When it comes to graphic design software, many of the most well known apps require a subscription.
Not everyone wants to be tied into one though, especially if you only need a graphic design app for occasional use, you’re a freelancer or you’re a student on a tight budget.
The good news is, there are still some really great one-time purchase options out there that produce professional designs without the recurring costs.
So if you’re looking to avoid subscriptions but still want access to pro-level graphic design tools, we’ve rounded-up some of the best graphic design software for Macs that offer a perpetual license.
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Things To Consider Before You Buy
To help narrow things down, there are some things worth considering before you buy any graphic design app.
- Your design needs: Are you planning to use it for vector illustration, photo editing, or a combination of both? Some apps like CorelDRAW Graphics Suite cover everything while others like Pixelmator are focused on vector illustration only.
- Ease of use: Many graphic design apps are aimed at creative professionals and end-up overwhelming for beginners. There are however some more user-friendly options for those with little experience.
- Features: If you’re using it for professional design, does the software have the features you need, such as layer management, non-destructive editing, support for industrial printing etc? If you’re working in a team with others, does it also support collaboration tools?
There’s a few extra considerations too when looking for a one-time purchase option:
- Budget: While one-time purchase software can save money in the long run, they usually come with a bigger up-front cost. This can be hundreds of dollars for the most professional apps so bear this in mind when budgeting.
- Update policy: Check how long the software provides free updates otherwise you’ll need to pay for major upgrades and may be better off with a subscription. Consider both feature updates and security updates as new releases of macOS can render the software useless unless it is updated by the developer.
- Usage: Are you planning to go into professional graphic design? If so, you’ll almost certainly need to know how to use Adobe’s products because they so widely used in the design industry. If so, you may be better to bite the bullet and buy a subscription or if you’re studying, at least buy a discounted Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription.
1. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is one of the most established brands in graphic design and unlike its big competitor Adobe, it does offer a one time purchase option.
The entire CorelDRAW Graphics Suite offers a complete range of tools for vector illustration, layout design and even photo editing.
When it comes to pricing, it is one of the more expensive one on the market at just under $550 but you get a fully fledged professional graphic design suite for that.
Although you can buy CorelDRAW Standard cheaper on its own, it’s only available for Windows meaning you’d need to use a virtual machine to use it on a Mac.
The CorelDRAW Graphics Suite does however offer a 15 day free trial to allow you to properly try it out before committing with no credit card required.
What we especially like about CorelDRAW Graphics Suite:
- Complete vector illustration tools comparable to Adobe Illustrator.
- Cross-platform compatibility allowing you to switch between Mac and Windows.
- Includes a huge library of templates to get started.
Our Favorite Feature: The LiveSketch tool uses AI to convert freehand sketches into detailed illustrations in real-time.
One-Time Purchase Price: $549
2. Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is not only a popular alternative to Procreate but is also one of the most complete one time purchase graphic design apps for macOS.
Originally known as Mango Studio, Clip Studio Paint is aimed at professional digital artists and illustrators.
If you don’t like drawing with a trackpad, it can also be used with most drawing tablets connecxted to your Mac.
The comprehensive toolset is especially aimed at artists creating comics, animations, and illustrations.
There’s an extensive brush library with many user-generated brushes and it supports multiple vector layers.
Professionals will appreciate the level of customization possible including the ability to mix your colors.
You can buy Clip Studio Paint with a perpetual license but a subscription is required if you want to receive updates.
Pricing: Pro version $54.00, Ex version $237.00 perpetual license or subscription starting at $4.49.
Pros:
- Rich brush selection and customization
- Excellent for comic and animation creation
- Works across platforms
- Supports multiple vector layers
Cons:
- Subscription required for updates and cloud storage
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Requires a Mac with a lot of RAM
3. Affinity Designer 2
Affinity Designer 2 is a popular alternative to Adobe Illustrator, designed with both professionals and hobbyists in mind.
It provides most tools you’ll need for vector graphic design, logos and illustrations such as custom brushes, Force Touch, Fill and Erase tools and many more.
Another bonus is the excellent Affinity Designer iPad app which allows you to sketch on the move and then put down the finishing touches on your Mac later.
What we especially like about Affinity Designer 2:
- Offers a blend of vector and raster design capabilities.
- Designed for high performance, ensuring smooth operation even on complex projects.
- Integration with other Affinity graphic design products.
Note that Affinity was recently acquired by Canva although the company has pledged to continue offering a perpetual license for its products.
Our Favorite Feature: Integration between the Affinity Designer macOS and iOS app.
