Adobe InDesign Reviews & Product Details

InDesign is one of those apps you think you won't need until you use it. For years i've concentrated my work on Illustrator and Photoshop, until the day I had to use InDesign and it all changed. InDesign is light on your computer, it allows you to create layouts for pages, place images from other softwares and also work with Adobe's Library, creating an live ecosystem where you can organize your work for better presentation Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Sometimes my fonts aren't recognized by InDesign and I have to restart the app after reinstalling the font, also, the Package action don't always embed all the used files in the folder Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

When working on documents that need to look polished and consistent, Adobe InDesign feels dependable. Page layouts, master pages, and text styles make it easy to manage large documents without losing formatting control. I regularly use it for brochures, reports, and multi-page designs, and the precision it offers for typography and spacing is hard to replace. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Performance can slow down with very large files or heavy image usage. The subscription pricing may also feel expensive for users who only need it occasionally. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like the layer elements in Adobe InDesign. It allows me to take a graphic design and split it into different layers, enabling adjustments to each layer independently. This functionality means I can treat each element in an image as its own editable component without altering the entire image, providing a high level of control and precision for complex graphic design projects. Adobe InDesign also stands out for its extensive functionality and control, offering a variety of options that go beyond simple graphic design functions. I find Adobe InDesign to be best in class for projects that require advanced control and a multitude of elements, making it an essential tool for more detailed and intricate designs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find Adobe InDesign really hard to use. Despite its powerful functionality and control, it comes at the cost of being unable to just jump into it intuitively. Even after six months of use, I still feel like I'm struggling with it. Furthermore, the tutorials provided by Adobe are quite complicated, making it even more difficult to learn. It's tailored for those who are great at graphic design, and for others, it can be very intimidating. Additionally, during onboarding, we had trouble getting Adobe to recognize everyone's account in our organization, leading to inconsistent access. The software's complexity made it challenging for us to get up to speed with even the basic functions. It's not a program you can quickly start using; familiarity is essential. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The simplicity and familiarity of each Adobe Creative Cloud app—whether it’s Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or InDesign—make it incredibly intuitive for users at all levels. Each tool feels instantly recognisable, with a user-friendly interface that mirrors the design standards professionals have come to trust. Yet, beneath that simplicity lies a powerful layer of flexibility: the ability to customise workflows, integrate across apps seamlessly, and adapt to a wide range of creative needs—from quick edits to complex, multi-platform campaigns. This balance of ease and depth empowers creators to focus on what matters most: bringing ideas to life with precision, speed, and creative freedom. Easily managed centrally to manage users and access. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

To run some of the Adobe Creative Cloud programmes effectively—especially resource-intensive apps like Premiere Pro, After Effects, or Photoshop—you’ll need a good laptop or PC with sufficient processing power, memory, and graphics capability. Depending on your subscription tier or software bundle, you may have access to different apps and cloud features, so it’s worth checking what’s included and ensuring your device meets the recommended system requirements. This helps ensure smooth performance and unlocks the full creative potential of the tools. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It is so straightforward - you can place images, text, shapes, and more right where you need them. The best desktop publishing software out there - easy to learn and use for beginners, but fully capable of advanced options for experienced graphic designers, copywriters, and layout professionals. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I can't think of anything. This is my go-to publishing software. I guess the only thing is, sometimes I wish I could do more "drawing" right in InDesign, instead of having to do that in Illustrator and then import it to InDesign, but since it's technically not a graphic design or illustrating software I can't really complain. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Indesign is awesome for creating both print and digital catalogues, magazines, flyers and books. I particularly like how you can add interactive buttons, hyperlinks and page transitions, and QR codes. These elevate a basic PDF document, and make them actually fun to flip through. (Plus Illustrator and Photoshop don't have these options).

I also recently discovered the paragraph and character style options, which are SUCH a time-saver for making bulk edits. Similarly, the Find/Change feature allows you to bulk update text rather than manually edit each word.

Also, there are heaps of templates available on Adobe Stock that are great to browse through for inspiration, or download and edit. The stock library has business cards, catalogues, menus, brochures and more.

