# 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 ↗](https://designer.microsoft.com/)

#1 · Our pick for your task

## Microsoft 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 ↗](https://designer.microsoft.com/)

## 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: Microsoft Designer

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 Canva](/go/canva?from=%2Ft%2Fmake-a-birthday-card)

### Ideogram

Pick this if you need a tool that creates a typographic birthday image.

[See pricing ↗](https://ideogram.ai/)

[Open Ideogram](/go/ideogram?from=%2Ft%2Fmake-a-birthday-card)

Prices checked Oct 18, 2026

## Compare tools for this task

### Matched to this task

| Tool | Best for | Price | Free tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Microsoft Designer](/tools/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](/tools/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](/tools/ideogram) | Pick this if you need a tool that creates a typographic birthday image. | Price not recorded | Yes · limits apply |

[3 more presentation design tools in the catalog →](/tools?category=presentation-design)

## What we didn’t pick

Recorded task fit and selection limits for other catalog tools:

- 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. No recorded comparative decision factor explains why it was not selected over Microsoft Designer.
- Gamma, Beautiful.ai: Not assessed for this task.

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