There was a time when you needed to purchase an expensive program if you hoped to complete a graphic design project on your own, but those days are behind us. Today you don’t need to purchase the software with the highest price tag to achieve the beautiful results you’re looking for. Cheap or free design software is able to help accomplish many of your business projects.
It’s important to note that if you’re new to the graphic design world or don’t have the time to invest in this work, reaching out to professionals is the best option. Hiring a business like Exploring Creative, LLC, saves you time and ensures you end up with a product you’re proud of.
If you’re up for the challenge of creating a masterpiece on your own, there are plenty of programs to fiddle around with. With a wide range of design software options available, it’s difficult to know where to start. Lucky for you, we have simplified the search.
There’s no need to be overwhelmed by endless programs or waste time testing each one. If you’re looking for solid design and photo editing software, you’ve come to the right place.
Note: A lot can be accomplished with the software mentioned in this post, but it is true that few applications are able to compete with the Adobe Creative Cloud. If your design ideas are on the more complex side, Adobe Creative Cloud might be closer to what you’re looking for. And with the free trial, there’s no need to immediately commit to a subscription.
This helpful guide will walk you through the positives and negatives of some of the cheap or free software options available. If you find that your ideas reach beyond their capabilities, reach out to a creative business like ours. We’d love to help!
Contact us: www.exploringcreative.com/contact-us
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Five of the best design software options to help you and your business
Canva
It isn’t a surprise if you’ve already heard of this design software; it’s just that good. After fiddling around with Canva you’ll have the hang of it in no time. It’s user-friendly and especially helpful for simple projects like social posts, flyers and newsletters.
What you get with Canva:
- Access to a free design software, and no real need for the pro option
- Tons of free templates to choose from in multiple categories
Pricing
Canva can be used for free, and for most projects you will complete your job with this version. If you want to achieve more complex projects, you may consider purchasing Canva Pro. This version costs you $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year. There is also a free trial available for Canva Pro if you’re not sure about committing right off the bat.
Pros:
- Excellent free option
- User-friendly
- Free templates in a variety of categories
- Free stock photos and other graphics
- The option to share directly to social media
- Can be used on mobile
Cons:
- You might fall in love with a template that requires Canva Pro and have to settle on something else
- This is best for simple graphic design projects, so complex ideas will be difficult or impossible to turn into a reality
With Canva, things need to stay pretty simple. For more detailed graphic design projects you might need to reach out to an expert for help, but that’s what we’re here for.
Pixlr
Pixlr is one of the best options when it comes to photo editing, but some graphic design features will be out of reach.
What you get with Pixlr:
- Access to tools similar to those found in Adobe Photoshop
- A completely free option that works well, so most projects will get by without the need for a subscription upgrade
Pricing
Pixlr is free to use, but there is a premium option available. Before committing to the subscription that will grant you full access to Pixlr Suite, assets and templates without the ads, try the 30-day free trial. After the trial, this would be $4.90 per month. There is also a team option available which fits nicely when running your own business.
Pros:
- User-friendly
- The design process is simple and quick
- Perfect for those unfamiliar with design
- Tons of professional photo editing features including effects, filters, retouching and much more
- Doesn’t take up space on your device like an app or program would and is accessed completely online
- Compatible with mobile browsers
Cons:
- Ads can ruin the flow and block the project you’re working on
- Not as many features as other popular software
- Doesn’t support all images (formats, sizes and quality levels)
Mega Creator
What you get with Mega Creator:
- Tons of near-ready templates that don’t require design skills to make visually pleasing or feed ready
- Stock assets such as images and icons to choose from
Pricing
You don’t need to pay for this software unless you want to access the photos and other graphics provided through the website. Depending on the project, you might consider signing up for the subscription. This costs $29 per month or $259 per year. If you can get by with your own assets then Mega Creator is a great tool.
Pros:
- The templates eliminate the need to think up a design on your own, you can just replace images and fill in information as needed
- Simple to use and adjust items so you can get by with little knowledge of design
Cons:
- Requires a paid subscription to use the graphics in the Mega Creator library
Corel Vector
This application was made by the same minds behind CorelDRAW.
What you get with Corel Vector:
- Vector editing
- Plenty of tools to use that will satisfy both experts and those new to design
- The ability to create high-quality designs at your fingertips
Pricing
Corel Vector has a free trial that lasts 15 days. After your trial, a subscription will cost you $99.99 per year. They do run specials and limited-time offers here and there so be on the lookout for those as well.
Pros:
- Simple to use
- Ideal for collaborative work
- Plenty of freehand creating options
- More freedom than some other software
Cons:
- Will take some practice to get used to, but most find it easy after putting in a little time and effort
- Only free for 15 days
Design Wizard:
Design Wizard is an excellent resource for designing fun images and videos. The free version has many wonderful benefits and is simple to navigate if you’re not familiar with design software.
What you get with Design Wizard:
- Access to lots of templates and copyright-free images and videos to use as you wish
- An organized and user-friendly workspace
Pricing:
With Design Wizard you can take advantage of the basic version for free or sign up for the trial. The basic version requires users to pay as they go with image and video downloads, and has other limits as well. The Pro Plan is $9.99 per month or $89 billed annually. There is also a Business Plan, but it is on the more expensive side. It is $49.99 per month, or $449 per year (which is a very similar price to the Adobe Creative Suite).
Pros:
- Simple to use and great for beginners
- Access to lots of free videos, illustrations and images to use however you wish
- Gorgeous templates that take some of the stress out of designing something fresh
Cons:
- Depending on the subscription you choose, you may be limited with the amount of image design downloads you can make each month
- With the free version, the downloads will have a watermark unless you spend money
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Reaching out to an expert for graphic design help is never a bad choice, but there are plenty of projects you can accomplish on your own using the tools above. If you play around with this software and aren’t completely satisfied with your designs, feel free to reach out. That’s what Exploring Creative is here for, and we’d love to help you make your vision a reality.
If you would like to learn more about our design work, check out our work page, meet our team and contact or email us at info@exploringcreative.com.
Reach out by visiting our Contact Us page or by scheduling a meeting here.