Top 11 AI Design Tools Every Designer Should Know About!

The idea of AI design tools sounds both revolutionary and alien, but with almost all professions taking the AI route, it’s about time that this field of work redefines everything—from processes to end results. 

But what are AI design tools? These are the digital toolkits that allow designers to deliver outstanding designs in a shorter timeframe, thus enhancing productivity and quality.  

AI tools for designers operate differently from other AI productivity solutions. These tools elevate the process by enhancing a design or automating the tedious, rule-based steps (like saving brand colors and repetitive designs). Thus helping designers ideate and create visually enriched images in minutes instead of hours. 

What Is The Need For AI Design Tools? 

To beat the competition? To design better and faster? To eliminate the creative block? 

There are too many statements that could be added in favor of incorporating AI tools for designers. Still, some of the most obvious ones are improved productivity and being able to stay in touch with current trends. 

The tech-driven business world requires everyone to upgrade their methods. Those who stay up-to-date with what is new and adapt to it can upscale. The same is the case for AI tools for graphic design; it is both a necessity and an opportunity. 

Graphic design is a broad field that encompasses image designing, video enhancements, logo designs, UI/UX development, and more. With advanced AI capabilities, all these services can be significantly improved. 

However, integrating AI tools among designers is still quite a new concept even though the technology is currently leading the digital transformation. This makes it an excellent opportunity to forge a new path toward more enhanced designs. 

Top 11 AI Design Tools To Choose From

All these AI tools for graphic design listed below address a specific aspect of the vast domain. For example, Uizard focuses on UI/UX, while MidJourney is an AI image generator. Some AI design tools, like Adobe Firefly and Design.ai, offer a complete suite of design solutions. To list all these 11 AI tools, they are: 

• Adobe Firefly – A complete suite of AI-powered design tools
• Uizard – A perfect AI design tool for designing captivating UI/UX
• Autodraw – A doodle to professional icon creator powered by Google
• Looka – A tool to design The Perfect Logo for your business 
• Canva – A graphic designer’s right hand with an array of design templates
• Midjourney – An innovative AI image generator for all last-minute image requirements
• Fronty – A tool that helps the non-coders design code-based websites 
• Let’s Enhance – An AI design tool to give your images an extra layer of perfection
• Topaz Photo & Video AI – A robust AI tool to enhance both images and videos    
• Khroma – An AI design tool for creating the most suitable color palette
• Designs.ai – A one-stop solution for all the AI design tools

Let’s understand the above-mentioned 11 AI tools for designers in detail 

#1 Adobe Firefly

First on our list of AI tools for designers is Adobe Firefly, a stunning AI-powered tool that touches all the bases of design. What makes Adobe Firefly stand out is its modern features. Powered by generative AI, it allows you to design captivating images and unique text effects easily. 

Whether you want to create stunning images for your websites or eye-catching social media posts, Adobe Firefly can help. It is straightforward; with a single prompt, you can generate an array of images, customize it, and download it for your use. 

Perks  

• Easy-to-navigate user interface 
• Images are customizable 
• Free trial for paid plans 

Limitations 

• Doesn’t auto-save the output 

• Limited customization options
• General prompts may lead to wrong output

Pricing 

The individual plan starts for free but can go up to $59.99 monthly. There’s a paid plan for students and instructors that costs $19.99 per month. For businesses, the paid plan starts from $89.99 per month (per license), or you can contact their sales to get a custom quote. 

Alternatives: 

• Canva 
• Dall-E 
• OpenAI API

Like Adobe, many AI tools aim to simplify education with their advanced features and functionalities. This blog, AI Tools For Students, explains these tools in detail. 

#2 Uizard

If AI tools for UX design are on your list, then this second option is for you. Uizard offers a navigational interface, designing resources (including templates), and an extensive range of UI design tools to accelerate project workflow. The process is simple and requires a few necessary details for Uizard to generate an optimal design based on the input. 

What makes it one of the best AI tools for graphic design is that it allows one to go from hand-drawn sketches or screenshots to website prototypes in just a few clicks. Uizard recently launched Autodesigner 2.0, an intuitive UI design generator that enhances Uizard’s functionalities with the conversational flow of ChatGPT. 

