The 6 best Placeit alternatives

Renderforest Staff

24 May 2024

12 min read

The best Placeit alternatives

Renderforest for users needing versatile media creation tools
VistaCreate for creating social media graphics and videos
Venngage for creating infographics and data visualizations
Adobe Illustrator for professional vector graphics design
CorelDRAW for detailed vector illustrations and layouts
Affinity Designer for high-quality vector graphics on multiple platforms

What to look for in your Placeit alternative

When choosing a Placeit alternative, there are a few factors you need to account for to make sure you get the best value and functionality for your needs.

Variety and quality of templates. It’s always nice to have a lot of options to choose from. You don’t want to be stuck with just 15 mockup templates, none of which really suit your product. That being said, look for a Placeit alternative that offers a wide range of custom templates. This ensures you can find the perfect fit for your projects and keep your designs fresh and professional.
Customization capabilities. Finding the ideal template is good, but even the best template isn’t always enough. That’s where customization options come in. A good platform should let you easily modify text, colors, images, and other elements to match your brand’s unique style and requirements. Look for advanced editing features that allow for a professional-level design, such as AI-powered tools, photo enhancers, background removers, resizing, and positioning tools.
User experience and efficiency. Check how easy and intuitive the platform is to use. With efficient tools and a user-friendly interface, you can save time and effort. You don’t want to spend hours on one simple design task just because you can’t figure out how to change colors, for example.

How we evaluate different tools

We take our evaluations seriously, relying on reviews, ratings, and thorough research to assess each tool. Our approach is all about honesty and authenticity; we’re never paid for placements. Instead, we look into user experiences and expert insights to bring you genuine recommendations. You can trust that our selections are based on what truly works, not on who’s paying us. Your trust matters, and we’re committed to earning it by providing real, unbiased evaluations.

Quick look at the best Placeit alternatives

Tool	Best for	Standout feature	Pricing
Renderforest	Comprehensive branding and content creation	Extensive template library for mockups, videos, websites, and graphics	Free plan available; paid plans start at $9.99/month when billed annually
VistaCreate	Creating social media graphics and videos	Large library of free design templates	Free, Pro plan: $10/month
Venngage	Creating infographics and data visualizations	AI-powered graphic design functionality	Free, Premium: $19/month, Business: $49/month
Adobe Illustrator	Professional vector graphics design	Comprehensive vector designing solution	Single App: $22.99/month, All Apps: $59.99/month
CorelDRAW	Detailed vector illustrations and layouts	Powerful vector illustration tools	Annual Plan: $36.58/month, One-time: $859
Affinity Designer	High-quality vector graphics on multiple platforms	Award-winning vector graphics software	One-time: $69.99, iPad: $18.49

What is the Placeit mockup generator?

Placeit is an all-in-one platform that simplifies the creation of high-quality marketing and branding assets. It’s a solid fit for anyone who wants to make their business look good online but doesn’t have much design experience or budget. With its range of tools and templates for creating mockups, logos, videos, and social media posts, Placeit promises to take your product branding and design practices to the next level.

At its heart, Placeit is an online mockup generator. This means you can pick a template you like, add your own text and images, and then download the final product. If you want to make professional-looking designs but you don’t have the experience, Placeit is a viable option. Placeit also offers PSD mockups, which you can customize using Photoshop for more advanced adjustments.

Why use Placeit?

Placeit and mockup generator tools like it can help you save time, effort, and money. If you’re new to design, creating high-quality marketing materials from scratch can be a hassle. Placeit makes this process easy with ready-made templates that you can customize in just a few clicks.

Their library of templates is another plus. If you need a new logo, a promotional video, an animation video, or a product mockup, you’ll likely be able to find a tool and template that fits your needs. You don’t need to have a deep knowledge of creating mockups or how to make animation videos.

With Placeit and similar software, you just need to find the template you like the most and customize it to match your brand identity. However, some alternatives offer more advanced editing features for more detailed customization.

Limitations

While Placeit’s mockup generator is great for most users, it does have its drawbacks. Customization is limited, so getting a unique look can be tough. The quality of templates varies, which might not always suit your brand. And, if you’re on a budget, the subscription fees can add up, which isn’t very convenient for small businesses or occasional users. Some alternatives offer custom design requests, which can benefit users looking for unique and tailored designs.

Keep in mind that since it’s cloud-based, you need a stable internet connection to use it, which can be problematic if you’re in an area with poor connectivity. Finally, if you’re more advanced in your design practices, Placeit might not be the best option for you. While its simplicity makes it easy for beginners, experienced designers might find it lacking in advanced features, limiting their creative choices.

The best free mockup builder for comprehensive branding

Renderforest

Renderforest - Placeit alternative

Renderforest pros

Easy navigation makes it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise
Extensive library of templates and high-quality design elements
Offers both free and premium versions to cater to various needs
Lets you customize templates with images, text, and branding elements

Renderforest cons

Free version includes watermarks on outputs
May require upgrades for access to more advanced features

Renderforest is a solid free Placeit alternative—suitable for those who are looking for a variety of digital media creation tools. Renderforest’s mockup generator offers templates designed to help you create mockups.

