Canva is an easy to use graphic design and video editing platform that lets users create, design, and publish original artwork using a simple drag-and-drop editor. The platform comes with thousands of design templates and layouts for numerous projects, including social media posts, presentations, videos, posters, flyers and more.
Canva is also often used as Photo Editing of choice in Marketing and Ecommerce tech stacks.
Capabilities |
|
---|---|
Segment |
|
Deployment | Cloud / SaaS / Web-Based, Mobile Android, Mobile iPad, Mobile iPhone |
Support | 24/7 (Live rep), Chat, Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support |
Training | Documentation |
Languages | English |
Are you a non-designer looking for graphic design software? If you need to create designs for your business, Canva is one of the top rated tools to choose. In this post, we’ll explore Canva’s pricing, features, and alternatives.
Canva is an online graphic design tool used by 55 million monthly active users to create visual content for offline and online marketing. Over 9,400 Capterra reviewers have given Canva an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Canva offers hundreds of thousands of templates and elements you can use to create designs for personal or business use. Customize your visual content with your brand kit and media from your own library.
Canva offers three pricing plans. The Free plan includes the following.
The Pro plan starts at $12.99 per month (or $119.99 per year) for up to five people. It includes everything from the Free plan plus the following.
The Enterprise plan starts at $150 for five people. It includes everything from the Pro plan plus the following.
To get started on Canva, you will need to create an account using your email address, Google, Facebook, or Apple. You will then choose your account type between student, teacher, small business, large company, non-profit, or personal. Templates and additional resources will be recommended based on your chosen account type.
You can choose to start a free trial of Canva Pro or begin with the free version to see if it’s the right graphic design tool.
For your first design, Canva will suggest different post types to choose. Based on the type of account you set up, you will see template categories like social media posts, documents, presentations, marketing, events, ads, launch your business, build your online brand, etc.
Begin by choosing the type of post you want to create or searching for something more specific. Search by social network name, for example, to see a list of templates by post type on each network.
Next, you will be able to choose a template. Templates come ready to go, with customizable photos, text, and additional elements.
You can start your design by choosing a template, searching for a template, or working with a blank template.
Canva has a lot to choose from, so start with a specific search. If you’re in the horticulture business, you’ll find plenty of templates for a variety of post types just by searching for plants.
You may not find the perfect template, and that’s ok. Remember there are plenty of ways to customize any template. So choose the best fit and move on to Elements.
Inside the Canva designer, the Elements tab gives you access to lines and shapes, graphics, photos, videos, audio, charts, photo frames, and photo grids. You can use the search box on the Elements tab to search everything on Canva.
Again, Canva has a large library of elements to choose from, so be specific in your search query. You may also want to search in the following tabs to see various elements separately in the search results.
The Photos tab allows you to choose from millions of free, paid, and Pro-only stock photos.
You can replace photos on your templates to create a new look or to match a particular template to your industry.
Alternatively, you can use photos from another stock photography site or your own photos. Simply upload them in the Uploads tab.
Once you choose a photo, you can use Canva’s photo editing features to add filters, adjust the photo’s settings (brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.), crop, animate, and change the transparency.
Canva Pro subscribers have access to the Background Remover. This will remove backgrounds from stock photos in the Canva library as well as photos you upload to the Uploads tab.
The Text tab allows you to add headings, normal text, and fancy graphical text to your design.
When you click on the text on a template, you’ll see options to adjust the font, font size, color, format, spacing, text effects (like shadows), and change the transparency.
Canva Pro subscribers can set brand fonts via the Brand Kit or the Styles tab. Enterprise-level controls will ensure that your team keeps visual content on brand.
Creating an animated image or video? Search for audio elements to add to capture user’s attention in social news feeds.
Alternatively, if you want to use audio from another stock site or your own audio tracks, you can upload them in the Uploads tab.
Want to create video content? Choose from thousands of free and Pro-only stock video clips. You’ll find videos that range from a few seconds to two minutes long.
Similar to photos and audio, if you want to use videos from another stock site or your own videos, you can upload them in the Uploads tab.
Once you choose a video, you can use Canva’s video editing features to trim the video, flip it, and change the transparency.
In the Background tab, you’ll find free photos specifically geared to act as backgrounds on your designs. Change out the background on a template to give it a more custom feel.
The Styles tab allows you to change the look and feel of your template quickly with different color palettes and font combinations. If you have a Canva Pro subscription, you can upload your brand’s custom colors and fonts to keep designs on brand.
If you have a Canva Pro subscription, you’ll have a Logos tab. Here, you can upload variations of your brand logo to use throughout your designs.
