Canva excels as a beginner-friendly design tool with 500K+ templates and AI features starting at free, while Figma is a professional-grade collaborative design platform built for UX/UI teams with real-time co-editing and advanced prototyping, starting at $12/month per editor.
Canva vs Figma — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Web-based design platform with templates for social media, presentations, and marketing materials.
Cloud-based collaborative design platform with real-time editing and cross-platform accessibility.
Primary Use Case. Learning Curve. Template Library. Real-Time Collaboration. Prototyping Capabilities. AI-Powered Features. Pricing Model
Choose Canva if you need quick, beautiful designs for social media, marketing materials, or presentations without a steep learning curve—its massive template library and AI tools make it ideal for non-designers. Choose Figma if you're a UX/UI designer or product team needing professional-grade prototyping, real-time collaboration, and design system management to support iterative product development.
Canva: No native integration | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes (generous free tier) | Figma: Yes (full collaborative design)
Canva: $3.3-4.0 billion | Figma: $1.36-1.37 billion
Canva: $42 billion (private) | Figma: $10.53-13.8 billion (public)
Canva: ~12.7x | Figma: 9x-35x (varies by metric)
Canva: Private (IPO candidate 2026) | Figma: Public (NASDAQ: FIG)
Canva: Estimated 10-15% | Figma: 14-15% (non-GAAP)
Canva: ~25-30% (estimated) | Figma: ~40%
Canva: SMB, Enterprise Content Creation | Figma: Enterprise Design Teams
Canva: Basic team features | Figma: Advanced multiplayer editing
Canva: Unlimited access to templates | Figma: N/A
Canva: $13 (or free plan available) | Figma: $12/month (Starter, 1 editor)
Canva: 7+ (adds Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn Stories) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Basic only in Canva Teams | Figma: N/A
Canva: 1-month calendar (Canva Teams only) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes (limited templates, no Brand Kit) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes—Magic Write generates captions & copy | Figma: N/A
Canva: 8+ platforms via integrations | Figma: N/A
Canva: 5 team members (Canva Teams) | Figma: N/A
Canva: No (external tools required) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (no social caption AI) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Full video editing suite included | Figma: N/A
Canva: Unlimited designs (templates only) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Instant (0-2 seconds) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 71% (Canva AI variations) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Beginner/None (drag-and-drop) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 2-5 minutes for beginners | Figma: N/A
Canva: Real-time co-editing, branded team kits, bulk uploads | Figma: N/A
Canva: 4.7/5 (2.8M reviews) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Text-to-image, magic edit, object removal | Figma: N/A
Canva: Pre-built transitions, basic effects, limited control | Figma: Good prototyping animations; not production-ready
Canva: Basic (colors, fonts, logos) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited collaboration on Teams plan | Figma: N/A
Canva: 100+ (photos, icons, illustrations) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 1,000,000+ (photos, videos, music) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes - full multi-user editing, comments, version history | Figma: N/A
Canva: 5+ (Magic Design, Eraser, BG Remover, Text-to-Image, Magic Expand) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes - Windows and Mac | Figma: N/A
Canva: None; static presentations only | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited; view-only or restricted editing | Figma: Unlimited concurrent editors per file
Canva: Web, iOS, Android (full features everywhere) | Figma: Web browser + Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Canva: Canva Free with 5,000+ templates and assets | Figma: N/A
Canva: 3-5 concurrent (depends on plan) | Figma: N/A
Canva: $14.99 (annual billing) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 20+ (PNG, PDF, MP4, SVG, PPT, DOCX, GIF, WebP) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 150+ million monthly active users | Figma: N/A
Canva: 100+ million integrated | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (web-based only) | Figma: Limited offline mode (view only, limited editing)
Canva: 3 (Background removal, Magic Edit, Generative templates) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 0.25-0.5 hours (15-30 minutes) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes (real-time co-editing) | Figma: Unlimited, all editor tiers
Canva: No (browser-based + mobile apps) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Basic (limited layer control) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (approx. 50-100 per design) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 15+ formats (PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, GIF, MP4, PPTX) | Figma: Figma native format, exports to PNG, SVG, PDF, CSS, JSON
Canva: Unlimited (free tier with limitations) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 250,000+ ready-made templates | Figma: N/A
Canva: Web-based (requires internet connection) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 5GB free (100GB Pro) | Figma: 0GB (Figma Projects only)
Canva: 100+ million (integrated in free tier) | Figma: 0 (third-party integrations available)
Canva: Basic: filters, adjustments, magic edit | Figma: N/A
Canva: Used by 60% of non-designers | Figma: N/A
Canva: Advanced with effects, music library, transitions | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (basic file import) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Unlimited designs, basic templates, Magic Write/Edit, 5GB storage | Figma: 3 files maximum, unlimited pages per file, basic prototyping, browser-based
Canva: 500,000+ | Figma: 50,000+ community templates
Canva: Limited to 1 active editor per document | Figma: 10+ simultaneous editors with live cursors
Canva: Basic transitions and animations only | Figma: Interactions, conditional logic, component states, animations, flows
Canva: Basic brand kits and color palettes | Figma: Components, variables, tokens, auto-layout, design tokens management
Canva: Magic Write (text), Magic Edit (image), text-to-image, background remover | Figma: Limited AI—mostly design optimization and naming suggestions
Canva: $13/month | Figma: $12/month (Editor)
Canva: Basic (shapes, limited curves) | Figma: Professional (boolean ops, advanced paths)
Canva: 3 (animations, transitions, basic links) | Figma: 15+ (conditions, variables, triggers, overlays)
Canva: 1,000,000+ photos + 100k tracks | Figma: None (external sources required)
Canva: 6 (Magic Design, Background Remover, Magic Expand, etc.) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Layer-based, simplified | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (5-10% functionality) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Unlimited | Figma: 3 editable files
Canva: $180/year (Canva Pro) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (Teams plan ~10-15 efficient concurrent) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Fixed by document type (typically 1080x1080 to 1920x1080) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Full editing on iOS and Android apps | Figma: N/A
Canva: Limited (basic embed, no robust API) | Figma: N/A
Canva: $15/month (Canva Pro) | Figma: $0 (Figma Free)
Canva: 5 viewers only | Figma: Unlimited (edit + view)
Canva: Basic brand kit only | Figma: Full component library with variants and design tokens
Canva: Limited API access | Figma: 300 requests/minute
Canva: 5.0/10 (template reuse) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 9/10 (real-time editing) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Not applicable - no video recording | Figma: N/A
Canva: Yes - simultaneous editing with team members | Figma: N/A
Annual Subscription Cost (if paid yearly)
Canva: 4 (Magic Design, Photo Editor, Background Remover, Brand Kit AI) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 50+ (presentations, social, print, web, video) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 5-8 basic chart types | Figma: N/A
Canva: 8+ (text-to-image, background remover, magic write, design suggestions) | Figma: N/A
Canva: Desktop, tablet, mobile (3 main sizes) | Figma: N/A
Canva: 500,000+ | Figma: 500+ (community + official)
Canva: 5,000+ full-featured | Figma: N/A
Canva: Unlimited on paid plan | Figma: N/A
Canva: 100M+ photos, icons, videos | Figma: N/A
Canva: 45% (among non-professionals) | Figma: N/A
Canva: N/A | Figma: Built-in real-time collaboration
Canva: N/A | Figma: Sites CMS beta (200 items)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Variables, components, tokens
Canva: N/A | Figma: Requires external hosting
Canva: N/A | Figma: Dev Mode with inspection
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited (per plan)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Cloud-only, no self-hosting
Canva: N/A | Figma: Voice-to-text, Make controls, question cards, design suggestions
Canva: N/A | Figma: 350+ plugins available
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited with live cursors
Canva: N/A | Figma: Master Variables with full version control
Canva: N/A | Figma: Limited (separate ecosystem)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Voice-to-text, Make features, automation
Canva: N/A | Figma: Browser-dependent, can slow with 1000+ frames
Monthly Subscription Cost (Single Editor)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Canva: N/A | Figma: Performance issues above 2GB
Canva: N/A | Figma: Limited offline, primarily cloud-based
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced design specs, Dev Mode, code generation
Canva: N/A | Figma: Intermediate (basic flows, transitions)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 500+ (performance degrades)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Generous (3 projects, 2GB)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited simultaneous editors
Starter Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Four-tier with seat types (Full, Dev, Collab)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Industry-leading precision tools
Canva: N/A | Figma: Excellent for design workflows
Canva: N/A | Figma: Basic design assistance
Canva: N/A | Figma: 15+ concurrent editors (unlimited)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced variables system with 20+ variant combinations per component
Canva: N/A | Figma: 71% among design teams
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced auto-animate, conditional logic, 35+ interaction types
Canva: N/A | Figma: 30 days of version history
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited (draft-based)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Community plugins only
Canva: N/A | Figma: Enterprise-grade (variants, tokens, documentation)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Yes (100% browser-native)
Canva: N/A | Figma: $12 (Professional tier, free tier available)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Mac, Windows, Linux, Web
Canva: N/A | Figma: Yes; built-in with live cursors, comments, and activity tracking
Canva: N/A | Figma: Limited (browser-dependent)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Yes, full features for 1 file
Canva: N/A | Figma: Web + macOS + Windows + iPad
Canva: N/A | Figma: Shared libraries with variants
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced with variables
Canva: N/A | Figma: Basic preset animations without timeline
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited on paid plans
Canva: N/A | Figma: Dev Mode with code snippets and specs
Canva: N/A | Figma: Component versioning in main product
Canva: N/A | Figma: $12 per editor/month
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited on any plan
Canva: N/A | Figma: Optimal up to 5,000 artboards
Canva: N/A | Figma: 61% of design professionals
Canva: N/A | Figma: 70% of professional design teams
Canva: N/A | Figma: 2000+ official plugins and integrations
Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
Canva: N/A | Figma: $12/month (billed annually)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 500+ simultaneous users
Canva: N/A | Figma: 40-60% (design to code via plugins)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Basic interactions, limited keyframe animation
Canva: N/A | Figma: Variables, tokens, component library, extensive version control
Canva: N/A | Figma: Basic interactions (6/10)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Good with plugins (7/10)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Full Variables system with token export
Canva: N/A | Figma: $0 (Free) / $12 (Pro)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 1.5-2.5 hours (beginner-friendly)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited (Team plan)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Any browser (Windows, macOS, Linux, iPad, web)
Canva: N/A | Figma: $60 (all share one license)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Basic interactions (tap, hover, drag)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 4 (Web, Mac, Windows, iPad)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Limited (API for third-party imports)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Public/password-protected with comment threads
Canva: N/A | Figma: macOS, Windows, Linux, web browser
Canva: N/A | Figma: 1,200+ community plugins
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited viewers + 1 editor
Canva: N/A | Figma: 1,000+ plugins via Figma API
Canva: N/A | Figma: No (design tool only)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 50+ simultaneous users
Estimated Time to First Design (Beginner)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 120-480 minutes (2-8 hours)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced: conditional flows, variables, component variants, design tokens
Canva: N/A | Figma: Enterprise-grade: design tokens, branching, versioning, token management
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited simultaneous editors per team
Canva: N/A | Figma: 2-3 seconds (cloud-based, depends on internet)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 3/10 - basic selection and fill tools; not optimized for photo work
Canva: N/A | Figma: 9/10 - native component systems, design tokens, auto-layout, prototyping
Team Collaboration - Simultaneous Editors
Canva: N/A | Figma: 50+ simultaneous editors
Canva: N/A | Figma: No - requires external services
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced with tokens, variables, and nested components
Canva: N/A | Figma: Limited to Dev Mode specs; no automated code generation
Canva: N/A | Figma: 5,000+ plugins available
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited (cloud-based)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 50-150ms (true real-time)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Limited offline editing (browser cache)
Professional Design Tool Market Share (2025)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Third-party plugins only; no native Adobe integration
Average Time to Proficiency for New Users
Canva: N/A | Figma: $80/editor (Professional)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Yes - nested variants with multiple properties
Canva: N/A | Figma: 100 simultaneous editors
Canva: N/A | Figma: 500+ templates (UI/design focused)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Advanced - interactions, animations, logic, variables
Canva: N/A | Figma: 3 editable files (unlimited view-only)
Canva: N/A | Figma: 130+ community plugins available
Canva: N/A | Figma: Basic transitions and interactions
Canva: N/A | Figma: Full variants support with auto-layout and smart selection
Canva: N/A | Figma: 12+ million monthly active users
Canva: N/A | Figma: $0 (free tier) or $12 (Professional)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Native (unlimited simultaneous editors)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Optimal up to 1000 artboards
Canva: N/A | Figma: Unlimited (30-day rollback on free; full on paid)
Canva: N/A | Figma: Dev Mode with live code snippets (CSS, React, Tailwind)
Canva vs Figma — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Canva vs Figma. Contains 350 attribute comparisons, 4 FAQ pairs.
