Which is better, Microsoft Sway or Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator edges out Microsoft Sway based on user ratings across 10,107 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — Microsoft Sway may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator?

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator include pricing (Microsoft Sway starts at undisclosed vs Adobe Illustrator at $20.99); target audience (Microsoft Sway targets Large Enterprises while Adobe Illustrator serves Individuals); free trial availability (Adobe Illustrator offers one, Microsoft Sway does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator offer a Free trial?

Adobe Illustrator offers Free Trial, but Microsoft Sway does not.

Who are the typical users of Microsoft Sway?

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

Who are the typical users of Adobe Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is designed for Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator?

The starting price of Adobe Illustrator is $20.99/Month. Pricing for Microsoft Sway is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Sway?

Some top alternatives to Microsoft Sway include Prezi Video, Canva, Powtoon, Zoho Show, Wowslides.

What are the best alternatives to Adobe Illustrator?

Some top alternatives to Adobe Illustrator include Looka, Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, CorelDraw.

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 22, 2026

Microsoft Sway

4.0(66 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Introducing Microsoft Sway, the go-to presentation and visual storytelling app. With an effortless design, it lets users create attractive and interactive newsletters, reports, and personal stories in no time. Streamline…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Adobe Illustrator

4.6(10,107 reviews)

Starting at $20.99 /Month

Free Trial
Individuals
Medium Business

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful graphics tool for logos, icons, and digital illustrations. Quickly create professional quality art for web, print, video, and interactive projects. Capture ideas anytime, anywhere with the…

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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

Adobe Illustrator leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 10,107 reviews.

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	Microsoft Sway	Adobe Illustrator	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.6 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	66	10,107	11,322
Starting price	Contact for pricing	$20.99 /Month	$4.99 /Month
Free trial	No	Yes	No
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Presentation Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	—	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001	GDPR	GDPR
Data residency	US	Global	US

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator

Pricing: Adobe Illustrator starts at $20.99 /Month. Microsoft Sway pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: Adobe Illustrator offers a free trial; Microsoft Sway does not.
Target audience: Microsoft Sway is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Adobe Illustrator targets Individuals and Medium Business.
User satisfaction: Adobe Illustrator scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
Deployment: Microsoft Sway supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows; Adobe Illustrator supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator 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 Presentation 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

	Microsoft Sway (148) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Adobe Illustrator (551) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Microsoft Sway

Best for creating interactive, multimedia-rich presentations and newsletters easily.

Choose if

You need a simple, drag-and-drop tool for internal communications and training content.
Your team values real-time collaboration on newsletters, reports, and presentations.
You want a web-based platform that adapts seamlessly across devices without design expertise.

Consider alternatives if

You require advanced marketing persuasion features for highly compelling newsletters.
Your workflows depend on extensive third-party app integrations and a robust marketplace.

Adobe Illustrator

Best for professional vector graphic design and brand asset creation.

Choose if

You need industry-leading vector design tools for logos and illustrations.
You want seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud apps.
Your team consists of experienced graphic designers or branding specialists.

Consider alternatives if

You are a beginner with no prior design experience or training.
Your company has a very limited budget for software subscriptions.

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.

Microsoft Sway: Best for creating interactive, multimedia-rich presentations and newsletters easily. Adobe Illustrator: Best for professional vector graphic design and brand asset creation.

Description	Introducing Microsoft Sway, the go-to presentation and visual storytelling app. With an effortless design, it lets users create attractive and interactive newsletters, reports, and personal ... Read More about Microsoft Sway	Adobe Illustrator is a powerful graphics tool for logos, icons, and digital illustrations. Quickly create professional quality art for web, print, video, and interactive projects. Capture ... Read More about Adobe Illustrator	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	Not Available	Starts from $20.99 , Billed Yearly	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	9.2/10	9.1/10	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (66)	4.6 (10107)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	Small BusinessMedium Business	Small businessesMedium businesses	1-50 employees51-200 employees
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help	Visit website

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do Microsoft Sway, Adobe Illustrator and Looka Compare on Features?

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

Compare Microsoft Sway, Adobe Illustrator 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	Not Available	$20.99 , Billed Yearly	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Adobe Illustrator Get Started Illustrator on desktop and iPad, 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Spark, and access to the latest features and updates as soon as they’re released 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark	Not Available
Pricing Page	Pricing information not available
	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
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing	Visit Website

Security & Compliance

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

HIPAA	✓ Yes	—
GDPR	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
ISO 27001	✓ Yes	—
Single Sign-On (SSO)	✓ Yes	—
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	✓ Yes	—
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	—
Data Residency	🇺🇸 US	🌐 Global

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 66 reviews)	4.6 (based on 10107 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	72 54 19 2 1	550 0 0 0 1	816 44 7 10 29
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate Microsoft Sway’s ease of use and multimedia integration but note limitations in advanced marketing features and app integrations. What buyers like Ease of use Multimedia integration Collaboration capabilities Common complaints Limited app marketplace Steep learning curve for new users	Buyer sentiment Overall, users praise Adobe Illustrator for its powerful and versatile design tools but note the steep learning curve and high cost as significant drawbacks. What buyers like Versatility in design projects Integration with Adobe ecosystem Robust and stable functionality Common complaints Steep learning curve High subscription cost	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	Intuitive drag-and-drop interface enabling quick creation of interactive web stories and presentations Supports easy integration of multiple media types including images, videos, and GIFs with customizable effects Real-time collaboration features that facilitate teamwork on newsletters, training documents, and presentations Steep learning curve for newcomers due to rich feature set and customization options without sufficient support Limited marketplace offerings for additional apps and connectors restrict advanced functionality	Versatile toolset for logos, posters, and digital illustrations Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem Stable and robust functionality with an intuitive interface Steep learning curve requiring significant time and training High subscription cost and complex licensing	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

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	7 Screenshots	2 Screenshots
Videos	2 Videos	2 Videos

Alternatives

Alternatives	Prezi Video Canva 4.1 Powtoon 4.7	Looka 4.1 Figma 4.5 Adobe Photoshop 4.7	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Microsoft Sway or Adobe Illustrator?: Adobe Illustrator edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator offer a free trial?: Adobe Illustrator offers a free trial. Microsoft Sway does not.
What is the starting price of Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator?: Microsoft Sway starts at Contact for pricing. Adobe Illustrator starts at $20.99 /Month.
What are the top alternatives to Microsoft Sway?: Top alternatives to Microsoft Sway include Prezi Video, Canva, Powtoon, Zoho Show, Wowslides.
What are the top alternatives to Adobe Illustrator?: Top alternatives to Adobe Illustrator include Looka, Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, CorelDraw.

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator vs Looka Comparison

Microsoft Sway

Adobe Illustrator

Looka

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe Illustrator

Compare Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator vs Looka — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Microsoft Sway

Adobe Illustrator

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 do Microsoft Sway, Adobe Illustrator and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare Microsoft Sway, Adobe Illustrator and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe Illustrator User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions