CorelDRAW 2025 vs 2024: Breaking Down the Big Creative Upgrades

With the new year rolling in, we have new versions of various software. For graphic designers, the arrival of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is always exciting. Now, users might be wondering what upgrades and improvements are included in this version compared to the previous edition, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024.

Let’s take a look at a side-by-side comparison to determine if the new suite is a worthwhile upgrade to your creative process.

Painterly Brush Tool:

Among the interesting new features offered in the 2025 version of Corel Graphics Suite was the introduction of the Painterly Brush tool. For the first time ever, this tool allowed users to paint with wonderfully realistic pixel-based brushstrokes that could still be manipulated and edited with vector controls.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024:

It highlighted the initial introduction of a Painterly Brush tool with 100 pixel-based brushes utilizing Corel Painter brush technology. The user would then be able to apply these strokes to paths and shapes, providing a natural feel of pixel painting with editable vector control.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025:

The new concept improves upon the Painterly Brush Tool with better brush controls and brush compatibility with other tools. Subscribers get 50 new pixel-based brushes and will have a total of 100 exclusive brushes on top of the benefits of the 100+ brushes available to all users. New brush categories like “Fluffy”, “Glass”, “Light it up”, “Spaced out”, and “Stipple” will provide users with additional creative possibilities; the current version might be called v2023, but it certainly is not what it appears to be. There are many options here. The 2025 version will introduce a crosshair cursor to use when drawing with all brush styles (particularly styles that have unorthodox sizes); it will make for a more efficient drawing process. Users can lock or unlock brushstrokes in the docker to preserve brushstrokes and prevent accidental alteration. Additionally, users can rename brushstrokes, which can simplify the user workflow. Users will now be able to set the tilt direction of the stylus, which allows them to create different strokes with the same brush style. Also, mouse users can now simulate drawing with a pen with new tools.

Print to PDF:

The workflow of getting designs prepared for professional printing is an essential step in the design practice, and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 provides a substantial upgrade to this process.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024:

Broad and robust export functions, including PDF export, allow users to prepare files with various output methods.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025:

The new Print to PDF option gives you full access to advanced settings for color separations, halftones, registration marks, and custom print profiles for print workflows that require professional high-quality output without adding unnecessary steps to the workflow. You can create PDFs with individual pages for every color plate version, along with CMYK print data and all necessary marks and file re-purposing information.

CorelDRAW Web: Design from Wherever You Are

New in the suite this year is CorelDRAW Web, a new browser version of CorelDRAW.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024:

Primarily a desktop application with Windows and macOS applications, with some cloud-based collaborative features.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025:

With the introduction of CorelDRAW Web, which we only promote to new subscribers and maintenance customers, now offers the full CorelDRAW experience to any device that has the internet. Be able to design from wherever you are, and add flexibility to your timeline.

Content & Resource:  Expanding Creative Libraries

Both versions of the suite offer tons of content, but the 2025 version includes even more for subscribers!

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024:

Provided a great library of clipart, digital images, photographs, fonts, templates, and fills. Delivered 300 cloud-based design templates exclusively to subscribers to work with.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025:

Continues to provide a good selection of creative assets and enhances the subscriber experience even more with free brush packs (as mentioned for the introduction of the Painterly Brush tool) and 300 more Google Font families right in the program, facilitating a faster workflow for typography.

Performance and Workflow Improvements

Here are the behind-the-scenes improvements, in addition to the major new features, which are focused on performance and improving workflows.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024:

Emphasis on improved stability through improvements and a revised approach to working with non-destructive bitmap effects. New Focus Mode offered a new option for editing objects more easily.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025:

Continues to build on this momentum by delivering performance and quality improvements, including direct access to extra Google Fonts, and further enhancements to security. The 2025 release included a new Assets docker to offer easier navigation of local, network, and cloud assets, along with linked assets. The updated Tray Docker also assists with the management of your contents. Editing objects has been improved with the addition of Focus mode to work in, the ability to copy, duplicate, delete, create boundaries, and work with the object coordinates, and share symbols between drawings.

Licensing / Access

How the user accesses the software has also seen some changes in the new version for corel.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024:

Provided subscription as well as a one-time purchase option, with subscriber-only features and content.

• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025:

Simplified multi-seat license management via the updated Corel Customer Account Portal, offering businesses greater flexibility to assign licenses without the need for separate individual user accounts. The access provided with the subscriber-only CorelDRAW Web also provides some implications for access.

Conclusion – Is the upgrade worth it?

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 expands upon what was a very solid CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2024 release with an array of practical improvements and a few more new capabilities.

Proceed with the upgrade to 2025 if any of the following apply to you:

• The Painterly Brush tool is a big part of your workflow, and you would like to take advantage of new controls and more brush options.
• Professional print output may be a significant part of your workflow, and with the Advanced Print to PDF, this would simplify your workflow.
• You like the flexibility of being able to design on the go with CorelDRAW Web.
• You like improved asset management and workflow improvements.
• You are a subscriber and want to access the new features and content before your renewal discount expires.

Stick with 2024 if any of the following apply to you:

• You’re happy with your workflow, and the new features of 2025 do not directly address your most significant use cases.
• You just purchased the 2024 version and are not ready for an upgrade cost yet.

Above all, whether you choose to upgrade or not is up to your personal needs and how the new features align with your own creative process. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 undoubtedly has some good reasons for many users to make the jump and the continued muscle of a significant graphics suite.