Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Graphic Design Tools for Social Media Images in 2025
Creating stunning visuals for social media is no longer a luxury reserved for professional designers. Thanks to a new generation of graphic design tools, small business owners, marketers, and content creators can easily craft eye-catching images, videos, and animations that boost engagement and brand awareness.
Whether you’re designing Instagram posts, Facebook ads, Pinterest pins, or TikTok stories, selecting the right graphic design tool is crucial. This guide dives into the best graphic design platforms available today, highlighting their strengths, unique features, pricing plans, and how they can elevate your social media content.
Why Invest in Graphic Design Tools for Social Media?
In an era where social media feeds overflow with content, quality visuals are your secret weapon to capture attention and build an audience. Here’s why you should prioritize graphic design tools:
- Boost engagement: Posts with compelling visuals get more likes, shares, and comments.
- Maintain brand consistency: Design tools help create a cohesive look across platforms.
- Save time and costs: Templates and easy editing cut down production time and eliminate the need for expensive agencies.
- Leverage trends: Animated and video content is increasingly popular; modern tools support these formats.
- Adapt to platform requirements: Different social networks require specific image sizes and formats—design tools simplify this process.
Key Features to Look for in Social Media Graphic Design Tools
Choosing the right tool depends on your goals, skill level, and resources. Consider these essential features:
1. Ease of Use
Drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built templates make design accessible to non-professionals.
2. Template Library
A rich library of customizable templates speeds up content creation.
3. Multi-format Export
Support for images, GIFs, videos, and platform-specific formats.
4. Brand Kit
Ability to save brand colors, logos, and fonts for consistency.
5. Collaboration Features
Team editing, comments, and version control.
6. Integrations
Connect with social media schedulers, stock photo libraries, and cloud storage.
Top Graphic Design Tools for Social Media Images in 2025
Let’s explore the best tools tailored to diverse user needs.
1. Canva — The All-Rounder for Everyone
Overview
Canva remains the undisputed favorite for social media graphics. Its user-friendly interface and vast template library empower beginners and pros alike to create beautiful designs quickly.
Key Features
- 610,000+ templates
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Animation and video support
- Brand Kit with colors and fonts
- Extensive free stock photo, video, and audio libraries
- Collaboration tools and comments
- Integrations with social schedulers and cloud storage
Pricing
Free plan with generous features; Pro plan at $12.99/month unlocks brand kits, premium assets, and background remover.
Ideal For
Solo creators, small businesses, social media managers wanting quick and versatile designs.
2. Adobe Express (Formerly Adobe Spark) — Professional Power with Simplicity
Overview
Adobe Express combines Adobe’s industry-leading creative technology with an easy interface tailored for social media and marketing graphics.
Key Features
- Professional-grade templates and assets
- Adobe Fonts integration
- Quick resizing for multiple platforms
- Video and animation tools
- Branding features and collaboration
- Integration with Creative Cloud apps
Pricing
Free tier with basic templates; Premium plan at $9.99/month adds premium templates, brand controls, and more.
Ideal For
Users seeking Adobe’s quality with minimal complexity; marketers wanting polished visuals.
3. Crello (Now VistaCreate) — Dynamic Designs and Animations
Overview
VistaCreate (formerly Crello) emphasizes animated and video content, catering to social media trends demanding movement and engagement.
Key Features
- 50,000+ animated templates
- Video editing and animations
- Rich media library
- Background remover
- Collaborative workspace
Pricing
Free plan available; Pro plan $10/month includes unlimited downloads and brand kit.
Ideal For
Creators focused on animated social media posts and video stories.
4. PicMonkey — Photo Editing Meets Design
Overview
PicMonkey combines advanced photo editing with graphic design tools for detailed social media visuals.
Key Features
- Robust photo retouching and filters
- Layer-based editing
- Templates and fonts
- Background remover and effects
- Collaboration tools
Pricing
Starting at $7.99/month for basic plan; higher tiers unlock more features.
Ideal For
Users needing powerful photo editing integrated with design.
5. Snappa — Fast and Simple Social Graphics
Overview
Snappa is perfect for marketers who want quick, professional images without a steep learning curve.
Key Features
- Pre-sized templates for social networks
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Stock photos included
- Team collaboration
Pricing
Free plan limited to 5 downloads/month; Pro at $10/month for unlimited downloads.
Ideal For
Small teams and freelancers looking for speed and simplicity.
6. Desygner — Design on the Go
Overview
Desygner offers a mobile-first design experience, allowing on-the-go social media content creation.
Key Features
- Mobile and desktop apps
- Millions of templates and assets
- Brand kits and style guides
- PDF editor and vector import
Pricing
Free plan available; Pro plans start at $9.95/month.
Ideal For
Users who want full design power in mobile apps.
7. Easil — Brand-Forward Social Media Design
Overview
Easil targets brand-conscious marketers with its advanced brand control and collaboration features.
Key Features
- Brand kit and locked templates
- Drag-and-drop editing
- Animation and video tools
- Team workflow features
Pricing
Starting at $11.50/month for Plus plan.
Ideal For
Businesses emphasizing brand consistency and team collaboration.
8. RelayThat — Consistent Multi-Platform Branding
Overview
RelayThat automates design resizing and brand consistency, ideal for multi-channel social media campaigns.
Key Features
- Automated multi-size image generation
- Brand asset management
- Team collaboration
- Template library
Pricing
Starts at $25/month.
Ideal For
Marketers managing campaigns across many platforms needing uniformity.
Choosing the Right Graphic Design Tool for You
To pick the best tool:
- For beginners and all-rounders: Canva offers unbeatable ease and features.
- For animation and video: VistaCreate or Canva Pro.
- For professional photo editing: PicMonkey.
- For mobile-first creation: Desygner.
- For brand consistency and teams: Easil or RelayThat.
Consider your budget, team size, design goals, and preferred workflow.
Tips to Maximize Your Social Media Designs
- Leverage templates: Customize to save time but keep unique branding.
- Keep it simple: Clean, focused designs often perform better.
- Use your brand kit: Maintain consistent colors, fonts, and logos.
- Experiment with animation: Videos and GIFs boost engagement.
- Test different formats: Stories, posts, ads all have different specs.
Conclusion
With the right graphic design tool, creating stunning social media content is accessible to everyone. These platforms empower you to craft engaging images and videos that elevate your brand presence and connect with your audience.
Explore free trials to find your perfect match and start designing content that stands out in crowded social feeds.