Adobe Photoshop remains the industry standard for professional raster editing, making it ideal for expert photographers and digital artists.
Canva is the top choice for beginners and marketers seeking quick, template-based social media designs. Meanwhile,
Affinity Photo offers a powerful, subscription-free alternative that appeals to budget-conscious professionals.
Top 10 Graphic Design Software, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  Adobe PhotoshopAdobe Photoshop was originally created in 1987 by Thomas and John Knoll before being acquired by Adobe. | Professional photo editing and digital art | 95.0 | $22.99/mo |
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| 2 |  CanvaCanva was launched in Australia in 2013 and has grown to over 100 million monthly active users. | Quick designs and social media content for non-designers | 92.7 | Free |
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| 3 | Adobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator was originally developed for the Apple Macintosh in 1986 as a commercial outgrowth of Adobe's in-house font development software. | Vector logos, icons, and scalable illustrations | 90.3 | $22.99/mo |
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| 4 |  Affinity PhotoAffinity Photo was named Apple's App of the Year in 2015 for its exceptional macOS performance. | Professional photo editing on a budget | 88.0 | $69.99 one-off |
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| 5 |  FigmaFigma was the first collaborative interface design tool to run entirely in web browsers. | Collaborative digital design and user interfaces | 85.7 | Free |
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| 6 |  CorelDRAWCorelDRAW was first released in 1989, making it one of the oldest vector graphics editors still in active development. | Print production and sign making | 83.3 | $269.00/yr |
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| 7 |  SketchSketch was one of the first major design tools to abandon a purely print-based paradigm in favour of digital-first workflows. | Mac-based UI and UX designers | 81.0 | $10.00/mo |
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| 8 |  InkscapeInkscape uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as its primary native format, strictly adhering to W3C standards. | Open-source vector illustration on a strict budget | 78.7 | Free |
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| 9 |  ProcreateProcreate was developed by Savage Interactive, a small independent studio based in Tasmania. | Digital painting and hand lettering on iPad | 76.3 | $12.99 one-off |
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| 10 | Adobe InDesignAdobe InDesign was released in 1999 to compete with QuarkXPress, which dominated the publishing market at the time. | Multi-page document and editorial publishing | 74.0 | $22.99/mo |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Adobe Photoshop (#1): Professional photo editing and digital art
- Canva (#2): Quick designs and social media content for non-designers
- Adobe Illustrator (#3): Vector logos, icons, and scalable illustrations
- Affinity Photo (#4): Professional photo editing on a budget
- Figma (#5): Collaborative digital design and user interfaces
- CorelDRAW (#6): Print production and sign making
- Sketch (#7): Mac-based UI and UX designers
- Inkscape (#8): Open-source vector illustration on a strict budget
- Procreate (#9): Digital painting and hand lettering on iPad
- Adobe InDesign (#10): Multi-page document and editorial publishing
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
The world's best imaging and graphic design software.
The industry standard application for raster image editing, digital painting, and compositing.
From $22.99/mo
PROS- Unmatched feature set for detailed image manipulation
- Seamless integration with Creative Cloud applications
CONS- Expensive subscription model
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Best for
- Professional photo editing and digital art
- Where it falls short
- The steep learning curve for beginners makes it difficult for new users to master.
- Pick something else if
- you are a beginner seeking an easier tool.
95.0
02
Empowering the world to design.
An online graphic design platform used to create social media graphics, presentations, and posters.
Free
PROS- Extremely easy to use with thousands of templates
- Generous free tier with cloud storage
CONS- Limited advanced editing tools for professionals
- Many premium assets require a paid subscription
- Best for
- Quick designs and social media content for non-designers
- Where it falls short
- It lacks advanced editing tools for professional designers.
- Pick something else if
- you need advanced editing tools.
92.7
03
Vector graphics that turn ideas into reality.
The premier vector graphics software used worldwide by designers creating digital graphics, illustrations, and typography.
From $22.99/mo
PROS- Industry standard for vector graphics
- Infinite scalability without quality loss
CONS- High monthly cost
- Complex interface for new users
- Best for
- Vector logos, icons, and scalable illustrations
- Where it falls short
- The complex interface may overwhelm new users.
