AI Tool Comparison
Comparing as AI Text-to-Image GeneratorsMicrosoft Designer vs Midjourney
Microsoft Designer
VS
Midjourney
Verdict by Category
Detailed category analysis is not available for this comparison.
Detailed Comparison
Feature
Microsoft Designer
Midjourney
Pricing
FreeMicrosoft Designer is free with any Microsoft account. There are no paid plans for Microsoft Designer as a standalone product.
Microsoft 365 Personal at $69.99/year or $6.99/month: includes enhanced generative AI boost credits in Designer, giving higher daily AI image generation limits than the free Microsoft account tier, alongside access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 1TB OneDrive.
Microsoft 365 Family at $99.99/year: covers up to 6 users, each with enhanced Designer boost credits and the full Microsoft 365 suite.
Microsoft 365 Copilot (enterprise, $30/user/month): unlocks Copilot features in PowerPoint, including Designer-powered presentation generation from prompts, for corporate Microsoft 365 E3/E5 users.
PaidBasic Plan ($10/month): Get started with Midjourney creative tools with 3.3 hours of Fast GPU time, SD image generation, private Discord workspace access, and essential image creation features.
Standard Plan ($30/month): Create more with 15 hours of Fast GPU time, unlimited Relax Mode images, SD & HD video support, and increased generation capacity for regular creators.
Pro Plan ($60/month): Designed for professionals with 30 hours of Fast GPU time, unlimited image & video creation in Relax Mode, Stealth Mode privacy, and higher concurrent generation limits.
Mega Plan ($120/month): The ultimate creative package with 60 hours of Fast GPU time, unlimited image & video creation, Stealth Mode, and maximum capacity for large-scale AI content production.
Categories
AI Design ToolsAI Image GeneratorsAI Marketing Tools
AI Image GeneratorsAI Art & Animation ToolsAI Design Tools
Summary
Free AI-powered design tool from Microsoft — create graphics, images, and social posts with DALL-E and Copilot built in
Explore new mediums of thought and expand imaginative powers with advanced AI models.
Microsoft Designer Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free with any Microsoft account — no credit card, no separate subscription, no credits to purchase for core design features
- DALL-E integration is native and seamless — no need for a separate Midjourney or DALL-E subscription for basic AI image generation
- Built into Teams, Outlook, and Microsoft 365 — reaches 400M+ Microsoft 365 users with zero adoption friction in existing workflows
- Strongest free competitor to Canva for users already in the Microsoft ecosystem with no additional tool to install or pay for
- Mobile app allows content creation anywhere with full AI generation capabilities synced across devices
- Continuous improvement by Microsoft's AI team — regular feature updates backed by OpenAI partnership and Microsoft's AI infrastructure investment
Cons
- Template library is significantly smaller than Canva's 1M+ templates — limited choice for niche formats and specialized design needs
- AI generation quality trails Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and even Canva AI's Magic Studio for creative and artistic outputs
- No vector SVG export — outputs are raster PNG and JPEG only, not suitable for logo design or scalable brand assets
- Design tool UX is less polished than Canva's — fewer keyboard shortcuts, less intuitive layer management, and limited animation tools
- Requires a Microsoft account to access — not universally accessible without signing into the Microsoft ecosystem
- Less suitable for professional brand designers who need precise typography control, custom color systems, or multi-page document design
Midjourney Pros & Cons
Pros
- Generates exceptionally high-quality and artistic images
- Constantly evolving with new features and improved models
- Strong, active community for support and inspiration
- Offers a unique aesthetic style distinct from other AI generators
- Empowers rapid visual prototyping and creative exploration
- Pushes boundaries of AI-driven artistic expression
Cons
- Requires a paid subscription for full access and usage
- Primarily Discord-based interface, which may not suit all users
- Can have a steep learning curve for mastering advanced prompting techniques
- Limited direct control over specific elements compared to traditional design software
- Generated images may sometimes require post-processing for specific commercial uses
- Reliance on server-side processing means no offline functionality