Directory · 7 tools reviewed

Best Design Software

Find the best design software for editing photos and drawing vectors: the editors designers have worked in for decades, from paid suites to free open-source apps. Image editors and vector editors are each ranked only against their own kind, on what you can make, the files you get out, what the cheapest usable plan costs and whether it runs on your machine. How we score.

Logo makers, website builders, UI, slide and diagram tools are ranked on Best AI Design Tools →

Choose the kind you need

4 Image editors ranked

Ranked by score · price shown: cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly

★ Top image editorof 4 image editors

Adobe Photoshop$19.99 · 98% publishedLowest price

8.5/10

Photographers and retouchers who want raw editing, generative fill and plug-ins in one editor on desktop, web and phone

Opens and saves layered Photoshop filesGenerative fill and expandGenerates images from a promptSelects a subject or sky by itselfAI image editingOne-action background removalAI upscalingWorks in CMYK for printTemplate library5export formats5platforms3integrations+7 more

What makes up the score8.5

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basics9.8

Workflow and output8.5

Pricingweakest7.0

Privacy and trust8.0

Read the Adobe Photoshop review

PhotopeaBest free plan100% published8.1/10FreeBest forAnyone who needs to open, edit and save PSD files in a browser tab, with nothing to install

Opens and saves layered Photoshop filesGenerative fill and expandGenerates images from a promptSelects a subject or sky by itselfAI image editingOne-action background removalAI upscalingWorks in CMYK for printPressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylusTemplate library+9 more

What makes up the score8.1

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basicsweakest7.4

Workflow and output9.0

Pricing10.0

Privacy and trust5.5

Read the Photopea review

Affinity88% published6.9/10FreeBest forDesigners who want photo, vector and layout tools in one free desktop app, with AI features on a paid Canva plan

Opens and saves layered Photoshop filesGenerative fill and expandGenerates images from a promptSelects a subject or sky by itselfAI image editingOne-action background removalAI upscalingWorks in CMYK for printPressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylus4export formats+9 more

What makes up the score6.9

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basics8.1

Workflow and outputweakest5.0

Pricing8.5

Privacy and trust4.5

Read the Affinity review

GIMP100% published5.9/10FreeBest forPhoto editors who want a free, open-source desktop editor they can extend with their own plug-ins

Opens and saves layered Photoshop filesGenerative fill and expandGenerates images from a promptSelects a subject or sky by itselfAI image editingOne-action background removalAI upscalingWorks in CMYK for printPressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylusTemplate library+6 more

What makes up the score5.9

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basicsweakest2.2

Workflow and output6.0

Pricing10.0

Privacy and trust7.5

Read the GIMP review

3 Vector editors ranked

Ranked by score · price shown: cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly

★ Top vector editorof 3 vector editors

Adobe Illustrator$22.99 · 95% published

7.7/10

Brand and print designers who need precise vector artwork, spot colour and .ai and EPS files, with vectors generated from a prompt

Opens Illustrator .ai and .eps filesGenerates artwork from a promptTraces a raster image into vector pathsSpot colour for printWorks in CMYK for printUnion, subtract and intersect on shapesAI image editing13export formats4platforms5integrationsThird-party pluginsComments and approval+6 more

What makes up the score7.7

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basics9.7

Workflow and output9.5

Pricingweakest3.5

Privacy and trust7.2

Read the Adobe Illustrator review

CorelDRAWLowest price98% published7.7/10$22.42Best forDesigners who want a full vector suite they can buy once and own, instead of a subscription

What makes up the score7.7

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basics10.0

Workflow and output7.7

Pricing6.5

Privacy and trustweakest5.0

Read the CorelDRAW review

InkscapeBest free plan100% published6.6/10FreeBest forDesigners who want a free, open-source vector editor with auto-trace, boolean paths and text on a path

What makes up the score6.6

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

What it adds beyond the basicsweakest4.8

Workflow and output4.7

Pricing10.0

Privacy and trust7.5

Read the Inkscape review

published yespublished nonot published, scored at the midpoint

Image editors4Vector editors3

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Buying guide

How to choose design software

Three questions settle it: what kind of image you make, whether you want a subscription, and whose files you need to open.

