When it comes to graphic design, two tools that have been gaining popularity are Canva and Figma. Both offer features that designers find exceptionally helpful. However, there are differences between the two, and choosing between them can be challenging.

Canva is an online design tool that enables users to create graphics, posters, and even videos using pre-built templates combined with a drag-and-drop interface. In comparison, Figma is a more advanced design tool, designed for web and app development. It allows designers to create and edit vector designs, collaborate in real-time, and test their designs on various devices.

One important factor that sets the two apart is their usability. Canva’s user interface is straightforward and intuitive — making it beginner-friendly — whereas Figma’s interface is more complex, with a steeper learning curve. The latter, however, is known to have more robust tools, making it an ideal option for professional designers.

Canva’s ease of use and focus on template-based designs make it a fantastic choice for social media posts, resumes, or business cards. It’s an excellent program for novice designers who want to create quick design collaterals for their personal use or small business. Figma, on the other hand, is designed to optimize group design work. Its focus is more on web design, user interface design, and software development, making it a better choice for larger, more complex projects.

Apart from usability, another important factor that sets the two apart is access to features. Canva’s free version is relatively limited, and users may have to pay for premium features such as custom fonts, illustrations, and animations. In contrast, Figma offers the majority of its features for free, although some advanced features require a paid subscription.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that collaboration features make Figma an excellent tool for designers working in teams. It allows multiple team members to work on a design simultaneously, with changes seen in real-time. Canva, however, supports teamwork in a slightly different way by allowing multiple people to work on a design at once — it is not as seamless as Figma though.

In conclusion, Canva and Figma are both powerful tools for designers with different target uses. Canva is excellent for designs with lower complexity, while Figma works best for larger and more complex projects. If you’re a novice designer, Canva may be the best option for you. But, if you’re a seasoned designer, with a team working on a project or project of high-level complexity, Figma would be the best choice