Which is better, Figma or Microsoft Publisher?

Figma edges out Microsoft Publisher based on user ratings across 2,143 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — Microsoft Publisher may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Figma and Microsoft Publisher?

Key differences between Figma and Microsoft Publisher include pricing (Figma starts at $12 vs Microsoft Publisher at $5); target audience (Figma targets Freelancers / Consultants while Microsoft Publisher serves Large Enterprises); free trial availability (Microsoft Publisher offers one, Figma does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Figma and Microsoft Publisher offer a Free trial?

Microsoft Publisher offers Free Trial, but Figma does not.

Who are the typical users of Figma?

Figma is designed for Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of Microsoft Publisher?

Microsoft Publisher is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of Figma and Microsoft Publisher?

Pricing for Figma starts at $12/User/Month, whereas Microsoft Publisher starts at $5/User/Month.

What are the best alternatives to Figma?

Some top alternatives to Figma include Adobe XD, UXPin, UX-App, Justinmind, Balsamiq.

What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Publisher?

Some top alternatives to Microsoft Publisher include Looka, Canva, Desygner, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Visio.

Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 2026

Figma

4.5(2,143 reviews)

Starting at $12 /User/Month

Freelancers / Consultants
Large Enterprises

This lightweight design has been chosen by UX designers new to software or those who need to carry their system around for work. The sleek and stylish design features a dual port USB charger and a lightweight metal body…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Microsoft Publisher

4.2(1,732 reviews)

Starting at $5 /User/Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Microsoft Publisher is software that offers the user amazing desktop publishing capabilities. It is easy to use and enables users to create a plethora of documents ranging from simple greeting cards and labels to profess…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Looka

4.1(11,322 reviews)

Starting at $4.99 /Month

Individuals
Medium Business

The looka design suite comprises a full software environment for every stage of a designer's work. The suite enables designers to create and share a seamless style in every image. With looka, any image can have a consist…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Figma leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 2,143 reviews.

Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	Figma	Microsoft Publisher	Looka
Rating	4.5 / 5	4.2 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	2,143	1,732	11,322
Starting price	$12 /User/Month	$5 /User/Month	$4.99 /Month
Free trial	No	Yes	No
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	UX Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	—	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	SOC 2, GDPR	—	GDPR
Data residency	—	US	US

Key differences between Figma and Microsoft Publisher

Pricing: Figma starts at $12 /User/Month, while Microsoft Publisher starts at $5 /User/Month.
Free trial: Microsoft Publisher offers a free trial; Figma does not.
Target audience: Figma is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Microsoft Publisher targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
User satisfaction: Figma scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
Deployment: Figma supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Microsoft Publisher supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most UX Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	Figma (1125) Visit website Visit Website *sponsored	Microsoft Publisher (960) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

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Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Figma

Best for UX/UI teams needing real-time remote collaboration and versatile design tools.

Choose if

You require seamless real-time collaboration for remote UX/UI design teams.
You want an intuitive, beginner-friendly interface with advanced prototyping features.
You need a cross-platform tool with strong community support and scalable subscriptions.

Consider alternatives if

Your organization demands highly customizable billing and detailed account management.
You need extensive enterprise-level support with responsive customer service.

Microsoft Publisher

Best for small businesses needing easy, reliable desktop publishing with fixed layouts.

Choose if

You want simple, streamlined creation of marketing materials and newsletters without a steep learning curve.
You need design fidelity preserved exactly across print, email, and online formats.
You prefer a wide variety of pre-designed templates for quick document creation.

Consider alternatives if

You require advanced graphic design features beyond basic desktop publishing.
You need cloud-based collaboration or multi-user editing capabilities.

Looka

Best for quick, easy logo and brand identity design for small teams.

Choose if

You need fast, simple logo creation with minimal learning curve.
You want consistent brand styling across multiple images effortlessly.
You value responsive, personalized customer support for design issues.

Consider alternatives if

Your team requires advanced design features and deep customization.
You represent a large enterprise needing complex design workflows.

Figma: Best for UX/UI teams needing real-time remote collaboration and versatile design tools. Microsoft Publisher: Best for small businesses needing easy, reliable desktop publishing with fixed layouts.

