In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a fringe curiosity in graphic design—it’s a core part of many professional workflows. Lately, more design teams use AI tools not just to automate repetitive tasks but to generate visual concepts, explore brand systems, and iterate at high speed.
Yet this shift brings both opportunity and responsibility. On one hand, AI can accelerate ideation, remove manual drudgery, and unlock variants that once required hours of designer time. On the other hand, the role of the designer is evolving: rather than crafting every pixel from scratch, designers increasingly act as curators, controllers of brand fidelity, and arbiters of aesthetic judgement.
For graphic designers navigating this landscape, the key question isn’t simply “Which AI tool should I use?” but rather “Which tool aligns with my workflow, brand standards, output medium (print or digital), and level of refinement required?” This article delivers: a deep dive on what to evaluate when choosing an AI tool, a review of twenty leading platforms (including lesser-known gems), and a fully integrated comparison table showing strengths, limitations and pricing tiers.
If you’re ready to amplify your output while maintaining creative control, read on—and let the tools serve the design, not the other way around.
How to evaluate an AI design tool
Before choosing a tool, use clear criteria. According to UX Pin:
- Output quality: Are the results consistent with your design standards?
- Control & editability: Can you refine, tweak, layer, mask, or integrate output into your workflow?
- Workflow fit: Does it plug into your preferred tools (Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop)?
- Time/cost ROI: Does it save enough time or resource cost to justify subscription/licence?
- Creativity enhancement vs constraint: Does it free you to explore, or box you into certain styles?
- Licensing/usage rights: Are outputs safe for commercial use?
- Team & collaboration compatibility: Does it support sharing, versioning, team workflows? For graphic design specifically, also check: vector vs raster support, text-legibility (many image-generators still struggle with text), asset-library access, size/resolution flexibility (print vs digital), and brand-consistency features (colours, fonts, templates).
Top AI tools for graphic designers (2025)
Below are some of the most advanced tools worth serious attention, grouped by primary strength though many overlap in capability.
Image generation / creative visuals
Freepik AI Suite
Freepik’s generative-AI platform includes multiple models (Flux, Mystic, Ideogram) and tools such as an Upscaler for resolution enhancement.
Why it stands out:
- Multiple model modes: you choose realism vs style.
- Upscaler allows increasing resolution and refining details.
- Considerations: Credit system can be complex; some outputs may still require manual refinement.
- Best use case: Creating concept visuals, backgrounds, stylised illustration assets.
Adobe Firefly
Adobe’s generative-AI tool integrated into their ecosystem (Photoshop, Express, etc.). In 2025 they introduced “Bulk Create” to edit thousands of images en masse.
Why it’s significant:
- Strong brand trust and integration with professional tools.
- Considerations: Subscription cost may be high.
- Best use case: Professional studios working with large asset libraries and print/digital campaigns.
Canva AI (within Canva)
Canva’s AI features embedded in its design platform: templates, Magic Resize, design suggestions.
Why it’s popular:
- Very user-friendly for social media, marketing graphics, non-designers.
- Considerations: Less flexibility/precision compared with full professional tools.
- Best use case: Marketing teams needing fast visual assets, social posts, templates.
Asset & workflow tooling (colour, fonts, backgrounds, variants)
Khroma
AI tool for generating colour palettes and brand-consistent colour systems; includes accessibility support.
Why it’s useful:
- Great for brand work and consistent palette creation.
- Best use case: Designers working across multiple brand colour systems or needing fresh palette inspiration.
Remove.bg
AI-powered tool for removing backgrounds and creating variants automatically.
Why it matters:
- Eliminates tedious manual cut-out work.
- Useful for campaigns where many variants of one image are needed (e.g., social, print, ads).
- Best use case: Photo-heavy workflows, e-commerce visuals, rapid variant generation.
Logo / brand / layout automation
Looka & other AI logo makers
AI logo-makers generate logos based on user input, brand values, and preferences.
Why relevant:
- Good for startups and rapid initial branding.
- Considerations: Less uniqueness; for high-brand work you’ll likely still refine heavily.
- Best use case: Quick brand prototype, small business visual identity, or a starting draft for a designer.
Additional lesser-known tools worth considering
- Leonardo AI – High-end image generation/graphic design assistant with flexibility across art/print/illustration, less brand/print workflow specific documented.
- Recraft – Model tailored for professional designers needing structured output (brand fidelity, layout control) rather than purely “arty” generation.
- Ideogram – A text-to-image model notable for improved text-legibility in generated images. Including these gives you some more “hidden-gem” options rather than only broadly known tools.
Use-case walkthroughs
A. Generating campaign visuals
- Use Freepik AI Suite or Adobe Firefly to generate multiple concept visuals from text prompts.
- Choose the strongest style/model (e.g., Flux vs Mystic in Freepik) based on mood.
- Export into Illustrator or Photoshop for text overlays, brand alignment, vector tracing.
- Use Remove.bg or Canva AI to create social-media variants and sizes (1080×1080, 1200×628).
- Use Khroma to pick or refine the colour palette, ensuring brand compliance and accessibility.
- Conduct A/B tests for layouts using variants and record performance.
B. Routine asset-variant production
- You have one hero photo and need multiple formats and backgrounds. Use Remove.bg to cut out the subject.
- Use Freepik’s Upscaler to ensure high resolution for print.
- Use Canva AI or Adobe Firefly Bulk Create to generate resized or formatted versions for social, email, print.
- This significantly reduces manual layout time.
C. Brand system creation
- Use Khroma to generate your core colour palette, extensions, and accessible versions.
- Use Looka or similar to rapidly prototype logo options, then refine in vector tool.
- Use Canva for templated items (business cards, social posts) so non-designer team members can produce on-brand assets.
Limitations & risks
- Brand specificity and nuance: AI tools may not fully understand subtle brand voice or aesthetic—manual refinement remains essential.
- Text rendering in imagery: Many image-generators struggle with legible text in the image or precise typographic layout.
- Consistency across assets: If generating hundreds of assets, ensure brand continuity (fonts, colour exactness, layout constraints) is preserved.
- Licensing and copyright: Some generative models have ambiguous rights. Always verify commercial usage terms for generated assets.
- Ethical/quality concerns: If you rely too heavily on templates/prompts, you might drift into generic visuals. Use AI to extend creativity, not replace it.
- Technical integration: Some tool outputs may not seamlessly integrate with vector workflows or print specs (e.g., resolution, colour mode).
- Team skills shift: Designers may need to manage AI prompts, asset pipelines, and variant workflows rather than purely craft each visual by hand.
Decision-matrix: which tool for which need
| Need | Tool to consider |
|---|---|
| Rapid concept visuals / illustration generation | Freepik AI Suite |
| High-fidelity professional output + large-scale variants | Adobe Firefly |
| Marketing/social media assets for non-designer teams | Canva AI |
| Colour palette / brand-colour systems | Khroma |
| Background removal / asset variant generation | Remove.bg |
| Rapid logo / brand-identity prototyping | Looka |
| Emerging/flexible image-generation for high variation | Leonardo AI / Recraft / Ideogram |
Comprehensive tool comparison table
| # | Tool | Primary strength | Major limitation | Pricing / usage notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adobe Firefly | High-fidelity generative + professional workflow | Expensive; heavier for simple tasks | Free tier + paid credits/subs (check region) |
| 2 | Freepik AI Suite | Broad image/video/stock + generative + upscaler | Credit system complexity; occasional clarity issues | Free + tiers from approx US$5.75/mo (region varies) |
| 3 | Canva AI | Very user-friendly; social/marketing asset focus | Less precision/control for high-end print/branding | Freemium + Premium plan |
| 4 | Khroma | Colour-palette generation & brand systems | Narrow domain (colour only) | Free core; advanced features paid |
| 5 | Remove.bg | Background removal + variant generation | Single-purpose; requires other tools for full design | Free limited; paid credits/subs |
| 6 | Designs.ai | All-in-one generative (images, logos, video) | Less precision than dedicated tools | Free trial; paid plan |
| 7 | Kittl | Web-based editor specialising in graphic art + integrated AI | Browser-based; may hit print/expert workflow limits | Freemium; Pro/Expert subscriptions |
| 8 | Runway ML | Generative video + visual effects | More specialised; steeper learning/cost | Free tier; paid for high-res |
| 9 | Deep Art Effects | Stylised illustrations/filters | Less suited to brand/print workflows; style may dominate content | Freemium or paid |
| 10 | Uizard | AI tool for UI/UX layouts from sketches | Focused on digital UI, less on print/branding graphic design | Free start; paid tiers |
| 11 | Let’s Enhance | Upscaling/enhancement of images | Support tool only; not full design platform | Free limited; paid for volume |
| 12 | Picasso AI | Generative design tool for variant exploration | Less mature; fewer brand/print-specific features documented | Varies |
| 13 | Fontjoy | AI for font-pairing/type exploration | Typography only; not full workflow | Often free or very low cost |
| 14 | Artbreeder | Generative hybrid image/style playground | Less structured for final asset production; check licensing | Free tier; paid for higher-res |
| 15 | Visily | AI rapid UI boards & transitions low-to-high fidelity | UI heavy; less on classic graphic/print design | Free start; paid upgrade |
| 16 | DesignEvo | Easy AI-logo maker / brand prototype | Logo tools often generate less unique results; designer still needed | Free basic; paid for full rights/export |
| 17 | VanceAI | AI suite for image enhancement (denoise, sharpen, upscale) | Support tool only; not layout/brand system platform | Credit/subscription model |
| 18 | PNG Maker AI | Transparent asset generation, cut-outs | Very specific use-case; requires other tools for full design | Free + premium |
| 19 | Lummi AI | Layout/idea generation assistant, prompts/mood boards | Not full-asset export or deep brand-system support | Free/entry; premium features vary |
| 20 | Autodraw | AI sketching assistant; quick doodles | Basic; not suited for professional production alone | Free |
| 21 | Leonardo AI (bonus) | High-end image generation, concept art, brand/style flexibility | Requires manual refinement; brand/print workflow less documented | Free credits + paid tiers |
| 22 | Recraft (bonus) | Professional workflow model for brand fidelity/layout control | Less mainstream; fewer integrations documented | Varies |
Summary
For graphic designers today, AI tools are transforming the workflow: speeding up concepting, automating mundane tasks, enabling more iterations, and lowering entry-barriers. The tools listed above represent some of the most advanced and usable in 2025.
Nevertheless, they are complements, not replacements. The designer’s role shifts toward curation, refinement, brand guardianship, and creative strategy. You still need to judge, polish, refine, ensure brand consistency and control.