What is Microsoft Designer?
Microsoft Designer is Microsoft's AI-powered graphic design tool — using AI to generate images from text prompts (via DALL·E), suggest design layouts, and create social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials. It's integrated into Microsoft 365 and freely available as a web app.
🚀 Sponsored Placement Available
Promote your AI tool to thousands of qualified buyers. View media kit →
Key Features
Here's what makes Microsoft Designer stand out:
- Layout generation — Creates complete graphic designs including layout, copy, fonts, and colors from a prompt.
- DALL — E image generation
- Social media templates — Purpose
- Microsoft 365 integration — Push designs directly into PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and Outlook.
- Brand kit — Store your brand colors, fonts, and logos for consistent AI
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Free with Microsoft 365 — especially for layout generation workflows where Microsoft Designer consistently outperforms manual approaches
- No additional subscription needed — especially for layout generation workflows where Microsoft Designer consistently outperforms manual approaches
- Direct Office integration — especially for layout generation workflows where Microsoft Designer consistently outperforms manual approaches
- DALL-E-powered image quality — especially for layout generation workflows where Microsoft Designer consistently outperforms manual approaches
❌ Cons
- Less powerful than Canva for advanced work
- Limited compared to Adobe tools — worth evaluating before committing if this is central to your use case
- Best value only for Microsoft 365 users
- Design quality varies by prompt — worth evaluating before committing if this is central to your use case
Our Rating
Who Should Use Microsoft Designer?
Best for: Microsoft 365 users, small business owners, and casual designers who want AI-assisted graphic design integrated into their Microsoft workflow — creating social posts, presentations, and marketing materials without design expertise.
- Generating social media graphics from text descriptions with AI
- Creating presentation slide designs with AI layout suggestions
- Producing AI-generated images for marketing materials via DALL·E
- Designing flyers, invitations, and promotional materials quickly
- Customising AI-generated designs with your own photos and brand colours
Microsoft Designer Pricing
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited AI image generation, all design features, Microsoft account required |
| Included in M365 | Included | Full Designer integration, commercial license, premium features |
Best Microsoft Designer Alternatives
Depending on your use case, these alternatives may serve you better:
Final Verdict
Microsoft Designer is the most accessible AI design tool for Microsoft users — free for M365 subscribers and anyone with a Microsoft account. Quality is competitive with Canva for straightforward social content. For more advanced design control, Canva or Adobe Express offer better template libraries. Microsoft Designer's advantage is integration and price (free).