Massive list ahead! I was tired of not having a complete and useful overview of all the tools and resources for graphic designers out there. So I created this list of resources to help people like me find resources, like fonts, vectors, templates, and tools easily and quickly.
I tried to organize it logically and in a useful way. If you have anything that you would like to add, please let me know. Often free stuff still has licensees, I tried to find the licensing policies for each site, but please check yourself too. Also, the licenses can differ per download and resource.
We start the list of resources with one of the most used items:
Fonts
We all love fonts, and in this part of my list of resources, you can find 1000s for free!
| Name | Description |
| FontM | Description: Download free fonts Licences: Free for commercial use |
| FontSpace | Description: Free downloads of legally licensed fonts Licences: personal or commercial |
| DaFont | Description: Offers a huge collection of free fonts in various categories. Licences: 100% free, demo, shareware, public domain |
| Creative market | Description: The marketplace for designers and creatives to sell their work, from fonts, to vectors and more. Licences: Paid *Offers an affiliate partner program. |
| Behance Search | Description: The place to share and show off your creative projects, and create a portfolio-like profile. Use the search option to search for fonts. Licenses: Depending on the designer, often free. |
| Fontasy | Description: Fontasy is a free font archive featuring 1101 selected fonts for PC and Mac, available for free download. Licenses: Free for personal / Check individual file for license. |
| Fontstruct | Description: FontStruct is a free, font-building tool funded by advertising and some generous sponsors. Licenses: Free |
| 1001 Free Fonts | Description: Website with a huge collection of free-to-download fonts Licences: Free / Personal / check every individual download yourself |
| FontSquirrel | Description: Free for commercial use fonts, hand-picked Licences: Free |
| Google Fonts | Description: Google Fonts is a library of more than a thousand free and open source font families, an interactive web directory for browsing the library, and APIs for using the fonts via CSS and Android.License: Free |
| Abstract Fonts | Description: Big collection of free fonts Licences: Free / Free for personal only |
| FontZone | Description: offering 1000’s of FREE fonts to download to help the millions of designers across the globe express their creativity with much more diversity. Licenses: Free / Free for personal use |
| 1001 Fonts | Description: Download fonts that are free for commercial use. No further licensing is required to use these fonts for desktop use in a business environment. Licenses: Free |
Font Tools / Managers
This list of resources focuses on font managers. In my opinion, the default font manager on the PC or Mac is not sophisticated enough to organize and manage your fonts. As a graphic designer, you might have 1000s if not 10000s of fonts on your computer. To make sure you can easily find them and don’t slow down you computer, it’s advised to use font managers.
| NexusFont | Description: Simple and lightweight program to easily manage your fonts. OS: Windows / Price: Free |
| FontBase | Description: FontBase is a font manager made by designers, for designers. Lightning fast, with a beautiful interface, and totally free. OS: Windows / Mac / Linux Price: Free |
| Suitcase Fusion | Description: Suitcase Fusion is a flexible font manager for Mac and Windows operating systems, and it works with the creative applications you use every day. OS: Windows / Mac Price: 15-day trial / $84 per year, billed annually |
| FontExpert | Description: Font manager and viewer for TrueType, OpenType, and Adobe Type 1 fonts. OS: Windows Price: 30-days Trial / USD $49,- |
| FontFrenzy | Description: Create an image of the fonts installed at any given time OS: Windows Price: Free |
| AMP Font Viewer | Description: This program is easy to use but powerful font manager, which allows you to get a quick overview of both installed and non-installed fonts. It can install and uninstall fonts, and organize them into categories. Some of its features are. OS: Windows Price: Free |
| Font Viewer | Description: Simple font viewer and manager OS: Windows Price: Freeware |
Font Identifier
This list of resources focuses on Font identifiers, Font identifiers are a great way to find the names of fonts you can’t figure out. Often they are free and mostly give good results. To make it easier for the identifier, make sure the font is as clear as possible and black and white. I prefer to use WhatTheFont, but I occasionally use the others as well.
| fontsquirrel.com/matcherator | Description: Free and easy-to-use font identifier. Upload an image and they will help you find the font. |
| WhatTheFont | Description: Free and easy-to-use font identifier. Upload an image and they will help you find the font. |
| Whatfontis.com | Description: Free and easy-to-use font identifier. Upload an image and they will help you find the font. |
| fontspring.com/matcherator | Description: Free and easy-to-use font identifier. Upload an image and they will help you find the font. |
| identifont.com | Description: Find a font by answering questions about it |
FREELANCER?
