Figma vs Canva: Which One is Better in 2025?

When it comes to design tools, Figma and Canva are two popular options. Both offer unique features and cater to different needs. In this article, we'll compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.

Figma: Overview and Key Features

Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that offers a range of features for designers and teams.

• Real-Time Collaboration: Figma allows multiple users to work on the same design file simultaneously, making it ideal for team projects and remote work.
• Vector Networks: Unlike traditional vector tools, Figma's vector networks let users create complex shapes without the limitations of paths and nodes.
• Prototyping: Figma includes built-in prototyping tools, enabling users to create interactive and animated prototypes directly within the design file.
• Design Systems: Figma supports the creation and management of design systems, including reusable components, styles, and assets, ensuring consistency across projects.
• Plugins: Figma offers a variety of plugins to extend its functionality. Examples include "Content Reel" for placeholder text and images, and "Autoflow" for creating user flows.
• Version History: Figma automatically saves version history, allowing users to track changes and revert to previous versions if needed.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Figma runs in the browser and has desktop applications for both Windows and macOS, providing flexibility in how users access their work.
• Commenting: Figma's commenting feature lets team members leave feedback directly on the design, facilitating clear and organized communication.

Figma's Reviews

Overall, user feedback on Figma highlights its strengths in collaboration and ease of use, while noting some performance issues with large files.

• G2: 4.7/5

• Rating: 4.5/5
• Quote: "Great tool for designers + devs. Great functionality for creating a range of designs."
• Concern: Slight delay in loading time with many designs.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Great platform for collaboration. Figma is great for collaborating on all kinds of graphics."
• Concern: None mentioned.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Go-to design tool. Figma is very intuitive to use and has a low learning curve."
• Concern: None mentioned.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Excellent Design Tool for Project Management and Workflow Designing. Figma is very easy to use software."
• Concern: Slight delay in loading time with many designs.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Best way to design your thoughts!! Figma is one of the best and easiest tools I have ever used to design."
• Concern: Lacks easily accessible stickers and supportive graphic elements.

Positive Aspects:

• Figma is highly praised for its ease of use and intuitive interface.
• The real-time collaboration feature is a standout, allowing multiple team members to work on the same file simultaneously.
• It offers powerful prototyping tools and seamless integration with other creative tools.
• Users appreciate the frequent updates and new features that enhance the tool's functionality.

Common Concerns:

• Performance issues can arise with large files, causing the tool to slow down.
• Limited offline access can be a challenge for users with unstable internet connections.
• Some users find the learning curve steep for certain features.
• There are occasional mentions of missing advanced prototyping features and easily accessible graphic elements.

Canva: Overview and Key Features

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool that caters to both beginners and professionals.

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Canva's intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows users to easily create designs by selecting and placing elements from a vast library of templates, images, and graphics.
• Extensive Template Library: Canva offers thousands of customizable templates for various design needs, including social media posts, presentations, posters, and more, making it easy to start any project.
• Stock Photos and Graphics: Canva provides access to millions of high-quality stock photos, illustrations, and icons, which users can incorporate into their designs without needing external resources.
• Brand Kit: Canva's Brand Kit feature allows users to upload and store brand assets such as logos, fonts, and color palettes, ensuring consistency across all designs.
• Collaboration Tools: Canva supports real-time collaboration, enabling team members to work together on the same design, leave comments, and make edits simultaneously.
• Export Options: Canva offers multiple export options, including PNG, JPG, PDF, and even print-ready formats, catering to various needs from digital use to professional printing.
• Custom Dimensions: Canva allows users to create designs with custom dimensions, providing flexibility for unique projects that require specific sizes.

Canva's Reviews

Overall user feedback on Canva highlights its user-friendly interface and extensive template library, with some noting areas for improvement.

