Top 10 cloud-based design tools

Design tools are things, media, or software that can be used to create designs. Because they have the potential to affect how design concepts are produced, expressed, and perceived, they must be used effectively. Whether you are a seasoned digital artist or an inexperienced graphic designer, the use of the appropriate tools can exponentially increase your talent. Well-built design software has flexible controls and is easy to understand for beginners, but it also has far better tools for experienced users. Getting hands-on and experimenting with a design tool is the best way to determine which one is right for you. To help improve your design skills and choice of design tool, a list of ten cloud-based design tools has been compiled. The core features, ease of use, performance, pricing, and availability of each of these tools are what set them apart and have been used to compile this list. Ranking these design tools from least to the best, we have;

10. DESIGNBOLD

Everyone can use the online graphic design tool DesignBold. Over 4,500 simple features and functions in DesignBold allow anyone to create a wide range of engaging content that gets shared. Users can create more than different materials, such as social media advertisements, presentations, banners, posters, invitations, and many more. It is cloud, Saas and web-based deployed.

Pricing

DesignBold offers three membership options: team, pro, and free. The annual flat rate for it starts at $179.88. There is also a free trial.

9. INKSCAPE

Utilizing the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format, vector images can be created using the free and open-source vector graphics editor known as Inkscape. It is possible to import and export other formats that are compatible with web browsers or commercial printer rooms. It runs smoothly on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X due to its cross-platform nature. You can go from this point to a final, high-quality design format that is ready for publication online or in print using Inkscape.

Core Features

-Object creation: The workflow of Inkscape is based on vector objects. Primitive vector shapes can be manipulated using these tools; rectangles, ellipses, and arcs are examples of simple shapes; more complex shapes include stars, polygons, spirals, and three-dimensional boxes with adjustable perspectives.

-Object manipulation: Affinity transformations can be applied to any object in the drawing: skewing, moving, rotating, scaling, and a matrix that can be changed.It is possible to specify transformation parameters numerically. Transformations can be aligned in a particular direction, equally spaced, or dispersed at random, or they can snap to angles, grids, guidelines, and nodes of other objects.

-File formats

Pricing

Inkscape is free. This indicates that it can be viewed in its source code and is free to use and distribute.

8. JUSTINMIND

Justinmind is a tool for wireframing and prototyping high-fidelity web and mobile app prototypes.It is well-known for providing features for collaboration, interaction, and design in addition to the ability to render realistic versions of a finished product.In general, it has developed into one of the industry’s most widely used prototyping tools. Justinmind software prototypes and wireframes can be shared online and simulated on mobile devices. HTML is also produced for complete prototypes by the prototype tool. It runs smoothly on windows and macOS

Core Features

-Using a drag-and-drop system, the prototyping tool lets designers create interfaces. Several pre-installed UI Kits are available for import into Justinmind.

-Justinmind makes it possible to add interaction to prototypes at any level needed, from basic microinteractions to elaborate and impactful animations, with a wide range of triggers and actions.

-The app can be used to test interactions in mobile app prototypes that are based on actual hand gestures. Using emulators, designers can also create any mobile app.

Pricing

It offers four pricing options; free, standard, progressional and enterprise. Each option has a variety of added features.

7. INVISION

Digital product designers of all sizes and development professionals can use the cloud-based InVision Freehand platform to create and manage prototypes. On a digital dashboard, it lets users collaborate, test, and experiment with designing templates and concepts. The Studio tool in InVision lets you edit vectors, style layers, and make animated drawings. It includes shared design libraries that enable professionals to collaborate on instant playback, mobile device mirroring, and timeline editing. It runs smoothly on windows and macOS.

Core Features

-Presentations

-Prototype creation

-Digital whiteboards

-Wireframing

-Planning and feedback management

Pricing

It offers three pricing options; free, pro and enterprise. Each option has added features.

6. BALSAMIQ CLOUD

Balsamiq is a well-liked desktop and web-based wireframing tool. We can now use the Balsamiq cloud to create low-fidelity mockups and designs online and work with other people. Balsamiq Cloud’s web-based interface lets you quickly and easily use more than 75 different design themes and templates. Balsamiq Cloud is currently used to create wireframes and low-fidelity mockups. You can even assign different roles to collaborate with your team and share your work with them. The wireframing software is currently available in Balsamiq Cloud and Balsamiq Desktop versions. Ideally, both versions share the same user interface and resources (such as design elements and libraries). Only the platforms they run on and the additional collaborative options on Balsamiq Cloud differ.

Pricing

The cost of Balsamiq Cloud would be determined by the number of projects you are working on at the same time.

For two projects: $9 each month, or $99 annually

Twenty projects: $490 annually or $49 per month.

For200projects: $1,990 per year, or $199 per month.

The company provides a Balsamiq cloud version for free for the first thirty days.

5. CANVA

Canva provides users with a straightforward design platform for creating high-quality graphic designs. The straightforward drag-and-drop feature of this online design application makes designing simple for users. You can use the approximately 8000 pre-installed templates to create visually appealing designs. You can also make custom designs that feature your brand name. Additionally, multiple users can view and modify designs with the help of this software’s configuration and collaboration features. You can use it to create social media graphics and presentations thanks to its user-friendly interface and millions of fonts and texts. Canva can be used on android, windows and Mac. It runs smoothly on windows, the web, mac, android and iOS.

Core Features

-Built-in Templates

-Premium Icons

-Privacy Control

-Image Editor

-Transparency Tool

-Collaboration

Pricing

The platform is free to use and offers paid subscriptions such as Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise for additional functionality.

4. ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD

Adobe Creative Cloud is a set of applications and services from Adobe Inc. that gives subscribers access to software for graphic design, video editing, web development, photography, mobile apps, and some optional cloud services. Over the internet, Creative Cloud provides a subscription service for either a monthly or annual fee. It is available on Windows, macOS, android and iOS.

Core Features

-Illustrator to create beautiful designs and icons

-Photoshop to create incredible art

-Adobe express to create content with available templates, etc.

Pricing

Adobe creative cloud offers different payment plans for the different apps

3. WEBFLOW

You can visually design, build, and launch responsive websites with Webflow, an in-browser design tool. It is, in essence, a single design platform that enables you to move from the initial concept to a ready-to-use product. Users can design, build, and launch websites using their online visual editor platform.

Core Features

-Design and develop simultaneously

-Offers hosting plans

-Motion design

-Content management system

Pricing

Depending on your activity, Webflow offers a variety of pricing plans. It is also free for users but with very limited features.

2.  SKETCH

Colour variables, layouts, shared libraries, vector editing tools, plugins, and other features of the product design platform Sketch enable businesses to develop, test, and collaborate on ideas with team members. Using a drag-and-drop interface, designers can export or share assets, set resizing rules based on screen sizes, and zoom into designs for precise editing at the pixel level. Sketch is used to make new drawings, and the library is used to make online images in these cloud-based web application templates. Sketch is a desktop app only available for Apple computers.

Core Features

-Organizations can use shortcuts, mathematical operators, and the shorthand method to toggle grids or layout views, adjust or resize a column’s width and color, and customize designs’ topography or font using Sketch.

-Real-time collaboration: Work simultaneously within the Mac app in the same document. There are no hassles, save conflicts, or files being pinged back and forth. only you, your team, and an endless canvas to explore.

-You get a place to store files, share ideas, get feedback, manage your team, distribute libraries, hand off to developers, and explore your Design System with a Sketch Workspace.

Pricing

Sketch offers free and paid plans

1. FIGMA

Figma is one of the most widely used cloud-based UI design tools. Any operating system that supports a web browser is compatible with Figma. Figma can be used on Chromebooks, Windows PCs, Linux machines, and other platforms. This is the only design tool of its kind, even in businesses with hardware that runs on different operating systems.

Core Features

Figma has established new standards for many of the features found in other tools.

-Co-editing, also known as “multiplayer design” in Figma, is the most well-known of these. It lets designers, developers, and other stakeholders work together in real-time on the same Figma file.

– Figma makes collaboration easy and familiar. Teams can work together, in the same way, they would in Google Docs because Figma is hosted in a browser.

– Figma provides a separate tool (FigJam) for tasks that might necessitate a whiteboard and design system documentation features that guarantee that styles and components will continue to exist long after they have been created, making Figma appear to be an all-encompassing product design solution.

Pricing

Figma offers four pricing plans, each with its own set of features. Additionally, it provides a limited-featured free plan.