Designing Tools
Next on my list of resources are tools to help you design. These tools really are great for anybody that wises to do graphic design at a low cost, yet still want to create professional work.
| Inkscape | Description: Good alternative to Adobe Illustrator, has similar features and uses Vectors as well. Can be downloaded from the Microsoft store. OS: Windows Price: Free |
| Crello | Description: Easy-to-Use Design Platform. Easily add music to your video and impress your audience with outstanding content! Make winning designs like a pro with 30K+ ready-made templates absolutely free! OS: online Price: Free / Premium *Has an Affiliate program |
| Snappa | Description: Online tool to simply create graphics, like banners for social media.OS: OnlinePrice: Free / Premium |
| Desygner | Description: A Graphic Design Tool for non-designers. Content creation for everyone. OS: Online Price: Free / Premium |
| Pixelmator | Description: Pixelmator Pro is an incredibly powerful, beautiful, and easy-to-use image editor designed exclusively for Mac. OS: Mac Price: $39.99 USD |
| Sketch 3 | Description: OS: MacPrice: Trial / $9 P/m |
| Fotor | Description: Fotor is a free online picture editor and graphic designer, allowing you to use online photo editing tools, such as adding filters, frames, text, stickers and more. OS: Windows / Mac Price: Free / Premium |
| DesignBold | Description: Photo editor tool OS: Online Price: Free / Premium |
| Former Bannersnack , now Creatopy | Description: Easy tool to create banners, covers, and more. OS: Online Price: Free / premium |
| PicsArt | Description: Photo editor/art creator OS: Online / Smartphone app Price: Free / Premium |
| Filestage | Description: Filestage is an asset review and proofing platform used by companies and agencies worldwide to organize and manage their content review process. OS: Online Price: Starting from $89/month |
| ProofHub | Description: ProofHub is a project planning software with every tool your team needs to get work done faster, together. OS: Online Price: Trial / Starting from $45 /month |
| Figma | Description: Figma is a vector graphics editor and prototyping tool which is primarily web-based, with additional offline features enabled by desktop applications OS: Windows / Mac Price: Free / Premium |
| Tinkercad | Description: Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. It’s used by teachers, kids, hobbyists, and designers OS: online Price: Free |
| Canva | Description: Canva is a graphic design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents, and other visual content. OS: Online / Smartphone app Price: Free / Premium |
| Design Wizard | Description: DesignWizard is a Simple free Graphic Design Software for images and video. OS: Online Price: Free / Premium |
| Infogram | Description: Create engaging infographics and reports OS: Online Price: Free / Premium |
| BeFunky | Description: Photo Editing and Graphic Design tool OS: Online Price: Monthly Subscription |
| Pixlr | Description: Pixlr, the Online Photo Editor that lets you edit photos and create great designs right in your browser for Free OS: Online Price: Free / Premium |
File Sending and sharing
Next on the list of resources are places to send large files.
| Dropbox | Description: Dropbox is a file hosting service, OS: Windows / Mac / Online Price: Free up to 2 GB / Premium |
| Wetransfer | Description: Wetransfer is a free file hosting service to send big files. OS: Online Price: Free up to 2 GB / Premium |
| Google drive | Description: Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service OS: Windows / Mac / Online Price: Free up to15 GB / Premium |
Get your creative juices flowing with our Random Color Palette Generator, featuring a vibrant kaleidoscope of hues.