It supports a number of product categories, like apparel, technology, print materials, and home decor, making it versatile across industries. You can upload your own designs and customize them to create realistic mockups that are accurate and ready for integration into marketing materials, e-commerce platforms, or digital advertising campaigns.

What other tools does Renderforest offer? Here’s the shortlist:

For businesses seeking to create distinctive logos, Renderforest’s logo maker offers a variety of logo templates, styles, and customization options comparable to Placeit.
Users interested in producing high-quality videos for various purposes will find the video maker as capable and user-friendly as Placeit’s tools.
For those who don’t know how to animate logo, Renderforest offers its animate logo feature, providing a direct challenge to Placeit’s animated logo capabilities and making it easier to add dynamic elements to static logos.
Those looking to make an impact with their branding can utilize the 3D logo feature to create eye-catching 3D animation, which is great for digital and print media.
Content creators aiming to enhance their YouTube channel can leverage Renderforest’s YouTube intro maker to create engaging intros, making it a practical choice for YouTube enthusiasts.

Renderforest pricing

Renderforest offers a free version with basic features that are great for newcomers or those with minimal design needs. If you need more sophisticated functionalities, we have premium plans that offer extensive tools and capabilities.

The best free mockup builder for social media graphics

VistaCreate

VistaCreate - Placeit alternative

VistaCreate pros

Large library of free design templates
User-friendly interface with easy customization
Access to royalty-free stock photos, videos, and vectors

VistaCreate cons

Some advanced features require a Pro subscription
A bit more complex interface than Placeit
Limitations on collaborative features

Another free Placeit alternative is VistaCreate. Formerly known as Crello, VistaCreate is a great tool for creating a wide range of eye-catching graphics and videos for your business. This free graphic design tool and mockup generator provides access to thousands of templates that you can customize to fit your project needs. VistaCreate’s library also includes over 150,000 professionally designed and regularly updated templates.

VistaCreate pricing

VistaCreate offers a free plan with access to over 100,000 graphic design templates, more than a million photos, videos, and vectors, and basic brand kit features. If you need more advanced features, the Pro plan costs $10 per month and includes access to premium templates, stock files, background removal, unlimited storage, and other advanced tools.

The best free mockup builder for infographics and data visualizations

Venngage

Venngage - Placeit alternative

Venngage pros

User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
Large library of templates with professional designs
AI-powered graphic design functionality for easy creation and customization

Venngage cons

Some advanced features require a paid subscription
Can’t create videos or GIFs for social media

Venngage is a free alternative to Placeit that you can use to create professional infographics and other visual content at any skill level. Venngage offers a nice selection of templates in their mockup generator, which can be customized to create infographics, reports, presentations, diagrams, and charts.

Venngage might be a good option if you’re looking for a Placeit alternative that is more specialized in infographics and visual data representation. It’s well-known for making overly complex information look clear and engaging through its designs.

Venngage pricing

Venngage offers a free plan that includes access to templates and basic graphic design tools. For users who need more advanced features, the Premium plan is available at $19 per month. It offers access to all templates, priority support, and advanced customization options. There is also a Business plan for $49 per month, which includes team collaboration features, brand management tools, and additional design assets.

Have some budget to spare for your design needs? We’ve outlined the 3 best paid Placeit alternatives to consider.

The best paid mockup builder for professional vector graphics design

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator - Placeit alternative

Adobe Illustrator pros

Comprehensive vector designing solution
Ability to prepare content for major applications
Touch control and support for custom brushes
Various effects and filters for design improvement
Quality detailing and workflow with enhanced features
A comprehensive range of printing and publishing features

Adobe Illustrator cons

High price tag may not fit every budget
Too technical and complex for beginners

We can bet that you’ve already heard of Adobe Illustrator, and there’s a reason for that. Adobe Illustrator has earned its place as a leading software for creating vector graphics, offering a wide range of features and capabilities for artists and graphic designers. It provides a comprehensive solution for designing logos, icons, packaging, web graphics, and more. With touch control, custom brushes, and various effects, it gives you everything you need to create visuals that are detailed and high-quality.

We have to say that Placeit can’t even come close to the range of customization features that Adobe Illustrator offers. However, Adobe Illustrator isn’t for everyone and has a much steeper learning curve than Placeit. So keep that in mind.

Here are some other reasons to consider Adobe Illustrator as your Placeit alternative:

Vector designing tool enables users to create scalable vector graphics suitable for various applications
Adobe Illustrator supports touch-enabled devices for intuitive design manipulation
A library of brushes for adding artistic effects to illustrations
A variety of effects and filters to enhance the design experience
Includes features for preparing designs for printing and publishing

Adobe Illustrator pricing

Adobe Illustrator is available through Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions. The Single App plan starts at $22.99 per month, while the All Apps plan, which includes Illustrator along with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, starts at $59.99 per month. Student and teacher discounts are available, plus business plans for teams needing multiple licenses.