One-Time Purchase Price: $69.99
4. Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro is an all-in-one image editing and graphic design app that is suitable for both casual users and professionals.
It has a much more user-friendly interface than most graphic design apps but doesn’t lack power including most recently, machine learning tools.
What we especially like about Pixelmator Pro:
- Powerful editing capabilities with a focus on both vector and raster graphics.
- Uses machine learning to enhance and correct images, making editing easier than ever.
- Designed exclusively for Macs so it’s well integrated into macOS.
Our favorite feature: The ML Super Resolution feature enhances image quality when scaling up for large prints.
One-Time Purchase Price: $49.99
5. Sketch
Sketch is designed specifically for Macs and is aimed mainly at UI/UX designers.
While it offers subscription options for ongoing updates, users can purchase a perpetual license to use the software indefinitely.
Although Sketch is more of a user design tool than a 100 % graphic design app, it can be used as one although it excels at UI and wireframe design.
What we especially like about Sketch:
- Tailored tools and templates for User Interface design.
- A large library of free plugins to customize it for specific products and projects.
- Collaboration tools to share and improve designs.
Our favorite feature: The Symbols feature which enables the creation of reusable design components in UI projects.
One-Time Purchase Price: $120 for a perpetual license
6. Graphic
Graphic is a user-friendly vector graphic design application that’s ideal for those with limited graphic design skills.
It’s especially great for creating logos and illustrations without a subscription model.
What we especially like about Graphic:
- Easy to use interface makes it accessible for users of all abilities.
- Supports both vector and raster images for a wide range of project types.
- Offers a variety of drawing and editing tools.
Our favorite feature: The path editing features allow for ultra-detailed adjustments, to fine-tune designs.
One-Time Purchase Price: $29.99
Comparison Table
| Software | Key Features | One-Time Cost |
|---|
| CorelDraw Graphics Suite | Vector illustration, page layout, and typography tools | $549 |
| Clip Studio Paint | Ideal for illustration, comics, and animations | $54 (Pro version) |
| Affinity Designer 2 | Vector and raster design tools, seamless workflow | $69.99 |
| Pixelmator Pro | Image editing and graphic design, ML features | $49.99 |
| Sketch | UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration | $120 |
| Graphic | Vector drawing and illustration tools | $29.99 |
FAQ
Is one-time purchase software less powerful than subscription-based alternatives?
Not at all. Many one-time purchase graphic design apps like all of the ones we have listed here, offer professional-level features comparable to subscription-based options like Adobe Illustrator. Some of them also offer subscriptions as well so the pricing model is no reflection of its capabilities.
Can I still get updates with one-time purchase graphic design software?
Yes, most developers include updates with one-time purchase software although how updates are handled varies. For example, some programs like Sketch offer a perpetual license but charge for major updates after a certain period. Others like CorelDRAW Graphics Suite provide regular updates during the software’s lifecycle. It’s therefore important to check each app’s policy on updates before purchasing.
What’s the best one-time purchase software for beginners?
For beginners, Pixelmator Pro and Graphic are both known for their simplicity and ease of use for photo editing and vector design.
How does Affinity Designer compare to Adobe Illustrator?
Affinity Designer often captures many converts from Adobe Illustrator, mainly attracted by the one-time purchasing option. It offers many of the same vector and raster design capabilities at a fraction of the cost, and its performance is optimized for both macOS and Windows. While it might lack some of the more niche features found in Illustrator and Creative Cloud integrations, Affinity Designer is more than suitable for professional-level graphic design.
Can I use these apps for both vector and raster graphics?
Affinity Designer, Pixelmator Pro and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite support both vector and raster graphics, allowing you to work with a wide variety of design formats.
Is there a one-time purchase option for UI/UX design?
Sketch is one of the most popular design tools for UI/UX work and offers a perpetual license. It’s widely used in the UI/UX community especially those focused on web and mobile interface design. However, major updates may require an additional fee after the first year.
Can I try any of these apps before purchasing?
Yes, all of the software in our roundup, except Graphic, offer free trials.
Do these one-time purchase apps work on both Mac and Windows?
Some of the apps like CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Affinity Designer are cross-platform, meaning they work on both Mac and Windows. Others, like Sketch and Pixelmator Pro are Mac-exclusive, so if you plan to switch between operating systems, make sure to check compatibility before purchasing.
Are there any free graphic design tools for Macs?
Yes, there are some completely free open source graphic design apps such as Inkscape and Krita that can be used on Mac. For more options, check out our full guide to the best graphic design software for Macs.
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