Choosing the right design software for print-on-demand (POD) depends on your skill level, design style, and budget. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the best free and paid design tools, their features, and when to use them.
🆓 Free Design Software for Print on Demand
If you’re starting out or want to design without spending money, these tools are great options.
1. Canva (Free & Pro) – Best for Beginners
🔹 Why Use It?
- User-friendly, drag-and-drop interface.
- Thousands of pre-made templates for T-shirts, mugs, posters, etc.
- Free version available with a lot of resources.
🔹 Limitations:
- No advanced vector editing (SVG export is only in the Pro version).
- You must modify templates to create unique designs.
💡 Best For:
- Typography-based designs (quotes, slogans).
- Simple graphics and layouts.
- Beginners who don’t know how to use Photoshop/Illustrator.
🔗 Try it here: https://www.canva.com/
2. Kittl (Free & Paid) – Best for Text-Based & Vintage Designs
🔹 Why Use It?
- Perfect for retro, vintage, and typography-heavy designs.
- Built-in text effects, ornaments, and textures.
- Free version allows commercial use with watermark.
🔹 Limitations:
- Free plan has limited exports and lower resolution.
- Paid plan needed for full access to premium assets.
💡 Best For:
- Retro, vintage, and distressed T-shirt designs.
- Typography-focused print-on-demand designs.
🔗 Try it here: https://www.kittl.com/
3. GIMP (100% Free & Open-Source Alternative to Photoshop)
🔹 Why Use It?
- Full-featured photo editing and design software.
- Supports layers, masks, and blending modes.
- Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
🔹 Limitations:
- Less intuitive compared to Photoshop.
- No built-in template library.
💡 Best For:
- Advanced photo manipulation.
- Custom illustrations if you know how to draw.
- Creating print-on-demand mockups.
🔗 Download here: https://www.gimp.org/
4. Inkscape (Free) – Best for Vector & SVG Designs
🔹 Why Use It?
- Full-featured vector design software (like Adobe Illustrator).
- Great for creating scalable designs without losing quality.
- Supports SVG, AI, EPS, and other formats.
🔹 Limitations:
- More complex than Canva/Kittl.
- Slower performance on large files.
💡 Best For:
- Creating vector-based designs (logos, icons, line art).
- Designing T-shirts that need resizing without loss of quality.
🔗 Download here: https://inkscape.org/
5. Photopea (Free Online Photoshop Alternative)
🔹 Why Use It?
- Works in your browser (no download needed).
- Supports PSD, AI, and Sketch files.
- Best free alternative for Photoshop users.
🔹 Limitations:
- No cloud storage.
- Ads in the free version.
💡 Best For:
- Quick editing of Photoshop files (PSD).
- Creating T-shirt designs with layer effects.
🔗 Try it here: https://www.photopea.com/
💰 Paid Design Software for Print on Demand
If you want professional tools with advanced features, these paid options are worth the investment.
6. Adobe Illustrator (Paid) – Best for Vector & Logo Design
💲 Price: Starts at $22.99/month (part of Adobe Creative Cloud).
🔹 Why Use It?
- Industry-standard for vector design.
- Perfect for scalable designs (T-shirts, mugs, stickers).
- Works with SVG, AI, EPS files.
🔹 Limitations:
- Steep learning curve.
- Expensive for beginners.
💡 Best For:
- Scalable vector T-shirt designs (clean lines, bold text).
- Detailed illustrations (logos, icons, line art).
🔗 Try it here: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html
7. Adobe Photoshop (Paid) – Best for Photo-Based & Graphic Designs
💲 Price: Starts at $22.99/month (Creative Cloud).
🔹 Why Use It?
- Best software for photo editing & digital painting.
- Allows mockups, print-ready graphics, and texture effects.
- Supports high-quality CMYK printing for POD.
🔹 Limitations:
- Not ideal for vector-based designs.
- Monthly subscription cost.
💡 Best For:
- Textured & grunge-style T-shirt designs.
- Creating mockups for print-on-demand products.
- Photo-based or digital painting designs.
🔗 Try it here: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html
8. CorelDRAW (Paid) – Best Illustrator Alternative for Vectors
💲 Price: $22.42/month or $299 one-time purchase.
🔹 Why Use It?
- Works like Adobe Illustrator but cheaper.
- Strong vector capabilities for print-ready designs.
- Easier to learn compared to Illustrator.
🔹 Limitations:
- Not as widely used as Adobe products.
💡 Best For:
- Vector-based T-shirts & logo designs.
- Custom illustrations with clean lines.
🔗 Try it here: https://www.coreldraw.com/en/
9. Affinity Designer (One-Time Payment) – Best Budget Alternative to Illustrator
💲 Price: $69.99 (one-time purchase, no subscription).
🔹 Why Use It?
- Full vector and raster editing.
- No subscription fees.
- Easier learning curve than Adobe Illustrator.
🔹 Limitations:
- No AI-powered features like Adobe’s software.
💡 Best For:
- Budget-friendly vector design.
- Creating print-ready artwork without paying monthly fees.
🔗 Try it here: https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/
Which Software Should You Choose?
| Software | Best For | Free/Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Beginners, typography-based designs | Free & Paid |
| Kittl | Retro, vintage, text-based designs | Free & Paid |
| GIMP | Photoshop alternative, photo editing | Free |
| Inkscape | Vector designs (Illustrator alternative) | Free |
| Photopea | Online Photoshop editing | Free |
| Adobe Illustrator | Professional vector designs | Paid |
| Adobe Photoshop | Photo-based & artistic designs | Paid |
| CorelDRAW | Illustrator alternative for vectors | Paid |
| Affinity Designer | One-time payment vector tool | Paid |
Final Thoughts
- For Beginners → Start with Canva or Kittl.
- For Vector-Based POD Designs → Use Inkscape, Affinity Designer, or Illustrator.
- For Photo-Based or Grunge Designs → Use Photoshop or GIMP.