• G2: 4.7/5

• Rating: 3.0/5
• Quote: "Canva is a good tool for non-professional editors. Easier to use than other professional platforms, but lacks some important editing features like box shadows." - Hasan T.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Most recommended. Best app for designing everything from posters to wedding invitations. Easy to use with a wide range of templates." - Anuja S.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Flexible, helpful, quick fix for creatives. Allows creating designs without depending on the design team." - Arjun H.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "Using Canva is typically a smooth and intuitive experience. Accessible for everyone with a drag-and-drop interface and a variety of templates." - Rafeh S.

• Rating: 5.0/5
• Quote: "My go-to app for graphic design. Simple and easy-to-use with thousands of elements and customizable templates. Integrates well with social media." - Nihal S.

Positive Aspects:

• Ease of use
• Extensive template library
• Accessibility for non-professional designers
• Integration with social media
• Variety of design elements

Common Concerns:

• Limited advanced features
• Reliance on an internet connection
• Premium features locked behind a paywall
• Occasional issues with template variety and export quality

Feature Comparison: Figma vs. Canva

Similarities

Despite targeting different audiences, Figma and Canva share several important similarities:

• User-friendly Interfaces: Both platforms offer intuitive, drag-and-drop interfaces, making them accessible for users of all skill levels.
• Collaboration Tools: Each tool supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work together on the same project simultaneously.
• Template Libraries: Both provide extensive libraries of customizable templates, catering to a wide range of design needs.
• Design Flexibility: Figma and Canva offer flexible design options, including the ability to apply brand elements and import various media.
• Prototyping Features: Both platforms include features for creating and previewing prototypes, ensuring designs meet user expectations before finalization.
• Cross-platform Compatibility: Users can access both tools on multiple devices, from desktops to mobile, ensuring seamless design experiences.

Differences

Critical differences between Figma and Canva will likely influence your choice.

• Primary Focus:
  • Figma: Emphasizes collaborative interface design and prototyping.
  • Canva: Focuses on providing an easy-to-use graphic design tool for a wide range of design needs.
• Design and Prototyping Capabilities:
  • Figma: Offers advanced prototyping tools and vector networks for complex designs.
  • Canva: Provides a drag-and-drop interface with customizable templates and AI-powered image editing.
• Branding and Design Systems:
  • Figma: Supports the creation and management of design systems, including reusable components and styles.
  • Canva: Features a Brand Kit for applying brand elements like logos and color palettes across designs.
• Integration with Other Tools:
  • Figma: Integrates with various development tools to translate designs into code.
  • Canva: Integrates with apps like Bitmoji and Giphy for enhanced design elements.
• Export and Publishing Options:
  • Figma: Allows embedding prototypes in presentations and exporting designs in multiple formats.
  • Canva: Offers options to publish websites with a Canva domain or a custom domain, along with various export formats.

Pricing Comparison: Figma vs. Canva

Figma Pricing

Figma offers a range of pricing plans to cater to different user needs, from individual designers to large enterprises.

• Starter: Free
  • Unlimited drafts
  • UI kits and templates
  • Basic design file inspection
  • Suitable for personal projects and basic design, presentation, and brainstorming tools
• Professional:
  • Collab seat: $3/month
  • Dev seat: $12/month
  • Full seat: $16/month
  • Unlimited files and projects
  • Team-wide design libraries
  • Advanced Dev Mode inspection
  • Suitable for professionals or small teams needing advanced prototyping tools and easier dev handoff
• Organization: (Billed annually)
  • Collab seat: $5/month
  • Dev seat: $25/month
  • Full seat: $55/month
  • Unlimited teams
  • Shared libraries and fonts
  • Centralized admin tools
  • Suitable for businesses designing products across the organization, needing basic security, and centralizing assets, libraries, and workflows
• Enterprise: (Billed annually)
  • Collab seat: $5/month
  • Dev seat: $35/month
  • Full seat: $90/month
  • Custom team workspaces
  • Design system theming and APIs
  • SCIM seat management
  • Suitable for businesses designing for multiple products or brands, needing enterprise-level security, and scalable design systems

Canva' Pricing

Canva offers a variety of pricing plans to suit different user needs, from individuals to large enterprises.

