Best Free Book Cover Design Software for Beginners

Designing an attractive and professional book cover is essential for authors and publishers alike. A well-crafted book cover can capture the reader's attention and convey the theme and mood of the book at a glance. However, for beginners and indie authors who may not have a large budget, finding affordable and effective book cover design software is a must. Fortunately, there are several free tools available that offer an array of features to help you design a captivating book cover without any design experience. In this guide, we will explore some of the best free book cover design software options that cater to both amateur designers and seasoned professionals.

1. Canva

Canva is one of the most popular design platforms, offering an easy-to-use interface suitable for beginners. While it’s widely known for general design purposes, Canva also has a selection of book cover templates that can be easily customized. With its drag-and-drop functionality, users can modify images, fonts, and backgrounds with just a few clicks.

Features:

• Pre-designed book cover templates that are customizable.
• A large library of free images, icons, and fonts.
• Ability to upload your own images.
• Collaboration features, allowing multiple people to edit the cover.
• Free version available with the option to upgrade for additional premium features.

Best for: Beginner authors who want a quick and straightforward solution without the need for professional design skills.

2. GIMP

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source alternative to Adobe Photoshop. While GIMP may require a steeper learning curve compared to Canva, it offers much more flexibility and power in terms of customization. Users can create a completely original book cover design from scratch or modify existing images with advanced tools.

Features:

• Professional-grade image editing tools.
• Supports layered editing, allowing users to make non-destructive changes.
• Extensive library of plugins and filters.
• Support for a variety of file formats, including PSD, PNG, JPEG, and TIFF.

Best for: Intermediate to advanced users who want more control over their designs and are familiar with photo editing software.

3. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is another great free tool from Adobe that allows users to create visually stunning book covers. While not as advanced as GIMP, Adobe Spark offers a balance between ease of use and professional quality. Its templates and design elements are aimed at making the process as simple as possible.

Features:

• Customizable templates with a wide variety of fonts and design elements.
• Integration with Adobe’s Creative Cloud for seamless syncing with other Adobe tools.
• Easy to use on both desktop and mobile devices.
• Allows for branding and personalization.

Best for: Authors and designers who prefer working within the Adobe ecosystem and need quick design solutions.

4. Blurb BookWright

Blurb BookWright is a free desktop publishing tool specifically designed for authors who are publishing their books. Not only does it allow users to design book interiors, but it also has tools for creating custom book covers. It integrates seamlessly with Blurb’s self-publishing platform, making it a one-stop shop for authors looking to self-publish.

Features:

• Designed specifically for book publishing, offering both cover and interior design tools.
• Layout guides to help create professional-looking book covers.
• Export your book covers in high resolution for print or digital publishing.
• Integrated with Blurb’s self-publishing services, enabling easy printing and distribution.

Best for: Self-publishing authors looking to design both the interior and cover of their books using the same platform.

5. Book Cover Maker by PosterMyWall

PosterMyWall offers a simple, web-based book cover maker that's accessible to anyone. With a variety of templates designed for different genres and customization tools, it's a great choice for beginner authors who want a polished look without spending a lot of time or money.

Features:

• Genre-specific templates, such as fiction, non-fiction, romance, and thriller.
• Customizable fonts, colors, and images.
• Export options for digital and print-quality covers.
• No design experience required.

Best for: Authors who need genre-specific cover templates and want a simple design process.

6. Placeit

Placeit is a popular online tool for creating various types of graphics, including book covers. It stands out due to its mockup feature, which allows users to preview how their book cover will look in real-world settings, such as in bookstores or on e-readers.

Features:

• A wide selection of customizable book cover templates.
• Mockup generator to preview your book cover on devices like tablets or e-readers.
• User-friendly interface that doesn't require design skills.
• Free plan with the option to purchase higher-quality assets.

Best for: Authors and designers who want to see how their covers will look in realistic scenarios, such as in a bookstore or on a tablet.

7. Lucidpress

Lucidpress is an easy-to-use, cloud-based design platform that offers various templates for marketing and publishing. While it’s not specifically designed for book covers, Lucidpress has many customizable templates that can be tailored for book design. It is ideal for users who want to collaborate with others during the design process.

Features:

• Cloud-based, meaning you can access your work from anywhere.
• Collaboration tools that allow multiple users to edit a design simultaneously.
• Pre-made templates that can be adjusted to fit a book cover.
• Integration with various stock photo providers.

Best for: Teams or authors working on collaborative projects who want a simple, cloud-based tool.

8. Crello

Crello is similar to Canva in that it’s a web-based graphic design platform offering a range of customizable templates. With Crello, you can design a professional-looking book cover by choosing from a wide array of design elements, even if you have no prior design experience.

Features:

• Thousands of templates available, including book covers.
• Drag-and-drop functionality for easy editing.
• Access to a library of royalty-free images and illustrations.
• Ability to add animation to book covers for digital formats.

Best for: Beginners looking for an easy-to-use alternative to Canva with plenty of free design elements.

9. Fotor

Fotor is another versatile online design tool with a specific section dedicated to creating book covers. It offers various templates and allows users to create visually appealing book covers without advanced design skills. Fotor also offers basic photo editing tools for those who want to make minor adjustments to their images.

Features:

• Customizable book cover templates.
• Basic photo editing tools, such as cropping, filters, and color adjustments.
• Simple user interface ideal for beginners.
• Export options for both web and print.

Best for: Beginners looking for a simple and intuitive platform to design book covers without the need for advanced editing features.

Conclusion

When it comes to designing a book cover, there is no shortage of free software options available to authors and designers. From simple, template-based solutions like Canva, Crello, and PosterMyWall to more advanced tools like GIMP and Blurb BookWright, there is a tool for every skill level and need. While free software may not have all the bells and whistles of paid alternatives, they offer more than enough features for authors to create professional-looking covers that can compete in the marketplace.

Ultimately, the best software for you will depend on your specific needs, whether you're looking for an easy drag-and-drop solution or a more hands-on approach to customizing your cover. Each of the tools mentioned in this guide offers something unique, making it possible for anyone to design an eye-catching book cover for free.