You can also create logos with Canva. Note that you can’t trademark logos with stock content in them.
Free users of Canva can download their designs or share their designs to multiple platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack, and Tumblr.
Canva Pro subscribers can use the Magic Resizer to create multiple post formats from one design. For example, you can start by designing an Instagram post. Canva’s Magic Resizer can resize it for posts on other networks, Stories, Reels, and other formats.
Canva Pro subscribers can also use Canva’s Content Planner to schedule updates to up to eight profiles/accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Slack, and Tumblr.
Canva Pro subscribers can work in teams to improve the visual content workflow. Designs can be created inside Canva and sent to the appropriate team members for approval. Teams can make comments, edits, revisions, and keep track via the version history.
If you create a design for offline marketing, Canva has a Print division to compete with companies like VistaPrint. They will print your designs on banners, wall art, mugs, t-shirts, business cards, stickers, invitations, cards, flyers, and more.
Canva Print is perfect for any business that wants customers to do some word of mouth marketing for them. Create designs people would want to stick on, wear, etc. Hand out business cards that people want to keep and share.
Canva offers their own mobile app on the Apple and Google Play stores. Canva has earned a 4.9 out of five stars from over 3 million Apple users and a 4.7 out of five stars from over 188,000 Google users.
With that said, the mobile app doesn’t have all of the features you’ll find on the desktop browser version. Fortunately, you can access most of them via a mobile browser by going to the Canva website and bypassing the app.
In addition to mobile apps, Canva has apps and integrations that allow you to access elements from third parties. You can add maps from Google Maps, Emojis, photos from Google Drive and Dropbox, YouTube videos, Flickr photos, Bitmojis, and other popular visual content elements.
Review networks like TrustRadius allow people to leave specific pros and cons about their Canva experience. Amongst the over 500 reviews, here are some of the highlights from the pros and cons users have identified.
If Canva doesn’t sound like the right fit for you, you may be interested in trying the following Canva alternatives.
Adobe has a suite of tools for beginner to advanced level graphic designers, photo editors, and video makers. One tool, Adobe Spark, is a Canva-like tool that makes it easy to create social graphics and videos. They offer a free plan and paid plans with premium features starting at $9.99 per month.
Those with graphic design skills may prefer tools like Lightroom and Photoshop for photo editing ($9.99 – $20.99 per month), Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics ($20.99 per month), or Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing ($20.99 per month).
Alternatively, you can get access to all Adobe tools for your visual content needs for $52.99 per month.
PicMonkey is a Canva alternative that boasts better photo editing features and no hidden fees for premium templates or elements. With that said, PicMonkey does not offer a free plan. Their pricing starts at $7.99 per month for basic features.
Crello is a free graphic design tool that is similar to Canva. It includes thousands of templates and features like the photo background remover and brand kits. The app on the Apple store has an average rating of 4.7 stars from over 600 users.
Piktochart is a graphic design tool that focuses on infographics, presentations, and reports. Their goal is to help you turn data-heavy content into a compelling visual story. They offer a free forever plan plus pricing for premium features starting at $24.17 per month.
If you are a GoDaddy customer, you can access their free tool, GoDaddy Studio. This tool gives you access to thousands of customizable templates.
Similar to Canva, no design skill is necessary to create professional graphics. The app on the Apple store has an average rating of 4.8 stars from over 94,000 users.
Yes, Canva does have a free plan that you can choose to create professional designs.
No, Canva does not place a watermark on your finalized images. You will only see a watermark on copyrighted stock elements in the Canva library unless you purchase the media or a Canva Pro or Enterprise subscription.
If you see a watermark on a previous design, it is because you had a Pro subscription and used a Pro-only template or element.
Yes, all free elements included in the Canva free subscription can be used for commercial and non-commercial use.
Non-designers can use Canva to design a wide variety of visual content for online and offline marketing. They include social media graphics, presentations, business cards, reports, infographics, and much more.
Canva markets itself as an easy to use design tool for non-designers. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are geared towards intermediate to advanced level photo editors and graphic designers.
Yes, Canva offers an easy to use video tool for visual content creators who aren’t video experts.
Definitely, when you consider the number of Pro-only templates and elements. You can always start with the free version or cancel after the 30-day free trial if you’re unsure about the platform.
Yes, unless it has any stock elements in it.
Yes, if it doesn’t include unaltered Canva media. You can read more about licensing, trademarks, and commercial usage of Canva content here.
Canva offers several free resources for designers.
If you want to five even deeper into graphic design, Adobe offers some insightful free guides as well. There are tips for various design types (tattoos, backgrounds, newsletters, logos, etc.) and use of graphic design principles, colors, and symbols.
