Online Design: Reviewing 5 Online Graphic Programs

Do you need graphics for a presentation, illustrations for social media, and/or creative marketing materials? In the past, it would have been necessary to hire a designer or master a graphic design program. These days, there are plenty of online solutions that anyone can use to craft their own content.

But which tool is the best? We took a close look at some of the most well-known provider.

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Best Overall 2024
Canva
Canva
(15,177,912 )
Our winner from Australia impresses thanks to its intuitiveness, editing options, and a huge selection of layouts, elements, and stock content. With Canva, you get lots of power at a fair price.
easy to use
professional templates
impressive stock media database
good price-performance ratio
free premium trial available
9.6
excellent
Plan
Free
Users
1
Storage
5 - 1,000 GB
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Canva Free
 $0.00
monthly price
Visme
Visme
(4,076 )
Attention to detail, lots of tools, and specialized templates secured Visme second place in our test. Unfortunately, it is somewhat tricky to use and its value for money could be better.
comprehensive editing tools
specific templates (e.g. magazine layouts)
3-D animations
convenient app integrations
fairly expensive
8.6
good
Plan
Basic
Users
1
Storage
0.1 - 3 GB
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Visme Basic
 $0.00
monthly price
VistaCreate
VistaCreate
(1,605 )
Third place in our test went to VistaCreate, which wants to revolutionize the marketing world. It isn't quite there yet but still impresses with its intuitiveness and high-quality templates. Just the printing capabilities could be improved.
high-quality templates
easy to use
good price-performance ratio
inattention to details
lacks app integrations
8.2
good
Plan
Starter
Users
1
Storage
10 - ∞
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Vista Starter
 $0.00
monthly price
Piktochart
Piktochart
(504 )
Piktochart excels in visualizing numbers and data. The intuitive platform also offers professional templates. Its lack of tools and pricing structure count against it though.
easy to use
professional templates
perfect for infographics
only few tools
no trial of the premium version
8.2
good
Plan
Free
Users
4
Storage
0.1 - 100 GB
Downloads/Month
2 - ∞
Piktochart Free
 $0.00
monthly price
Adobe Express
Adobe Express
(352,950 )
The market leader was surprisingly unimpressive in our test. Although Adobe Express is well-suited for beginners, its lack of features and template quality hold it back from being a contender.
easy to use
features professional stock photos
lacks features and tools
no videos
unimpressive templates
7.8
good
Plan
Free
Users
1
Storage
2 - 100 GB
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Adobe Free
 $0.00
monthly price

Do you need graphics for a presentation, illustrations for social media, and/or creative marketing materials? In the past, it would have been necessary to hire a designer or master a graphic design program. These days, there are plenty of online solutions that anyone can use to craft their own content. But which tool is the best?

We took a close look at some of the most well-known providers, highlighting both their advantages and disadvantages. User-friendliness was essential to us since, for non-designers, the program should be as intuitive and easy to operate as possible. Beyond that, we noted the features each offer, what templates are included, the design elements they make available, their support, and their price-performance ratio.

Before elaborating upon our testing criteria, we'll let you know how the five programs from our sample fared.

Online Design: Reviewing 5 Platforms

These days, there are plenty of online design platforms on the market, so we limited our assessment to the five most popular. Without further ado, here are the results:

1.

Canva: The Best All-Arounder From Down Under

Best Overall 2024
Canva
Canva
(15,177,912 )
Our winner from Australia impresses thanks to its intuitiveness, editing options, and a huge selection of layouts, elements, and stock content. With Canva, you get lots of power at a fair price.
easy to use
professional templates
impressive stock media database
good price-performance ratio
free premium trial available
9.6
excellent
Plan
Free
Users
1
Storage
5 - 1,000 GB
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Canva Free
 $0.00
monthly price

The Australian platform Canva does almost everything right: It's intuitive, offers a huge selection of templates, elements, and editing tools, and has a very good price-performance ratio. Another advantage: Its premium Pro package can be trialed at no cost, meaning that you won't need to purchase a subscription before giving the full version a go.

