31 Tools to Create Social Media Graphics For Your Brand

You can say it in 140 characters, a lengthy Twitter thread, or descriptive caption. Or, you can use one attention-grabbing image.

Visual posts get 94% more views and 40 times more shares than text-only posts. Furthermore, we retain 80% of what we see, versus only 20% of what we read.

But how do we create social media graphics? If you’re a prolific poster or don’t have much design experience, coming up with all this visual content is a challenge.

To make things easier, we put together a list of top social media design tools. You’ll find options for all different social media platforms, as well as some additional resources for free images.

(Or skip straight to the best tools to create social media designs.)

What are social media design tools?

Social media design tools are any software used to create images and graphics for social media. These tools can be web-based, software programs downloaded for offline use, or mobile apps.

There are many full-fledged graphics editors, like Adobe Photoshop and Paintshop Pro. However, their functionality goes way beyond what’s needed for social media graphic design.

In this article, we focus on software specifically to create social media graphics. We also prioritize easy-to-use tools that help non-designers create a variety of images – infographics, GIFs, videos, and more – all optimized for digital posts.

What features to look for in social media design tools

The purpose of using a social media design tool is to create images as quickly and easily as possible. To do this, the following features are what you should be looking for:

1. Photo editing tools

To create images faster, it helps to have preset templates, filters, different font styles, and other asset libraries. Most design interfaces today are drag-and-drop, allowing you to quickly apply changes and see the final image as you work.

2. Social media optimizations

Start by choosing a template that fits the social media platform of your choice (a Facebook cover image, an Instagram profile pic). This gives your design the right aspect ratio, dimension, and resolution.

3. Saves and shares images

If you’re working with a team or prefer planning your content calendar in advance, being able to save and share images can be a big help. This functionality usually depends on the type of plan you get, but it’s good to check if it’s available to you.

4. Convenient

Where do you plan to design your social media images? Tools can be web-based, mobile-only, or available across all platforms. Make sure the social media design tool can be used where it’s most convenient for you and your team before signing on.

Do you need a social media design tool?

Are you on more than two social media platforms? Do you post several times a week? A day?

If social media plays a major part in your brand strategy, there are a lot of benefits in using a tool for your social media graphic designs. Even if you’re not creating too many visuals at the moment, it’s a good idea to consider adding some to your content mix.

No matter what platform you use, social media posts with images are shown to boost traffic, increase engagement, and strengthen your brand.

By adding key elements, like your logo or brand identity colors, you can expand your reach every time someone reposts or shares your content with their network.

If you also work across teams or platforms, a social media graphics tool can help streamline all your social media efforts.

To help boost your social media strategy, there are a few other software tools you may want to consider:

• Top brand mention tools to track your reach
• The best online reputation management software services
• Digital marketing software: Landscape of the top tools
• Engaging social media management tools
• Free referral program software you can try

The evaluation criteria

31 tools to create social media graphics

Below are the best tools to create social media graphics for your brand. You can filter them by type of plan, graphic, and software, or browse our entire list below to see which works best for you.

Note: The software is searchable and not listed in any order of rank or recommendation. Our aim is to put together a list of the best tools to create social media graphic designs, and give a clear picture of all the available options.