Alternatives to Canva

While Canva is a widely used graphic design tool, with over 100 million monthly active users worldwide, it's not the only option available. Many users are now seeking alternatives that offer unique features, more customization, or better performance for specific design needs. Whether you're a beginner or a professional designer, the right tool can help you create stunning visuals more efficiently. In fact, according to recent data, 48% of graphic designers are exploring alternatives to Canva for more flexibility. 

In this article, we'll learn about the best Canva alternatives—both free and paid—that could take your designs to the next level.

What is Canva?

Canva is an easy-to-use online graphic design tool that allows users to create a variety of visual content, from social media posts to presentations, posters, and more to easily earn money. Launched in 2012, Canva has quickly become a favorite for beginners and professionals alike due to its intuitive interface and accessibility.

Features of Canva:

• User-Friendly Interface: The Canvas drag-and-drop editor simplifies the design process, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
• Templates: With thousands of customizable templates, Canva allows users to quickly start projects such as social media graphics, business cards, and presentations.
• Extensive Asset Library: Access millions of free and premium photos, illustrations, icons, and fonts to enhance your designs.
• Collaboration Tools: Real-time collaboration enables teams to work together seamlessly on projects.
• Brand Management: Canva Pro users can upload logos, custom fonts, and colors to maintain brand consistency.
• Advanced Design Features: Canva includes animation, video editing, and background removal tools for more professional designs.

Pros of Canva:

• Easy to Use: Perfect for beginners and non-designers.
• Affordable: The free plan offers great value, while the paid plans are cost-effective for businesses and professionals.
• Versatile: Canva supports a wide range of design projects, from marketing materials to personal projects.
• Collaborative: Ideal for team projects with real-time editing and feedback.

Cons of Canva:

• Limited Customization: Lacks some advanced features found in professional software.
• Internet-Dependent: Canva requires an internet connection to access and work on designs.
• Premium Content: Many advanced features and design elements are locked behind a paywall.

Pricing:

Canva offers multiple pricing options:

• Free Plan: Includes access to over 250,000 templates, 1 million free photos and graphics, and 5GB of cloud storage.
• Canva Pro: For $12.99/month, users get access to 100 million premium assets, 1TB of cloud storage, advanced design tools, and brand management features.
• Canva for Teams: Starting at $14.99/month, this plan includes team collaboration tools and enhanced brand controls.
• Canva for Education: Free for educators and students, with access to premium features for classroom use.
• Canva for Nonprofits: Free for eligible nonprofits, unlocking all premium features to help with mission-driven content creation.

Best Canva Alternatives

While Canva is an excellent tool for creating visual content, several alternatives cater to different needs, preferences, and design styles. Whether you’re looking for advanced features, more customization, or a specific design focus, these Canva alternatives offer powerful options for users of all skill levels. 

Here are some of the best Canva alternatives:

Adobe Express

Adobe Express is a user-friendly graphic design tool, formerly known as Adobe Spark, that helps users create high-quality visuals like social media posts, posters, flyers, and videos. It offers a streamlined version of Adobe’s creative suite, making it accessible to both beginners and professionals.

Features of Adobe Express:

• User-Friendly Interface: Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor suitable for all skill levels.
• Template Library: Hundreds of customizable templates for social media graphics, posters, and more.
• Customization Options: Modify fonts, colors, images, and logos to create personalized designs.
• Stock Assets: Access to free images, icons, and fonts, with premium Adobe Stock assets available in the paid plan.
• Branding Tools: Upload logos, fonts, and color schemes for consistent branding across designs.
• Video Editing: Basic video editing features with animations and transitions.
• Cloud Storage: Save designs in the cloud for easy access and collaboration.

Pros of Adobe Express:

• Easy to Use: Ideal for beginners and users with minimal design experience.
• Social Media Focused: Templates optimized for various social media platforms.
• Adobe Suite Integration: Seamlessly works with other Adobe tools like Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Free Plan: Includes basic tools, cloud storage, and templates.

