Tools We Recommend
Our curated toolkit for creators — starting with the one tool that does it all.
Top Recommendation — All-in-One
Adobe Express
If you only use one design tool, make it Adobe Express. It covers logo creation, social media graphics, presentations, posters, invitations, print products, video editing, and social media scheduling — all in one place, all for free.
How Adobe Express Compares to Canva and PicMonkey
The three most common free design tools for non-designers are Adobe Express, Canva, and PicMonkey. Here's an honest comparison:
| Feature | Adobe Express | Canva | PicMonkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan value | Excellent | Good (shrinking) | Limited |
| Template quality | Professional | Varies widely | Good |
| Brand Kit | Free | Paid only | Paid only |
| Background remover | Free | Paid only | Paid only |
| One-click resize | Free | Paid only | Paid only |
| AI features | Strong (Firefly) | Growing | Limited |
| Video editing | Yes (free) | Yes (free) | Basic |
| Social scheduling | Yes (free) | Limited free | No |
Complementary Free Tools
These tools pair well with Adobe Express for specific use cases:
Stock Photos & Images
Unsplash
Visit →The best free high-resolution stock photos. Completely free, no attribution required for most uses.
Pexels
Visit →Another excellent free stock photo source. Great variety and consistently high quality.
Pixabay
Visit →Free photos, vectors, and illustrations. Useful when you need graphics beyond photography.
Fonts
Google Fonts
Visit →Over 1,000 free, open-source fonts. All usable in commercial projects. Start here for any typography decision.
Font Squirrel
Visit →Free fonts vetted for commercial use. Good for finding unique display fonts that stand out.
DaFont
Visit →Huge library of decorative fonts. Always check the license before using commercially.
Color Palette Tools
Adobe Color
Visit →Generate harmonious color palettes from a base color or an uploaded image. Integrates directly with Adobe Express.
Coolors
Visit →Press spacebar to generate beautiful palettes instantly. Great for finding color combinations quickly.
Paletton
Visit →Advanced color wheel tool for understanding color relationships — complementary, triadic, analogous schemes.
Video & GIF Tools
Background Removal
Remove.bg
Visit →Dedicated background removal tool with excellent accuracy. Note: Adobe Express now includes background removal for free.
File Conversion & Compression
Squoosh
Visit →Google's free image compression tool. Reduce file sizes without visible quality loss before uploading images.
CloudConvert
Visit →Convert between 200+ file formats in the browser. Useful for converting SVG to PNG or PDF to JPG.
ILovePDF
Visit →Free PDF tools: compress, merge, split, convert. Essential when preparing print-ready files.