Perks 

• A huge range of templates to choose from 
• Accelerated processes 
• ChatGPT-powered UI design generator 

Limitations 

• Has a steeper learning curve 
• Difficulty in customization 
• Not ideal for large-scale project

Pricing 

The pricing plans start from $0 for students. For startups, Uizard offers a pro plan billed for $12/user/month. Larger organizations and enterprises can go with either $39/user/month or connect directly for a custom quote.  

Alternatives: 

• Figma
• Notion
• FlutterFlow

#3 Autodraw

Created by Google itself, this AI design tool is gaining popularity among new designers who are still getting used to creating art using digital tools. The interface is user-friendly and includes functions such as auto-draw, as well as color options. 

What really makes it beginner-friendly is that all you need to do is draw a doodle for AI to understand your intent and provide relevant, professionally designed suggestions. This tool is ideal for creating logos or website icons. 

Perks 

• Very easy to use 
• Can be used by novice designers 
• AI/ML-based design suggestions 

Limitations 

• Isn’t suitable for detailed, high-quality design 
• Only PNG format output supported 
• It can’t be used as a stand-alone design tool 

Pricing 

Autodraw is a completely free-to-use tool 

Alternatives: 

• Looka 
• Canva 
• Drawtify 

#4 Looka

If you are looking for an AI design tool that can customize a logo for you, Looka is what you need. The tool uses an innovative approach to designing a perfect logo for your brand. Looka employs a questionnaire format that simplifies the entire process into a few steps. 

Users start by filling in their brand name, followed by questions about their industry, logo designs, color options, etc. The tool then generates an extensive range of logo recommendations that can be further customized or used as is. Additionally, Looka also offers AI-based, SEO-friendly websites for startups and businesses.  

Perks 

• High-resolution logo designs 
• A variety of industry-based options 
• Comes with a complete brand kit 

Limitations

• Pricing models aren’t displayed on the website
• Animated and 3D logos unavailable
• Customer support can be a hit or a miss 

Pricing 

The pricing model starts with a basic pack with just one logo design, which costs $20. Then, there’s a premium logo package with multiple logos, which costs $65. There’s a brand kit that costs $96/year and offers all business essentials. The most expensive is the brand kit + AI-generated website, which costs $129/year. 

Alternatives: 

• LogoAI 
• Canva 
• BuildMyLogo 

#5 Canva

By far the most well-known AI tool for graphic design, Canva offers a lot more than what initially meets the eye. The tool is perfect for both beginners and experienced designers alike. The interface is well organized and feature-rich, with all the design essentials even on the free plan. 

The AI-powered magic design feature helps designers skip the endless scrolling through templates by providing prompt-based design and layout suggestions. What’s more, the designs can be auto-adjusted based on the post type—social media posts, banners, brochures, etc. making it one of the one-stop-solution AI tools for designers. 

Perks

• Tonnes of pre-made templates to choose from 
• No watermark on free designs  
• A vast range of design tools and a simple interface  

Limitations 

• Only available online 
• AI tools are available with paid plans only 
• Free plan not suited for large-scale organizations 

Pricing 

Canva offers a free plan for individuals, and the paid plans start with Canva Pro at approximately $50 per person yearly. For larger teams, there’s Canva Teams at $45 per person yearly. Custom-priced plans are available for educational institutes and bigger enterprises. 

Alternatives: 

• Adobe Express 
• Pixlr R 
• Figma

#6 MidJourney

Developed through Discord, MidJourney may look basic for an AI design tool. However, it makes up for it with its realistic image designs. The interface is minimal and straightforward, with just enough buttons and little explanation, which can be difficult to navigate for a first-time user. 

However, once the user understands it, using the tool to generate creative AI images can be a breeze. All it requires is a single prompt with everything you want the image to look, like—style, idea color, etc., based on which MidJourney will generate suitable outputs.

Perks

• It’s a Discord-based tool 
• Versatile and can generate realistic images 
• Highly active community 

Limitations

• Free plan or free trial is unavailable 
• Expensive pricing 
• Difficult to navigate 

Pricing 

MidJourney does not offer any free plans, and subscriptions start at $10 monthly for basic plans. Other plans include standard ($30 monthly) and pro ($60 monthly). The most expensive one is the mega plan, which costs $120/month. 

