Which is better, Microsoft Sway or Adobe InDesign?

Adobe InDesign edges out Microsoft Sway based on user ratings across 5,837 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 InDesign?

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe InDesign include pricing (Microsoft Sway starts at undisclosed vs Adobe InDesign at $20.99); free trial availability (Adobe InDesign offers one, Microsoft Sway does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

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

Adobe InDesign 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 InDesign?

Adobe InDesign is designed for Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

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

The starting price of Adobe InDesign 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 InDesign?

Some top alternatives to Adobe InDesign include Looka, Figma, Canva, CorelDraw, Gamma.

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 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 InDesign

4.7(5,837 reviews)

Starting at $20.99 /Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

Adobe InDesign is the powerhouse of professional desktop publishing. Unleash your creativity to create compelling visuals with top-of-the-line typography and imagery from Adobe Stock! Create stunning digital magazines, e…

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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 InDesign leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 5,837 reviews.

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	Microsoft Sway	Adobe InDesign	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.7 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	66	5,837	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	Large Enterprises, 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, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	—	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001	—	GDPR
Data residency	US	Global	US

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe InDesign

Pricing: Adobe InDesign starts at $20.99 /Month. Microsoft Sway pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: Adobe InDesign offers a free trial; Microsoft Sway does not.
User satisfaction: Adobe InDesign scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
Deployment: Microsoft Sway supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows; Adobe InDesign supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign 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 InDesign (2447) 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 InDesign

Best for professional desktop publishing with advanced typography and interactive features.

Choose if

You need industry-standard tools for complex print and digital layouts.
Your team requires seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud assets.
You produce interactive digital documents like eBooks and multimedia magazines.

Consider alternatives if

You are a freelancer or individual needing simple, quick layout tools.
Your team demands lightweight software with real-time collaborative editing.

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 InDesign: Best for professional desktop publishing with advanced typography and interactive features.

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 InDesign is the powerhouse of professional desktop publishing. Unleash your creativity to create compelling visuals with top-of-the-line typography and imagery from Adobe Stock! ... Read More about Adobe InDesign	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	Not Available	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (66)	4.7 (5837)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	Small BusinessMedium Business	51-500 employees500+ employees	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 InDesign and Looka Compare on Features?

Total Features	8 Features	3 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare Microsoft Sway, Adobe InDesign 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 InDesign Get Started Collaborate 3x faster with enhanced Share for Review Subject-aware text wrapping Easy color location Show more +	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	—
ISO 27001	✓ Yes	—
Single Sign-On (SSO)	✓ Yes	—
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	✓ Yes	—
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	—
Data Residency	🇺🇸 US	🌐 Global

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 66 reviews)	4.7 (based on 5837 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	72 54 19 2 1	1902 453 70 10 12	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 Users highly value Adobe InDesign's powerful design features and integration but note its complexity and cost as challenges. What buyers like Powerful layout and typography tools Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud Support for interactive digital content Common complaints Steep learning curve Subscription pricing	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	Advanced typography and layout capabilities Integration with Adobe Stock and Creative Cloud assets Robust support for interactive digital documents Steep learning curve for new users Subscription-based pricing can be costly for small teams	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	1 Screenshots
Videos	2 Videos	2 Videos

Alternatives

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Microsoft Sway or Adobe InDesign?: Adobe InDesign edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 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 InDesign offer a free trial?: Adobe InDesign offers a free trial. Microsoft Sway does not.
What is the starting price of Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign?: Microsoft Sway starts at Contact for pricing. Adobe InDesign 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 InDesign?: Top alternatives to Adobe InDesign include Looka, Figma, Canva, CorelDraw, Gamma.

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign vs Looka Comparison

Microsoft Sway

Adobe InDesign

Looka

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Adobe InDesign

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

Microsoft Sway

Adobe InDesign

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 InDesign and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare Microsoft Sway, Adobe InDesign and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Microsoft Sway vs Adobe InDesign User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions