Best Graphic Design Software
Top graphic design software ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Adobe Illustrator
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Industry standard with unmatched tool depth
- AI-powered generative features
- Seamless Creative Cloud integration
Cons
- Subscription-only pricing
- Steep learning curve for beginners
Don't buy this if…
- Adobe Illustrator requires an ongoing subscription; canceling mid-term may incur an early termination fee of 50% of remaining months.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- One-time purchase, no subscription
- Combined vector and pixel editing
- Blazing fast real-time performance
Cons
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Adobe
- Some advanced features missing vs Illustrator
Don't buy this if…
- Affinity Designer uses its own file format; export to SVG or PDF when sharing with clients who use Adobe products.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Extremely easy to use for non-designers
- Massive template and asset library
- AI-powered Magic Design features
Cons
- Limited control compared to professional tools
- Not suitable for complex vector work
Don't buy this if…
- Free assets in Canva Pro are licensed for commercial use, but some premium elements require checking individual licensing terms.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Perpetual license option available
- Built-in photo editor and font manager
- Strong bitmap-to-vector tracing
Cons
- Windows-only for full features
- Perpetual license misses new AI features
Don't buy this if…
- The perpetual license does not include major version upgrades; you must purchase upgrades separately for new features.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration
- Browser-based, no installation needed
- Dominant in UI/UX design industry
Cons
- Not designed for print or illustration work
- Offline access is limited
Don't buy this if…
- Figma is primarily a UI/UX tool; for print design, illustration, or photo editing, you will need a separate application.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Native SVG format support
- Available on all major platforms
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to commercial tools
- Performance can lag on complex files
Don't buy this if…
- Inkscape has a steeper learning curve than commercial alternatives; invest time in tutorials before starting production work.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Lightweight and fast on macOS
- Strong plugin ecosystem
- One-time license option with 1 year updates
Cons
- macOS only, no Windows or Linux support
- Losing market share to Figma
Don't buy this if…
- Sketch is macOS-only; if your team includes Windows users, consider a cross-platform alternative like Figma.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Unmatched raster editing capabilities
- Unmatched industry standard
- AI Generative Fill is game-changing
Cons
- Subscription-only pricing model
- Subscription only
- Resource-heavy, requires a powerful computer
Don't buy this if…
- Photoshop is optimized for raster/pixel work; for vector graphics like logos that need to scale, use Illustrator or a vector tool instead.
- Photoshop requires an ongoing Creative Cloud subscription with no option for a permanent license.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
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