Alternatives: 

• Adobe Firefly 
• Bing Image Creator 
• DALL.E 2

#7 Fronty

This AI design tool eliminates the need for coding by converting images into HTML and CSS codes in minutes. It bridges the gap between designers and developers while also saving time that goes into manual coding. The tool is easy to use, making it one of the best AI tools for UX design. 

Users only need images in JPG or PNG format to generate clean codes that would be easy to maintain in the long run. Moreover, it allows you to edit the website with a no-code editor, design a mobile-friendly interface, and simplify customization with its versatile design tools.  

Perks 

• Clean, secure codes in minutes 
• No code website development and editing
• Easy-to-use 

Limitations

• Limited functionality 
• Multiple languages not supported 
• Requires high-quality images

Pricing 

Fronty offers three plans: one is a freemium plan with no charges and limited functions, then there’s Pro at $4.52/month, and the last is an advanced plan for $9/ month. 

Alternatives 

• IMG2HTML 
• Codejet AI 
• Image to CodeGPT

“What we thought was impossible is now part of some of the many unique facts about AI, just like these  21 less-known facts about AI that we bet your AI-enthusiast self will enjoy!“ 

#8 Let’s Enhance

As a designer, there always comes a time when the image you design just doesn’t reach that optimal mark. It is everything you want but not enough. In this case, what you need is an image-enhancing AI design tool like Let’s Enhance. 

What makes it the most helpful AI tool for graphic design is its advanced features, such as image enhancer, upscaler, sharpener, etc. Let’s Enhance can optimize any image, add missing details, or remove the background using AI/ML. It also allows upscale/upsizing of the image without ruining its quality, color, or aesthetic. 

Perks 

• Designs high-quality images  
• Ideal for creating high-resolution digital prints 
• Advanced upscaling of images 

Limitation 

• Processing time is slow 
• Images have a watermark (for free account)
• Pricing is too high

Pricing 

Let’s Enhance divides the pricing model into three main categories, which are further divided into another 4-5 sub-categories. So, the first is a subscription plan that starts with a free model with 10 image credits and goes up to $39/month ( billed annually) for 500 image credits. 

The second model is designed for businesses and starts at $89/month (billed monthly) for 1000 credits and goes up to $349/month for 5000 credit points. 

The last one is a pay-as-you-go model to accommodate not-so-regular users. It starts at $12 for 20 credits and goes up to $49 for 120 credits. Pay-as-you-go is a one-time payment model with no credit expiration limitation. 

Alternatives 

• Adobe Photoshop
• Pixlr
• Canva 

#9 Topaz Photo And Video AI 

Topaz Labs has the best AI tool for design when it comes to image or video enhancement. There are two separate tools for editing images (with Topaz Photo AI) and videos (with Topaz Video AI). 

So whether you wish to increase the resolution, make the image/video sharper, or eliminate noise and blur, there’s a solution for everything. Topaz’s main selling point is its Gigapixel 7—an AI-based tool that adds missing pixels to a picture, making it more detailed and allowing almost 600% image upscaling. 

Perks 

• One tool for both image and video upscaling 
• Saves the editing time 
• A wide range of editing tools and options available 

Limitation 

• It only supports English (for now)
• Might be difficult to understand for beginners
• Highly resource intensive – might affect the performance 

Pricing 

Topaz does not offer subscription plans. All three products can be purchased as standalone products or a complete suite for lifetime access to the tool. The cost of Photo AI is $199, Video AI is $299, and for Gigapixel, it is $99. You also get 1 year of system updates along with the purchase. 

Alternatives

• Adobe Photoshop
• Canva 
• Simplified 

#10 Khroma

Every designer knows the importance of choosing the right color palette, especially if you are trying new spectrums of color. While selecting and seeing which colors go best together sounds like a good approach, it is time-consuming. And, with Khroma, you can easily reduce that time to a few minutes. 