• Canva Free: US$0 per year for one person
  • Easy drag-and-drop editor
  • 1M+ professionally-designed templates
  • 1000+ design types (social posts and more)
  • 3M+ stock photos and graphics
  • AI-generated writing and designs
  • Design printing and delivery
  • 5GB of cloud storage
• Canva Pro: US$120 per year for one person
  • Everything in Free, plus:
  • Unlimited premium templates
  • 100M+ photos, videos, graphics, audio
  • 1000 Brand Kits to manage your brand
  • Quickly resize and translate designs
  • Remove backgrounds in a click
  • Boost creativity with 20+ AI tools
  • Plan and schedule social content
  • 1TB of cloud storage
  • Online customer support
• Canva Teams: US$100 per year per person (Minimum 3 people, US$300/year)
  • Everything in Pro, plus:
  • Scale your brand and centralize assets
  • Ensure brand consistency with approvals
  • Edit, comment, and collaborate in real time
  • Generate on-brand copy with AI
  • Team reports and insights
  • Pay as you grow
  • 1TB of cloud storage
  • Online customer support
  • AI Admin Controls
  • ISO 27001 certification and SOC 2 Type II compliance
• Canva Enterprise: Pricing not specified; contact sales for more information
  • Everything in Teams, plus:
  • Centrally manage multiple teams and brands
  • Set individual or group design approvals
  • Manage access to the Canva content and template library
  • IP indemnity content control
  • SSO
  • Automate license provisioning with SCIM
  • Custom apps and integrations
  • Priority customer support
  • Design support from Enterprise Studio creative team
  • Dedicated customer success manager

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Figma and Canva

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs with code. We offer a drag-and-drop editor with real components, making it easy to create pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Our platform instantly converts designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, eliminating the need for handoff and speeding up your workflow.

Subframe's Features

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs with code, offering a seamless design-to-development experience.

• Component-Based Design: Subframe helps create user interfaces with real, reusable components instead of static mockups. The visual editor includes a responsive drag-and-drop canvas for building precise, production-ready layouts.
• Pre-Built UI Templates: Subframe offers a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns. Each template is built with reusable components to help speed up the design process.
• Code Export: Subframe generates clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code. Designs can be copied directly into a codebase, reducing time spent on handoff and manual CSS adjustments.
• Free to Get Started: Subframe offers free access to its visual design tools with no credit card required.
• AI-Powered Design: Subframe leverages AI to quickly transform ideas into interfaces, adapting to the user's design style for a more efficient workflow.

Subframe's Pricing

Subframe offers a range of pricing options to suit different needs:

• Free: $0 per user/month
  • 1 project
  • Up to 3 page designs
  • Up to 3 team members
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Limited AI features
• Pro: $29 per user/month
  • Up to 3 projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Unlimited team members
  • Custom components
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Full AI beta access
• Custom: Contact for pricing
  • Unlimited projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Integrate your components
  • Dedicated Slack support
  • Figma plugin
  • Unlimited AI

For more information, visit the Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with us to see how Subframe can transform your design workflow.

Subframe's Reviews

Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.

• "Without Subframe, the frontend build of this tool would've taken a lot longer and a lot more financial resources." - Erin Kim
• "Subframe helped us make a super clean UI for our console without designers." - Carl Peterson
• "Super easy to create UI, and the support is great. Highly recommend!" - Amartya Jha

Figma, Canva or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You

Figma excels in collaborative interface design and prototyping, making it ideal for teams that need advanced design systems and real-time collaboration. Canva is perfect for those who want an easy-to-use graphic design tool with a vast library of templates and elements, suitable for quick and visually appealing designs.

Subframe stands out by seamlessly integrating design and code, offering a unique combination of real component-based design and AI-powered features. This makes it the best choice for those looking to create production-ready React and Tailwind code efficiently.

If you prioritize advanced prototyping and collaborative design, Figma is a great fit. For quick, visually appealing designs with extensive templates, Canva may be the better choice. But for those seeking both design flexibility and efficient code generation, Subframe stands out. Get started on Subframe for free to see how it can streamline your workflow.