5 Popular Graphic Design Software and How to Choose One | Coursera

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Explore different graphic design software programs and select the best one to achieve your graphic design goals.
Graphic design software allows creative professionals to edit and produce digital images for websites, apps, and more. At glance, here's what you need to know about graphic design software:
To choose graphic design software, consider your design goals, including what you want to focus on and who you’re creating graphics for.
Employers typically use graphic design software like Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva.
You can become more comfortable working with graphic design software while building your skill set by taking a graphic design course or certification to begin working with different programs.
Explore five popular software programs for graphic designers and some steps to choosing the best one for you. Afterward, if you want to learn how to use a variety of design tools, consider enrolling in Adobe's Creative Design Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Specialization.
Graphic design software refers to apps and programs that graphic designers use to create, edit, and manipulate digital images. These applications allow designers to edit and resize images, produce original illustrations, combine text, color, and shapes, and bring their vision to life. The finished products may appear in brochures, websites, mobile apps, and social media.
Read more: Brand Marketing: What It Is + How to Create Your Strategy
Information to compile this list with graphic design programs, such as Adobe InDesign and Canva, was partly taken from G2, which is a software marketplace where millions of consumers review and discover software [1]. G2’s 2025 picks for graphic design compile user reviews based on satisfaction, ease of use, and other factors [1].
Available through the Adobe Creative Cloud app, available for PC and macOS
Category: Vector graphics
Features: Templates, blank document presets, workspaces for touch-enabled devices, sync with InDesign
What it’s best for: Designing vector graphics that you can scale larger or smaller without affecting image quality
Cost: $22.99 per month [2]
Available in the cloud
Category: Display ad design, photo editing, desktop publishing, data visualization, design systems
Features: Collaborate on designs, brand templates, design approval, asset and permission management
What it's best for: Scaling the entire design process, teamwide, for people at any skill level
Cost: $250 for each person per year [3]
Available through the Adobe Creative Cloud app, available for PC and macOS
Category: Desktop publishing
Features: Templates, blank document presets, workspaces for touch-enabled devices, sync with Illustrator
What it's best for: Creating long-form multi-page documents, such as books, magazines, reports, or brochures
Cost: $22.99 per month [2]
Category: Desktop publishing
Features: Pre-designed templates for creating greeting cards, yearbooks, email newsletters, etc.
What it's best for: Precise layouts and styling for professional publications
Cost: $23.50 for each user per month (Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot package) [4]
Available on PC or macOS
Category: File converter, PDF editor, document creation, e-signature, desktop publishing
Features: Advanced PDF editing, automated workflows, embedding media capabilities, document protection, and security
What it's best for: Creating, editing, filling, and e-signing documents from one app
Cost: $159.99 per year [5]
The best AI graphic design software varies based on your needs, goals, and resources. That said, some popular AI tools used for graphic design include Adobe Firefly, Canva AI, and Midjourney.
Given the range of prices, features, and use cases for different graphic design apps and software, it is important to choose software that aligns with your goals and interests. Follow the steps below to make the best software selection for your needs.
Professional designers may be looking for the advanced features of Creative Cloud, while a marketing manager working on social media content may need easy-to-use software catered to beginners, such as Canva.
You may be searching for jobs as a graphic designer, starting a graphic design business, doing freelance work, or designing graphics to promote your business. You may wonder what the easiest design software to use is. Try asking these questions to get you started:
What kind of graphic design projects do you want to complete?
What areas of graphic design do you want to focus on?