The layout is easy to navigate, and you can customise the dashboard/panels to your liking. I also like that you can edit the shortcuts, and choose what keys to assign to a shortcut. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I encountered a steep learning curve when first learning Indesign. As an avid Illustrator and Photoshop user, I found some features (like image frames) very frustrating to adjust to. I also found the difference between shortcuts to be frustrating, like the 'Paste in place' option, which is triggered by different keys in each program.

To use Indesign to it's full ability, you need a powerful computer (especially if your project contains lots of images), otherwise it will quickly become laggy and crash.

The standard plan provides 100GB of cloud storage, which is handy for collaborating with other users, but can be quickly exceeded if you’re working on a lot of projects. So it’s important to have alternative storage options, and only save files to the cloud if necessary.

Indesign is quite costly, so if you're on a budget, I recommend opting for an Illustrator subscription instead, because you can still create magazines, brochures etc, and this way, you can take advantage of Illustrator's other features (although Illustrator don't have all of the same features that Indesign offers). Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I love Adobe InDesign's robust styling system, especially Nested Styles and GREP styles, which let me automate complex typography effortlessly. It's amazing how I can style elements like automatically bolding the first sentence of every paragraph or formatting prices within a catalog. The Links Panel is also a standout feature for me, as it simplifies managing high-resolution assets in large-scale print projects. Additionally, the seamless integration with other Creative Cloud tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop streamlines my workflow immensely, saving me a massive amount of time. The easy installation via the Creative Cloud app makes the technical setup a breeze, and once my Adobe Fonts sync, I'm ready to dive right into my projects. InDesign remains an industry standard I recommend for anyone involved in serious publishing or complex print design due to its unmatched typographic precision and layout control. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While powerful, the performance can lag significantly when working on very large files (100+ pages) with heavy imagery, even on high-end hardware. I also find the table formatting tools to be somewhat dated and clunky compared to the fluid nature of the rest of the layout tools. Finally, the subscription cost is quite high for freelancers who may not use the full suite every single day. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I have been using InDesign for around 4–5 years, and what I like most is how professional my work looks when I prepare layouts. As an architecture student, I need to create portfolios, project boards, presentations, and reports, and InDesign helps me arrange everything neatly. The grid system and alignment tools make it easy to keep drawings, text, and images in proper order. Master pages save me a lot of time when I have to make multi-page documents with the same style.

Another thing I like is the export quality. I can make high-resolution PDFs for printing, or smaller files for sharing online, without losing clarity in the drawings. Over the years, I have also found the integration with Photoshop and Illustrator very useful. I usually edit my renders in Photoshop, then place them directly in InDesign. If I change the render later, the InDesign file updates automatically, which saves me time and keeps the layout consistent. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

In the beginning, it was not easy to learn because there are so many tools and panels. It took me time to understand styles, layers, and master pages properly. Even now, when I work with large files full of images and renders, the software slows down or lags sometimes. Also, some advanced features are hidden deep in menus, so I had to spend time exploring before I got comfortable. The biggest drawback for students is the cost, since it needs a subscription. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really like how Adobe InDesign handles complexity with absolute precision, which is why it has remained the industry gold standard for decades. It's the 'brain' that brings elements like Photoshop's pixels and Illustrator's paths together into a structured, professional document. What makes InDesign truly valuable to me is the peace of mind it provides; it acts as a safety net to ensure my vision translates perfectly to the final product in large, expensive, or high-stakes projects. Its true power comes from acting as the central hub of the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, integrating well with other tools in a professional workflow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While InDesign is powerful, it is far from perfect. If you talk to any long-term user, they’ll likely have a list of frustrations. In 2025, the software faces some specific challenges that can make it feel more like a burden than a tool. Professional designers look for a more modern, fluid experience that matches today’s fast-paced digital environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I love the flexibility with InDesign. I am able to create quick designs for a lot of our editorial projects and can quickly whip up simple graphics if needed right in the program without using multiple programs. I use this program for the majority of my graphic design work daily and love how easy it is to implement changes across team. I utilize this program mostly for editorial assets like email banners, pdf packets, social media posts, zoom banners, zoom backgrounds, one-pagers, pendo guide templates, and so much more. The review integration is great for others that do not use InDesign but need to make comments on the projects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One thing I am not a fan of is the customer support at Adobe. I had an issue I was trying to figure out and an employee pretty much told me that he couldn't help because it was ran through another company...but the offer was through Adobe. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.