Figma is a professional UI/UX design tool built for teams and complex projects with advanced prototyping capabilities, while Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform focused on quick, template-based content creation for non-designers. Figma dominates professional design workflows; Canva excels at accessibility and speed.
Canva vs Figma — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Figma if you're a product designer, UX/UI professional, or managing design systems requiring advanced prototyping, developer collaboration, and team workflows. Choose Canva if you need to create marketing graphics, social media content, or presentations quickly without design experience, prioritizing speed and template availability over technical depth.
Drag-and-drop graphic design platform with 250,000+ templates for non-designers.
Cloud-based UI/UX design platform with real-time collaboration and advanced prototyping.
Structured comparison data for Canva vs Figma with 306 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Single Editor)
Starter Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
Estimated Time to First Design (Beginner)
Team Collaboration - Simultaneous Editors
Professional Design Tool Market Share (2025)
Average Time to Proficiency for New Users
Canva vs Figma — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Canva vs Figma.
Can I use Figma for social media graphics and marketing content?
Technically yes, but it's inefficient. Figma lacks templates and is optimized for UI/UX design workflows. Canva is 10x faster for social media because it provides 250,000+ ready-made templates. Use Canva for marketing content; reserve Figma for product design.
Can I collaborate with my team on both platforms?
Yes, but differently. Canva supports 5+ viewers on paid plans with basic commenting. Figma offers unlimited real-time multiplayer editing with developer handoff, version history, and design system management—making it far superior for team workflows. Figma is built for collaboration; Canva treats it as a secondary feature.
Which tool integrates better with developer workflows?
Figma dominates here. It offers CSS code generation, design token export, developer comments, and a robust REST API (300 req/min free tier). Canva provides basic API access for exports only. If your team includes developers, Figma's developer handoff capabilities save significant time.
Is Canva's free version actually usable?
Yes, for basic designs. The free version includes 5,000+ templates and core editing tools, though it limits exports to 5/month and lacks advanced features. For casual users, it's excellent. For professionals, Pro ($15/month) unlocks unlimited downloads and 250,000+ templates.
Why is Figma free for individual designers but Canva isn't?
Different business models. Figma attracts teams and enterprises with a free tier, monetizing through Pro ($12/month) and Organization plans ($45/user/month). Canva targets individuals and small businesses, monetizing the free tier through Pro subscriptions ($180/year). Figma's freemium model is more generous for solo professionals; Canva's is better for hobbyists.