Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.


In our 2026 comparison of Clip Studio Paint and Microsoft Designer, Microsoft Designer comes out ahead overall (weighted score 90% vs 86% for Clip Studio Paint). Clip Studio Paint is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews; Microsoft Designer is rated 4.8/5 from 142 user reviews. Clip Studio Paint has a free plan; Microsoft Designer has a free plan.
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| At a glance | Clip Studio Paint | Microsoft Designer |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Graphic Design & UI/UX | Graphic Design & UI/UX |
| User rating | 4.5/5 (4 reviews) | 4.8/5 (142 reviews) |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free trial | Yes | Not listed |
| Listed features | 21 | 15 |
| Integrations | 4 | 3 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chromebook | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Ease of use | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Customer support | 5.0/5 | 4.8/5 |
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21/34 features
14/34 features
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Free AI design tool.
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Clip Studio Paint is a runner-up with a composite score of 86%.
Clip Studio Paint has the most accessible pricing ($0/mo (Free Trial)).
Clip Studio Paint lists the most features (21 features).
Satisfactory usability with a user rating of 4.5/5 stars.
Reliable support with a user rating of 5.0/5 stars.
Tied on platform availability (5 Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android +1 more).
Dimension scorecard
Microsoft Designer wins overall with a weighted score of 90% based on user rating, pricing, features, usability, and support.
Pricing: $0/mo (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.
Offers 15 features (fewer than the category leader).
Ranked #1 for usability with a user rating of 4.8/5 stars.
Reliable support with a user rating of 4.8/5 stars.
Tied on platform availability (5 Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS +1 more).

Composite scores are within 5 points. Microsoft Designer edges ahead on sample-size-adjusted user satisfaction.
Composite scores are within 5 points. Microsoft Designer edges ahead on sample-size-adjusted user satisfaction.
Composite scores are within 5 points. Microsoft Designer edges ahead on sample-size-adjusted user satisfaction. The best choice still depends on your team's workflow, budget and required integrations — use the side-by-side sections above to check the details that matter to you.
Clip Studio Paint is rated 4.5/5 from 4 user reviews. Microsoft Designer is rated 4.8/5 from 142 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.
Clip Studio Paint has a free plan. Microsoft Designer has a free plan. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.
Clip Studio Paint offers a free plan and a free trial; Microsoft Designer offers a free plan.
Clip Studio Paint supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Chromebook; Microsoft Designer supports Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Clip Studio Paint has an ease-of-use rating of 4.5/5, Microsoft Designer has an ease-of-use rating of 4.8/5. Microsoft Designer is rated easier to use by reviewers.
Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users
Clip Studio Paint provides an extensive catalog of high-resolution creative assets and intuitive filtering tools. Finding on-brand graphics and media for client presentations takes just minutes.
The search indexing and licensing clarity in Clip Studio Paint make it a staple in our daily creative workflow. Exporting high-fidelity files is quick and seamless across our design team.
We rely on Clip Studio Paint for rapid prototyping and multimedia production. The variety of curated templates and vector assets speeds up our project delivery timelines noticeably.
A robust creative toolkit with generous library options and clean file exports. It integrates smoothly into our design pipeline and keeps our production quality high.
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