Make a birthday card
Bottom line
Microsoft Designer is our pick for make a birthday card. Free plan available. Catch: we haven't hand-tested it for this task.
- Best overall
- Microsoft Designer
- Best on your phone
- Picsart
Use Microsoft Designer to make a birthday card.
- Start cost
- See pricing ↗
ⓘ How we picked this
Basis Matched to catalog uses, then popularity. Basis: catalog order, not hands-on testing. Phone support: catalog claims.
Tested No hands-on test record.
Money Sponsors never change your pick. We may earn affiliate fees.
DisclosureMicrosoft Designer
Why it fits: Create a bicycle-themed background in Microsoft Designer; place the saved image behind your editable birthday message in Canva.
Watch out for: Free-tier usage limits apply.
Cost: See pricing ↗
Your task, in 4 steps
Start with a real memory and permitted photo
Choose [recipient name], [theme] and [a real memory, if wanted]. Use only photos you have permission to use.
Design the card
Pick a card size and layout, add a personal message and use pictures you are allowed to share. Check both the cover and inside page.
Use in: Canva
Make a printable [theme] birthday card for [recipient name], with room for [message or real memory].
Make a background for your personal message
Use in: Microsoft Designer
Create a [theme] background in your tool; place the saved image behind [birthday message] in your tool.
Test the printed fold and page order
Print a draft on plain paper, fold it and check that [recipient name] and [message] appear on the intended panels.
Compare alternatives
Canva
Pick a card size and layout, add a personal message and use pictures you are allowed to share. Check both the cover and inside page.
Free · Pro $18/mo ($12/mo yearly)
Open CanvaI have thisI tried this
Ideogram
Pick this if you need a tool that creates a typographic birthday image.
Open IdeogramI have thisI tried thisPrices checked Oct 18, 2026
Compare tools for this task
Matched to this task
| Tool | Best for | Price | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Designer | Create a bicycle-themed background in Microsoft Designer; place the saved image behind your editable birthday message in Canva. | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
| Canva | Pick a card size and layout, add a personal message and use pictures you are allowed to share. Check both the cover and inside page. | Free · Pro $18/mo ($12/mo yearly) | Yes · limits apply |
| Ideogram | Pick this if you need a tool that creates a typographic birthday image. | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
Show all (12)
Other tools in this category — not assessed for this task
| Tool | Best for | Price | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|
 Gamma | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
 Picsart | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
 Midjourney | Not assessed for this task | Basic $10/mo | No |
 Beautiful.ai | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Trial only |
 Fotor | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
 Remove.bg | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
 Recraft | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
 Pixelcut | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
 Photoroom | Not assessed for this task | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |
What we didn’t pick
Shown when a same-category catalog tool was considered and not picked.
- Canva: Catalog use: design a flyer for my shop; Microsoft Designer is the editorial pick for this task.
- Gamma: Not assessed for this task.
- Beautiful.ai: No free plan; Microsoft Designer has a free plan.