. What I really like is the possibility to download and share a file from a view-only link, inviting people to leave comments and annotations on the file.

4. Gravit Designer

Best free graphic design software for beginners

Editors' Rating (4/5)
Windows / Mac / Linux / Chrome OS / Web

Pros+

A huge library of vector assets
Intuitive user interface and workflow
The browser and cross-platform versions are connected to the cloud

Cons-

It will become paid in the future
Lack of additional functions

The developers of Gravit Designer software offer many possibilities. This is something between Inkscape and Vectr.

It has more functions than Vectr and is as intuitive as Inkscape. This program allows you to do everything that you expect from a vector software and have some tools typically available in digital asset management software for photographers.

You can create curves, edit paths, manage layers and use the knife function. It supports SVG, PDF, JPEG, SKETCH and since recently, EPS formats for import and export too. Besides, you can work on your projects on different platforms.

Gravit Cloud provides a smooth transfer of files between desktop and online versions. A portable version of this software is also available.

Among other useful functions of Gravit, there are vector assets available. The library of Gravit Designer assets includes badges, forms, emojis and illustrations that can be combined and modified for commercial and non-commercial use.

5. Canva

The best program for social media graphics

Editors' Rating (3.5/5)
Web / iOS / Android | Read Canva Review

Pros+

Access from any computers and devices
Thousands of templates
Easy to use

Cons-

You can't change the size of the image in a free version
Requires fast Internet

Canva has 10 million users and provides universal tools using which you can design anything you want, including email headers, presentations and infographics for blogs. The design of their website is very intuitive and beginner-friendly. It also has a drag-and-drop function and high-quality free graphic templates.

This software is a popular option for non-designers at a last resort. It works well with graphics, however, if you have to create documents with many pages, you will not be able to do it here.

Also, this software doesn't offer the function of template locking for such brand assets as fonts, colors and logos. Thus, if you are going to work with simple graphics, this is the best free online graphic design software.

6. Designhill Studio

Super fast, fun, and effortless editing

designhill studio graphic design software interface

Editors' Rating (4/5)
Windows / Linux / macOS /Android OS

Pros+

No design experience required to use it
Click-based clean & simple interface
Creative freedom
Pre-designed layouts
An extensive library of templates, icons, shapes, and graphics

Cons-

Delayed loading time
No mobile app version is available
Cannot use without having an account with Designhill

Designhill Studio is an incredible photo editor tool that comes with an innovative and user-friendly interface. It has served millions of businesses and individuals across the world. You can not only edit your favorite images but also create & personalize your logo. Surprisingly, the software offers an extensive library of templates, elements, and effects making editing a breeze.

What makes it even more interesting is that it's free to use. Both designers, as well as non-designers, can use it for varied purposes.

7. GIMP

A powerful raster graphics editor

Editors' Rating (4/5)
Windows / Mac / Linux | Read GIMP Review

Pros+

Vivid and modern UI
Easy to use
Has single windows usage

Cons-

Contains several bugs

Gimp graphic design software is well-thought-out and surprisingly free. It provides a versatile photo editor that can work on all main operating systems.

Gimp is for those who are looking for robust software to perform different manipulations with photos, create paintings or mock-ups.

The interface of this free graphics software is similar to Adobe Photoshop. A few tool icons are the same and the layer setup is not worse than in Photoshop.

The developers consider the requests of the users and do everything to enhance the functions of this software. One of such functions is saving and exporting files. It saves your working files in XCF format. But you will have to export other formats.

Read more about GIMP vs Photoshop.

8. Easelly

Software for creating infographics automatically

Editors' Rating (3/5)
Web

Pros+

Create all the diagrams online
Instant upload a finished layout to your website, social network or computer
To use additional functions of this resource, you have to pay just $3 a month

Cons-

No autosave
Might not be useful for advanced users

The next option might seem too creative for those who haven't worked with infographics yet. Especially, if you take into consideration a set of different icons in the form of moving people, various lines and diagrams.

This software allows you to create and edit different infographics and display it in PDF or JPG formats. The basic version is free but additional elements are available for a small fee. However, unlike many other data visualization tools, Easelly is way cheaper.

9. SVG-Edit

Best software for simple tasks

Editors' Rating (3/5)
Web

Pros+

Simple, fast in use
Open-source web code

Cons-

Node management is not ideal

SVG-edit is one of the free design programs that does exactly what its name implies. It edits SVG and creates its own. This is a free online program that is available in the majority of browsers.

A set of functions is standard. Here you can create shapes, draw with pencil, transform lines into paths, color and add images. The result can be exported to popular web formats, such as WMP, JPG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and, of course, SVG.

The interface is quite simple and reminds me of drawing programs from the beginning of the 2000s – there is nothing special here.

10. Daz 3D

Best software for creating 3D graphics

Editors' Rating (4/5)
Windows / Mac

Pros+

Characters look realistic
Offers Morphing Tools, Facial Expressions, Movements
Provides 3D Content Modeling, Animation, Rendering
Has 3D Creation Tool

Cons-

Hasn't had updates for a long time
Requires powerful computer

This is the best free graphic design software for animators, illustrators and designers. It can be used for 3D animation, figure posing and rendering.

The software represents a combination of various graphic design platforms, solutions and additions, such as Hexagon, Genesis 8 and Daz Studio. They work together in order to create the possibilities of designing 3D rigged human models.

Also, using Daz 3D, you can create amazing digital locations, animations and illustrations. It's a universal software that offers a lot of functions that help adjust scenes and characters and make masterpieces out of them. Daz 3D has a figure platform and character engine that enables the creation of detailed characters.

11. Blender

High-quality open-source software for 3D content and graphics

Editors' Rating (4.5/5)
Mac / Linux / Windows

Pros+

Free open-source software
Possibility to export files to other formats
Possibility to render with your GPU instead of CPU

Cons-

No appropriate support of motion capture
Difficult animation management if you have more than 15 animations
Complicated learning curve

Blender is one of the best graphics programs for creating 3D computer graphics. It is used for 3D modeling and visualization in different spheres. Also, Blender will be useful for creating outdoor advertising, print products and web-design.

It is often simpler and faster to model the object from the right angle than to search for it, select it or draw. The result looks more realistic as when visualizing the object, its physical features are taken into account.

If you need to include objects in your design that don't exist in real life, you can only model them or draw. Since this program is a vector one, you will achieve qualitative images as a result. Even on banners, their quality will win compared to photos.

12. Krita

Free software for drawing

Editors' Rating (3.5/5)
Mac / Linux / Windows | Read Krita review

Pros+

Contains plenty of illustrations and examples
Not difficult to follow
Bright and interesting
Shows both basic and advanced methods

Cons-

Plenty of memory is required
Tools for text

Krita is the best free graphic design software with an open source for illustrators and concept artists. It will be most useful for comic book artists as it has a set of tools, such as halftones and ready-made templates, specifically for these tasks.

However, the software is suitable for other types of drawing as well. Krita offers a large set of drawing tools, including vanishing points, smooth shapes, layer masks and many more. Moreover, the program is often advertized as a great alternative to Adobe Ps, and there are mant Krita vs Photoshop reviews covering their similarities and differences.