Top 10 Free Alternatives to RelayThat in 2025: A Comprehensive Comparison

As design needs continue to evolve, 2025 has brought forth a variety of free design tools that rival the capabilities of RelayThat. Whether you're seeking simplicity, advanced features, or specific design functionalities, this article explores the top 10 free alternatives to RelayThat, comparing key data points like features, templates, ease of use, and limitations.

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1. Canva

Ease of Use: Drag-and-drop interface, very intuitive, suitable for non-designers.
Templates: Thousands of free templates for social media, presentations, posters, and more.
Features: Photo editing, graphic elements, text tools, collaboration features, and a library of stock photos.
AI Powered: Offers generative AI tools for image creation.
Free Version Limitations: The free version does have some limitations, mainly with access to certain premium templates, stock photos, and features but is very usable.
Learn more about Canva

2. Simplified

All-in-one Tool: Combines graphic design, photo editing, video editing, and social media publishing.
Templates: Offers many templates, graphics, stock photos, and videos.
Ease of Use: Simple interface with drag-and-drop functionality.
Features: Background remover, resizing tools, animation options, and content planner/scheduler.
Collaboration: Allows for team collaboration with real-time sharing and commenting.
Explore Simplified

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3. Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark)

Ease of Use: Simple interface, ideal for beginners with no design experience.
Templates: Pre-designed templates for posters, banners, social media content, and more.
AI Powered: Utilizes AI for resizing and background removal.
Integration: Works with Adobe Creative Cloud.
Free Version Limitations: The free version has limitations on access to premium assets.
Discover Adobe Express

4. Piktochart

Focus: Primarily designed for creating infographics, reports, and presentations.
Templates: Offers hundreds of templates to speed up content creation.
Ease of Use: User-friendly interface, easy for non-designers.
Features: Slick interface, great for producing high quality infographics, reports, presentations.
Check out Piktochart

5. VistaCreate (formerly Crello)

Templates: Thousands of free templates for various design needs, especially social media.
Features: Offers tools for both static and animated content.
Ease of Use: Simple to use, designed for non-designers.
Content Focus: Great for creating social media content and marketing materials.
Free Version Limitations: Some premium templates and features are locked.
Learn more about VistaCreate

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6. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Free and Open-Source: Completely free, with no hidden costs.
Features: Similar capabilities to Adobe Photoshop, including photo retouching, painting tools, and masking.
Customization: Highly customizable interface, suitable for advanced users.
Steep Learning Curve: Can have a steep learning curve for beginners.
Precision Tools: Some tools may lack precision compared to paid software.
Explore GIMP

7. Desygner

All-in-One Solution: A comprehensive tool for business marketing needs.
Templates: Provides templates for a variety of materials.
Efficiency: Focuses on efficient creation and management of marketing designs.
Features: Offers tools for designing logos, social media posts, and other marketing materials.
Discover Desygner

8. Stencil

Ease of Use: Designed for quick and easy image creation.
Social Media Focus: Specifically caters to social media content creation.
Templates: Simple interface and image creation capabilities.
Features: Streamlined tools for social media marketing.
Pricing: Offers a free version with limited use.
Check out Stencil

9. Fotor

Photo Editing: Offers a range of tools for photo editing.
Design Tool: Provides graphic design capabilities.
Features: Includes templates, graphics, and filters.
Ease of Use: Easy for beginners to use.
Free Version Limitations: The free version has limitations on certain advanced features.
Explore Fotor

10. Photopea

Advanced Editing: Similar to Photoshop, with layers, masks, and other advanced features.
File Compatibility: Supports PSD, XCF, Sketch, and other file formats.
Free to Use: Completely free, web-based application.
Learning Curve: Can have a steep learning curve for beginners, but good for those familiar with Photoshop.
No Download Required: Accessible directly through the web browser.
Discover Photopea

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FAQ

1. What are the top free alternatives to RelayThat in 2025?

2. Is Canva free to use?

Yes, Canva offers a free version with thousands of templates and basic design tools. However, some premium templates, stock photos, and advanced features require a paid subscription. Explore Canva

3. What are the features of Simplified?

Simplified combines graphic design, photo editing, video editing, and social media publishing into one platform. It offers a variety of templates, drag-and-drop functionality, background remover, resizing tools, animation options, and a content planner/scheduler. Discover Simplified

4. How does Adobe Express support beginner designers?

Adobe Express has a simple interface ideal for beginners, featuring pre-designed templates, access to Adobe Fonts, stock photos, and basic editing tools. It also integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud. Learn more about Adobe Express

5. What types of designs is Piktochart best for?

Piktochart is best for creating infographics, reports, and presentations. It offers hundreds of templates and is user-friendly, making it easy for non-designers to create professional-looking content. Explore Piktochart

6. How does VistaCreate (formerly Crello) assist with social media content creation?

VistaCreate provides thousands of templates for various design needs, tools for creating both static and animated content, and features designed specifically for social media content and marketing materials. Discover VistaCreate

7. What makes GIMP a good alternative to RelayThat?

GIMP is a free and open-source graphic design software specialized in photo editing, offering similar capabilities to Adobe Photoshop. It is highly customizable but may have a steep learning curve for beginners. Explore GIMP

8. What type of users is Stencil designed for?

Stencil is designed for quick and easy image creation, catering specifically to social media content creation for bloggers and small businesses. Explore Stencil

9. Can Fotor be used for both photo editing and graphic design?

Yes, Fotor offers tools for both photo editing and graphic design, including templates, graphics, and filters, making it easy for beginners to use. Discover Fotor

10. How does Photopea compare to Photoshop?

Photopea is an advanced online photo editor that supports PSD and other file formats, offering features like layers and masks similar to Photoshop. It is free to use and accessible directly through a web browser. Explore Photopea

References

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.