INFOGRAPHIC: Microsoft Designer vs Canva — What are the differences?
This guide will help you to decide which is best suited for your workflow.
Canva and Microsoft Designer, are online designing platforms that have changed the design environment from the traditional approach of Adobe and the rest.
While they differ in a lot of ways, they both offer a more user-friendly and accessible approach to design, making it possible for even non-designers to create stunning visuals without the need for extensive graphic design knowledge or skills.
They both provide an extensive library of assets for users, and the ability to collaborate with others within the platforms and democratize graphic design, making it accessible and productive.
Understanding the key differences between these two can help you decide which tool best suits your needs, which can significantly impact your productivity and workflow.
In this article, we will help you understand the features, advantages, and potential drawbacks of each platform to help you determine which word processor is the best fit for your specific requirements.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
Interface Comparison
- Microsoft Designer has a familiar interface, the same as Microsoft's products. It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft tools, ensuring a smooth workflow.
- Canva's interface is designed to be clean and visually appealing. It features a sidebar that makes it easy to access templates, images, and other design elements. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows users to quickly create designs by dragging and dropping elements onto the canvas.
Collaboration and Integration
- Canva is not integrated with popular productivity suites like Microsoft 365, which may cause inconvenience for some users. However, it offers excellent collaborative features, allowing collaboration on projects, sharing designs, and leaving comments.
- Microsoft Designer’s integration with the Microsoft 365 suite is a significant advantage for users who use Microsoft applications. However, it does not offer a promising collaboration as Canva.
Features and Capabilities
- Canva offers an extensive selection of templates for various purposes, including flyers, social media graphics, and recruitment/HR content. It has a vast library of templates and design assets giving users more options when creating their designs.
- Although Microsoft Designer offers a range of templates and tools, but not as extensive as Canva, as it focuses more on AI-driven design capabilities allowing users to generate unique designs based on textual prompts.
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Artificial Intelligence Integration
- Microsoft Designer uses artificial intelligence to provide design suggestions on user prompts, making it easier for users to create visually appealing content.
- Although Canva launched Magic Write, an AI-powered copywriting assistant, it does not fully integrate Artificial intelligence into its workflow.
Platform and Accessibility Options
- Microsoft Designer is integrated across the web and through Microsoft apps and tools. You can visualize ideas, enhance projects, and edit images with ease.
- Canva is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, and can be accessed anywhere via web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. The mobile app can also be downloaded for designing on the go.
Pricing
- Microsoft Designer is available for free as a web app with some limitations. For additional benefits, Copilot Pro subscription for $20.00 per user per month offers all the benefits of Designer plus 100 boosts per day to generate images faster.
- Canva has a free version with some limitations. Canva Pro costs $12.99/month or $119.99/year (when billed annually). The Canva team costs $29.99/month or $300/year (for the first five people).
Conclusion
Canva and Microsoft Designer have changed the design landscape by providing user-friendly and accessible tools for creating appealing designs, even for those without extensive graphic design knowledge. Both platforms offer extensive asset libraries and collaboration features, democratizing graphic design and enhancing productivity.
Canva is promising with its vast template selection and ease of use, while Microsoft Designer stands out for its AI-driven design capabilities and integration with the Microsoft 365 suite. Understanding their differences in interface, collaboration, features, AI integration, accessibility, and pricing will help you choose the right tool to meet your specific needs and improve your workflow.
