🎨 Introduction: Canva vs Figma—The Design Dilemma of 2025
If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen wondering whether to open Canva or Figma for your next design project, you’re not alone. It’s 2025, and both tools have come a long way—making the “Canva vs Figma” debate more relevant (and confusing) than ever. Whether you’re a solo creator, startup founder, or part of a big design team, choosing the right tool can literally save you hours—and money.
In this guide, I’ll share my hands-on experience using both Canva and Figma over the past few years. You’ll get an honest, real-world comparison—not just a feature list. I’ll cover usability, collaboration, pricing, templates, font support, and more. By the end, you’ll know which tool fits your workflow best in 2025.
🧠Section 1: What Are Canva and Figma? (And Why They Matter in 2025)
Before we dive deep, let’s clear the basics.
Canva is a drag-and-drop graphic design tool made for simplicity. Think: social media posts, presentations, YouTube thumbnails, resumes—you name it.
Figma, on the other hand, is built for professional UI/UX design—great for websites, apps, and interface prototyping. But it’s not just for designers anymore; marketers, developers, and even founders are using it daily.
Why This Comparison Is Trending in 2025:
- Remote teams need better collaborative design tools
- The rise of no-code means non-designers are designing more
- Subscription fatigue is real—people are rethinking their tool stacks
“Figma is like a whiteboard for digital products. Canva feels like a playground for visual storytelling.” — My honest take after using both for years.
✨ Section 2: Canva vs Figma Features (From Real-World Use)
Let’s break down the real differences, beyond marketing fluff.
🎯 Canva Features (2025):
- 1M+ templates
- Magic Studio AI tools (Magic Erase, Magic Write)
- Brand Hub & Brand Kits
- Schedule social media posts directly
- Collaborative folders & comments
- Mobile app with near-full functionality
Best For: Marketers, content creators, solopreneurs, educators
🧩 Figma Features (2025):
- Interactive prototyping
- Auto layout for responsive design
- Real-time collaboration (still unmatched)
- Dev Mode for smoother handoff
- Variables, components, and design tokens
- Figma AI (for quick UI suggestions)
Best For: UI/UX designers, product teams, startups, developers
Tip: If you’re building a website or app—Figma wins. If you’re making an Instagram post or pitch deck—Canva is faster.
đź’° Canva vs Figma Pricing (Updated 2025)
| Plan | Canva (Monthly) | Figma (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes | Yes |
| Pro/Starter | $12.99 | $12 |
| Teams | $14.99/user | $15/user |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
Canva vs Figma pricing feels similar at first glance, but here’s the deal:
- Canva Pro gives you AI tools, templates, and branding features
- Figma Starter limits team projects and file versioning
If templates and speed matter? Canva. If design systems and scalability matter? Figma.
🔍 Figma and Canva Font Differences
One question I keep getting: “Why do my fonts look different in Figma vs Canva?”
Here’s the scoop:
- Canva uses embedded fonts that work across browsers
- Figma uses system fonts + Google Fonts and allows custom font upload
So yes, “figma and canva font different” results are expected. Always double-check typography if you’re switching tools for the same project.
🔄 Canva vs Figma: Real-World Comparison
Let’s get real. Here’s how they stack up:
| Criteria | Canva | Figma |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Beginner-friendly | ⚠️ Steeper learning curve |
| Templates | ✅ Huge library | ❌ Limited design templates |
| Collaboration | âś… Good (comments, folders) | âś…âś… Real-time + Dev Mode |
| Offline Access | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Desktop app available |
| Font Flexibility | ⚠️ Less customizable | ✅ Full control |
| App Design | ❌ Not built for UI/UX | ✅ Purpose-built |
Pro Tip: For content design—Canva is king. For product design—Figma rules.
đź’ˇ Tips from Experience: How I Use Canva and Figma Together
Believe it or not, I use both tools almost daily. Here’s how:
- Use Figma to design your landing page layout
- Export assets
- Switch to Canva to build the pitch deck using those assets
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Don’t use Canva for app wireframes—it gets messy fast
- Don’t skip design systems in Figma—they save time later
- Don’t assume one tool replaces the other—they complement each other
âť“ FAQ: People Also Ask
1. Is Canva easier to use than Figma?
Yes. Canva is beginner-friendly with a drag-and-drop interface. Great for quick visuals. Figma is more complex but powerful—ideal for detailed UI/UX work.
