DIY design magic: top 5 free software that’ll make your socials pop

Not everyone has a designer on speed dial or the budget for Adobe’s monthly heartbreak. If you’re an indie author or a small business owner wanting to look the part online, here’s my no-fluff top 5 list of free graphic software that’ll make your social feeds look totally pro.

Please note: this content is not sponsored. It’s based entirely on my own experience as a user.

1. Canva

Best for: Beginners who want quick, polished designs.

Canva is the GOAT when it comes to free design tools. It’s packed with templates for everything from Instagram posts to YouTube thumbnails, and it’s so easy to use you could design with one hand and sip coffee with the other.

You get access to thousands of free elements, photos, fonts and layouts. Plus, it has brand kits (even on the free plan!) to help keep your colours and fonts consistent.

Pro tip: Save your brand colours and fonts in Canva to speed up your workflow.

2. Adobe Express

Best for: Quick social media graphics with a pro edge.

Formerly Adobe Spark, this baby is like a mini Photoshop with training wheels. It’s great for social posts, stories, reels thumbnails and even animated graphics. Think of it as Adobe’s gift to the DIY crowd.

You’ll find loads of templates and slick design assets, all free to use. And the interface? Surprisingly friendly for something from the Adobe fam.

Pro tip: Use the resize tool to turn one design into 5 different formats. Work smarter, not harder.

3. Krita

Best for: Authors or creatives who want to get artsy.

Krita is a free, open-source programme that’s brilliant for illustration and digital painting. If your brand has a hand-drawn, artistic vibe, or you’re an author looking to sketch out your characters, this one’s for you.

It’s definitely more advanced than Canva or Express, but once you get the hang of it, it’s magic.

Pro tip: Combine Krita artwork with Canva layouts for a hybrid of art and polish.

4. Photopea

Best for: Photoshop-style editing in your browser.

Photopea is the secret weapon of many a bootstrapped designer. It looks and acts like Photoshop, but it runs entirely in your browser. And it’s 100% free.

If you’ve ever downloaded a Photoshop template and thought ‘now what?’, open it in Photopea and get cracking. It handles PSDs, smart layers, masks, the whole shebang.

Pro tip: Use it to edit templates you buy or grab for free online.

5. Pixlr

Best for: Quick edits and eye-catching photo effects.

Pixlr is a brilliant little tool when you need to tweak a photo or add a bit of flair to your visuals. It has two versions: Pixlr X for simple stuff, and Pixlr E if you’re feeling fancy.

Whether you're brightening up a book cover mock-up or adding text to a product shot, Pixlr makes it fast and easy.

Pro tip: Use Pixlr for cut-outs and background removal without fiddly tools.

.Final word

You don’t need a massive design budget or a graphic design degree to make your brand look good online. These tools are free, easy to use, and honestly? Kind of fun once you get into them.

As a branding and graphic designer myself, I’m all about empowering small businesses and creatives to show up confidently and look amazing doing it.

Got questions? Need help making your DIY designs look more high-end? Slide into my inbox. I’m here to help!