01
Image editor or vector editor
A photo is made of pixels, so retouching, compositing and cleaning up product shots happen in an image editor. A logo, an icon or an illustration that has to print sharp at any size is made of paths, and belongs in a vector editor. Most designers end up with one of each.
02
Subscription or free
Adobe sells Photoshop and Illustrator by subscription, with generative fill and the widest file support. Affinity is free to download, with Canva’s AI tools on a paid Canva plan. GIMP and Inkscape are free and open source, and Photopea runs in a browser tab and opens Photoshop files at no cost.
03
The files you trade
If you work with clients or a print shop, check compatibility before price: whether the editor opens and saves layered Photoshop files, and whether it works in CMYK for print. The checks under How we rate show which ones do.

Scoring

How we rate design software

Every score on this page is out of 100 and worked out from what each vendor publishes, never from a demo or a sponsor. Each kind is scored on its own split of the points. Below: where the points go, every check behind them, and how the tools above did on each. Every rule, in full

Image editorsVector editors

Image editors: where the 100 points go

35What it adds beyond the basics 25Pricing 22Workflow and output 18Privacy and trust

35/ 100

Biggest share

What it adds beyond the basics

Every editor here does layers, masks, raw files, non-destructive edits and batch processing, so none of those earn a point. What is left is what separates them: opening and saving layered Photoshop files, generative fill, selecting a subject by itself, upscaling, removing a background, working in CMYK for print, pressure from a tablet, and a template library.

Opens and saves layered Photoshop files5.9 pts

Adobe PhotoshopGIMPPhotopeaAffinity

Generative fill and expand4.9 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopeaGIMP

Generates images from a prompt4.2 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityGIMPPhotopea

Selects a subject or sky by itself4.2 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopeaGIMP

AI image editing (erase, relight)3.2 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopeaGIMP

One-action background removal3.2 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopeaGIMP

AI upscaling3.1 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityGIMPPhotopea

Works in CMYK for print3.1 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopeaGIMP

Pressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylus1.8 pts

AffinityGIMPPhotopea

Template library1.4 pts

Adobe PhotoshopPhotopeaGIMP

Highest here Adobe Photoshop 9.8lowest GIMP 2.2 out of 10

25/ 100

Pricing

What the cheapest plan you can actually edit in costs each month, and whether you may use the results commercially. Free software scores the top of the band, because free is a price.

Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly17.5 pts

Affinity$0GIMP$0Photopea$0Adobe Photoshop$19.99

Commercial use allowed7.5 pts

Adobe PhotoshopGIMPPhotopea

Highest here Photopea 10.0lowest Adobe Photoshop 7.0 out of 10

22/ 100

Workflow and output

Getting work out: the file formats it exports, how many platforms it runs on, whether you can install third-party plugins, and the apps it connects to.

File formats it exports6.6 pts

Photopea7 export formatsAdobe Photoshop5 export formatsGIMP6 export formatsAffinity4 export formats

Where it runs6.6 pts

Adobe Photoshop5 platformsPhotopea3 platformsAffinity2 platformsGIMP2 platforms

Third-party plugins4.4 pts

Adobe PhotoshopGIMPPhotopeaAffinity

Apps it connects to4.4 pts

Affinity4 integrationsPhotopea5 integrationsAdobe Photoshop3 integrationsGIMP0 integrations

Highest here Photopea 9.0lowest Affinity 5.0 out of 10

18/ 100

Privacy and trust

Does it train AI on what you open, does it hold SOC 2 and state GDPR, is the source published under an open licence, and how many ways are there to reach support? Software you install and run yourself is not asked the first three: there is no service holding your work, and answering no would read as a failed audit rather than a question that does not apply.

Does not train AI on what you upload6.3 pts

Adobe PhotoshopPhotopeaAffinityopt-out only

Source published under an open licence3.6 pts

GIMPAdobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopea

Ways to reach support3.6 pts

Adobe Photoshop3 support channelsPhotopea3 support channelsAffinity2 support channelsGIMP2 support channels

SOC 22.7 pts

Adobe PhotoshopPhotopea

GDPR1.8 pts

Adobe PhotoshopAffinityPhotopea

Highest here Adobe Photoshop 8.0lowest Affinity 4.5 out of 10

Vector editors: where the 100 points go

35What it adds beyond the basics 25Pricing 22Workflow and output 18Privacy and trust

35/ 100

Biggest share

What it adds beyond the basics

Gradient meshes, type on a path and artboards are in all of them and earn nothing. What counts is opening Illustrator .ai and .eps files, generating artwork from a prompt, tracing a raster into vector paths, spot colour and CMYK for print, boolean operations on shapes, AI image editing and a template library.

