Top 10 Free Tools Every New Designer Should
Are you just starting out as a graphic designer and wondering where to begin? Don’t worry—you don’t need expensive software to learn design. There are plenty of free graphic designing tools available that are powerful, easy to use, and perfect for beginners.
In this guide, we’ll share the top 10 best free tools for graphic designers that will help you learn, create, and grow as a designer—without spending a single dollar.
✅ What Tool Do Designers Use?
Professional designers use a variety of tools depending on the project. Some popular paid tools include Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma. But if you’re just starting out, free alternatives like Canva, Photopea, and GIMP can help you learn the basics and create amazing designs too.
These best free tools are great for beginners who want to build their skills, portfolio, or even start freelancing.
🎨 1. Canva – All-in-One Design Platform
Best for: Social media graphics, flyers, posters, presentations
Why it’s great: Canva is one of the most popular free graphic designing tools out there. With thousands of ready-made templates, icons, fonts, and drag-and-drop simplicity, it’s perfect for beginners.
👉 Use it to create Instagram posts, resumes, or even YouTube thumbnails—no experience needed!
🧩 2. Figma – Free UI/UX Design and Collaboration Tool
Best for: Web and app design, wireframes, team projects
Why it’s great: Figma is a browser-based design tool used by professionals. But the best part? It’s free for individual users! You can collaborate with others, design web layouts, and explore UI/UX design.
👉 Great for learning how websites and apps are built visually.
🖼️ 3. Photopea – Free Online Photoshop Alternative
Best for: Photo editing, PSD files, digital art
Why it’s great: Think of Photopea as “Photoshop in your browser.” It supports layers, smart objects, masks, and even works with PSD files.
👉 Perfect if you want a free tool that feels like Adobe Photoshop.
✏️ 4. Gravit Designer – Vector Graphic Editor
Best for: Logos, icons, and vector artwork
Why it’s great: Gravit Designer is easy to use and works both online and offline. It’s a solid alternative to Illustrator for vector-based design.
👉 Ideal for logo design, brand assets, and crisp illustrations.
🧠 5. Vectr – Simple Tool for Vector Design
Best for: Basic vector shapes and flat design
Why it’s great: Vectr is perfect for beginners learning how to use vector tools. It’s cloud-based and has a clean interface that makes designing stress-free.
👉 Good for creating infographics, badges, or simple illustrations.
🖌️ 6. GIMP – Advanced Photo Editing Software
Best for: Professional photo editing and graphic art
Why it’s great: GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is one of the most powerful free graphic designing tools for advanced editing. It’s open-source and packed with features.
👉 A great tool if you’re serious about mastering photo manipulation.
🎨 7. Color Hunt – Curated Color Palettes for Designers
Best for: Finding trendy and matching color schemes
Why it’s great: Choosing the right colors is crucial. Color Hunt offers beautiful, user-generated palettes you can use for branding, web design, and more.
👉 Save palettes for future projects or get inspired for your next color theme.
🔤 8. DaFont – Free Fonts for Every Style
Best for: Font downloads and typography exploration
Why it’s great: Fonts make a big difference in design. DaFont has a huge collection of free fonts, from vintage to modern, to fit every design style.
👉 Find the perfect font for your logo, poster, or invitation design.
📷 9. Unsplash – High-Quality Free Images
Best for: Stock photos and image backgrounds
Why it’s great: Unsplash provides stunning, royalty-free images that you can use in both personal and commercial designs.
👉 No more blurry or cheesy stock images—these are high-quality and free!
🖼️ 10. MockupWorld – Free PSD Mockups for Presentations
Best for: Displaying your design in real-life scenarios
Why it’s great: Mockups help you showcase your work professionally. MockupWorld offers free templates for packaging, posters, T-shirts, and more.
👉 Perfect for portfolios, client presentations, and social proof.
🔚 Which Free Tool Should You Start With?
If you’re just getting into design and looking for the best free tools, start with Canva for basic design, Figma for UI/UX, and Photopea for Photoshop-like editing. These tools are beginner-friendly, work on most devices, and don’t require any payment.
As you grow, you can explore more advanced tools like GIMP or switch to professional-grade software like Adobe Creative Suite.
So what are you waiting for? Try out these amazing tools for graphic designers and unleash your creativity—for free!