Canva is powerful: Its portfolio includes more than 250,000 templates spanning upwards of 200 layout categories.

Our top performer isn't without flaws though: The sheer amount of templates and options available can be daunting, which isn't helped by the weak filter options. Because of this, finding the right content can be difficult.

  • Intuitive to use

  • Professional templates

  • Comprehensive stock media archive

  • Very good price-performance ratio

  • Free premium trial

  • Few filters to help refine search results

  • Unclear template selection

Review
9.6
excellent
Check Review
Usage
10 / 10
Templates & Elements
9.4 / 10
Features
9.4 / 10
Dokumentation & Support
9.4 / 10
2.

Visme: Versatile Templates & Attention to Detail

Visme
Visme
(4,076 )
Attention to detail, lots of tools, and specialized templates secured Visme second place in our test. Unfortunately, it is somewhat tricky to use and its value for money could be better.
comprehensive editing tools
specific templates (e.g. magazine layouts)
3-D animations
convenient app integrations
fairly expensive
8.6
good
Plan
Basic
Users
1
Storage
0.1 - 3 GB
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Visme Basic
 $0.00
monthly price

Silver in our comparison went to Visme. The US provider wowed us with its specialized templates, such as 3-D options and magazine layouts. We liked the comprehensive assortment of editing tools on offer since they reflect Visme's attention to detail.

Visme: Strong in some areas, but difficult to use and pricey.

We were less taken with how the platform handles. With Visme, you'll only notice most things the second time around, which unnecessarily complicated the design and editing process. Set alongside our best-in-class, Canva, you should also be ready to dedicate more time to become familiar with the service's features. On top of that, Visme is fairly expensive, and no free trial version that includes Pro features is available.

  • Includes 3-D animations

  • DTP templates for magazines and publications

  • Comprehensive editing tools

  • Expensive

  • Complicated; takes time to get a feel for

  • Doesn't offer a free premium trial

Review
8.6
good
Check Review
Dokumentation & Support
9.4 / 10
Usage
9.4 / 10
Templates & Elements
8.0 / 10
Features
7.4 / 10
3.

VistaCreate: Easy to Use and Excellent Templates

VistaCreate
VistaCreate
(1,605 )
Third place in our test went to VistaCreate, which wants to revolutionize the marketing world. It isn't quite there yet but still impresses with its intuitiveness and high-quality templates. Just the printing capabilities could be improved.
high-quality templates
easy to use
good price-performance ratio
inattention to details
lacks app integrations
8.2
good
Plan
Starter
Users
1
Storage
10 - ∞
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Vista Starter
 $0.00
monthly price

VistaCreate, formerly known as Crello, made it to 3rd place in our assessment. The service set itself the goal of revolutionizing the worlds of marketing and print, however, it still has some work to do. Now owned by Cimpress (formerly Vistaprint), we liked how easy its platform is to use as well as its high-quality templates. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details as VistaCreate lacks an app and printing integrations.

VistaCreate tries to compete with Canva, however, when it comes to the nitty gritty, it shows its shortcomings.

All the same, VistaCreate has a good price-performance ratio and offers excellent support. Before booking a premium subscription, you can try it out at no cost for 14 days.

  • Intuitive to use

  • High-quality templates

  • Good price-performance ratio

  • Free premium trial

  • Inattention to detail

  • No direct print integrations

  • Doesn't have a companion app

Review
8.2
good
Check Review
Dokumentation & Support
8.6 / 10
Usage
8.6 / 10
Templates & Elements
8.0 / 10
Features
7.4 / 10
4.

