Canva vs Microsoft Designer
A side-by-side comparison of Canva and Microsoft Designer, two Design tools, drawn from Ignaite's continuously-verified listings.
Compared from listings verified as of
Microsoft Designer
DesignAI graphic design app for social posts, invites, and images.
View Microsoft DesignerAt a glance
| Attribute | Canva | Microsoft Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Design | Design |
| Pricing | FREEMIUM | FREEMIUM |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms (differs) | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, API | Web, iOS, Android, Windows |
| Model support | Self-contained (on-device) | Self-contained (on-device) |
| Vendor (differs) | Canva | Microsoft |
| Capabilities (differs) |
|
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The honest brief
Canva
Magic Studio is brand-aware — it pipes your Brand Kit colors, fonts, and voice into every AI generation.
- Magic Write, Dream Lab, Magic Edit/Resize
- Huge template + asset library
- Cross-platform: web, mobile, desktop
- Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop editor
- Best AI features need Pro subscription
- Less precise than pro design tools
- Output can look template-y
Microsoft Designer
Free with any Microsoft account and tied into Microsoft 365 — fast AI imagery without Canva's editor depth.
- Web, iOS, Android, and Windows apps
- Generates social posts, invites, stickers
- Brand-aware editing and templates
- Low-friction, template-driven
- Watermarks on free outputs
- Smallest template library of the three
- No brand kit or real collaboration
- Monthly AI-credit allowance, not flat
When to pick which
Both cover Graphic design, Text-to-image, Image editing, and Background removal.
Pick Canva if you need Presentation generation and Long-form writing.
- Presentation generation (secondary capability)
- Long-form writing (secondary capability)
Pick Microsoft Designer if you need Image upscaling.
- Image upscaling (secondary capability)
They also differ on:
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, API · Web, iOS, Android, Windows