11 new creative tools worth trying in 2025

The creative tool landscape has changed fast. A few years ago, everyone was using the same handful of big platforms - Photoshop, Figma, Asana, Notion, and the rest.

But lately, smaller independent tools have started to reshape how creative teams think, design, and collaborate. They're lighter, faster, more focused, and often built around the way real creative work actually happens: messy, iterative, and nonlinear.

This list brings together 11 of the most interesting tools worth exploring in 2025. Some are new, some are still under the radar, and all of them offer a more modern, human way to create.

Over the past few years, creative software has shifted from monolithic suites to focused, independent apps. It's a reflection of how creators work today - lightweight, collaborative, and AI-assisted.

1. Breeze - the simple project management tool for creative teams

A calm, intuitive project management tool made for real creative work.

Every creative team needs a system to stay on track - but most project management tools make things harder, not easier.

ClickUp, Asana, Monday, and similar platforms try to be everything: dashboards, docs, goals, automation, and integrations all stuffed into one interface. The result is complexity.

Breeze takes the opposite approach. It's a simple, visual project management tool that helps creative people organize work without learning a new system.

You can manage projects on boards, lists, or calendars. Each task card supports files, comments, checklists, and time tracking.

There's no clutter - just clear visibility into who's doing what and when.

Breeze also includes free client users, which makes it perfect for design studios and freelancers who need to share progress without paying for every collaborator.

It's built for real-world teams: small, flexible, and non-technical.

Where tools like ClickUp and Asana add layers of dashboards and automation you'll never use, Breeze focuses on clarity. Everything happens in one place, and everyone stays on the same page.

Best for: creative teams, agencies, freelancers
Alternative to: ClickUp, Asana, Monday
Pricing: Starts at $9/user/month; includes free client users.
Link: https://www.breeze.pm

2. Kittl - craft-first design without the clutter

A browser-based design tool that brings craftsmanship back to digital art.

Most design apps try to be everything at once. Kittl takes the opposite approach. It's a graphic design platform focused on the craft itself - great typography, expressive vector shapes, and quick access to details like textures and color grading.

It's ideal for brand designers, illustrators, and anyone tired of template-driven design.

Kittl's interface feels closer to Illustrator than Canva, but it's entirely web-based. You can build print graphics, posters, and apparel designs with layers, masks, and smart alignment tools, all without installing software.

It's also one of the few browser tools where typography feels alive. Kittl's font engine supports advanced features like ligatures, outlines, and custom shadows.

If you care about design precision but don't want to pay for a bloated subscription, this is the one to try.

Best for: brand designers, illustrators, print designers
Alternative to: Canva, Illustrator
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro $15/month; Expert $30/month.
Link: https://www.kittl.com

3. Penpot - an open design platform built for teams

An open-source design platform that puts control back in your hands.

Figma dominates UI design, but it comes with limits: closed ecosystem, paid tiers, and proprietary formats. Penpot is a free, open-source alternative built around collaboration and flexibility.

It runs entirely in the browser and supports SVG-based files that you can export or self-host. The interface feels familiar if you've used Figma, but the workflow is smoother for developers and privacy-focused teams.

Penpot's big advantage is ownership. You can run it on your own server, control your data, and keep your design system open. That's a major shift for design teams who don't want vendor lock-in.

Best for: UI/UX teams, open-source advocates, product designers
Alternative to: Figma, Sketch
Pricing: Free forever (self-hosted or cloud); upcoming team plans ~$7/editor/month.
Link: https://penpot.app

4. Heptabase - visual thinking for creative chaos

Turns scattered notes into structured visual maps for creative thinking.

Most note or doc apps force you to write linearly. Heptabase is different: it's a spatial workspace where you organize ideas visually.

You can drop cards, connect them, cluster them, and zoom between projects. It feels like a mix of Miro and Notion, but with structure that doesn't fall apart as your ideas grow.

Creative people often think in maps, not lists. Heptabase captures that. It's especially good for research, concept development, and early-stage creative planning.

If your projects live somewhere between sticky notes, sketches, and documents, this tool brings it all together.

Best for: creative strategists, writers, researchers
Alternative to: Notion, Miro
Pricing: $12/month or $96/year.
Link: https://www.heptabase.com

5. Runway ML - generative video made simple

Brings AI-powered video generation to everyday creators.

Runway has quietly become the most interesting AI platform for creatives. Its new Gen-2 model lets you generate video from text, still images, or clips.

It's not just "AI for AI's sake" - it's a practical way to experiment with motion, style, and storytelling without deep editing skills.

Designers use Runway for mood videos, concept prototypes, and campaign teasers. You can type “sunset over a city skyline in watercolor style,” and in seconds get a short, fully animated clip.

The best part: it integrates directly with creative workflows. You can export to Premiere, apply color grading, or feed visuals back into storyboards.

Best for: motion designers, filmmakers, social creatives
Alternative to: After Effects, Midjourney for video
Pricing: Free tier; Standard $12/month; Pro $28/month; Unlimited $76/month.
Link: https://runwayml.com

6. Plasticity - 3D design that feels intuitive

Combines CAD-level precision with sculptural creative freedom.

Most 3D CAD software is technical and rigid. Plasticity flips that. It gives you the accuracy of Rhino or Fusion 360 but with a fluid, almost sculptural workflow.

