A roundup of 30 handy tools for graphic designers who don’t like pain: plugins, desktop apps, platforms, browser extensions, and more.
Before we start, this isn’t a selection of the best design software tools (like Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, etc.), but rather a recommendation of 20 smaller tools that will make your life easier.
While your workflow mostly depends on the design software you choose, there are plenty of handy tools out there that can help with everything from finding the perfect font to getting more productive and organizing our projects. For this lineup, I gathered stock photo libraries, time management solutions, AI-powered helpers, and other little design assistants that can take care of smaller tasks.
1. Relume AI
What it is: Platform
What it does: Helps designers quickly create wireframes using AI.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $18 per month.
This tool is a good assistant that won’t do the entire work for you but give you a solid starting point. You only need to give it your project details and it will lay out wireframes with text placeholders.
Main Features:
- AI-powered wireframing for websites.
- Generates sitemaps in seconds.
- Works with Figma.
2. GuideGuide
What it is: Plugin
What it does: A simple tool for making grids in Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and other design software.
Pricing: Plans start at $9 per year.
This plugin is awesome for creating grids without the limitations of the design software you’re currently using. It works with Photoshop, Illustrator InDesign, Figma, and Sketch and basically lets you create grids absolutely everywhere based on anything.
Main Features:
- Quick grid creation with custom spacing.
- Works as a plugin in major design tools.
3. removebg
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Instantly removes backgrounds from images.
Pricing: Provides a free version with limited credits. Paid plans start at $0.20 per image.
Some design software, like Figma for example, already has a remove background tool, but if yours doesn’t- this is a good way to “outsource” the task.
Main Features:
- AI-powered background removal.
- Works on people, objects, and products.
- Supports PNG and transparent backgrounds.
4. Pomofocus
What it is: Free web app
What it does: Time-tracking, helps with time management.
Pricing: Completely free to use.
This is a free online time-tracking app built around the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in short bursts—usually 25 minutes—and then taking a quick break. It’s perfect for snapping out of creative block or stopping yourself from staring at the screen for way too long. Need a push to start? Set a timer. Deep in the zone? Keep going.
Main Features:
- Customizable timer for work sessions.
- Tracks productivity over time.
5. Diigo
What it is: Browser extension
What it does: Lets you save and organize bookmarks, highlight text, and add sticky notes to webpages.
Pricing: Offers a free basic plan for 1000 bookmarks. Premium plans start at $40 per year.
Main Features:
- Saves web pages and articles for later.
- Tools for highlighting text and adding notes.
- Tagging and organizing saved content.
6. Kitchen co
What it is: Platform
What it does: Helps freelancers and agencies manage projects, conversations, files, invoices, and everything related.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with base features (for freelancers). Paid plans start at $10 per month.
Kitchen is basically Slack, Trello, Asana, invoicing tools, and feedback tools all in one. I absolutely recommend it, because even the free version has all the tools for managing projects for freelancers and small studios and startups. It has a folder structure that you can use to open projects and invite team members and clients. In each project you can open a conversation, a board with lists and cards for tasks, and invoices, upload files, write notes, gather feedback on those files, and even add your own tools.
Main Features:
- File sharing and feedback collection.
- Client messaging and invoicing.
- Organizes projects in one place.
7. Fontjoy
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Helps you find font pairings using AI.
Pricing: Free to use.
Main Features:
- Generates font combinations instantly.
- Lets you adjust the contrast between fonts.
8. StayFree
What it is: Browser extension
What it does: Tracks how much time you spend on websites and helps block distractions.
Pricing: Free with optional in-app purchases.
If you have a browsing addiction or you simply want your browsing habits to be healthier, this extension works as a website blocker and analytics tool that helps you minimize browsing usage and maximize productivity.
Main Features:
- Monitors time spent on websites.
- Blocks distracting sites.
- Provides usage stats.
9. PNG Maker AI
What it is: Online tool.
What it does: Generates high-quality PNG images with AI.
Pricing: Offers a free version with limited credits. Paid plans start at $7.9 per month.
Main Features:
- Generates transparent PNGs.
- Generates several results to choose from.
10. IconScout
What it is: Online library
What it does: A huge library of icons, illustrations, 3D graphics, and animations.
Pricing: Subscription plans start at $ 14.99 per month.
Main Features:
- Thousands of design assets.
- Supports SVG, PNG, and more.
- Works with popular design tools.
11. Pangram Pangram
What it is: Online library
What it does: A font foundry with modern typefaces.
Pricing: Premium fonts starting at $30 per font.
Main Features:
- Free trial for testing fonts.
- Fonts support multiple languages.
12. Pocket
What it is: Browser extension
What it does: Saves articles, videos, and links for later reading.
Pricing: Offers a free account. Premium subscription is $4.99 per month or $44.99 per year.
Main Features:
- Works across devices.
- Offline reading mode.
- Tools for tagging and organizing saved content.
13. StyleBot
What it is: Browser extension
What it does: Lets you customize website styles with CSS.
Pricing: Free to use.
You can select any element and customize its font, color, margins, visibility, and more, or even use CSS for manual edits.
Main Features:
- You can change fonts, colors, and layouts on any site.
- Code Editor
- Grayscale mode.
