Canva vs. Microsoft Powerpoint

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Canva
Score 9.2 out of 10
N/A
Canva is a popular, simple online graphic design tool. Users can import images, use templates to design banners and logos, or pay to use Canva's premium stock images/paid templates (elements starting at $1).
$12.95
per month
Microsoft Powerpoint
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation software designed to allow users to create slide-based presentations including video and images, as well as slide transitions and animations.
$139.99
Pricing
CanvaMicrosoft Powerpoint
Editions & Modules
Pro
$12.95
per month
Enterprise
$30.00
Per Month Per User
One Time Purchase
$139.99
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CanvaMicrosoft Powerpoint
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CanvaMicrosoft Powerpoint
Considered Both Products
Canva
Chose Canva
Despite that fact that PowerPoint wasn't completely replaced by Canva, it's now used as a base for sketches and drafts. Presentations are much easier to prepare in Canva, taking advantage of their templates. PowerPoint required more time and edition just to create a standard …
Chose Canva
You can just about forget about using Publisher or PowerPoint once you start using Canva! Canva blows them out of the water! PosterMyWall is good for posters, just like it says in its name. If you are not a graphic designer by nature, then Photoshop is not for the …
Microsoft Powerpoint
Chose Microsoft Powerpoint
Microsoft PowerPoint is just unbeatable when it comes to presenting. The software is reliable in terms of experience and security (we have multiple threats on the internet). The other reason why I use mostly Microsoft PowerPoint instead of Apple Keynote is because of the rich …
Chose Microsoft Powerpoint
I think Microsoft PowerPoint is significantly better than other programs I have used, such as Google Slides or Prezi. It's straightforward, easy, not overloaded with design, which you can pick your own. Functionalities make sense and have just enough flexibility to avoid …
Chose Microsoft Powerpoint
I do believe that PowerPoint is in the top 3 programs with concerns about its ease, ability, and functionality. It is and will remain, my go-to program for designs and presentations.
Chose Microsoft Powerpoint
I used PowerPoint for 3 years and I like it because it has a lot of features to organize a slide show. And we can combine text, graphics, multimedia to make a presentation. In PowerPoint presentations you can reduce the paragraph size in bullet points. I mainly use it to make …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
CanvaMicrosoft Powerpoint
Small Businesses
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
Score 9.5 out of 10
Canva
Canva
Score 9.2 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
GIMP
GIMP
Score 9.1 out of 10
Canva
Canva
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
GIMP
GIMP
Score 9.1 out of 10
Mentimeter
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Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CanvaMicrosoft Powerpoint
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
(173 ratings)
9.0
(54 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(7 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.2
(12 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
6.9
(15 ratings)
8.5
(4 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
CanvaMicrosoft Powerpoint
Likelihood to Recommend
Canva
I would say that Canva is best suited for beginner and Novice level applications. If you're an experienced designer, there's definitely no point in using Canva as it's developed for designers entering the field. OR, if you want to experience that flexibility while you designing and let the creativity flow, You shouldn't consider Canva as your Choice. If you feel like delivering quick and not spend your time on deciding on 'How to Design', then you should go for Canva.
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Microsoft
[Microsoft Powerpoint] is very well suited for preaching and teaching. I find it easier to describe what I am trying to get across with a graphic. [Microsoft Powerpoint] is the most effective way to present material. I have also used it do graduation videos for our preschool. The integration of music with the graphics provides a first rate presentation.
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Pros
Canva
  • Provides readily accessible approved fonts and colors for our university publications.
  • A great selection of templates to select from.
  • Lots of resources for design, like photos, clip art, backgrounds, and other design elements.
  • The ability to share your design with others at the university.
  • The ability to download your design as a png, pdf, jpg, svg, even MP4 video or gif.
  • Easy to edit and alter the design and not lose what you had by creating clones of previous designs and then make the changes.
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Microsoft
  • Powerpoint is excellent for structuring your ideas as you before you present them
  • Powerpoint should be used as s skeleton for your presentation for maximum effectiveness, rather than just "reading off the slides"
  • Powerpoint on a high DPI system with screencasting software and microphone allows you to record a high resolution product demonstration video quickly.
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Cons
Canva
  • Some pretty basic fonts are missing from the database, which proves to be annoying when trying to stay on brand
  • Pre-grouping sections of templates can be a hassle to figure out
  • Creating your own template from scratch can have it's hiccups, but that could be my lack of design experience.