The UI is really simple, with clear step-by-step directions. The bot is trained on the 50 colors you choose and generates innumerable color palettes based on that. The output is shown as color palettes, gradients, images, and posters so you can easily make your decision. You can further refine the selection per your preferences. 

Perks 

• A vast range of color options to select from
• No complicated UI/UX 
• Accelerates design process

Limitations 

• Limited functionality 
• Output might need some refinement 

Pricing 

This AI design tool is completely free to use

Alternatives 

• Adobe Color CC
• PaletteMaker
• Colormind

Do you know what else can enhance the UI design? ChatGPT. Don’t believe us? Then you need to check this blog out!   

#11 Designs.AI

Ending the list of best AI tools for graphic design with the one that’s a complete toolkit – Designs.AI. It has an AI solution for every section of graphic designing –whether it is logos, videos, social media posts, or voiceovers. 

This AI tool can be utilized for almost all design-related requirements. Designs.AI uses its Machine Learning capabilities to personalize workflow and design solutions. Users also get access to a vast library of graphics and design elements with which they create unique digital designs. 

Perks 

• A one-stop solution for all design requirements
• ML algorithm for personalized suggestions 
• A massive range of graphics and designs to choose from

Limitations 

• Limited customization scope 
• Requires content refinement 
• Free trial only available for the base plan

Pricing 

Designs.ai offers three paid plans: the basic plan is $19/month, the pro plan is $49/month, and the enterprise plan is $169/month. All three are annual plans, and only the basic plan comes with a free trial.

Alternatives

• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Looka
• Canva

What To Keep In Mind When Integrating AI Design Tools? 

How To Choose The Best AI Tool For Design

Selecting the right technology is just as important as integrating it. But how is one supposed to know which one to choose? What are the criteria? Should you connect with a graphic design company? Or should you figure it out yourself? 

If you also have these questions, then these steps might be of some help to you: 

• ANALYZE—Start by identifying the problem areas and primary operations to determine the function you seek from the design tool. Clearly identify your goals, and based on that, decide which tool will help you transform and optimize the workflow. 

• RESEARCH—Leverage the wide range of AI design tools available and choose the one that suits you best. Conduct thorough research, checking their websites, reviews, testimonials, etc. Based on that, list the most suitable tools for your requirements. 

• TEST—Since investing in a digital tool is a massive expense and tremendous commitment, it is advised that you first test the solution with its free model or free trial to understand it better before investing money in it. 

• COMPARE—Shortlist a few options and see if the tool justifies the cost. Examine their services against your requirements to make an informed decision when finalizing the product.  

Essential Tips To Remember

As advanced as AI can get, it will still be a complicated technology that requires consideration and must be handled carefully. We all know how it can be a truly beneficial addition to a business. But when handled poorly, it can lead to substantial problematic outcomes, like immense AI dependency, unfair utilization, and more.

To make sure that your organization is maximizing the benefits of AI without indulging in unfair practices, here are a few things you must remember: 

• AI Is Not A Complete Solution—Designers should consider these AI design tools one of the many resources that enhance their designs or help them during creative blocks. They should not rely on them entirely. 

• Ethical Considerations—Before using AI tools for design, it is important to note their terms, conditions, and fair use policies. This will ensure that the tool doesn’t lead to unfair practices and prevent any future complications.

• Review The AI Content –Users must remember that even the best AI tool for design can be prone to error or produce the wrong output. So, it is important that users review the generated content thoroughly instead of just mindlessly using it. 

Enjoyed reading about these AI design tools? Then, these AI platforms for businesses might pique your interest, too! 

Will AI Design Tools Replace Graphic Designers?   

The answer is no! AI is an advanced technology, indeed, but it still requires humans to pull the trigger. So, there’s no way such a machine can replace the designers. However, someone with ample knowledge of these AI tools can one-up those who don’t use them. 

This is definitely the era of AI, and those who don’t adapt to it soon will be at a loss when it comes to opportunities. The current work culture demands faster services, and if AI can help achieve this, then using it seems like the best business move. 

In the end, these technologies are designed to improve the existing workflow and foster a healthy work environment. So, no matter how you choose to incorporate AI-powered tools in the workflow, as long as they are used instrumentally and ethically, they will surely bring growth and success to your business.