- Pick something else if
- you are a beginner seeking simplicity.
90.3
04
Professional photo editing software.
A fast, fully-featured professional photo editing software that operates without a subscription model.
From $69.99 one-off
PROS- One-off purchase price with no recurring subscription
- Blazing fast performance with large files
CONS- Smaller community and fewer online tutorials than Adobe
- Lacks some advanced AI features found in competitors
- Best for
- Professional photo editing on a budget
- Where it falls short
- It has a smaller community and fewer online tutorials than Adobe.
- Pick something else if
- you need extensive online tutorials.
88.0
05
The collaborative interface design tool.
A collaborative web-based interface design tool used for UI/UX design, prototyping, and graphic layouts.
Free
PROS- Real-time multiplayer collaboration
- Runs directly in the browser without heavy installations
CONS- Requires an internet connection for full functionality
- Not optimized for traditional print layout design
- Best for
- Collaborative digital design and user interfaces
- Where it falls short
- It requires an internet connection for full functionality.
- Pick something else if
- you need offline access.
85.7
06
Professional vector illustration and layout.
A vector graphics editor designed for professional illustration, layout, and typography.
From $269.00/yr
PROS- Robust tools specifically tailored for print and sign making
- Customisable workspace and flexible purchase options
CONS- Interface can feel cluttered compared to modern rivals
- Less common in modern digital-first agencies
- Best for
- Print production and sign making
- Where it falls short
- Interface can feel cluttered compared to modern rivals.
83.3
07
The digital design toolkit.
A toolkit for digital design built for macOS, focusing heavily on UI and UX workflows.
From $10.00/mo
PROS- Lightweight application built natively for macOS
- Great ecosystem of plugins and symbols
CONS- Only available for Mac users
- Lacks built-in Windows support
- Best for
- Mac-based UI and UX designers
- Where it falls short
- Only available for Mac users.
81.0
08
Draw freely with open-source vector graphics.
A professional quality vector graphics software that runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS for free.
Free
PROS- Completely free and open-source software
- Cross-platform compatibility
CONS- Can be unstable and prone to crashing with complex files
- User interface is less polished than commercial alternatives
- Best for
- Open-source vector illustration on a strict budget
- Where it falls short
- Can be unstable and prone to crashing with complex files.
78.7
09
A powerful sketching and painting app for iPad.
A powerful raster graphics painting application developed specifically for the iPad and Apple Pencil.
From $12.99 one-off
PROS- Exceptional responsiveness with the Apple Pencil
- Inexpensive one-time purchase fee
CONS- Exclusive to iPadOS and iOS devices
- Not designed for vector work or complex desktop publishing
- Best for
- Digital painting and hand lettering on iPad
- Where it falls short
- Exclusive to iPadOS and iOS devices.
76.3
10
Page design and layout for print and digital publishing.
Desktop publishing and page layout software for creating works such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, and books.
From $22.99/mo
PROS- Unrivalled features for multi-page layouts and typography
- Flawless export tools for professional printing and digital books
CONS- Expensive subscription pricing structure
- Not suited for general photo editing or illustration
- Best for
- Multi-page document and editorial publishing
- Where it falls short
- Expensive subscription pricing structure.
74.0
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between vector and raster graphic software?
Raster software like Adobe Photoshop uses pixel grids to edit photographs and digital paintings, which lose quality when scaled up. Vector software like Adobe Illustrator uses mathematical formulas to create shapes and lines that can be scaled infinitely without losing quality.
Do I need to pay a monthly subscription for graphic design software?
Not necessarily. While industry giants like Adobe charge a monthly subscription fee, there are excellent alternatives such as Affinity Photo and Procreate that charge a single one-off fee, as well as entirely free options like Canva and Inkscape.
Which software is best for absolute beginners?
Canva is widely considered the best software for absolute beginners due to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, cloud-based platform, and thousands of pre-made templates for social media and marketing.
Sources
Where we checked each company's facts, and when.
Sources for 1 more company
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