The best paid mockup builder for detailed vector illustrations and layouts

CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW - Placeit alternative

CorelDRAW pros

Powerful vector illustration tools for creating complex artwork
Comprehensive page layout features for brochures, documents, and more
Complete set of typography tools for arranging text beautifully
Font management system with access to over 1,400 Google Fonts families
Layer-based photo editing tools with AI-powered enhancements
Cloud-based collaboration workflow for real-time feedback and annotations

CorelDRAW cons

Subscription-based pricing model might not suit everyone’s budget
Some users may find the interface less intuitive compared to other design software

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a professional design software offering a range of tools for vector illustration, page layout, typography, photo editing, and collaboration. It has capabilities for creating intricate vector artwork, designing layouts for different kinds of documents, and fine-tuning typography with effects like shadows and contours.

Whether you’re a seasoned graphic designer or just starting out, the CorelDRAW mockup generator offers a suite of powerful tools to bring your ideas to life with precision and style.

CorelDRAW Pricing

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite offers an Annual Plan for $36.58 per month and a one-time purchase option for $859.00. Yearly subscription is also available for $439.00.

The best paid mockup builder for high-quality vector graphics on multiple platforms

Affinity Designer

Affinity - Placeit alternative

Affinity Designer pros

Award-winning vector graphics software suitable for professionals
Available for Windows, macOS, and iPad, offering flexibility and accessibility
No subscription required, offering a one-time purchase option
Live, responsive, and fast performance, even with complex documents
Fully featured vector and raster workspaces for creative freedom
Hundreds of timesaving tools and functions for efficient design workflows
Pixel-perfect designs with pixel preview mode

Affinity Designer cons

May have a learning curve for beginners transitioning from other design software
Limited third-party plugin support compared to some other design tools

Concluding our list of the best Placeit alternatives is Affinity Designer, a powerful vector graphics software that sets industry standards for design. With its live, responsive performance and versatile features, it caters to professional illustrators, web designers, game developers, and creatives across various industries.

The software offers a one-time purchase option without any subscription, making it cost-effective in the long run. While it may have a learning curve for beginners, its intuitive interface and extensive documentation make it a great alternative to Placeit.

Affinity Designer pricing

Affinity Designer is available for a one-time payment of $69.99 on MacOS or Windows. The iPad version can be purchased separately for $18.49. You can also go for the Affinity V2 Universal License, priced at $164.99. It includes Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher for all platforms.

Other websites like Placeit

While Placeit is a great tool, exploring alternatives can broaden your design options. If you’re still searching for the right fit, here are a few more platforms worth considering:

Designhill Studio. Designhill Studio offers a world-class library of customizable and ready-to-use templates, perfect for corporate design, marketing, and online art. With an extensive collection of icons, images, graphics, shapes, and fonts, you can effortlessly create eye-catching visuals. The platform’s professional editing features allow you to personalize your designs with ease.
PosterMyWall. PosterMyWall makes professional marketing easy with beautiful social media graphics, videos, flyers, and email campaigns. Ideal for small businesses, schools, restaurants, and more, it offers a variety of templates for events, menus, and promotional materials.
Fotor. Fotor offers a powerful and easy-to-use online photo editor suitable for all skill levels. With features like AI photo enhancement, background removal, and object removal, it simplifies complex editing tasks. Users can also create collages, apply filters, and generate AI art. Fotor comes with a huge design asset library, including high-res photos (including mockup photos), stickers, and fonts.
PicMonkey. PicMonkey allows you to create visuals for social media, marketing, and branding. With a wide variety of templates for logos, banners, flyers, and social media posts, it simplifies design tasks. The platform provides advanced editing features, including touch-up, color changer, and background remover.

Related reading:

Placeit alternatives FAQ

What is better than Placeit?

If you’re looking for something better than Placeit, there are some great options you can find. First, you can give Renderforest a try. The platform has tons of templates and customization features that work for all kinds of digital media projects.

Another option worth checking out is VistaCreate, which is user-friendly and packed with customizable templates. Venngage is a good option for making infographics and other visual content. Adobe Illustrator is top-notch for detailed vector graphics and advanced design work. CorelDRAW offers powerful vector illustration and typography tools. And then there’s Affinity Designer, which gives you a lot of versatility and a one-time purchase option.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on what you need, how much you’re willing to spend, and how comfortable you are with different design tools.

Are there free alternatives to Placeit?

Yes, there are great free alternatives to Placeit. For example, Renderforest offers thousands of templates and customization options in its free version. VistaCreate and Venngage also let you use mockup templates for free.

VistaCreate provides a wide range of templates and customization options for various design needs, while Venngage focuses more on creating professional infographics and other informational content. Depending on your specific project requirements, each is a great free alternative.

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