2. Can I use Figma for social media design?
Technically, yes—but it’s not built for it. You’ll spend more time aligning elements. Use Canva templates instead—they’re faster and optimized for each platform.
3. Which is better for collaboration: Canva or Figma?
Figma wins here. It offers real-time multi-user editing, Dev Mode, and better version control. Canva supports comments and folders but lacks advanced workflows.
4. Does Canva support custom fonts like Figma?
To an extent. Canva Pro lets you upload custom fonts. But Figma gives more control with full font family access and styles.
5. What’s best for startups—Canva or Figma?
Use both strategically. Canva for brand kits, decks, and visuals. Figma for product UI, user flows, and prototypes.
6. Are there alternatives to Canva and Figma?
Yes. For Canva alternatives: Adobe Express, Crello. For Figma alternatives: Sketch, Adobe XD.
7. Can I use Canva and Figma together in a single workflow?
Yes, and honestly—it’s one of the best ways to speed up your design process. I do this all the time when working on websites or startup branding kits.
Here’s how it works:
- Start in Figma to design the actual interface, components, or layout of your product (especially if you’re creating apps or websites).
- Export assets like logos, buttons, or illustrations.
- Switch to Canva to create social media content, pitch decks, presentations, or banners using those assets.
Why this combo rocks:
- Figma gives you precision and control over layout, grids, and UI elements.
- Canva lets you apply those visuals quickly across multiple branded assets with drag-and-drop ease.
Just remember: consistency in fonts and colors matters. If you’ve uploaded custom fonts to Figma, be sure to upload the same ones to Canva Pro (only available on paid plans).
8. Which tool is better for beginners: Canva or Figma?
If you’re new to design and want to get started right away, Canva is 100% the easier choice.
- Canva’s drag-and-drop interface is intuitive even for total beginners.
- It comes loaded with templates, so you can make polished designs without any training.
- You don’t need design theory to create nice visuals in Canva.
Figma, while incredibly powerful, has a steeper learning curve. It’s meant for design professionals or those looking to learn UI/UX design deeply. If you’re willing to spend a few hours learning layout systems, constraints, and prototyping, it’ll pay off—but it’s not plug-and-play like Canva.
Pro Tip: Many designers start in Canva and “graduate” to Figma as their needs evolve.
9. Does Figma offer templates like Canva?
Not really—and that’s by design.
Figma isn’t built around templates the way Canva is. While there is a Figma Community with free UI kits, mobile templates, and wireframe kits, they’re not as plug-and-play as Canva’s pre-built designs.
Canva offers:
- 1M+ design templates
- Quick edits with pre-sized dimensions
- AI-based suggestions (via Magic Studio)
Figma’s templates, in contrast:
- Require some understanding of layout and structure
- Are usually geared toward apps, websites, or dashboards
If you need templates for content marketing, social media, resumes, or business cards, Canva wins. If you’re looking for UI wireframes or design systems, Figma’s community has great starting points—just know you’ll be customizing a lot more.
10. Which platform has better team collaboration features?
Both support teamwork—but Figma is still the gold standard for live collaboration.
Here’s why:
- Real-time multi-user editing with no lag
- Live cursor tracking, so you see where others are working
- Dev Mode, perfect for handoffs between designers and developers
- Built-in version history, so you can roll back to earlier designs
Canva has improved a lot, especially with:
- Commenting and tagging
- Brand Kits for team-wide consistency
- Folder permissions
But for large design teams or agencies working on digital products, Figma is better built for scale. Canva is fantastic for content teams, educators, and small businesses creating visuals together.
11. Is Figma or Canva better for client work?
It depends on your niche.
If you’re a freelance UI/UX designer or work with startups, Figma gives you everything you need to design apps, websites, and product interfaces. You can create components, prototype user flows, and collaborate with dev teams in real time.
If your clients need social media posts, pitch decks, or branded presentations, Canva is easier for handover. Clients can edit your designs without learning a complex tool. Bonus: Canva’s brand kit ensures consistency without much effort.
Some pros even design in Figma and deliver editable files via Canva, so the client can tweak them later. That’s a smart workflow—especially when clients aren’t designers themselves.
✅ Final Thoughts: Canva vs Figma—Which One Should You Use?
Here’s the bottom line:
- Pick Canva if you need speed, templates, and social content
- Choose Figma if you’re building digital products or websites
- Or use both—it’s 2025, and tool stacks are flexible
Both platforms are evolving fast with AI, integrations, and better UI. The best tool is the one that helps you create faster and smarter.