Which is better, Microsoft Sway or Microsoft Publisher?

Microsoft Publisher edges out Microsoft Sway based on user ratings across 1,732 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 Microsoft Publisher?

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Microsoft Publisher include pricing (Microsoft Sway starts at undisclosed vs Microsoft Publisher at $5); free trial availability (Microsoft Publisher offers one, Microsoft Sway does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Microsoft Sway and Microsoft Publisher offer a Free trial?

Microsoft Publisher 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 Microsoft Publisher?

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

What is the starting price of Microsoft Sway and Microsoft Publisher?

The starting price of Microsoft Publisher is $5/User/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 Microsoft Publisher?

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

Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher 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

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…

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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

Microsoft Publisher leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 1,732 reviews.

Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Publisher	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.2 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	66	1,732	11,322
Starting price	Contact for pricing	$5 /User/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	US	US

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Microsoft Publisher

Pricing: Microsoft Publisher starts at $5 /User/Month. Microsoft Sway pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: Microsoft Publisher offers a free trial; Microsoft Sway does not.
User satisfaction: Microsoft Publisher scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
Deployment: Microsoft Sway supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows; Microsoft Publisher supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Microsoft Sway 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 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	Microsoft Publisher (960) 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.

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.

Microsoft Sway: Best for creating interactive, multimedia-rich presentations and newsletters easily. Microsoft Publisher: Best for small businesses needing easy, reliable desktop publishing with fixed layouts.

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	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	Not Available	Starts from $5	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	9.2/10	Not Available	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (66)	4.2 (1732)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	Small BusinessMedium Business	1-50 employees51-500 employees	1-50 employees51-200 employees
	Get pricing help	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

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, 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
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare Microsoft Sway, 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	Not Available	$5	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available	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	🇺🇸 US

Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 66 reviews)	4.2 (based on 1732 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	72 54 19 2 1	576 271 84 29 0	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 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	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	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

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	7 Screenshots	1 Screenshots
Videos	2 Videos	No videos available.

Alternatives

Alternatives	Prezi Video Canva 4.1 Powtoon 4.7	Looka 4.1 Canva 4.1 Desygner 4.2	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Microsoft Sway or Microsoft Publisher?: Microsoft Publisher edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 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 Microsoft Publisher offer a free trial?: Microsoft Publisher offers a free trial. Microsoft Sway does not.
What is the starting price of Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher?: Microsoft Sway starts at Contact for pricing. Microsoft Publisher starts at $5 /User/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 Microsoft Publisher?: Top alternatives to Microsoft Publisher include Looka, Canva, Desygner, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Visio.

Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka Comparison

Microsoft Sway

Microsoft Publisher

Looka

Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between Microsoft Sway and Microsoft Publisher

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

Microsoft Sway

Microsoft Publisher

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, Microsoft Publisher and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare Microsoft Sway, Microsoft Publisher and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Microsoft Sway vs Microsoft Publisher User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions