Aug 08, 2025

Top 7 T-shirt design software in 2025

Choosing the right t-shirt design software is a huge part of starting your own custom t-shirt business. Whether you're designing from scratch or using free templates, the best tools help you personalize graphics, upload logos, and prepare designs for t-shirt printing with ease.

In this article, we’ll explore 7 software options to design t-shirts, taking into account the pros, cons, and pricing of each.

Key takeaways

The best t-shirt design software for you depends on your budget, skill level, and printing goals.
Many tools come with both a free version and tiered subscription options.
Tools like Canva and Kittl offer drag-and-drop simplicity and pre-made templates ideal for beginners.
Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop remain top choices for professionals, with advanced tools for scalable graphics, precision editing, and high-resolution exports for t-shirt printing.

Top 7 T-shirt Design Software Tools in 2025: Pros, Cons, and Pricing

From beginner-friendly apps to professional tools packed with advanced features, these 7 t-shirt design software options for 2025 will help you create standout custom t-shirts for your brand, event, or personal wardrobe.

1. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard that many professional designers rely on. This design software offers rich capabilities for creating custom t-shirt designs, like background and object removal, layering, coloring, and more.

Available for desktop and iPad, Photoshop also features integrations with many artificial intelligence-powered tools to speed up the t-shirt design creation process.

Pricing: Memberships start at $19.99 per month.

Features:

Advanced layering and masking
Generative AI tools
Precise typography and vector tools
Cross-device workflow
Export-ready for print

2. Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is an industry-standard vector editing software ideal for creating precise, scalable artwork for printing. It’s preferred for creating custom t-shirt graphics that stay sharp at any size.

Pricing: 7-day free trial, then $34.49/month (monthly) or $22.99/month (annual).

Features:

Vector design tools
Typography controls
Custom templates and artboards
Extensive graphic tools
Cross-platform access
File export for print

3. Canva

Canva’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to design custom t-shirts, even for beginners. It offers thousands of templates, fonts, and graphics for quick creation.

Pricing: Free plan; Pro $12.99/month or $119.99/year; Teams from $10/month per person.

Features:

Free templates
Extensive font and graphics library
Upload and edit visuals
Background remover (Pro)
Collaboration tools
Export for printing

4. CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a professional graphic design suite known for detailed illustrations and print-ready layouts. It’s a strong alternative to Illustrator.

Pricing: Annual plan $15.42/month, monthly $39/month, or $379 one-time.

Features:

Vector and pixel editing
Precision tools
Typography and layout options
Template access
Export flexibility
Device compatibility

5. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free, open-source tool for creating scalable, high-quality graphics. It’s a solid choice for those on a budget.

Pricing: Free.

Features:

Vector-based tools
Advanced path and node editing
Typography and text effects
Multi-format export options
Cross-platform

6. VistaCreate (formerly Crello)

VistaCreate is an intuitive online design tool for t-shirts, social media graphics, and merch visuals. Perfect for small businesses and POD creators.

Pricing: Free Starter plan; Pro $10/month.

Features:

Template and graphic library
Drag-and-drop editor
Upload your own visuals
Background remover (Pro)
Brand Kits
Export print-ready files

7. Kittl

Kittl offers an easy-to-use platform with strong typography tools and editable templates. It’s beginner-friendly but powerful enough for advanced users.

Pricing: Free plan; paid plans from $10/month.

Features:

Pre-made t-shirt templates
Vector editing tools
Huge font library
AI-powered design tools
Export in multiple formats

Conclusion

Choosing the right t-shirt design software comes down to your goals, skill level, and budget. Whether you’re creating simple designs in Canva or crafting detailed vector graphics in Illustrator, the right tool can help you bring your vision to life.

We specialize in DTF print-on-demand — so whichever software you choose, you can trust that your designs will be printed with vibrant colors, sharp details, and lasting quality.

Ready to create your custom apparel? Explore our shop and start designing today.

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