We think Macs are by far the best computers for graphic design but to get the most out of them, you need the right graphic design software to go with them.
Graphic designers need vector-based graphic design tools which go way beyond basic drawing software on a Mac.
Professional graphic design suites can handle advanced color editing in CMYK and HSB as well as the widely used RGB.
This ensures that your graphic designs look just as good in a small logo design as they do when they’re blown-up in posters and billboards created in desktop publishing apps.
If you’re a professional artist or illustrator, most of the Mac compatible graphic design software reviewed here are perfect for using with drawing tablets on a Mac too.
Here then are the best free and paid Mac graphic design applications for all budgets. To help you find the right tool for your budget, we’ve also highlighted which ones are free.
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1. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is the most widely used graphic design software out there and if you need professional quality results, you should look no further.
For working with vector graphics, Adobe Illustrator’s file format is crucial for professional collaboration and sharing.
It’s particularly well-suited for creating logos, icons, and typography, delivering exceptional results in complex illustrations.
Illustrator stands out with its extensive range of brushes, filters, and layers, offering far more tools than most users will need.
Its versatility shines, with templates available for everything from large-scale billboards to small logos, showcasing its power and completeness for all types of design work.
The software has also been updated to use Adobe Firefly AI which automatically generates any image you ask it to.
You can read our full Adobe Illustrator review to learn more about this impressive graphic design tool.
Pricing: Free Trial, $22.99/month or included free in Creative Cloud subscriptions. Students & Educators get 60% off.
2. Inkscape (Free)
We think Inkscape is easily the best free graphic design software for Mac on the market.
Inkscape can even import CorelDRAW files and there are very few free design applications that can do that.
Inkscape is a vector graphic design software based on Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) – an open source XML based format that you can easily import and export into other graphic design programs.
Among Inkscape’s many features are object creation, object manipulation, fill and stroke, text support, rendering and more.
Inkscape is regularly maintained by the open source community and is compatible with the latest versions of macOS including macOS Sequoia.
Of course, Inkscape is nowhere near the same level as Adobe Illustrator and its RGB only but considering it’s completely free to use, it’s a very impressive graphic design tool.
Note that there are two downloads – one for Intel Macs and one for Apple Silicon Macs (choose arm64).
There’s also a download for older Macs running macOS 10.10 or lower which requires downloading XQuartz too.
Check out our full Inkscape review for a deeper look at this impressive free software.
Pricing: Free
3. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite (25% Off)
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite was only finally re-released on Mac in 2019 and is easily the best one-time purchase graphic design software for Macs.
CorelDRAW is still widely used in the graphic design industry although the long absence on Mac means it is now way behind Adobe Illustrator nowadays in terms of users.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is both a vector drawing software and desktop publishing software combined and is aimed more at the Illustrator crowd than Photoshop users.
The Mac version isn’t quite the same as the Windows version although it still features most of the same precision tools for online graphics, vector effects and a huge choice of professional looking templates.
Most recently, CorelDRAW has been updated with an AI LiveSketch tool which can convert freehand sketches into digital drawings on your Mac.
There is also CorelDRAW Standard Edition which is cheaper than buying the entire suite although unfortunately it’s only available for Windows.
Check out our full CorelDRAW for Mac review.
Pricing: $549 one time purchase or $22.42/month (Black Friday 25% Off)
4. Krita (Free)
Krita is one of the most impressive free digital art tools we’ve ever used and won our vote as one of the best alternatives to Procreate for Mac.
It’s also attracted a lot of users looking for a free alternative to Photoshop for Mac.
Krita is a free and open-source digital painting application designed for artists specializing in illustration, concept art, and comics.
It features an incredibly complete brush engine, layer management, animation tools, and a customizable user interface.
Krita is also ideal for those that want to work between macOS and Windows as its cross platform.
Its emphasis on digital painting makes it a favorite among creatives seeking a budget-friendly alternative to premium software.
For more, check out our full Krita review.
Pros:
- Free and open source
- Specialized tools for comics and artists
- Animation support
- Superb choice of brushes
- Photoshop import support including brushes
Cons:
- Limited for photo editing
- Limited vector editing tools
5. Affinity Designer 2
In just a few years, Affinity Designer has rapidly become one of the best graphic design applications for Mac and won an Apple award for design.
It’s easy to see why too with Adobe quality features and interface touches but without the price tag or learning curve.
Affinity Designer claims to be the “fastest, smoothest, most precise vector graphic design software available” and although that may be pushing it, it’s certainly a powerful and impressive graphic design application.
Affinity Designer 2 is incredibly fast working at an impressive 60fps, well designed, relatively easy to use but packs a serious design punch even compared to Adobe Illustrator.
Some of the nice touches in Affinity Designer 2 include a 1,000,000 x zoom for precision drawing, support for Photoshop PSD import and export, customized tool palettes and layer support.
Affinity Designer 2 also runs on iPad so you can draw in it using the Apple iPad Pro which is one of the best drawing tablets for Mac.