Description	This lightweight design has been chosen by UX designers new to software or those who need to carry their system around for work. The sleek and stylish design features a dual port USB ... Read More about Figma	Microsoft Publisher is software that offers the user amazing desktop publishing capabilities. It is easy to use and enables users to create a plethora of documents ranging from simple ... Read More about Microsoft Publisher	The looka design suite comprises a full software environment for every stage of a designer's work. The suite enables designers to create and share a seamless style in every image. With ... Read More about Looka
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $12 , Billed Yearly	Starts from $5	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	9.8/10	Not Available	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.5 (2143)	4.2 (1732)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	Small BusinessMedium Business	1-50 employees51-500 employees	1-50 employees51-200 employees
	Visit website	Get pricing help	Visit website

Software Demo

Demo		Microsoft Publisher has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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How do Figma, Microsoft Publisher and Looka Compare on Features?

Total Features	8 Features	2 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features	No unique features
	Visit website	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare Figma, Microsoft Publisher and Looka on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	$12 , Billed Yearly	$5	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Figma Starter Get Started 3 Figma and 3 FigJam files Unlimited personal files Unlimited collaborators Show more + Figma Professional Get Started Unlimited files and projects Unlimited version history Sharing permissions Show more + Figma Organization Get Started Everything in Professional, plus Org-wide libraries Design system analytics Show more + Browse all pricing plans	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Individuals Small Business Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises	Individuals Small Business Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises	Individuals Small Business Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Mac Installed - Windows Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Mac Installed - Windows Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Mac Installed - Windows Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Available	Not Available	Not Available
	Visit Website	Get help choosing	Visit Website

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

SOC 2	✓ Yes	—
HIPAA	✗ No	—
GDPR	✓ Yes	—
ISO 27001	✗ No	—
Single Sign-On (SSO)	✓ Yes	—
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	✓ Yes	—
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	—
Data Residency	—	🇺🇸 US

Figma vs Microsoft Publisher User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.5 (based on 2143 reviews)	4.2 (based on 1732 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	915 169 6 0 35	576 271 84 29 0	816 44 7 10 29
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Figma's ease of use, collaboration strengths, and versatile design features, tempered by concerns over billing and customer support. What buyers like Ease of use Collaboration features Feature versatility Common complaints Billing issues Customer support challenges	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate Microsoft Publisher for its ease of use and reliable output, though some desire more advanced design and collaboration features. What buyers like Ease of use Template variety Design fidelity Common complaints Limited advanced features Lack of collaboration tools	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate Looka for its ease of use and outstanding customer support, though some note limitations in advanced features and occasional technical issues. What buyers like Customer support responsiveness Ease of use Diverse design options Common complaints Limited advanced customization Technical hiccups
Pros and Cons	Real-time collaboration features that enhance remote team communication User-friendly interface suitable for both beginners and experienced designers Wide range of design functionalities including wireframing, prototyping, and asset creation Billing issues including hidden fees and difficulties canceling subscriptions Customer service challenges, especially around refunds and support responsiveness	Easy to use with a gentle learning curve Reliable output that preserves design fidelity across print and digital formats Wide range of pre-designed templates for quick document creation Limited advanced graphic design capabilities compared to professional tools Lack of cloud-based collaboration features	Excellent and responsive customer support with quick issue resolution Easy-to-use platform enabling seamless and fast logo creation Diverse design options allowing for consistent brand styling Limited advanced functionalities and customization beyond logo creation Occasional technical issues such as SSL challenges
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
Negative Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews	Read reviews

List of Customers

Customers	Uber Zoom Buffer	No Customers information available.	No Customers information available.

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	2 Screenshots	1 Screenshots
Videos	2 Videos	No videos available.

Alternatives

Alternatives	Adobe XD 4.3 UXPin 3.9 UX-App 3.9	Looka 4.1 Canva 4.1 Desygner 4.2	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Figma or Microsoft Publisher?: Figma edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.2). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Figma and Microsoft Publisher offer a free trial?: Microsoft Publisher offers a free trial. Figma does not.
What is the starting price of Figma vs Microsoft Publisher?: Figma starts at $12 /User/Month. Microsoft Publisher starts at $5 /User/Month.
What are the top alternatives to Figma?: Top alternatives to Figma include Adobe XD, UXPin, UX-App, Justinmind, Balsamiq.
What are the top alternatives to Microsoft Publisher?: Top alternatives to Microsoft Publisher include Looka, Canva, Desygner, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Visio.

Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka Comparison

Figma

Microsoft Publisher

Looka

Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between Figma and Microsoft Publisher

Compare Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Figma

Microsoft Publisher

Download this Figma vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka comparison

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How big is your team?

How do Figma, Microsoft Publisher and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare Figma, Microsoft Publisher and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Figma vs Microsoft Publisher User Reviews & Rating Comparison

List of Customers

Customers

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions