Best Graphic Design Software of 2021

In this article, we’ll look at the best graphic design software of 2021. This list includes both free and paid software. However, this list doesn’t include any Abode products because I wanted to focus on lesser known or underrated design software.

1. Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editor created by Serif. This program is inexpensive and faster (pans and zooms at 60fps) than Adobe’s Illustrator. With Affinity Designer, you can work on printed projects, logos, UI designs, mockups, icons, illustrations, and more. Unlike Adobe, Serif doesn’t require a subscription to use its software. Affinity designer cost $49.99 for Windows and Mac, and it cost $19.99 for the iPad app. Both prices are a one-time payment. This means that once you buy it, you can keep it for life. Plus, any updates Serif makes to the software are free to download too if you’ve already purchased the software.

Other Affinity Designer features:

• You can customize Affinity Designer’s interface, keyboard shortcuts, document units, etc. to your own working needs.
• It Zooms beyond 1,000,000 %.
• Affinity Designer allows you to switch between personas: vector, pixel, and export.
• It contains layout grids and artboards.
• You can also open and edit embedded PSD files.

2. CorelDraw Graphics Suite

The CorelDraw Graphics suite’s software contains tools for vector, illustration, photo editing, typography, layout, and collaboration. This software is available on Windows, Mac, online, and iPad. As far as price goes, you can buy the graphics suite as a one-time payment or pay for a subscription. The one-time payment is $499. Unfortunately, this payment is for whatever the current version of Corel is available at the time of purchase. This means you wouldn’t have access to any updates made to the software. In contrast, the subscription cost $249/year, and it includes updates, collaboration tools, and more.

Other features of the CorelDraw Graphics suite:

• It includes an AI-powered bitmap-to-vector tracing application called PowerTrace.
• You can draw in 1, 2, or 3-point perspective.
• Its print layout contains both single-page and multipage editing.
• CorelDraw has Font Management which allows you to organize/manage your fonts without even downloading them.
• It also includes nondestructive editing.

3. Sketch

Another vector graphics editor software to try is Sketch. It’s only available on a Mac. Sketch lets you create UI/UX designs of websites and mobile apps and icon designs. Sketch is subscription based, and it cost $99/year. In addition, they also offer a 30-day free trial to try the software.

Other Sketch features:

• Sketch contains screen templates for iOS devices and web design layouts.
• It has real-time collaboration.
• Sketch allows you to share files via the cloud.

4. Gravit Designer

Now, here’s a free vector app to check out called Gravit Designer. This software contains vector illustration, web and app UI, and photo editing tools. So, it allows you to do graphic design, web design, and product design projects. There’s also a paid version called Gravit Designer Pro, and it’s currently $49/year (was $99/year). It includes things such as unlimited cloud storage, working offline, master pages, PDF export up to 300 DPI, and more.

5. Procreate

Procreate is an iPad only raster graphics editing app. This app allows you to create sketches, paintings, illustrations, and animations. In addition, Procreate contains over 100 brushes that range from pencils, charcoals, inks, and more. Furthermore, this app costs only $9.99.

Other Procreate features:

• Its brush studio allows you to create your own brushes or customize existing brushes.
• Procreate paints fast (at 120fps) due to its Valkyrie graphics engine.
• It allows you to paint with filters.

6. Inkscape

Next, we move on to Inkscape. Inkscape is a free, open-source graphic design software that allows you to do vector drawing. This is a suitable alternative to Adobe Illustrator, and it’s good for hobbyists, beginners, and some professionals. Additionally, the features in Inkscape allow you to create a variety of things such as illustrations, logos, flowcharting, and diagramming. Moreover, Inkscape exports different file formats like PSD, PNG, SVG, AI, EPS, and PDF.

7. Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is an inexpensive raster graphics editor that’s considered a powerful Photoshop alternative. Like Affinity Designer, this software is also a one-time payment of $49.99 for Windows and Mac and $19.99 for the iPad app. In addition, you also get updates Serif makes to the software for free. In Affinity Photo, you can open and edit Photoshop files, and it imports PSD smart objects.

Other Procreate features:

• It contains studio presets which allows you to speed up your workflow.
• Affinity Photo has non-destructive live filter layers.
• It lets you create and customize your own brushes.
• You can create panoramas in Affinity Photo due to its stitching algorithm.
• Affinity Photo has patterned layers.

8. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

The final best graphic design software on the list is GIMP. This is a free photo editor, and it’s good for beginners who are new to image editing along with some professionals. GIMP has many of the tools that Photoshop and other photo editing software contain.

Other features of GIMP:

• GIMP exports photos into many formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and more.
• It supports plugins.
• You can customize its UI.
• GIMP allows you to open more than one image at one time.
• It lets you edit PSD files.

Final Thoughts

Comment below on other graphic design software you think is the best for this year. And, for similar topics like this, check out this article on 6 graphic design trends for 2021.