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BuiltInEu

Free Design & Creative Tools Tools Built in Europe

4 free and freemium design & creative tools — GDPR-compliant, no credit card required

4 free options2 completely freeGDPR Compliant

Completely Free

No paid plans, no credit card, no hidden costs — 2 products

Krita logo

Krita

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Krita

Krita is a free, open-source digital painting software designed for artists. It offers a variety of brushes, tools, and features for creating illustrations, concept art, and animations. Users can work with layers, masks, and advanced color management. Compatible with multiple operating systems, Krita supports various file formats for easy sharing and collaboration.

🔒GDPR Compliant🇪🇺EU-Based📖Open Source

Replaces

🇺🇸Adobe Creative Cloud🇺🇸Adobe Photoshop
free
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Free Plans Available

Generous free tiers with optional paid upgrades — 2 products

What You Give Up vs Paid Design & Creative Tools

What free options get right

  • +Core design & creative tools features for personal use
  • +Full GDPR compliance and EU data residency
  • +No data harvesting or surveillance capitalism
  • +Often open source with community support

Typical trade-offs

  • -Storage or user limits on free tiers
  • -Fewer integrations with third-party tools
  • -Community support instead of priority support
  • -Less polished UI compared to big-budget US products

For most individuals and small teams, the free EU design & creative tools listed above cover all essential features. If you need enterprise-level capabilities, browse all Design & Creative Tools including paid options.

2 of these are also open source

Many free EU design & creative tools are open-source projects you can self-host and audit.

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Free Alternatives to US Design & Creative Tools

Looking for a free replacement? These EU tools can replace popular US services at no cost.

Free alternative to InVisionFree alternative to FigmaFree alternative to CanvaFree alternative to Adobe Creative CloudFree alternative to Adobe InDesign

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these design & creative tools really free?

Yes. Products in our "Completely Free" section like Penpot, Krita are genuinely free to use with no payment required. They are funded through donations, grants, or as open-source community projects. The "Free Plans Available" section lists products with generous free tiers that cover most personal use, though they also offer paid plans for advanced features.

What's the catch with freemium design & creative tools?

Freemium design & creative tools offer a free tier with core features, but limit certain capabilities such as storage space, number of users, or advanced functionality. The free plan is typically sufficient for personal use or small teams. If you outgrow it, you can upgrade to a paid plan -- but unlike US freemium services, these EU-based products do not monetize your personal data.

Which free design & creative tools is best?

The best free design & creative tools depends on your needs. Penpot is our top-rated option based on quality score, features, and user feedback. Krita is also excellent. All listed products are EU-based and GDPR-compliant, so your data stays protected regardless of which you choose.

Are free EU design & creative tools as good as US products?

Many free EU design & creative tools are comparable to or better than their US counterparts for core features. The main advantage is that EU-based services are natively GDPR-compliant and do not sell your data or expose it to US surveillance laws. While some US products may have larger ecosystems, the free EU alternatives listed here cover the essential features most users need.

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More Free EU Alternatives