Evaluate and Choose a Winning Logo Design Software

Strong visual content is vital for making a strong impact online and standing out from the crowd. More than half of online marketers say visual content is crucial for online marketing. All graphic design for your organization starts with the cornerstone of your branding: your logo. One study by Vistaprint found that 78% of people believe logos should be considered works of art. That means you need to think carefully about how to establish your brand through your logo. 

Finding the right logo design software can feel overwhelming. Even if you have a general idea of what you want, logo design tools fall along a spectrum of functionality and ease of use. Knowing your own level of skill and desired features will help you choose the right logo design maker. 

There are several options to create a logo for your business, including: 

Over 67% of companies are willing to pay up to $500 to create their logo, but that price may be out of reach for plenty of new business owners. Designing a logo by yourself has grown in popularity because of so many accessible design tools and overall affordability. You can design your own logo with free or paid graphic design software. 

You don’t need formal training in graphic design to make a logo, thanks to the numerous software and application-based programs available today. Start with a basic idea of what you want to showcase in your logo, such as the stylistic elements that appeal to your target audience. This includes graphic design basics like: 

Your business logo can be as simple or as involved as you’d like. A classic two-color logo or an animated logo can both function well, depending on the market. Choosing the right logo design software requires weighing out possible features and ease of use, both of which depend on your current skill set. 

If you don’t have much to invest in creating a logo, free design software will get you started. Easy to use programs help you create a logo online quickly. Some popular free options for logo design are: 

While free logo design programs keep your business launch costs low, most of them lack customization options for a creative final product. With limited colors and elements, your logo may not look as unique as you’d like. However, many of these programs like Canva are constantly adding new features. 

More advanced software is best suited to someone tech savvy or anyone with previous training in graphic design. Beginners may find professional tools overwhelming or confusing. With many features and elements, designing a logo with professional tools createunique and impactful branding experiences. If you’re unfamiliar with graphic design, consider upgrading to professional tools after you try out some of the more user-friendly options. 

The most popular professional graphic design tools include: 

Finding the right blend of customization and ease of use is key for any beginner. There are a few options on the market for a new designer who wants to create something beautiful for their business logo. 

This web-based software is an industry leader because it’s easy to use and also comes with many fonts, colors and elements to help you make an attention-grabbing logo. Canva is popular with both graphic designers and newbies alike. 

Since so many people rely on Canva for logos and more, there are many helpful tutorials out there to help you use it properly. As you edit, it’s as simple as point and click to apply new design options. While this software does have some basic design features available for free, the best Canva logos are made with a premium membership because of the in-depth library of elements and customizations. 

You’ll find all the tools you need to create a logo with Figma. Colors, gradients, shapes, and texts can be applied with Figma’s pen tool. Much like Canva, it’s web-based so you can collaborate with someone else for feedback, too. 

As with other logo design options, Figma has a free level for individuals and teams of up to three people, making it affordable and accessible for someone new. 

As an AI-driven graphic design program, DesignHill is ideal for beginners. DesignHill has many templates to choose from and you can easily see what your logo looks like on all kinds of products, like t-shirts or mugs. You only pay when you want to download a low-resolution or high-resolution finished image and vector files. 

If you want custom logos for business with maximum design options, use professional software. Most of these programs have a steep learning curve and may not be the best for a true beginner. 

This software is the most popular professional tool among design agencies and freelance graphic artists because of its functionality. Illustrator was made to generate versatile vector art. Adobe Illustrator is a strong choice for everything from logo design to professional posters and flyers. Since it’s so rich with features, it can take a long time to get the hang of how to get the most out of Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator is only available on a monthly subscription basis. 

The user interface for Affinity Design is what makes it such strong competition for Illustrator. Although it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles to create a logo or other visuals, Affinity is much easier to use. This program has plenty of design elements and templates to layer into your work, but not as many as Adobe. 

Affinitymakes it much easier to undo your work and the software automatically saves a long history of your design process. Affinity can be accessed via iPad for those who love drawing directly onto the screen. 

Most design options are web-based or software downloads for computers. Then there’s Procreate, which is an iPad tool. Procreate gets many positive reviews from users. It comes with a one-time download fee, but there is a learning curve and the cost to invest in basic tools to use it, like the iPad or the Apple pencil. 

If you’re not planning on creating anything else and enjoy working with your iPad rather than a desktop, Procreate logo design may be the best solution for you. 

No matter what kind of business you’re starting, you want a logo that attracts your ideal customers. Whether you create that logo with a free, paid, or professional design tool is up to you. You have plenty of software options to help you create a sharp and recognizable logo, and expand your brand’s reach.