Piktochart: Visualize Numbers, Data, and Figures

Piktochart
Piktochart
(504 )
Piktochart excels in visualizing numbers and data. The intuitive platform also offers professional templates. Its lack of tools and pricing structure count against it though.
easy to use
professional templates
perfect for infographics
only few tools
no trial of the premium version
8.2
good
Plan
Free
Users
4
Storage
0.1 - 100 GB
Downloads/Month
2 - ∞
Piktochart Free
 $0.00
monthly price

In terms of score, Piktochart was tied with VistaCreate. However, since the Malaysian platform lacks apps and comprehensive tools, and is fairly expensive to boot, it has to settle for fourth place in our assessment. Things aren't all bad though as the service's support is fast and knowledgeable.

Piktochart is all about visualizing numbers, data, and figures.

One of the things we liked most about Piktochart was how it helps to creatively visualize numbers and data. Its interface is easy to use, its templates are professional, and the dashboard keeps everything straightforward.

Should you need a tool to illustrate data or figures, such as for a presentation at work, Piktochart is a solid choice.

  • Easy to use

  • Professional templates

  • Clear dashboard

  • Lacks tools

  • No app

  • Doesn't offer a free trial of its premium version

Review
8.2
good
Check Review
Dokumentation & Support
10 / 10
Usage
10 / 10
Templates & Elements
6.6 / 10
Features
6.0 / 10
5.

Adobe Express: Beginner-Friendly, but Light on Features

Adobe Express
Adobe Express
(352,950 )
The market leader was surprisingly unimpressive in our test. Although Adobe Express is well-suited for beginners, its lack of features and template quality hold it back from being a contender.
easy to use
features professional stock photos
lacks features and tools
no videos
unimpressive templates
7.8
good
Plan
Free
Users
1
Storage
2 - 100 GB
Downloads/Month
unlimited
Adobe Free
 $0.00
monthly price

Even though Adobe is a market leader in terms of design and layout programs, the Internet giant's solution finished last in our assessment. That's because Adobe Express's selection of features just can't compete with the other services from our sample. Video editing isn't supported, while its templates could do with both more quality and variety.

Tools, features, and attention to detail are all in short supply with Adobe Express.

That isn't to say that Adobe Express doesn't perform well in certain areas. As might be expected from an Adobe solution, it's highly intuitive. On top of that, the stock photo archive you'll be given access to is excellent, and its support is top-of-the-line. Still, Adobe's beginner-friendly online graphic platform just doesn't do enough to overtake its more dynamic rivals.

  • Easy to use

  • Comes with professional stock photos

  • Offers a free premium trial

  • Limited features and tools

  • No videos

  • Template quality leaves much to be desired

Review
7.8
good
Check Review
Dokumentation & Support
10 / 10
Usage
8.0 / 10
Templates & Elements
6.6 / 10
Features
6.6 / 10

Online Design Tools: How We Evaluated

For each of the five services from our sample, we booked a paid premium subscription in order to assess all of the platform's features. This took place according to five different categories in which we awarded scores (with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest). Below, we've summarized what we paid attention to when scoring each category.

Usage

The first aspect we examined was how each provider handled the registration process. Those who expedited this, or made matters as straightforward as possible received higher scores. The only major difference between the providers in this area was whether or not they offered a free trial of their premium version. Canva and Adobe Express give a very generous 30 days, VistaCreate lets you try it out for 14 days, however, PikoChart and Visme don't offer any sort of free trial, even upon request.

The registration process is straightforward with all five services from our sample, however, only three of them offer free premium trials.

We also evaluated how user-friendly each of our 5 services was. Points were awarded, for example, for clear dashboards and neatly-organized templates. Additional aspects we looked at were how quickly a design can be created, whether text or icons can be added, and what possibilities users have to download the finished project or share it with customers/colleagues.

Piktochart's dashboard was one of the most straightforward and well-organized in our sample.

Features

For this part of our assessment, we focused on the technical qualities of each program. What sort of editing options, image filters, and animations are available? Can numbers and raw data be converted into visually-appealing presentations and infographics? Which tools are particularly useful or time-saving? Those services that made a wide array of helpful tools available while still being easy to use received the highest scores in this section.

Services could boost their score for their provision of photo-editing capabilities, animations, and helpful tools.