Overall, Canva is an excellent solution for creators who need visual content. If you’re an experienced graphic designer, you will find their platform lacking in customization and other features – particularly vectors. But if you don’t have a lot of design experience, you’ll find Canva easier to use than advanced graphic design tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for most projects.
Canva is incredibly versatile and user-friendly. I love the huge library of templates and design ideas, plus the ability to start from scratch and make my own design. The sharing options are also impressive because of ease of use and available options.
I am currently a Pro member, but prior to that I was using the free account which was somewhat limiting. It would be great if the free plan would offer just a little more to users.
Canva has solved several design problems for me as it offers so many templates, inspirations, and ideas. Beyond the design, though, Canva has also provided a place to organize and share my design ideas.
I use canva on weekly basis and I like about it the following features: -Very easy to use. -Provides a lot of templates -Has integrated AI -Has good media management features -Good for beginners who want to learn design -You can share your project with others -You can export your work with several formats.
when you lock a layer you can still select it if you swipe to select which makes it hard to modify the layer below it
Ease of editing on a hurry and the huge templates libarary
i like how canva works i can easily edit my presentation without any hussle and i use it every week because of the nature of my work. and it has many features that i can choose from.
i dont like how canva implement their work. their customer support sometimes is unavailable.
my presentation has only limited design but with canva i can choose any design that i want. I also love the ready to use template in canva
We used to use Photoshop for many of our business marketing images and no longer need it! Canva is super easy to use and includes tons of graphics, fonts, and editing ability making it simple to use, even for those who are not design/tech savvy. We use the application daily!
The desktop version is wonderful but the mobile version needs a lot of work. We struggle with using the mobile version so much that we will only use desktop.
Canva has made it easy for us to create quick menus for our bakery, and marketing images for social media and email blasts. It has eliminated our need for high-tech programs such as Photoshop, making it more versitile and efficient for our team.
First of free to use and has Many many varieties of templates, yes premium templates are better but free designs are not much of a difference Secondly video transition and animations are easy to use, even non professional editer can also do editing And best seen software in the market that is more accessible compared to others, so I use it frequently to design templates for my Presentation and as little as creating a label too, I never had a problem to consult a customer support but I access customer support through AI powered chat support which would solve more of he issues
Much of good templates are pro only and the only downfall is the premium costs high which would drag it towards negative side other than that it's marvelous
The major problem Canva is solving is definitely time, I would take more than an hour create a simple 10s clip but with Canva I would do it in just 5 to 10mins, which benefits a lot
It has large variety of pre-designed templates that can be used to run social media accounts seamlessly.
Quite a few templates are paid that can be made free of cost.
It is helping me to run the social media page of my business and attracts new audience with attractive templates.
The tools are just the best out there. Whenever i get stuck using anything i head over to canva
I dont think i thought about this,if anything,would be the video creation
Content creation which is essential for marketing
I like everything about Canva. It is easy to use and has various features that help make something easier to implement or carry out. Along with the line, their support for clients using the platform is complemental, and that applies to me. Canva has always been my go-to website whenever I needed to be creative at work, presentations to be precise; I use it daily. Moreover, Canva is such a friendly user, making it easy to integrate with other websites or platforms such as Messenger, Telegram, and Facebook.
Nothing's least helpful or downsides' I considered about Canva so far
I often have difficulties in how to be creative with my presentations and layouts; which Canva solves and help me get it done
It's everything I need all in one! I use Canva to create all my social media content, paid resources, free resources, presentation slides, and so so much more. So user-friendly, with countless features!
Nothing at all! Zero complaints! I absolutely love Canva!
Canva is everything I could need in graphic design software when it comes to content creation and everyday graphic design needs! I use it daily, multiple times per day!
Canva is Easy to use! You can see exactly what you are doing! There are things you can use to create your own images and videos, and also they have lots of templates that can be modified to suit what you need. It is easy and Fun!
I couldn't find the audio selections for a month after the moved it to the elements section.
I need to create advertisements weekly and social media posts daily. Canva makes it easy and fun!
What i like about canva is that it is a friendly user platform which standout as best feature of the app. The platform also offers a lot of features, making my work more creative. Canva's commitment to customer support further enhance s it's appeal.
One potential downside of canva is it's dependency to internet connection. Canva requires internet for us to save and create. Some premium features and high quality images are also subjected to paid subsription
Canva solves challenges associated with graphic design, collaboration and resource availability making it available tool for us
Making scial media posts for our social media platforms is very easy with Canva as it has large number of inbuilt templates which only needs little improvements for finding your desired content.
