Are you using graphics in your social media posts? Would you like to connect consumers to your business through visual marketing? Do you want to know the best apps for social media graphics to help you easily create effective visuals for social media? If so, read on!
Adobe Express is catching up quickly as the next generation Canva. If you like Canva, you’ll LOVE Adobe Express!
Whip up graphics for social media, advertisements, blogs, and more —even if you’re not a graphic designer.
Has advanced Photoshop features as well as AI functionality for beginners.
This quote maker turns any text you write into beautiful graphics for social media, web, and printouts. No design skill required.
(This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)
Not only can the right graphic tell your company story, but they also optimize the consumer experience.
While you might have shied away from image creation in the past, new tools have emerged putting the power of visual marketing in the palm of your hands.
In this article, I’m going to share ten of the best visual marketing tools and mobile apps that offer a simpler, leaner approach to creating compelling visual content and guide you in how to make a graphic image that will perform well in social media.
Ready to get started? Read on!
10 of the Best Apps for Social Media Graphics
1. Adobe Express
Adobe Express is the Adobe design suite’s answer to free graphic design apps. True to Adobe form, the app and software are well-designed and the formatting will likely be familiar to anyone who uses other Adobe products, with simplified social media post design. Like other graphic design apps, Express was created to offer free, easy-to-develop images for your social platform, but may not provide quite as many free stock images and templates as other design apps.
The Express social media graphics creator offers a variety of social media image sizes, a collection of free stock images, and a simple design platform from which to create strong branding images.
2. Canva
Canva has emerged as one of the most impressive social media graphics tools for small business owners and entrepreneurs. If you’ve never fancied yourself a designer and don’t have Photoshop skills, this is the tool for you!
Need to create an image for Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Google+? Canva has pre-designed graphics that allow for complete customization in a clean, drag and drop environment.
From the design-selector menu, you can choose your layout, search for images, purchase stock photos, add effects to your image, and customize the look and feel to match your brand color palette and fonts.
A great example of matching every aspect of your brand look and feel is Peg Fitzpatrick. Peg uses her color palette in every one of her designs, creating a consistent experience for her fans and followers.
Rather than simply post a generic quote to Instagram or Facebook, use Canva to transform your thoughts into eye-catching social media images.
3. Pablo by Buffer
Pablo is an online program extremely similar to Canva, in that it provides a simple, no-frills way to create custom images. Pablo can be easier to use than Canva, and is designed specifically for use with Instagram–though it can also be used to create Facebook and Pinterest images.
While Canva can be tailored to fit Instagram, Pablo is designed specifically with the social media channel Instagram in mind, with all dimensions and templates developed to fit within the parameters set by Instagram. Pablo is a free app that does not require in-app purchases in order to create images for Instagram branding, with social media templates that can easily be transferred between social media platforms and even a blog post for a company or brand’s site.
The greatest design assets found in Pablo are its ease of use, including simple drag-and-drop options, and a small number of available add-ins from which to choose.
4. Snappa
Snappa can be an enormous help for people eager to create compelling graphic designs for their sites and social media platforms, as it focuses more on offering pre-made designs and templates made from free stock images. Snappa is a great tool for smaller social media or marketing teams, or companies without dedicated marketing programs or employees. Whether you love to splash bright colors on your social media accounts, or you favor graphic designs that are more moody or dark, there is something for everyone on Snappa.
Snappa allows creators to craft a flawless social graphic without any prior design experience or expensive equipment.
Further Reading: How to Create Content for Instagram: 8 Design Tools Social Media Marketers Should Use
5. Desygner
Desygner is another excellent option for creating a social media image, blog image, or other branded image without requiring extensive graphic design knowledge or a large marketing framework already in place. Desygner allows you to browse templates and download up to ten designs per month for free. Exceeding this limit requires a step up of either 5 or 10 dollars each month.
Desygner allows marketers and solo brand owners alike to up their social media presence with thousands of templates, including hundreds of fonts, millions of images, and a virtually limitless supply of templates from which to choose. Desygner’s social posts are clean and easy to navigate, and can be a great option for people just starting out, or for those looking for a design option similar to Canva.
Further Reading: How to Create Stunning Infographics for Social Media in Minutes
6. PiktoChart
With PiktoChart, making your own infographics has never been easier. But they don’t just stop there. This free web app has over 100 customizable themes for Infographics, reports, banners and presentations.
Simply pick your template and within minutes you’re editing and publishing your design.
PiktoChart’s intuitive editing tools give you flexibility and control over every aspect of your project. From text to color scheme, you can match your branding to a pre-designed template.
7. Pixlr
If you’re looking for a robust desktop design tool, then Pixlr is the one for you.
The interface, very similar to Photoshop, allows you to choose your image, add effects, overlays, filters, text and borders to convert a photo from boring to beautiful.
Whether you want to create an image from scratch or build off a stock or pre-designed template, Pixlr gives you the flexibility to capture your visual style.
Pixlr can also work as a Chrome extension within your browser, giving you the freedom to move back and forth from online to offline.
Further Reading: 12 Free and Low-Cost Tools to Create Pinterest Graphics
8. Fotor
Although Fotor offers a wide range of functions to stock your social media campaign with eye-catching images and promotions, the options available may not be as intuitive as other social media post makers. Because it offers more in-depth photo editing options, it can initially feel overwhelming for beginners. Fotor can be a great option for anyone looking for several different free software options encompassed within the same brand and site, and can be great for anyone looking to get started and continue to move up after establishing a rhythm.
Fotor’s photo editing and graphic design software can help amp up your social media strategy and develop consistent branding. The image library on Fotor is not as robust as some other options, but font options exceed many competitors’ font options.
9. QuotesCover
Want a quick and easy way to create beautiful quote graphics? QuotesCover is your tool!
With QuotesCover, you can design a visual representation of personal or famous quotes in a snap. Here’s how it works – add your quote, choose your layout, add a photo or choose a plain background , choose the color and font and you’re voila – you’re done!
Whether you need an image for Facebook or want to design a new Google+ cover, it can all be done as easy as 1,2, 3.
Further Reading: 20 Instagram Apps to Create Perfect Business Instagram Graphics
10. PicMonkey
PicMonkey is not new to the graphic game. Having been around for a while, it’s a tool that might get overlooked. But it’s just as relevant today as ever.
With PicMonkey, you can edit an image or create a collage using your own images. Arrange these images using the pre-made templates, and then add your special touches through overlays, text and more.
You can then save, download and share your image across all of your social networks. PicMonkey is user friendly, allowing you to make multiple images in minutes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Apps for Social Media Graphics
Designing engaging and on-brand social media graphics has never been easier. With the abundance of online tools and mobile apps available, the hardest decision you have to make is which one works best for you.What tools are you currently using to create social media graphics? What have been your successes in social media poster making? I’d love to hear what I missed and why it’s your favorite. Let me know in the comments below!
Further Reading: The 17 Best Infographic Maker and Graphics Tools
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Photo by Clayton Robbins on Unsplash
Best Apps For Social Media Graphics FAQs
Social media graphics are eye-catching visuals used to grab the attention of viewers on social media platforms. From trendy photo collages to simple infographics and more, these graphics offer an engaging way to communicate a message quickly and effectively. Social media graphics have become an essential part of businesses’ online presence as they can help strengthen a brand, promote awareness and increase sales.
When creating graphics for social media, people use various programs ranging from graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator to website-based interfaces like Canva to take advantage of templates and clip art. Additionally, some use drawing tablet technology to create custom artwork that demonstrates their individual style and skillset.
When it comes to creating a social media graphic that will engage users, there are a few key components to consider:
1. Graphics should include captivating visuals such as bright colors, interesting shapes and patterns, and bold compositions.
2. Each graphic should contain a clear copy that explains the message with succinct language.
3. The overall size of the image should be optimized for whichever platform it will be posted to.
Graphics in media refer to a range of visuals that convey information. These visuals can appear in magazines, newspapers, television, movies, websites, and more. They are often the first point of contact through which people engage with a certain media product or message. Graphics have the power to immediately pique our interest with unique designs or colors and also serve an important purpose in terms of helping us learn about particular topics in an interesting way.
Graphics are visual presentations that can help relay complex topics and ideas. They come in a variety of forms and have a wide range of uses. Some common examples include infographics, diagrams, photographs, drawings, and illustrations. All 5 types of graphics can be found online along with an endless array of other variations, making them incredibly versatile and widely used in everyday life.
Hi Rebekha and Neal,
A wonderful and useful list.
I am sure the use of this listed tools are worth usable to create eye-capturing images for facebook, instagram and other places like bolg pages etc.
I have been using Canva for some time now and am sure this is agood one to develop better visuals as well as infographics.
Over is indeed new to me. Looks like a wonderful tool to create eye-capturing images for social media with mobiles.
I am bookmarking this to check other tools too.
Also I am so glad to note that this post has been curated on BizSugar and I up-voted it. and commended.
Keep sharing.
Best
#pvariel
Try PosterMaker dot com, it’s a new site to create online posters for free without registration and watermarks. [link edited by admin]
Awesome list, iv been using https://graphichub.io for a while too
Hi Rebekah,
Thank you for this post. This is an excellent resource for a newbie such as myself. This is now bookmarked.
I absolutely love Canva! I think it is the most user-friendly drag and drop design tool out there for non-designers. I even use it for inspiration and to play with new ideas before I start my designs in adobe illustrator. I loved it so much I seriously contacted them and asked if they had an API program where I could integrate into my website so my customers could use it!
Hi first of all thx for sharing. Love this pertinent post. I use Canva. I al an absolute beginner with social media. And post like your are helpfull and avoid me to loose a lot of Time. Tkx again. Have a great end of week. Best regards.
I’d also suggest https://www.bannereasy.com/
Hi Rebekah. Thanks for posting this list! If you have a chance, please take a look at our company’s website: www . postermywall . com [link edited by admin]
We offer a variety of backgrounds and templates, which users can customize with our online tools (plain and fancy text, stock images, color effects, tables, etc.). Customers can download their templates for free, or they can purchase posters, flyers, banners and downloads directly from us!
Happy Holidays!
Great list Rebekah. Thank you. I am always looking for cool graphics tools so I bookmarked this post.
Nice article.I’d like to add another nice app to your list. http://www.socialmediapostcreator.com/
Hai rebekah. thanks for sharing, nice article :) Thank You!
A couple of interesting tools I’ve discovered! Thanks!
You forgot about Pablo !! :D Great list BTW :) ♫
This is a great list – thank you!! These are the free and easy-to-use ones that I love [link deleted by admin]
Picmonkey, Pixlr are my immediate Go-Tos. I also use Canva especially if I need a real image of a person. Hard to beat the $1.00 fee. I just discover too mobile app Text On Video should you ever want to put graphics over your mobile video.
WOW! Awesome list thank you for sharing.
Here’s another one! I helped create it. I hope you like it.
http://ownerlistens.com/cards/
Hi Rebekah,
Thanks for the tips. You always have awesome graphics wherever I see you. I’ve been using Canva a lot. One can get very creative with it!
I just checked out “Quotes Cover” Looks like a useful one for me when on Instagram and Facebook!
Thanks for the reminder of PicMonkey. I forgot about them lol.
-Donna
Great article REBEKAH! Thank you for sharing. Will definitely checkout the tools you have recommended.