Resources / Design Software
GIMP and Inkscape are the heavyweight free alternatives to Photoshop and Illustrator, Krita excels for digital painting, and Blender rounds out the toolkit for anyone venturing into 3D.
Quick Guide
Use CodeHelper's tools when you need:
- •Privacy & offline processing
- •No account or signup required
- •Fast, client-side operations
Use external tools when you need:
- •Team collaboration features
- •Cloud storage & synchronization
- •Extensive template libraries
All Tools
GIMP
Free & open-source image editor similar to Photoshop.
Gravit Designer
Free full-featured vector graphic design app that works on all platforms.
Blender
Open-source and free 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software.
RawTherapee
Cross-platform RAW image processing software.
BeFunky
Online design and photo editing program.
Krita
Professional sketching and painting program for digital artists.
Pencil Project
Open-source GUI prototyping software.
Inkscape
Powerful and free vector graphic design tool.
Adobe XD
Free design and prototyping tool from Adobe.
Shape.so
Icon library that can be used as code directly in your projects.
Lunacy
Free graphic design software : a Sketch alternative for Windows.
InVision Studio
Free screen design and prototyping tool from InVision.
Darktable
Free & open-source photography workflow application and RAW developer.
InPixio Photo Editor
Free photo editor for Windows.
Colorpicker
Open-source color management tool to retrieve, manipulate, and store colors easily.
Google Web Designer
Create engaging HTML5-based designs and motion graphics that run on any device.
Best Design Software & Graphic Tools for Developers & Designers
The right design software is essential for creating professional UI/UX mockups, vector graphics, photo composites, and interactive prototypes. The design tool landscape has expanded significantly, offering powerful free and open-source alternatives alongside industry standards.
CodeHelper's curated design software collection covers UI design tools, vector software, photo editors, prototyping apps, and Figma alternatives : from free open-source tools to industry-standard applications.
What to look for in design software
- Collaboration features: Cloud-based tools like Figma enable real-time team collaboration, reducing handoff friction between designers and developers.
- Developer handoff: Good UI design tools provide inspect modes with CSS values, measurements, and asset export for developers.
- Plugin ecosystem: A rich plugin marketplace extends functionality with icon libraries, content generators, and workflow automation.
How to use this resource collection
- Browse the curated list of design software below.
- Click any tool to open its website in a new tab.
- Use the search bar to filter by name or description.
Whether you are choosing your first graphic design tool, exploring Figma alternatives, or looking for free prototyping tools, this collection covers all the major design software options.