The Best Free Graphic Design Software for 2021 | Marq

Given the long list of alternatives out there, it’s cumbersome to research which graphic design software—out of dozens—might best meet your needs.

To start, think about the kind of work you want to do. Generally, there are three types of graphic design software: desktop publishing, photo editing, and drawing. Desktop publishing software puts the focus on page layout, arranging text and graphics to create documents for print & digital use. Photo editing software usually offers a deep set of features for importing and modifying image files. Finally, drawing software gives the user a number of tools for creating art and illustrations with precision.

Beyond that, it helps to have a list of requirements you have to have, as well as features you’d like. For example, do you need free graphic design software for Mac? Does it have to be online? Are you looking for something simple to use or more advanced?

Once you have a good list to work with, you can evaluate the twelve popular alternatives listed below and narrow it down to the best graphic design software for you.