Best Design for Students in 2026
Figma — Figma Education gives students the full Professional plan free, and it is the number one tool listed on design job postings
Price: Free (Education plan)
Figma
Free (Education plan)The design tool every employer expects you to know
Why it fits
Free education plan gives you full Professional features, and it is the industry standard for job hunting
Dealbreaker
Needs internet connection to work
Canva
Free / Free for EducationMake presentations and posters that do not look like they were made by a student
Why it fits
Perfect for class presentations, group projects, and club marketing materials
Dealbreaker
Will not teach you real design skills that translate to a design career
Penpot
FreeFree forever design tool with no student verification needed
Why it fits
No email verification or student ID required, just sign up and start designing
Dealbreaker
Fewer learning resources and tutorials compared to Figma
Photoshop
$20/mo (Student plan)Photo editing skills that transfer to any creative career
Why it fits
Student discount makes it affordable and Photoshop skills are universally valued
Dealbreaker
Even discounted, $20/mo is real money for a student
Affinity Designer
$70 one-time (no student discount)Buy once and own a professional vector editor through graduation
Why it fits
One payment covers you for your entire degree, unlike Adobe subscriptions
Dealbreaker
Less recognized on job postings than Adobe or Figma
What We Looked For
- ✓Free education plan includes unlimited projects, team libraries, and branching
- ✓Over 80 percent of UI/UX job listings mention Figma as a required or preferred skill
- ✓Massive library of free tutorials, YouTube courses, and community files to learn from