For just $69.99, Affinity Designer 2 is an incredibly good value professional design software for Mac.
It’s not on the same level as Adobe Illustrator but it’s definitely suitable for those that are looking for a desktop app with Illustrator style features.
Pricing: $69.99/license
6. Painter 2023
Painter 2023 is available on both Mac and PC and is aimed at those that want to create stunning digital art especially on tablets and drawing pads.
Painter 2023 is quite complex to learn but if you’re a professional designer, the learning curve is no different to Adobe Illustrator.
Some of the highlights of Painter 2023 include acclaimed Natural-Media emulation and digital art brushes with an amazing range of customization options for brushes, textures, and other media.
You can easily use Painter 2023 on your Mac but to get really creative and create designs naturally, you we recommend using a drawing tablet with it.
Although there’s more in Painter 2023 than you’ll probably ever need, you can extend its functionality with plugins too.
Painter 2023 is optimized to run natively on the Apple Silicon M-series Macs.
Pricing: $249/license
7. Graphic
Graphic (formerly iDraw) is a powerful vector graphic design program that’s designed specifically for Macs and iOS devices.
Graphic has a dedicated fan-base and over the year has evolved into a very powerful vector drawing tool that costs just $29.99.
In fact in terms of bang for buck, you can’t really get much better than Graphic.
Graphic can import and export to PSD, SVG, PDF and EPS files and has a fully featured Bezier Pen tool for creating custom shapes.
There are also tons of brushes, layer styles and it’s optimized for OpenGL.
Graphic is similar to Affinity Designer although we prefer Affinity for its Adobe inspired interface and all round general ease of use.
However, for $29.99, you can’t go too far wrong even if you decide Graphic is not for you, it’s definitely worth trying.
Unfortunately, Graphic hasn’t been updated in over 6 years suggesting that development of it has stopped.
It still works on the latest versions of macOS but be aware there may be no support if it stops working with future releases.
Pricing: $29.99/license – No free trial
8. Sketch
Sketch is another increasingly popular graphic design app for Macs that’s very popular with User Interface (UI) designers.
It’s popular with graphic designers that need to do wireframe designing and create prototypes.
Sketch is a very accomplished all round graphic design software for Mac that’s used by companies such as Google, Facebook and Apple.
Sketch is designed specifically for Macs so it looks amazing on macOS and produces professional results whether it’s icon design, web design or product design.
It’s definitely more of a user design tool than a drawing tool but if you’re into UI and wireframe design, it’s a superb option for Mac users.
Pricing: Starting from $12/month or $120/year
9. Corel Vector
Corel Vector is unusual because it’s an online vector graphics design software offering the power and features you’d expect from more expensive desktop graphic design apps.
Since Corel Vector is cloud based, it works on all platforms and is remarkably fast and responsive for an online graphic design app.
Corel Vector allows you to add multiple layers and elements to an image without slowing it down and is used for everything from marketing materials and presentations to UI design and social media.
Advanced features include non-destructive Boolean operations and the ability to vectorize borders or offset path contours.
You can control font styles and weights, kerning, line, character and paragraph spacing, all non-destructively which is rare in an online graphics tool.
The paid version is a reasonable $69.99 per year which allows unlimited storage and the ability to work offline giving you the best of both worlds.
Pricing: $69.99/year
10. OpenOffice Draw (Free)
If you don’t need something complex and shiny on your Mac and just want a free drawing program on your Mac, then take a look at OpenOffice Draw.
Draw is part of the excellent Office for Mac alternative OpenOffice and is a surprisingly accomplished drawing tool that doesn’t cost a cent.
It doesn’t have the features or polish of most of the graphic design apps featured here but as a drawing tool, it’s very easy to use.
Especially if you just want to do basic sketches, OpenOffice Draw is ideal although for more advanced design such as dealing with layers and different paint brushes, it’s not really suitable.
However, there are useful tools such as a 3D object manipulator, smart connectors and you can import images from most major file formats (but not SVG or Photoshop).
For a basic free graphic designer, OpenOffice Draw is worth looking at.
Pricing: Free
11. EazyDraw (Free)
EazyDraw has been around for many years on Mac – since OS X 10.2 Jaguar in fact – and there’s no denying it’s definitely a bit dated nowadays compared to recent competition such as Affinity Designer and Sketch.
EazyDraw is more of an all round drawing application that’s suitable for everything from technical drawing to 3D logo design and creating floor plans on Mac.
EazyDraw offers some unusual but interesting purchase options too.
You can try EazyDraw for free but its limited to 20 objects. However, a better option is to pay $20 for a trial license which allows you to use it with no limits for 9 months.
If you decide it’s the graphic design tool for Mac you’ve been looking for, you can deduct the $20 from the full purchase price of $95. Alternatively, you can even order USB Flash drive for $119.04 with EazyDraw installed that you can plug-in and run anywhere.
Pricing: Free / Starting from $20
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