Canva vs Figma — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Canva vs Figma.
Canva is significantly more accessible for beginners and non-designers. The template-first workflow, drag-and-drop interface, and integrated content library mean a new user can create a polished social media graphic or presentation in under 10 minutes without design knowledge. Figma requires understanding design fundamentals: frames, layers, components, constraints, and the vector toolset. Most Figma users need 20-40 hours of learning before feeling productive. For someone who needs to create marketing materials, social media posts, or business presentations, Canva is the right tool. For someone training for a career in product design, UX, or interface design, learning Figma is essential — it's the industry-standard tool at virtually every tech company. The learning investment in Figma pays off for professional product design; for casual use or marketing work, Canva's ease of use is unmatched.
Figma can technically do many things Canva does, but it would be inefficient for most Canva use cases. Figma lacks Canva's vast template library (250,000+ vs. Figma's much smaller set), doesn't have built-in access to 100 million licensed stock photos, and its print production tools are minimal compared to Canva Pro's direct-to-print integration. For a marketing team creating daily social media posts, email headers, and event flyers, Figma's UI/UX toolset would be overkill and less efficient than Canva's template-driven workflow. The reverse is also true: Canva cannot replace Figma for professional UI design. Canva's component system, prototyping, and developer handoff features are primitive compared to Figma's. Most design-forward organizations use both tools for different purposes rather than forcing one to replace the other.
Figma is usable for non-designers with a learning curve, but it's not designed with non-designers as the primary audience. Figma's strength is for product designers and developers who need precision, component reuse, and developer-friendly outputs. Non-designer stakeholders (product managers, marketers) typically use Figma in view/comment mode to review designs and leave feedback — a workflow Figma supports very well. Figma's FigJam (a digital whiteboard included in the plan) is more accessible and is used widely by teams for brainstorming, planning, and process mapping without requiring design expertise. If a non-designer needs to create actual visual content (presentations, social posts, marketing materials), Canva is the better starting point. Figma's 2024 launch of Figma Slides and improved template sets may make it more accessible for presentation creation, but it's still not the right tool for general marketing collateral.
What happened to the Figma Adobe acquisition?
Adobe's proposed $20 billion acquisition of Figma was abandoned in December 2023 after European Union and UK regulators signaled they would block the deal on antitrust grounds. The EU's preliminary investigation concluded the merger would harm competition in interactive product design tools and digital asset creation software. Adobe paid Figma a $1 billion termination fee as agreed in the merger contract. Figma remains an independent company, led by CEO Dylan Field who co-founded it. The failed acquisition arguably strengthened Figma's position — it retained independence, received $1 billion in cash, and continued its competitive trajectory without Adobe's constraints. Figma has since launched significant product expansions (Dev Mode, Figma AI, Figma Sites, Figma Slides) and has not pursued another acquisition offer. Adobe continues to develop its own competing design tools (Adobe XD, though it has reduced investment there, and Adobe Express which competes more with Canva).
Primary Use Case: Canva has Social media, marketing, presentations, general graphics, while Figma has UI/UX design, product design, wireframing, prototyping.
Learning Curve: Canva has Beginner-friendly, drag-and-drop interface (minutes to proficiency), while Figma has Moderate to steep, requires design thinking and vector knowledge (days to weeks).
Template Library: Canva has 500,000+ templates across 500+ categories, while Figma has Community templates available, minimal built-in templates.
Real-Time Collaboration: Canva has Limited to view-only sharing or invite-based editing, while Figma has Full real-time multi-user editing with live cursors and presence awareness.
Prototyping Capabilities: Canva has Basic animations and transitions only, while Figma has Advanced prototyping with interactions, conditional logic, and user testing.
AI-Powered Features: Canva has Magic Write, magic edit, background remover, text-to-image generator included in free plan, while Figma has AI features limited; focused on design automation rather than content generation.
Pricing Model: Canva has Freemium (unlimited free tier), Pro at $13/month, Teams at $30/month per 5 users, while Figma has Professional at $12/month per editor, Organization at $60/month, Enterprise custom pricing.