Updated for 2026 — This article has been reviewed and updated with the latest recommendations.
Best Color Palette Generators for Design Inspiration
Color is one of the most powerful elements in design, and getting it right is harder than it looks. A well-chosen palette creates mood, directs attention, and builds brand identity. Color palette generators take the guesswork out of the process.
Coolors
Coolors is the fastest color palette generator available. Press the spacebar to generate a random five-color palette. Lock any color you like and keep generating.
Beyond random generation, Coolors offers image extraction, gradients, contrast checking, and trending palettes. Export as Photoshop swatches, CSS, SVG, or PDF. Free version covers most needs.
Adobe Color
Adobe Color is integrated with Creative Cloud. Palettes sync directly to Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The color wheel creates palettes using harmony rules: complementary, analogous, triadic.
Extract from Image pulls palettes from photos. The Explore section shows trending community palettes. Accessibility tools check contrast ratios.
Color Hunt
Color Hunt is a curated collection of hand-picked palettes submitted and voted on by designers. Browse by category or search by color. Each palette shows four colors. The simplicity is the point.
Completely free, no account needed.
Khroma
Khroma uses machine learning to learn your preferences. You select 50 colors you like, and the AI generates combinations tailored to your taste. The output includes typography previews, gradient previews, and poster mockups. Free and web-based.
Realtime Colors
Designed for web and UI designers.
Instead of abstract swatches, it shows your colors applied to a live website template. Adjust any color and the preview updates in real time. Export as CSS variables, Tailwind config, or Figma tokens. Free and web-based.
Muzli Colors
Muzli Colors generates palettes and shows them applied to UI components and illustrations. Type in a color and it produces a full palette with previews across buttons, cards, and headers. Free and web-based.
Using Palette Generators Effectively
A generator gives you a starting point, not a final answer. Always test palettes in context. Apply them to your actual design, not just view them as swatches. Check accessibility. If your palette is going on a website, run combinations through a contrast checker. Build a personal library of palettes that work for different project types.
Get the best of Photoshop Lady
Expert guides, reviews, and tips delivered to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
color palettesdesign toolscolor theory