Top 5 Graphic Design Software in 2020

The development of modern technology endows graphic designers with so much software that it often creates a problem in the choice. And as you know, the correct choice of software will affect not only the creative opportunities but also the speed of project development and even the success of the designer himself.

What product should you choose when there are so many different offers? In this article, you will find the top 5 programs that you should pay attention to in 2020 (and probably, in 2021).

Top 5 Graphic Designer Software

Choosing the right software product for this business can be half the success of every designer's career. Someone loves the classics, someone wants a cheaper alternative, and someone generally dreams of customized software. As for the latter, these dreams can become a reality with the help of the Vironit software development team. But today, we will talk about existing products that can be considered the best on the market for now.

Below you will find not only famous programs but also cheap alternatives for both advanced designers and beginners since in the first stage of a career buying expensive software is not available to everyone. So, below are the balanced choices only.

Affinity Designer

An excellent option for the ratio of price and functionality of the product.

Pros

• Affordable price for the product ($19,99 - 49.99)
• Modern features with a wide choice of opportunities.
• Compatible with Mac and Windows.
• The possibility of teamwork within the application.

Cons

• No particular flaws were found in this software.

This inexpensive software is suitable for advanced designers. The product is capable of performing a wide range of design tasks, web design, typography, concept art, and creating patterns for furniture, ceramics, wallpaper.

Another interesting point regarding this product is cloud functionality. This makes this product ideal for team projects and small companies. The product costs only $50 per account. The program is suitable for both Windows and Mac users. So if you need a workhorse at an affordable price, check out this app.

Adobe Illustrator CC

The ever-green classic in graphic design.

Pros

• Powerful software, proven over the years.
• Possibility of product compatibility with Photoshop.
• Available for both Windows and Mac users.

Cons

• The high cost of the product. The cost for one month is $31.49, and with a one-year subscription, the cost is $20.99 per month.

There is probably no need to talk about what a cool product it is since every graphic designer has heard about it. This app is constantly updated and supplemented with new features. The product is available for both Mac and Windows users.

The only drawback that can be identified is the cost. Whereas previously the program could be purchased separately, today you need to purchase the Creative Cloud package. As you can imagine, it is not cheap and may not be available to everyone.

CorelDraw Graphics Suite

Another veteran in design software that's still relevant today.

Pros

• Easy to use, suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
• Modern updates, latest versions are available for Windows and Mac.

Cons

• The high cost of software ($198 / year or $499 for full version).

Most likely, even those who are far from graphic design know about this software as well as about the previous one. This product can be considered a veteran in this area, but nevertheless, the number of users is not decreasing.

In addition to the fact that this app allows you to work with vector graphics, it is also possible to create multi-page layouts. The latest version will delight designers. Another benefit is that a fully functional version is now available for Mac users.

In general, this program is suitable for advanced users, and although it is an old product on the market, there are many modern updates.

Inkscape

A good Adobe alternative for aspiring designers and those who can't afford expensive software.

Pros

• Free access.
• Great for beginners as it is easy to use and not inferior to Adobe Illustrator.
• Suitable for Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Cons

• Can work slow regardless of how powerful your PC is.

If you are a beginner and are not ready to spend money on advanced software, then pay attention to this product. It is a vector design tool. Based on numerous reviews, this software can quite compete with Adobe Illustrator. The only significant point, in addition to technical features, is that this program is free.

With this product, beginners can do things that might be difficult for them in Adobe Illustrator. There are tools available for text, paths, shapes, markers, gradients, transparency effects, and more.

Another significant advantage is that this program is suitable for both Windows, Mac, and Linux. However, even on the most powerful PC, this program can sometimes run slowly. However, given such an arsenal of tools and free access, it is possible to pretend that you did not notice this flaw.

Xara Designer Pro X

Suitable for advanced users and has a wide arsenal of design tools.

Pros

• Affordable price considering that there are often discounts.
• Product versatility in terms of graphic design.
• Nice templates.

Cons

• Suitable only for the Windows operating system.

This software is not only suitable for those interested in a modern graphic design tool but also looking to get a desktop typography experience. This software is suitable for both vector and bitmap images. As you can imagine, this means that this program has an arsenal of all the tools that relate to graphic design.

Another benefit of this software is that it has access to millions of archived photos and illustrations. There are also layouts, templates for various design elements. But these functions are available upon registration of the license. As for the cost of such a product, it is usually $ 299. However, there are very often discounts so you may wait for a little and grab a better deal.

You can also purchase a cut-down version of the product for $99.94 called Xara Photo & Graphic Designer. This version also comes with a promotional offer, and you can find this product cheaper on Steam.

Crello

Suitable for both newbies and seasoned designers who want to speed up their work by starting with ready-made designs.

Pros

• Getting started is a breeze - sign up, pick a template and build your design.
• A massive library of ready-to-go templates and design objects.
• Compatible with Mac and Windows.
• Apps for Android and iOS.

Cons

• The number of free designs you can download is limited in a free software version.

Crello is an affordable graphic design tool that might actually transform your designer’s workflow. It comes pre-packed with a massive library of designs for whatever purpose, social media-optimized formats, and numerous instruments that don’t require a steep learning curve.

Another huge benefit of Crello is that you can invite other designers or team members to work on a project, do difficult tasks such as background removal in a click, and easily perform such time-consuming tasks as logo creation. You can also use Crello on any operating system and even on your mobile phone.

The Final Words

Thus, all you have to do now is to decide which option is right for you. Remember, the software is an opportunity for your creativity. If you are just a beginner designer and you do not have extra money to invest in costly solutions, this does not mean that you should postpone your work. Train in a free program. Well, if you are already an advanced designer, then choose software based on the functionality of each product and the needs of the project you are developing right now.