Figma
Figma Inc.
7.9
Overall Score / 10
Canva
Canva Pty Ltd.
8.3
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Figma if:
- —Product design teams needing real-time collaboration
- —Design systems at scale across organizations
- —UI/UX designers working with developers via Dev Mode
Choose Canva if:
- —Non-designers who need professional-looking graphics quickly
- —Marketing teams creating social media content at scale
- —Small businesses needing an all-in-one design solution
The biggest difference: Figma wins for professional UI/UX design and design systems. Canva wins for non-designers who need quick, template-based graphic design.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Figma | Canva |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $15/mo (Professional)Source: Figma Inc. pricing page → | $10/mo (Teams)Source: Canva Pty Ltd. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes 3 Figma design files, 3 FigJam boards, unlimited viewers | Yes 2M+ templates, 5GB storage, basic editor, limited AI features |
| Value for Money | 8 | 9 |
| Ease of Use | 8 | 10 |
| Feature Power | 10 | 6 |
| Setup Ease | 9 | 10 |
| Migration Ease | 4 | 7 |
| Transparency | 7 | 8 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Mac, Windows | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
21 features compared · 20 differences
| Feature | Figma | Canva |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Auto layout | Full | None |
| Background remover | None | Full |
| Brand Kit | None | Full |
| Components and variants | Full | None |
| Content Planner | None | Full |
| Design systems | Full | None |
| Dev Mode | Full | None |
| Docs | None | Full |
| Drag-and-drop editor | None | Full |
| FigJam whiteboard | Full | None |
| Plugins ecosystem | Full | None |
| Presentations | None | Full |
| Print services | None | Full |
| Prototyping | Full | None |
| Real-time multiplayer editing | Full | None |
| Slides | Full | None |
| Video editor | None | Full |
| Advanced | ||
| 2M+ templates | None | Full |
| Branching and merging | Full | None |
| Magic Studio AI tools | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | Full | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Figma Pricing
3 Figma design files, 3 FigJam boards, unlimited viewers
$15/editor/mo monthly, $12/editor/mo annual — Unlimited files, shared libraries, branching, Dev Mode
Design systems, branching & merging, centralized teams, org-wide libraries
SSO, advanced security, dedicated support, guest access controls, analytics
Canva Pricing
2M+ templates, 5GB storage, basic AI features
140M+ premium assets, 1TB storage, Brand Kit, Magic Studio (500 AI credits/mo)
Everything in Pro, team workspace, design approvals, 1TB/member (min 3 users)
SSO, SCIM, multi-team control, IP indemnity, advanced admin
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Figma
Best for
- Product design teams needing real-time collaboration
- Design systems at scale across organizations
- UI/UX designers working with developers via Dev Mode
Avoid if
- You need print or advanced illustration (Adobe Illustrator is better)
- You have no internet connection (browser-based tool)
- You only need simple graphics (Canva is easier)
Who should choose Canva
Best for
- Non-designers who need professional-looking graphics quickly
- Marketing teams creating social media content at scale
- Small businesses needing an all-in-one design solution
Avoid if
- You need professional UI/UX design tools (Figma is better)
- You need advanced photo or video editing
- You want full creative control without templates
Switching Guidance
Switching from Figma
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need offline design capability
- •Need advanced illustration features
- •Pricing at Organization tier
Potential blockers:
- •Shared design systems and component libraries
- •Team familiarity and muscle memory
- •Plugin ecosystem
Switching from Canva
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need advanced design capabilities
- •Need vector editing
- •Per-seat pricing increase for Teams
Potential blockers:
- •Template library and brand assets
- •Team adoption and familiarity
- •Content Planner workflows
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Try Canva
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