Intuitive video editing and the ability to include brand assets such as logos, fonts, or colors that could then be shared among a team, were additional factors that we judged favorably. Scheduling tools for social media also were advantageous, as were apps and integrations with other tools or software.

Templates & Elements

In this section, everything was about the core competencies of an online design program, namely, what templates and design elements it offers. How good, appealing, and creative are the layouts? Is a topically wide range of content available? Are stock photos and videos offered? Can audio files be integrated?

Here, the differences between the five services became readily apparent. Piktochart's assortment of layouts and templates was fairly limited, however, it excelled in terms of charts, tables, and data visualizations. Adobe Express was the stingiest, failing to offer video clips and stock videos, while also dropping points on account its layouts' quality.

Adobe Express was lacking in creativity and attention to detail: Most of the templates it offers are very basic.

We also paid attention to which elements and fonts are included with each service. From all of the above, we calculated a score.

Support

As with all of our software reviews, we look at support from two aspects: The help center, and direct (or live) support. The former should include easy-to-understand, informative, and up-to-date tutorials, FAQs, and guides.

When it comes to direct support, providers that did well offered clear channels for getting in touch, while responding quickly and competently to our queries. We're happy to report that all five services showed themselves to be customer-oriented, allowing us to award very high scores in this section.

Pricing

What do you get for your money and how do the premium and free versions differ from one another? These questions were answered in the final section of our reviews with our top performer (Canva) taking the highest score.

The table below shows the 12-month subscription price for each service from our sample:

1.
Canva
Free
$0.00
yearly price
2.
Visme
Basic
$0.00
yearly price
3.
Vista
Starter
$0.00
yearly price
4.
Piktochart
Free
$0.00
yearly price
5.
Adobe
Free
$0.00
yearly price

Conclusion

Online design programs can be easily used by anyone to handle a whole range of creative projects. Long gone are the days when you'd have to learn how to use complicated, expensive software in order to create aesthetically pleasing layouts and graphics. Depending on what your needs are and the capabilities of the service you've selected, a free account might even be enough to get the ball moving. Should you want to do more professional work, however, there aren't many ways around a premium subscription, since these enable access to all tools a platform has to offer.

Even though each of the five services we've looked at above focused on graphics, layouts, and design, the differences between the platforms are considerable. We recommend using the free or trial versions of each before purchasing a subscription so that you can see if the provider is capable of doing what you want it to.

FAQs

What's the best online design program?

During our assessment, Canva emerged as the best online design program. In terms of handling, template selection, and the variety of tools on offer, the software has a clear advantage over its competitors. The sheer amount of content and options might be overwhelming at first, however, after a short while, you should feel right at home in the intuitive environment. On top of that, the service's price-performance ratio is nearly unbeatable.

What can I do with an online design program?

With an online design program, you can create all sorts of designs and marketing materials, ranging from Facebook posts to resumes, to greeting cards, to corporate videos. Depending on the platform, they're also great for working with numbers and data, such as for business presentations.

Is Canva trustworthy?

Canva is definitely reputable and highly recommended. In our EXPERTE.com assessment, the tool showed itself to perform excellently when creating graphics, layouts, and videos for all sorts of professional and non-professional purposes. Another advantage is that Canva's development team regularly enhances the platform with new tools and features.

Is Canva really free?

Yes, Canva can be used for free. This version supports working alone or in teams on designs and layouts. In addition, hundreds of thousands of templates and more than a million free photos and graphics are put at your fingertips.

Julia P. Manzau has more than 30 years of professional experience in leading editorial and marketing positions in the premium automotive, mechanical engineering, and healthcare industries. She studied Political Science and History in Bonn, Marketing at the St. Galler Business School and earned a BA in Media Engineering (CCI). Since 2015, she has worked as a freelance writer. For EXPERTE.com, she focuses on software, the Internet, and marketing.
* Ad disclaimer: For links marked with an asterisk, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. The commission has no influence on our editorial rating.
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