You model directly in 3D without being buried under panels or toolbars. It's ideal for product designers, concept artists, and industrial designers who want to explore form without friction.

The interface is minimal, the commands are logical, and the results are production-grade. You can export to standard CAD formats or render for presentation.

Plasticity feels like what 3D design should have been all along - powerful but lightweight.

Best for: product designers, industrial designers, concept artists
Alternative to: Rhino, Fusion 360
Pricing: One-time license $299 (perpetual, includes updates).
Link: https://www.plasticity.xyz

7. Gamma - storytelling powered by AI

Transforms plain text into beautiful, dynamic storytelling decks.

Gamma is an AI-first presentation and web doc tool. You describe what you want - a campaign pitch, product story, or visual idea - and Gamma generates layouts, imagery, and structure automatically.

It is ideal when you need to present ideas quickly without spending hours formatting slides. You can still tweak everything, but the first draft appears in seconds.

Results look polished, not automated. Layouts, fonts, and images adjust to tone and topic. You can export to PDF or PPTX, publish as a mini site, and collaborate with teammates.

Best for: marketing creatives, agency teams, startup founders
Alternative to: PowerPoint, Pitch, Tome
Pricing: Free plan; Plus $10/month; Pro $18/month; Ultra $100/month (see site for details).
Link: https://gamma.app

8. KREA - interactive generative art

A real-time playground for generative art and visual experimentation.

KREA is one of the more experimental tools on this list. It's a live, real-time environment for AI image generation - you can tweak prompts, references, and compositions while watching results update instantly.

It's built for exploration rather than one-off outputs. Designers use it to test styles, generate visual direction, and experiment with composition ideas.

It bridges the gap between prompt-based generation and manual control. You're not just typing text - you're co-creating visually, adjusting lighting, angle, and texture on the fly.

Best for: artists, designers, AI explorers
Alternative to: Midjourney, DALL-E
Pricing: Free for public projects; paid tiers from $12/month.
Link: https://www.krea.ai

9. Make (formerly Integromat) - visual automation for creative workflows

Visual automation made simple for creative teams and freelancers.

Automation tools like Zapier are great, but they can feel abstract. Make gives you a clear, visual interface for automating your workflow - perfect for creatives managing multiple tools.

You can drag and connect apps like Notion, Google Drive, Slack, and Figma into logical flows. For example: when a client approves a design, Make can automatically archive files, send notifications, and update your project board.

For creative teams juggling assets, feedback, and deadlines, this kind of automation saves hours every week.

And because Make is visual, it's easier to understand what's happening behind the scenes.

Best for: creative teams, freelancers, operations managers
Alternative to: Zapier
Pricing: Free tier; Core $9/month; Pro $16/month; Teams $29/month.
Link: https://www.make.com

10. Uizard - from sketch to prototype in minutes

Sketch your ideas and instantly turn them into interactive prototypes.

Uizard turns rough sketches into clickable prototypes using AI. Draw wireframes on paper, take a photo, and the system converts them into interactive screens.

It's not about perfection - it's about speed. You can go from an idea to a testable concept before the meeting ends.

For freelancers or teams working with non-technical clients, this helps turn vague ideas into something everyone can see and react to.

The app supports both web and mobile layouts, with instant previews and simple drag-and-drop editing.

It's the easiest way to validate an idea visually without opening Figma or XD.

Best for: UX designers, product teams, startups
Alternative to: Adobe XD, Figma
Pricing: Free plan; Pro $12/month; Business $49/month.
Link: https://www.uizard.io

11. Muse - creative thinking in spatial form

A spatial workspace for visual thinkers on iPad.

Muse is an iPad-based workspace that brings together writing, sketching, and visual thinking. Instead of files and folders, you organize content spatially on boards.

You can combine handwritten notes, voice memos, PDFs, and images in one canvas.

For visual thinkers, it's a dream. It feels like an infinite desk where ideas grow and connect naturally.

Writers use it for outlining stories, designers use it for brainstorming, and teams use it for planning sessions that don't fit into spreadsheets or slides.

If your creative process involves scribbling, sketching, and thinking out loud, Muse fits perfectly.

Best for: designers, writers, strategists, educators
Alternative to: Notion, Apple Notes
Pricing: One-time purchase $99 (iPad app).
Link: https://www.museapp.com

The shift toward lighter creative tools

What ties all these new tools together isn't just innovation - it's restraint.

They're simpler, more focused, and more opinionated about what they do best. Instead of trying to replace every app in your workflow, they do one thing well and integrate smoothly with others.

Creative work thrives when friction is low. You don't need 50 features - you need tools that help you move from idea to output fast, with enough control to stay authentic.

Kittl helps you focus on craft. Heptabase gives structure to chaos. Runway lets you visualize motion ideas in minutes. Breeze keeps your projects organized without extra noise.

This is the direction creative software is heading: leaner, faster, and more human.

If your current tools feel heavy or disconnected, it might be time to try something new.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best AI design tools in 2025?
Tools like KREA, Runway ML, and Tome stand out for their use of AI in visual creation, video generation, and storytelling.

Which project management software is best for creatives?
Breeze offers a simple, visual approach perfect for small teams and freelancers who find ClickUp or Asana too complex.

What are affordable tools for small design studios?
Heptabase, Kittl, and Make provide powerful functionality at accessible pricing, making them ideal for small creative teams.