Opens Illustrator .ai and .eps files6 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Generates artwork from a prompt6 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Traces a raster image into vector paths4.9 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Spot colour for print4.9 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Works in CMYK for print4.9 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Union, subtract and intersect on shapes3.5 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

AI image editing2.4 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Template library2.4 pts

CorelDRAWInkscape

Highest here CorelDRAW 10.0lowest Inkscape 4.8 out of 10

25/ 100

Pricing

What the cheapest paid plan costs each month, whether anyone will still sell you a licence you own outright rather than rent, whether there is a free plan, and how long the trial runs. The monthly figures here sit within a dollar of each other, so owning the licence counts for more than the difference between them.

Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly12.5 pts

Inkscape$0Adobe Illustrator$22.99CorelDRAW$22.42

Sells a licence you own outright6.3 pts

CorelDRAWAdobe Illustrator

Free plan3.7 pts

InkscapeAdobe IllustratorCorelDRAW

Free trial2.5 pts

CorelDRAW15 daysAdobe Illustrator7 days

Highest here Inkscape 10.0lowest Adobe Illustrator 3.5 out of 10

22/ 100

Workflow and output

The file formats it exports, how many platforms it runs on, the apps it connects to, third-party plugins, and comments and approval.

File formats it exports6.6 pts

Adobe Illustrator13 export formatsCorelDRAW11 export formatsInkscape4 export formats

Where it runs6.6 pts

Adobe Illustrator4 platformsCorelDRAW3 platformsInkscape2 platforms

Apps it connects to4.4 pts

Adobe Illustrator5 integrationsCorelDRAW1 integrationInkscape0 integrations

Third-party plugins2.6 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Comments and approval1.8 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAWInkscape

Highest here Adobe Illustrator 9.5lowest Inkscape 4.7 out of 10

18/ 100

Privacy and trust

Does it train AI on your work, does it hold SOC 2 and state GDPR, is the source published under an open licence, and how many ways are there to reach support? Software you install and run yourself is not asked the first three.

Does not train AI on what you upload6.3 pts

Adobe IllustratorCorelDRAW

Source published under an open licence3.6 pts

InkscapeAdobe IllustratorCorelDRAW

Ways to reach support3.6 pts

Adobe Illustrator3 support channelsCorelDRAW2 support channelsInkscape2 support channels

SOC 22.7 pts

CorelDRAW

GDPR1.8 pts

Adobe Illustrator

Highest here Inkscape 7.5lowest CorelDRAW 5.0 out of 10

✓ full points◐ some✕ none

Design head-to-head

All comparisons →

The matchups readers in this category weigh most often, lined up row by row.

Adobe Illustrator vs CorelDRAW Adobe Illustrator vs Inkscape Adobe Photoshop vs Affinity Adobe Photoshop vs GIMP Adobe Photoshop vs Photopea Affinity vs GIMP Affinity vs Photopea CorelDRAW vs Inkscape GIMP vs Photopea

Frequently asked

What is the best design tool?

It depends on the kind you need: our top image editor is Adobe Photoshop and our top vector editor is Adobe Illustrator. Each has the highest Spec Score of its kind.

Is there a free design tool?

Yes, Affinity, GIMP, Inkscape and 1 more offer a free plan. Check each tool's page for what's included.

How do you rate design software?

Each kind is scored out of 100 on its own criteria, all worked out from what the vendor publishes. Image editors: what it adds beyond the basics 35, pricing 25, workflow and output 22, privacy and trust 18. Vector editors: what it adds beyond the basics 35, pricing 25, workflow and output 22, privacy and trust 18.

How much does a design tool cost?

Paid plans start from about $19.99 to $22.99/mo across the tools we track, depending on features and usage.

4 Image editors ranked

3 Vector editors ranked

Adobe Photoshop

Photopea

Adobe Illustrator

CorelDRAW

Affinity

Inkscape

GIMP

How to choose design software

Image editor or vector editor

Subscription or free

The files you trade

How we rate design software

Image editors: where the 100 points go

What it adds beyond the basics

Pricing

Workflow and output

Privacy and trust

Vector editors: where the 100 points go

What it adds beyond the basics

Pricing

Workflow and output

Privacy and trust

Design head-to-head

Frequently asked

What is the best design tool?

Is there a free design tool?

How do you rate design software?

How much does a design tool cost?