Canva vs. Figma: a data-backed comparison

Explore Canva and Figma features, pricing, adoption trends, and ideal use cases to help you determine which design tool best fits your team.

Canva vs. Figma at a glance

Canva offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop platform with millions of templates and extensive stock assets, making it ideal for quick graphic creation by beginners and marketing teams.

Figma targets professional UI/UX designers with advanced vector editing, prototyping, and real-time collaboration features suited for complex digital product design. Canva emphasizes ease of use and speed, while Figma provides precision, scalability, and robust team workflows.

Metrics

Canva

Figma

Relative cost

82% lower cost than category average

27% higher cost than category average

Adoption trend

14% QoQ adoption growth

8% QoQ adoption growth

Primary user segment

–

–

Best for

Small and medium-sized businesses that need professional design capabilities without graphic design expertise.

Micro businesses that need collaborative design and prototyping capabilities without complex design tool learning curves.

Canva overview

Canva is a beginner-friendly graphic design tool focused on simplifying visual content creation through an extensive library of templates, stock photos, and AI-powered editing tools.

It’s best for small businesses, marketers, and content creators who need polished social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials quickly without advanced design skills.

Canva key features

Features

Description

Drag-and-drop editor

Easily arrange and customize design elements with a simple, intuitive interface.

Templates library

Access thousands of professionally designed templates for social media, presentations, and more.

Photo editing tools

Edit images with cropping, filters, background remover, and adjustment tools directly within the platform.

Collaboration

Work with team members in real time, leave comments, and manage shared projects seamlessly.

Brand kit

Store and apply brand logos, colors, and fonts to ensure consistency across all designs.

Elements and media library

Browse millions of stock photos, icons, illustrations, and videos to enhance your projects.

Magic resize

Instantly adapt a design to multiple formats and platforms with a single click.

Video and animation tools

Create and edit videos, add animations, and apply motion effects to design elements.

App integrations

Connect Canva with third-party apps and services to streamline your workflow.

Export and sharing options

Download designs in various formats or share them directly via link or social media.

Figma overview

Figma is a professional-grade design and prototyping platform tailored for UI/UX designers and development teams.

It offers powerful vector editing, interactive prototyping, reusable components, and real-time collaboration, making it ideal for complex web and app design projects requiring precision and team workflows.

Figma key features

Features

Description

Vector Editing

Create and manipulate scalable shapes and paths for precise UI design and development.

Real-Time Collaboration

Multiple users can simultaneously design, comment on, and edit the same file.

Prototyping

Build interactive, clickable prototypes to simulate user flows and test user experiences.

Components and Variants

Design reusable UI elements with multiple states for consistency and efficiency.

Auto Layout

Automatically arranges and resizes elements based on content and defined rules for responsive design.

Design Systems

Manage shared libraries of styles, components, and assets to ensure brand consistency.

Dev Mode

Streamline developer handoff with specs, code snippets, and asset exports directly from design files.

Plugins and Integrations

Enhance functionality with a wide range of plugins and seamlessly connect to other tools, including Slack and Jira.

FigJam

Collaborate on brainstorming, whiteboarding, and planning with an integrated online whiteboard.

Version History

Track changes, view previous versions, and restore files as needed for improved project management.

Pros and cons

Tool

Pros

Cons

Canva

  • Exceptionally easy to use with a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for beginners and non-designers.
  • Offers a vast library of templates, stock photos, icons, and design elements, reducing the need for external resources.
  • Real-time collaboration features allow teams to work together and provide feedback seamlessly from anywhere.
  • A web-based platform enables access from any device with an internet connection, featuring autosave and cloud storage for added convenience.
  • Comprehensive free plan available, with affordable paid tiers unlocking advanced features like Brand Kit, Magic Edit, and background remover.
  • Limited customization and advanced design features compared to professional tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator restrict creativity for complex projects.
  • Requires a stable internet connection; offline access is not supported, which can be problematic in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Export options and file formats are limited (e.g., no PSD or AI support), which makes collaboration with professional designers more challenging.
  • Designs can appear generic if they rely too heavily on templates and stock elements, which can lead to a lack of brand uniqueness.
  • Some features, templates, and premium assets are locked behind paid plans, and the free version has notable limitations in content and storage.

Figma

  • Real-time collaboration allows multiple team members to work simultaneously on design files, streamlining feedback and accelerating timelines.
  • Cloud-based, browser-accessible platform enables access from any device without installation, ideal for distributed teams.
  • Intuitive interface allows both beginners and experienced designers to get started quickly and be productive.
  • Robust version control and auto-save features track changes, enable reversions, and minimize the risk of lost work.
  • Integrates well with popular tools like Slack and Jira, enhancing workflow efficiency and team communication.
  • Requires a stable internet connection with no proper offline mode, limiting use in low-connectivity environments.
  • The learning curve can be steep for newcomers to design software or users transitioning from simpler tools.
  • Limited customization options compared to competitors, especially for advanced design features and interface personalization.
  • Version control can be challenging for large teams, as the free plan limits access to the full version history.
  • Occasional usability issues, such as crashes or interface changes, can disrupt workflow and require restarts.

Use case scenarios

Canva excels for teams needing fast, easy-to-use tools for creating marketing visuals and social media content. Figma delivers advanced design and prototyping capabilities for professional designers working on detailed UI/UX projects and collaborative digital product development.

When Canva is the better choice

  • Your team needs to create polished marketing materials and social media graphics quickly.
  • Your team needs an intuitive platform with a minimal learning curve for non-designers.
  • Your team needs access to millions of templates and stock assets for diverse content needs.

When Figma is the better choice

  • Your team needs precise vector editing and interactive prototyping for digital products.
  • Your team needs seamless real-time collaboration and design system management.
  • Your team needs scalable, professional tools to support complex UI/UX workflows.

Time is money. Save both.