Last updated: April 11, 2025.
One of AI’s most significant advancements has been in creative fields. A 2024 Adobe survey reveals that 68% of designers use some form of artificial intelligence in their daily workflows, mainly for brainstorming, content generation, or image editing. Most creative professions are rooted in art, even if marketing is more data-driven. And let’s face it, there are times when professionals simply hit a creative block – the “shut down” moment. That’s when creative apps become incredibly helpful.
We can confidently say that these tools don’t take away jobs; instead, they ignite creative ideas and, in many cases, free up creativity by taking over less exciting tasks.
The question isn’t whether we should use AI in our work, but how and which tools are worth it.
The best creative apps for artists
1. Adobe Sensei
Adobe’s own AI platform, Sensei, has been integrated into
- Photoshop,
- Illustrator, and
- Lightroom for years –
and, of course, it continues to learn. It can identify patterns in your work, helping you automatically fill in background content or suggest color palettes that fit your visual style. If you hate removing backgrounds or dealing with tedious retouching – Sensei frees you from that task.
2. Runway ML
This app is a paradise for videographers and visual artists. Runway ML allows you to use AI models for
- video editing,
- generative effects, or even
- live background removal – without a green screen.
The latest versions also offer motion tracking, AI-powered noise removal, and image-to-video features. It’s like editing in a sci-fi movie.
3. Artbreeder
If you love experimenting with images, Artbreeder is for you. This GAN-based platform allows you to create your unique style by “breeding” images together.
You can generate portraits, landscapes, or even completely abstract images – and control every detail: facial features, colors, lighting, it’s all in your hands.
4. Grammarly
Not just a spelling checker – Grammarly has long been an AI-powered writing partner.
- It analyzes your style,
- tone,
- suggests new word choices,
and helps protect you from plagiarism. It’s a must-have app for bloggers, writers, and journalists.
5. Canva
Design isn’t just for professionals. Canva’s AI helps you create presentations, posts, or ads with just a few clicks. Automatic resizing, trend-based color schemes, AI-generated text – all on a sleek interface. With the new “Magic Studio” feature, you can now create entire design concepts from a prompt. It’s mind-blowing how far Melanie Perkins and her team have come since Canva’s early days.
6. ChatGPT for Writers
Need inspiration? ChatGPT is an excellent conversation partner who helps with brainstorming, writing stories, developing dialogues, or even outlining entire articles. The 2025 version (GPT-4 Turbo with multimodal capabilities) can even interpret images, making it an even more versatile creative partner. The best part? It never gets tired and always has another suggestion.
7. DALL·E 3
This is OpenAI’s visual brain. DALL·E 3 can generate hyper-realistic or completely abstract images from detailed text descriptions. Type in: “a vintage café on a rainy Paris street, in the evening, neon lights” – and the mood image is ready. It’s particularly useful for illustrators, marketers, and social media managers.
8. Designhill Logo Maker
Need a logo but don’t have graphic design experience? No problem. This AI-powered logo maker just needs the company name, industry, and your style preferences – the system generates multiple variations. The new version now offers real-time style suggestions, making it easier to find the perfect look for your brand.
9. DeepArt.io
This platform turns photos into artworks in the style of famous painters. Imagine seeing your vacation photo in Van Gogh’s or Munch’s painting style. The deep learning engine analyzes and stylizes the image in real-time – perfect for digital artists, print projects, or just creative experimentation. You could even surprise an art-loving family member with such a gift for their birthday.
10. Fotor
This online photo editor is great for more than just basic retouching. It can:
- Recognize faces
- Adjust lighting
- Smooth skin, enhance eyes
And with one click, turn an average photo into a “professional” one. The 2025 updates now also offer AI portrait generation – meaning you can turn a selfie into a LinkedIn-ready portrait with just a few clicks.
My Personal Opinion as a Creative Professional on Creative Apps
Personally, I find the rise of AI incredibly helpful. I hate retouching or wasting time on tedious tasks like detailed image cropping. Often, I even hit a creative block, unable to move forward. After years of working solo, brainstorming and executing ideas independently, having AI as a support feels like a huge relief when I get stuck. It helps me with tasks where I can count on it as an assistant for most of my projects.
Yes, the key is that these creative apps and tools are assistants! Many people fear that AI will “replace” human creativity, but the reality is that it’s about collaboration. Tools like Runway ML or Jasper AI accelerate human ideas, they don’t replace them. AI cannot control – it’s the human who directs it. So be the director, be the boss, be creative, and incorporate these apps into your workflow. Trust me, after a month of use, you’ll be sending hearts to these tools, just like I do.