There is limited amount of free templates but upgrading to paid version is worth spending your money.
Editing and creating posts for our social media made very easy with Canva as it provides wide variety of templates and designs to work with.
I've been using Canva for some time and it has truly improved the way I make designs for social media. What I like the best is how it gives many good work examples that I can simply change to match what I need. The interface is easy to understand, so even someone who doesn't know much about design can make beautiful pictures.
But, there are a few things about Canva that might make you upset. At times, changing text in already made templates can be hard. They may delete or remove a place to put words by mistake which makes mistakes that stop the work process.
Canva has mostly fixed the issue of needing fast, professional-looking designs without being a master in graphic design. It has really helped my job by letting me quickly make and change pictures for different tasks.
I like about this app, is very accessible and convenient for my school activities. And not only for school but many purposes. I actually use it when I made stickers for my daughter's birthday party. I highly recommended canva app for my friends and family. And actually I always use it when I'm doing homework or other school activities. When it comes to customer service, no wonder why they're popular because they serve well. Canva's versatility extends beyond its design capabilities, with seamless integration options that enhance its usability. One of Canva's standout features is its user-friendly interface that simplifies the design process for users of all skill levels. Implementing Canva into your creative workflow is as easy as a few clicks, making it accessible to both seasoned designers and novices alike. With its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, users can effortlessly create stunning visuals without the need for extensive design knowledge.
I dislike about this app, is when I'm frequently using in phone because sometimes it's difficult to edit or do something. But the rest is all good. Canva works well for me.
Actually canva is life saver and time saving. For someone like me, that studying at the same time mother of toddler this app is perfect for me. And also I'm not an artistic person who can't comebine colors well and didn't make my own template well. Canva's commitment to customer satisfaction is evident through its robust customer service support. The platform provides users with a range of resources, including tutorials, FAQs, and a responsive help center, empowering users to navigate the platform seamlessly. Furthermore, Canva's support team is known for its prompt and helpful responses, ensuring that users receive assistance whenever they encounter challenges. This dedication to customer service creates a supportive environment, fostering a positive experience for users as they explore the vast possibilities that Canva offers.
Canva is a User-Friendly Interface. This makes it quick and convenient for users to create professional-looking designs. Multiple users can work on the same project. It integrates with various third-party applications and platforms. It allows a wide range of visual content, including social media graphics, presentations, posters, and documents.
Sometimes there are issues with exporting high-quality print files from Canva.The free version of Canva includes a small Canva watermark on designs. those who want to remove the watermark and access additional features need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Canva offers a library of pre-designed templates, graphics, and other design elements. This saves my time and effort. It offers a free version with a wide array of features, making it a cost-effective solution for individuals and small businesses that may not have the budget for high-end design software.
Canva is an intuitive online graphic design platform I like the most for its user-friendly interface, extensive library of templates, and versatile design tools. With drag-and-drop functionality, it allows me to effortlessly create professional-quality graphics, presentations, and marketing materials.
In my opinion, using Canva can mask someone's creativity due to the availability of countless perfectly made templates.
Canva is solving a lot of problems ranging from data presentation to the development of appealing visuals for customers
Canva is very easy to use and also budget friendly
We can't able to move one design to another design
Instantly create flyers and social media post for my clients
What i like about Canva is that it makes my work completely beautiful. From designs and editing Canva has it all. Plus i love how Canva has a on the go template that you can use in times of hurry. Canva is a life saver for every project.
I dislike that there is a watermark in a free version. In the free version of Canva, designs often feature a small Canva watermark. This watermark can be a drawback for me who prefer their designs to be entirely free of branding.
Canva addresses several design-related challenges, providing me with a versatile and accessible platform for graphic design. Like in Accessibility to Design Tools, the problem is not everyone has access to professional design software or the expertise to use it. However the benefit for me Canva makes design tools accessible to individuals including me with varying levels of design experience, enabling us to create visually appealing graphics for personal or professional use.
I like that Canva is continually improving it's tools — especially with Magic Write and all the integration of other software that are easy to use. There are several features that make my work as a creative easier. I use these tools almost every day.
I dislike that there are tools that I don't know how to use and there are not always tutorials.
Canva is solving the issue of filling in the gaps for users who are not trained in UI design.
I love that they have so many options and templates for me to create on and from. I also like the lock and unlock design function.
I don't like how when duplicating documents on the same project, changing the font or coloring or any edits changes all the other documents that are duplicated from that. I also believe that the canva pro is not worth the money.
Canva is eliminating using graphic design artists for my projects. The benefits have been that its been part of me getting job offers on my designs. I get more feedback and exposure from my designs.