Stencil vs Design Cuts: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Stencil and Design Cuts comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Stencil is our overall pick for graphic design workflows. Pick Design Cuts if you need stock assets.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Stencil
Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.
Best for you if:
- • You need graphic design features specifically
- • Quickly create visual content with millions of royalty-free assets.
- • Offers instant resizing with preset and custom dimensions for various platforms.
Design Cuts
Curated design resources, fonts, graphics, and assets for creative professionals.
Best for you if:
- • You need stock assets features specifically
- • Curated marketplace for design assets
- • Offers fonts, graphics, templates, and add-ons
| At a Glance |  Stencil |  Design Cuts |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $9/mo when paid annually/moPro | Free tier + paid plansFree tier available |
Best For | Graphic Design | Stock Assets |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Stencil or Design Cuts?
Choose Stencil if
Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.
- Extremely fast and easy to use for graphic creation.
- Vast library of royalty-free assets (photos, icons, templates) included.
- Seamless integration with Buffer for social media scheduling.
- Your work is graphic design-shaped, not stock assets-shaped
Choose Design Cuts if
Curated design resources, fonts, graphics, and assets for creative professionals.
- High-quality, curated design resources
- Excellent value through bundles and deals
- Commercial licenses included for most assets
- Your work is stock assets-shaped, not graphic design-shaped
| Feature | Stencil | Design Cuts |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 486 reviews | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Graphic DesignMarketing | Stock AssetsGraphic Design |
In-Depth Analysis
Stencil
Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.
Strengths
- +Extremely fast and easy to use for graphic creation.
- +Vast library of royalty-free assets (photos, icons, templates) included.
- +Seamless integration with Buffer for social media scheduling.
- +Offers optimal preset sizes for various platforms, saving time.
- +Includes a free tier for hobbyists to get started.
Weaknesses
- -Each subscription is for a single user only, limiting team collaboration.
- -Monthly recurring payments are non-refundable after the initial 7-day period.
Key features
Design Cuts
Curated design resources, fonts, graphics, and assets for creative professionals.
Strengths
- +High-quality, curated design resources
- +Excellent value through bundles and deals
- +Commercial licenses included for most assets
- +User-friendly website interface
- +Diverse range of product categories
Weaknesses
- -Bundles are time-limited, requiring quick decisions
- -Individual product prices can be higher outside of bundles
- -No free tier or extensive free resource section
Key features
Pricing: Stencil vs Design Cuts
| Plan | Stencil | Design Cuts |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0/mo Free | N/A |
| Tier 2 | $9/mo when paid annually Pro | N/A |
| Tier 3 | $12/mo when paid annually Unlimited | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Stencil pricing and Design Cuts pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Stencil
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Stencil
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Stencil
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Stencil is a graphic design tool. Design Cuts is in stock assets. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Stencil
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Design Cuts
- Better fit for stock assets
The Bottom Line
Stencil is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stencil or Design Cuts better?
Stencil is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Stencil and Design Cuts used for?
Stencil: Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.. Design Cuts: Curated design resources, fonts, graphics, and assets for creative professionals..
What does Stencil cost vs Design Cuts?
Stencil is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Design Cuts is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.