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Microsoft
  • The "remove background" feature could be a bit more user friendly - it tends to take up too much space and you're forced to start over and over again and take smaller areas to adjust which takes up quite a bit of time.
  • I could use some more design templates with less feminine features like flowers and swirls. More industry-themed ones would be great to use.
  • More adaptability to the "slide master" selection. It is extremely laborious to change each slide generated from the master slide.
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Likelihood to Renew
Canva
The ease of use makes Canva a powerful tool for manipulating images, creating original content, and testing ideas without requiring the involvement of graphic design or more time-intensive image editing software such as Photoshop. While it doesn't have the full functionality of a mature software, such as Photoshop, The speed and simplicity of Canva makes it a necessity in a business of any size
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Usability
Canva
It is super easy to use, but it could be limiting if you're on a small device. It is easier on a bigger device because you can resize graphics and text easier than with your fingers on a small device. I do think it's perfect and easy for non-designers who don't have any training. As long as you have a good eye for visuals, Canva is a wonderful substitute for graphics programs on-the-go.
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Microsoft
Very intuitive interface especially if you are familiar with tools like Word and Excel.
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Reliability and Availability
Canva
I have yet to encounter Canva being offline in at least 6 years of using it regularly. They also announce well in advance if there may be upgrades to the code and the hours during which there may be issues accessing the service.
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Performance
Canva
I haven't ever had issues with a slow-loading site and there haven't been any lag issues within the software. There have been maybe a handful of times over the past six years where I have tried to upload a large image and it will slow down as it loads the last megabyte, but I have yet to have the system time out or require any interference by me
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Canva
Overall, Canva is easy to use, easy to train others to use, allows for creativity with a professional look without enormous associated costs. The mobile apps works almost as easily, but at a minimum allows for easy review and downloading in a pinch. Really, anyone can learn to use Canva quickly and will immediately benefit from the results.
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Microsoft
I've never contacted Microsoft support directly; I've only Googled the answers to my questions. But just the fact that there are thousands of posts on boards with people having random issues with PPT is a bit indicative of the state of the support for their product.
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Implementation Rating
Canva
Remember to download the mobile app onto your phone for easy image manipulation on the go. Adding company colors, logos, and typefaces to your company account is an easy process. When images are uploaded, these can also be shared between accounts within a company, as can canvases you've created for easy editing among teams.
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Canva
Canva is faster and easy to use. There aren't complex menus like Adobe products and everything is generally intuitive. Menus are mostly open and visible or relatively small. Small changes to the program add to it's usability rather than detract. I also appreciate that Canva helps the user become more creative through use. By giving you editable examples through templates you can choose to re-design something ir create something from scratch w/ a similar concept or feel. Canva often gives me ideas that I can implement into my design or into the entire project even. I also like how Canva is intuitive in it's approach. The program gives you suggestions when it comes to graphics, etc. without getting in your way if you know what you already want
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Microsoft
Adobe Illustrator is an excellent software but it's not easy to use for [everyone without] having any training or previous experience in working with illustrator. Microsoft Powerpoint is very easy to use and it's fantastic as it saves time more than illustrator. Another thing is it takes small space while illustrator takes a significant amount of space in the business machine
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Scalability
Canva
Very easy to add accounts and share content between them. Collaboration is also easy to manage and can be done on a project-by-project basis. The cloud-based software means it is incredibly fast to add a coworker and have them editing images within minutes. A live internet connection is required to access Canva so this is something to consider if expecting to use the software while on journeys without access to wifi etc
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Canva
  • As far as ROI is concerned, Canva has proven itself time and time again as having a positive impact for business.
  • Just yesterday, I had to prepare an hour-long presentation on the fly; the great reviews of the presentation and the materials (all made in Canva) only served to advertise for Canva and it proves that Canva is a smart investment.
  • I don't think in the time that I have been a Canva pro user that I can say that my ROI has been negatively impacted. Highest recommendation. The software more the casually pays for itself time and time again.
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Microsoft
  • Helped reduce time we spend modifying and sharing back and forth different versions.
  • Saved us the frustration of having to work with an online program with limited functionalities.
  • Macros make it easy to share data in one excel file and automatically update presentation.
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ScreenShots