A logo plays a huge role in establishing brand identity and making a good first impression on customers. It communicates what the brand stands for, how it can benefit them, and sets the business apart from its competitors. Given this importance, it is no surprise that companies are willing to spend huge amounts of money on logo designers and design software to create unique logos that are sure to strike a chord with their customers.
1. Canva
This is one of the easiest and most user-friendly design tools. Although users need to pay to access several advanced features, a huge part of the software remains available for free. It’s ideal for companies on a small budget or for beginners in the field of design. The platform has a sizable library of logo templates, icons, graphics, and illustrations that can be customized by the user depending on their preferences, saving a lot of time and effort.
That being said, professional graphic designers may find this tedious to use, given the reduced control over the design process. In some cases, the designed logo may also come with a watermark, which users will have to pay to remove.
2. LogoMakr
Another user-friendly logo design software, LogoMakr can be used online for free, without even signing up. The site gives easy access to novice designers, who can choose from a stellar library of customizable templates, graphics, and fonts. Alternatively, designers can also start from scratch and save their completed designs in a format of their choice (PDF or SVG).
3. Wix Logo Maker
Although Wix is popular as a website building and hosting platform, it also offers a logo-making service free of charge. Users get access to an AI-powered logo generator that starts by asking some relevant questions about brand values and preferred styles. After running the program successfully, users get a customizable design that they can then alter based on their needs.
This is recommended for beginners in the field, as it allows users to create a highly personalized design in only a few minutes. The site also offers access to a range of customization options, with the option to download the logo in PNG or SVG format once done. It’s important to note that this is a logo generator and not a design tool.
4. Adobe Express
This is a free logo maker by Adobe that can easily be used to design highly professional logos for print and digital media. The software works effortlessly from the browser, reducing the need for unnecessary downloads. Thanks to its intuitive interface, users can design logos within minutes. It can also be used to create animated logos for videos.
5. Adobe Illustrator
Adobe is one of the most well-respected names in the design industry. The Illustrator is a professional vector graphics editing tool that is a popular choice among designers. One of the most notable features of this design software is the ability to scale any vector without losing its quality. It also allows users to begin with hand-drawn sketches and digitize them in the future, giving designers the ability to create new and unique logos from scratch.
The application is available for download and use on Windows and Mac devices, and runs a subscription-based pricing plan that users can select based on their needs.
6. CorelDRAW
Professional designers typically want their tools to have a multifunctional approach. CorelDRAW is one such platform that allows users to create more than logos. An all-purpose graphic and logo design software, CorelDRAW can be used to handle everything from layout design to typography.
That being said, the application has a steep learning curve, which may not be ideal for new designers. Moreover, designers can use this software for free for the first 15 days, after which they are charged a subscription fee of $22.42 per month (or $269 per year).
7. Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop has long been hailed as the photo editing application that many rely on. But the software is capable of doing much more than that. Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics software, which means that it creates designs and images out of pixels. While this may not be the best solution for logos that constantly need to be scaled up or down, it is ideal for those looking to develop a logo for limited use.
Designers can start their Photoshop journey for free for the first seven days. After this, a monthly rate of $20.99 is applicable (when purchasing their annual plan).
8. Logo Design Studio Pro
A design software meant exclusively for Windows, the Logo Design Studio Pro can be used to create custom vector-based logos using pre-set templates. Even beginners in the world of design can master this tool to create extensively customized logos that suit their needs. While it is great for novice and amateur designers, it does not offer as much creative freedom as the more advanced design tools do. The standard edition of this software is available at $69.99, while the Platinum edition is priced at $149.99.
While the basic features of some logo design software are free to use, at the intermediate and advanced levels, designers may want access to more features and control over their designs, prompting them to sign up for professional design tools.