Neutral, data‑driven comparison to evaluate design.
Comparing 2 AI tools.
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
Favorites | 585 | 49 |
Avg. Rating | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Monthly Active Users | 331.2M | 2.2M |
Global Rank | #93 | N/A |
Slogan | Create, edit, and design with industry-leading AI-powered image innovation. | Create stunning designs in seconds with AI |
Category | ||
Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium Enterprise |
Monthly Pricing (USD) | $34.49 – $69.99 / month Min$34.49 / month Mid$22.99 / month Max$69.99 / month | $0 – $54.75 / month Min$0 / month Mid$10.83 / month Max$54.75 / month Free tier |
Pricing Details | Photoshop Single App $22.99/month (annual, billed monthly) or $34.99/month (month-to-month); Photography Plan $19.99/month (Photoshop + Lightroom + 1TB); Creative Cloud All Apps $69.99/month; Students $19.99/month. Price increases effective Jan 15, 2025 for some plans in EU; Black Friday 50% off ended Nov 28, 2025. | Free tier with Microsoft account and limited credits. Microsoft 365 Personal at $99.99/year ($8.33/month) includes Designer with higher credits. Microsoft 365 Family at $129.99/year ($10.83/month) includes Designer with higher credits. Microsoft 365 Premium at $199.99/year ($16.67/month) includes Designer with 4X more credits. Enterprise plans from $33.75-$54.75/user/month when paid annually. |
Platforms | ||
Target Audience | Graphic Designers, Content Creators, Marketing Professionals, Educators, Students | Content Creators, Graphic Designers, Marketing Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Educators, Students, Business Executives |
Website |
This comprehensive comparison of Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Designer provides objective, data-driven insights to help you choose the best design solution for your needs. We evaluate both tools across multiple dimensions including feature depth, pricing transparency, integration capabilities, security posture, and real-world usability.
Whether you're evaluating tools for personal use, team collaboration, or enterprise deployment, this comparison highlights key differentiators, use case recommendations, and cost-benefit considerations to inform your decision. Both tools are evaluated based on verified data, community feedback, and technical capabilities.
Pro tip: Start with a free trial or free tier if available. Test both tools with real workflows to evaluate performance, ease of use, and integration depth. Consider your team size, technical expertise, and long-term scalability needs when making your final decision.
Adobe Photoshop is the better choice when you prioritize the following capabilities.
Microsoft Designer excels when you need specific features and capabilities.
Pay-as-you-go pricing aligns costs with actual usage. Multi-platform support reduces need for multiple tool subscriptions. API and SDK access enable custom automation, reducing manual work.
Freemium model allows gradual scaling without upfront commitment. Pay-as-you-go pricing aligns costs with actual usage. Multi-platform support reduces need for multiple tool subscriptions. API and SDK access enable custom automation, reducing manual work.
Cost Analysis Tip: Beyond sticker price, consider total cost of ownership including setup time, training, integration complexity, and potential vendor lock-in. Tools with free tiers allow risk-free evaluation, while usage-based pricing aligns costs with value. Factor in productivity gains, reduced manual work, and improved outcomes when calculating ROI.
Subscription
Photoshop Single App $22.99/month (annual, billed monthly) or $34.99/month (month-to-month); Photography Plan $19.99/month (Photoshop + Lightroom + 1TB); Creative Cloud All Apps $69.99/month; Students $19.99/month. Price increases effective Jan 15, 2025 for some plans in EU; Black Friday 50% off ended Nov 28, 2025.
$34.49 - $69.99/month
Freemium, Enterprise
Free tier with Microsoft account and limited credits. Microsoft 365 Personal at $99.99/year ($8.33/month) includes Designer with higher credits. Microsoft 365 Family at $129.99/year ($10.83/month) includes Designer with higher credits. Microsoft 365 Premium at $199.99/year ($16.67/month) includes Designer with 4X more credits. Enterprise plans from $33.75-$54.75/user/month when paid annually.
$0 - $54.75/month
✓ Multi-platform support enables flexible deployment
1 integrations
SDK Support:
✓ REST API available for custom integrations
✓ Multi-platform support enables flexible deployment
1 integrations
SDK Support:
✓ REST API available for custom integrations
Integration Evaluation: Assess how each tool fits into your existing stack. Consider API availability for custom integrations if native options are limited. Evaluate integration depth, authentication methods (OAuth, API keys), webhook support, and data synchronization capabilities. Test integrations in your environment before committing.
✅ REST API available
✅ REST API available
Cloud
GDPR status not specified
United States
Cloud
GDPR status not specified
USA
+9 more use cases available
+8 more use cases available
Choosing between Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Designer ultimately depends on your specific requirements, team size, budget constraints, and long-term goals. Both tools offer unique strengths that may align differently with your workflow.
Start with free trials: Both tools likely offer free tiers or trial periods. Use these to test real workflows and evaluate performance firsthand.
Involve your team: Get feedback from actual users who will interact with the tool daily. Their input on usability and workflow integration is invaluable.
Test integrations: Verify that each tool integrates smoothly with your existing stack. Check API documentation, webhook support, and authentication methods.
Calculate total cost: Look beyond monthly pricing. Factor in setup time, training, potential overages, and long-term scalability costs.
Review support and roadmap: Evaluate vendor responsiveness, documentation quality, and product roadmap alignment with your needs.
Remember: The "best" tool is the one that fits your specific context. What works for one organization may not work for another. Take your time, test thoroughly, and choose based on verified data rather than marketing claims. Both Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Designer are capable solutions—your job is to determine which aligns better with your unique requirements.
Both Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Designer are capable Design tools. Your choice should align with your specific requirements, budget, and existing tech stack.
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There isn’t a universal winner—decide by fit. Check: (1) Workflow/UI alignment; (2) Total cost at your usage (seats, limits, add‑ons); (3) Integration coverage and API quality; (4) Data handling and compliance. Use the table above to align these with your priorities.
Explore adjacent options in the Design category. Shortlist by feature depth, integration maturity, transparent pricing, migration ease (export/API), security posture (e.g., SOC 2/ISO 27001), and roadmap velocity. Prefer tools proven in production in stacks similar to yours and with clear SLAs/support.
Checklist: (1) Must‑have vs nice‑to‑have features; (2) Cost at your scale (limits, overages, seats); (3) Integrations and API quality; (4) Privacy & compliance (GDPR/DSA, retention, residency); (5) Reliability/performance (SLA, throughput, rate limits); (6) Admin, audit, SSO; (7) Support and roadmap. Validate with a fast pilot on your real workloads.
Normalize to your usage. Model seats, limits, overages, add‑ons, and support. Include hidden costs: implementation, training, migration, and potential lock‑in. Prefer transparent metering if predictability matters.
Run a structured pilot: (1) Replicate a real workflow; (2) Measure quality and latency; (3) Verify integrations, API limits, error handling; (4) Review security, PII handling, compliance, and data residency; (5) Confirm SLA, support response, and roadmap.
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