Download vectors
Also on my list of resources are free downloads, also check out my download section for free vector illustrations!
| Freepik | Description: Graphic resources for everyone, Find Free Vectors, Stock Photos and PSD License: Free for personal and commercial purposes with attribution Price: Free or Premium |
| Pixeden | Description: Free downloads, like vectors, textures, mockups, and more Licence: Free Price: Free / Premium |
| Vectorportal | Description: Download 30000+ free vector images. Free illustrations, backgrounds, and Illustrator templates in EPS and AI formats. Licence: CC BY 4.0 Price: Free |
| Vectors4Free | Description: Download Vectors Licence: Personal use with attribution Price: Free |
| Freevectors.com | Description: Licence: Personal use with attribution / Premium includes for commercial use. Price: Free / Premium $8 per month |
| Free Design File | Description: Download tons of vector elements Licence: Price: Free for personal use / Commercial on request |
| 1001 Free Downloads | Description: Download free vectors, photos, icons, fonts, wallpapers, and more. License: Free / Free for personal and commercial use with attribution Price: Free |
| FreeVectors.net | Description: a community of vector lovers who share free vector graphics. All the images on this site are free to use for personal use and most of them can be used commercially. License: Personal use / Commercial use Price: Free |
| All Free Download | Description: Huge collection of graphic resources for designers include: vector graphic art, vector images, vector illustration, free photos, free HD photos, and free picturesLicence: Free for commercial with attribution / Check before using! Price: Free |
| Vecteezy | Description: Explore and download royalty-free vectors, clipart graphics, icons, stock photos, videos, backgrounds, patterns, banners, and designs from artists worldwide! License: Free with attribution, read their licensing here Price: Free / Premium *has an affiliate program |
| Shutterstock | Description: Shutterstock is a global provider of stock photography, stock footage, stock music, and editing tools Licence: Multiple, read more here Price: Subscription Starting at $29/month / On-Demand |
Adobe Plugins
| exchange.adobe.com | Description: Find thousands of extensions, plug-ins, scripts, and more to enhance your creativity and extend the functionality of Creative Cloud applications. Price: Paid and Free |
| elements.envato.com | Description: huge library of graphic design resources, vectors, stock images, fonts, templates, and more. Price: From $16.50/m Check out their monthly free files. |
Download Brushes
| brusheezy | Description: Huge collection of free photoshop brushes. Price: Free / Premium $14/mo Licence: Personal use / commercial use |
| myphotoshopbrushes | Description: Huge collection of free photoshop brushes. Price: Free Licence: Mostly Personal use / Commercial use |
| brushlovers | Description: Collection of graphic assets, brushes, vectors, textures, etc Price: Free Licence: Most are free for both personal and commercial use |
| DeviantArt Search | You can search Deviantart for free or paid brushes |
| Behance Search | You can search Behance for free or paid brushes |
Download Stock Photos
| Shutterstock | Description: Huge collection of stock images, vectors, music, video and 3D Files. License: Depending on what license you choose Price: On-demand or per month |
| Unsplash | Description: huge collection of high-quality photos, creators can upload their work and people can use their photos for free. License: CC0 (free/public domain) / check if need a model release Price: Free |
| Pxhere | Description: Big collection of Public domain images. License: CC0 (free/public domain) / check if need a model release Price: Free |
| Rawpixel | Description: Royalty-free stock images, vectors, and public domain illustrations. Licence: For personal or commercial use Price: 10 downloads per day free / Premium |
| Istockphoto by Getty Images | Description: Royalty-Free Stock images, photos, videos, and illustrations Licence: Depending on your choice Price: On-Demand or purchase a subscription |
| Pexels | Description: Collection of public domain images and videos Licence: CC0 (free/public domain) / check if need a model release Price: Free |
| Dreamstime | Description: Large stock image site Licence: Royalty-free or extended, depending on your choice. Price: On-demand or monthly subscription |
| clipart | Description: Download a ton of free clipart Licence: Please check the license of the downloaded file individually. Price: Free |
| iconfinder | Description: Huge collection of Icons Licence: Free for personal use Price: Free / $2.00/icon / $9.00/mo |
| Getty Images | Description: One of the largest stock image sites. License: Royalty-Free / extended Price: Paid |
| Fotolia is now Adobe Stock | Description: Large stock photo site Licence: check here Price: Paid |
| 123RF | Description: Huge collection of stock photos. License: Royalty-Free / Extended Price: On-demand / Subscription |
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Create Portfolio websites
| Journo Portfolio | Description: Journo Portfolio lets journalists, writers, copywriters and freelancers create a beautiful writing portfolio website to showcase their writing. Price: Free / starting at 5,- per month |
| Behance | One of the best places to create a free portfolio |
| Portfoliopen | Description: Portfoliopen helps you create and manage your online portfolio website. Designed especially for designers, Portfoliopen has a user-friendly interface |
| Crevado | Description: Crevado is an online tool that makes it easy for creative folk (Photographers, Illustrators, Videographers, etc.) to create an online portfolio website so they can showcase their work online. Price: Free |
| Tumblr | Description: Image sharing blog, simple to create and manage. Choose a template that fits you and you have a simple yet advanced portfolio. Price: Free |
| Cargo | Description: Cargo is a professional site-building platform for designers and artists. Price: Free to try / $13 per month |
| Carbonmade | Description: Create simple and beautiful portfolio websites. Price: Free Trial/premium starts at 8 USD per month |
| Coroflot | Description: Build and profile and portfolio to recruit or get recruited. Price: Free |
| Dribbble | Description: Price: |
| Flickr | Description: Online sharing platform for images, mainly for photographers. Price: Free (max 1000 images) / Premium |
| Description: Image-sharing social media platform, well suited for creative designers to show off their work and build a following. Price: Free | |
| Portfoliobox | Description: Portfoliobox is an online service that creatives can use to build their own website Price: 1 month free / Premium |
| Adobe Portfolio | Description: Quickly and simply build a personalized website to showcase your creative work with Adobe Portfolio. Price: Free |
| Artstation | Description: Create a profile and show off your art. Price: Free |
Want to know about creating free portfolios? Check out this post that gives your 10 free portfolio websites.
Download Mockups
| free-mockup | Description: Download free mock-ups Price: Free Licence: Free and Premium mockups |
| psdmockups | Description: Basically a search engine for PSD mockups Price: Free |
| mockupfree | Description: Big collection of Free mockups can be downloaded here. Price: Free Licence: Free with attribution |
| smartmockups | Description: Free tool to create mockups online. Price: Free / Premium 9,- USD per month Licence: royalty free for use in personal and commercial |
| graphicpear | Description: Online graphic design assets. Price: Free/premium Licence: Free for personal also commercially available when premium |
| mockup tree | Description: Mockuptree is an online service that offers designers free access to hundreds of ready-to-use PSD templates! Price: Free Licence: Free but check every individual file yourself! |
| themockup | Description: Big Collection of mockups Price: Free Licence: Free but you should check every individual download yourself! |
| dribbble | Description: Download free mockups from Dribbble Price: Paid and Free Licence: You should check every individual download |
| Behance Search | |
| DeviantArt Search |
Barcode and QR Code generators
What should not be missing on a list of resources are barcode and QR code generators. Most of them can generate vector versions as well.
| barcodesinc | Description: Generate different kinds of QR codes and barcodes Price: Free Output Files: PNG, JPG |
| barcode-generator.org | Description: Online barcode generator to create a ton of different kinds of barcodes. Price: Free Output Files: JPG, EPS, SVG |
| qr-code-generator.com | Description: Create different kinds of QR codes, and shapes and add a logo. Price: Free Output Files: JPG, EPS, SVG |
| the-qrcode-generator.com | Description: Generate different kinds of QR codes Price: Free Output Files: JPG, EPS, SVG |
| qrcode-monkey.com | Description: Simply create QR codes, add a logo or choose a different design. Price: Free Output Files: PNG, EPS, SVG, PDF |
Other Resources
In this part of my list of resources, you can find other resources that don’t fit in any other category.
| thefreesite.com | Description: This site collects all sources for free stuff, including resources for graphic designers. Like fonts, vectors and more |
I hope this list of resources does help you in some way, if something is missing let me know.
If you want to learn how you can receive donations from your audience, check out this post.
Ron Hoekstra is the founder of The Hiive Newsletter. He is a graphic designer, self-taught entrepreneur, writer, and Illustrator. He will give you professional insights and tips in the world of A.I., This includes new tools, business, automation and much more.