14. Eagle
What it is: Desktop app
What it does: Helps you organize design files.
Pricing: One-time purchase for $34.95 for one device. Free trial available.
Eagle works for Mac and Windows and basically helps you collect and organize images, GIFs, fonts, web pages, and whatever you have scattered around multiple platforms.
Main Features:
- Stores images, videos, and design assets.
- Tagging and search features.
- Works offline.
15. Real Time Colors
What it is: Desktop tool and Figma plugin
What it does: Lets you experiment with color palettes in real-time.
Pricing: Free to use.
Main Features:
- Text, background, primary, secondary, and accent color adjustment
- Options to adjust fonts and sized
- Light and Dark mode switch
16. Ideogram
What it is: Desktop tool
What it does: Uses AI to generate images from text prompts.
Pricing: Offers a free plan with 10 slow credits per week, allowing up to 40 images per week.
Unlike other image generators, this one reportedly handles typography designs without botching the text.
Main Features:
- AI-generated images.
- Customizable output.
17. Dribbble inspiration tab
What it is: Browser extension
What it does: Shows Dribbble’s latest design inspiration in a new tab.
Pricing: Free to use.
If you install this extension and open a new tab in Google Chrome, it will open the Dribbble Inspiration tab. Of course, it first asks you if you want to open a normal tab first.
Main Features:
- Gets shots by color
- Infinite scrolling
- Links to creator
18. Workflowy
What it is: Web-based outliner
What it does: It takes notes and organizes ideas in nested lists.
Pricing: Free plan with basic features. The pro plan is $8.99 a month.
Main Features:
- Supports tags and search.
- Works across devices.
19. coolors
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Quickly generates random color palettes for designers.
Pricing: Free
Main Features:
- One-click palette generation.
- Customizable colors.
- Export options.
20. Obsidian
What it is: Desktop app
What it does: Writing app for journaling and organizing thoughts
Pricing: Free for personal use. Commercial licenses are available for $50 per user.
Main Features:
- Supports markdown formatting.
- Works offline.
- Connects notes with backlinks.
- Adapts to personal writing style.
21. StockSolo
What it is: Plugin
What it does: Pulls free stock photos for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and XD.
Pricing: Free.
The stock photos are free to use and come from Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, and Adobe Stock.
Main Features:
- Quick stock photo access.
- Works directly in Adobe design tools.
22. Vance AI
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Enhances images and restores photos using AI.
Pricing: Offers a free trial with limited credits. Paid plans start at $9.90 per month.
Main Features:
- Upscales and sharpens images.
- Removes noise and blurriness.
- Works automatically.
23. WeTransfer
What it is: Cloud
What it does: Stores and transfers large files via email.
Pricing: Provides a free version (stores files for up to 7 days).
Main Features:
- No sign-up is required.
- Sends files up to 2GB for free.
- The free version stores your files for 7 days after that the link expires.
24. PlaceIt
What it is: Platform, library
What it does: Generates branding and marketing visuals.
Pricing: Unlimited subscription is $$7.47 per month.
Main Features:
- Thousands of mockup templates.
- Customizable branding previews.
- Works in the browser.
25. Font Pair
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Generates random font combinations that work well together.
Pricing: Free to use.
Main Features:
- Curated font pairings.
- Preview text in different fonts.
- Works with Google Fonts.
26. Forest
What it is: Browser extension; but also an app for Android and iOS.
What it does: A focus app that helps reduce distractions.
Pricing: Free to use.
When you need to stay focused, plant a tree. Leaving the app halfway will cause your tree to die.
Main Features:
- Helps create healthy habits and patterns.
- Guilt trips you into doing your work. (=
27. DocuMocu
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Helps create professional design proposals.
Pricing: Offers a free plan for 2 active sent documents.
DocuMocu is a handy proposal tool with a drag-and-drop editor for putting together design proposals You can throw in images, videos, pricing tables, and even legally binding e-signatures that stay locked once signed. And soon, they’re adding interactive pricing tables so clients can choose what works best for them, plus tracking features so you’ll know exactly when they’ve checked out your proposal.
Main Features:
- Customizable proposal templates.
- Supports file attachments.
- Supports e-signatures.
- Sharable for clients.
- Tracking features.
28. Eggradients
What it is: Online library
What it does: A collection of pre-made gradient backgrounds.
Pricing: Free to use.
Sadly, the presets no longer look like eggs (where the site name comes from), but they still have epic names.
Main Features:
- Large collection of gradient presets.
- Copy-paste CSS gradients.
- Works with any design tool.
- Gradient maker
29. Pixel Parallel
What it is: Chrome extension
What it does: Lets you compare designs with live websites.
Pricing: Free to use.
Main Features:
- Overlay mockups on websites.
- Helps with pixel-perfect design adjustments.
- Works in Chrome.
30. Khroma
What it is: Online tool
What it does: Uses AI to generate color palettes based on your preferences.
Pricing: Free to use.
Main Features:
- It requires you to choose 50 colors so it can learn your color taste.
- Suggests unique palettes based on your choices.
- Works offline in the browser.
And there you have it. I hope some of these tools make your graphic design life a whole lot easier. After all, who wants to work harder when you can work smarter? 👏