Cons of Adobe Express:

• Limited Advanced Features: Lacks the advanced editing options found in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.
• Premium Features: Full access to Adobe Stock and additional customization tools require a paid plan.
• Basic Video Editing: Video editing capabilities are limited compared to professional video software.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Access to basic templates, cloud storage, and limited assets.
• Premium Plan: $9.99/month or $99.99/year, with access to Adobe Stock assets and additional branding tools.
• Team Plan: $19.99/month per user, with collaboration features and shared templates.

Snappa

Snappa is a simple and intuitive online graphic design tool that allows users to create professional-looking visuals like social media posts, banners, ads, and more. It’s designed for both beginners and marketers who want to quickly produce high-quality designs without a steep learning curve.

Features of Snappa:

• User-Friendly Interface: Snappa's drag-and-drop editor is easy to use, making it accessible to anyone, regardless of design experience.
• Templates: Offers a large library of pre-made templates for social media, ads, blog posts, and other design needs.
• Customization Options: Users can easily modify colors, fonts, and images to personalize their designs.
• Stock Photos & Graphics: Access to thousands of free high-quality photos and graphics to enhance designs.
• Collaboration Tools: Share designs with teammates and collaborate in real time.
• Cloud Storage: Designs are automatically saved to the cloud for easy access from any device.

Pros of Snappa:

• Easy to Use: Designed for beginners, with a straightforward interface and drag-and-drop functionality.
• Time-Saving: With its pre-designed templates, Snappa allows users to create designs quickly without starting from scratch.
• Affordable: Snappa offers a solid free plan and reasonably priced paid plans with additional features.
• Collaboration Features: Great for teams, allowing multiple users to work on the same project.

Cons of Snappa:

• Limited Features in Free Plan: The free plan has some limitations, such as fewer templates and restricted access to premium images.
• Basic Customization: Lacks the advanced customization options found in more professional design tools like Adobe Illustrator.
• Limited Export Options: Some export features are only available with a paid plan.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes access to 5,000+ templates, 2,000+ free photos, and 200+ graphics.
• Pro Plan: $10/month or $120/year, offering unlimited downloads, access to premium photos, and additional features like brand kits.
• Team Plan: $20/month for teams, providing collaboration tools and unlimited access to premium content.

Pixlr

Pixlr is a versatile and powerful online photo editing tool that allows users to create stunning graphics, edit photos, and design custom visuals. It offers both beginners and experienced designers an intuitive platform for editing and creating high-quality images.

Features of Pixlr:

• User-Friendly Interface: Pixlr’s interface is simple and easy to navigate, making it accessible to both novice and experienced designers.
• Advanced Editing Tools: Offers professional-grade tools like layers, masks, and blending modes for advanced photo editing.
• Templates: Provides customizable templates for creating social media posts, banners, and other visual content.
• Stock Library: Access to a large collection of free stock images, icons, and other graphic elements.
• AI Tools: Features AI-powered tools like background remover and quick fixes to enhance productivity.
• Cloud Storage: Save projects directly to the cloud for easy access across multiple devices.

Pros of Pixlr:

• Advanced Editing: Ideal for users who need more control over their designs with features like layers, masks, and blending modes.
• Free Plan: Offers a free plan with many useful features for photo editing and design.
• Intuitive for Beginners: Despite its advanced tools, Pixlr remains user-friendly and intuitive for those new to photo editing.
• Flexible Platforms: Available both as a web-based tool and a mobile app, making it convenient for editing on the go.

Cons of Pixlr:

• Limited Features in Free Plan: The free version has ads and fewer advanced features compared to the paid plans.
• Requires a Learning Curve: While intuitive, some of the advanced features may take time to fully master.
• Limited Export Options: Higher-quality export options are restricted to paid plans.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes basic editing tools, limited stock photos, and cloud storage with ads.
• Premium Plan: $4.90/month, offering advanced editing tools, more stock assets, and ad-free usage.
• Creative Plan: $9.90/month, unlocking all premium features, including additional editing tools and full access to Pixlr’s premium stock library.

Stencil

Stencil is a user-friendly online graphic design tool designed for quick and easy creation of social media graphics, ads, and marketing visuals. With a focus on simplicity and speed, Stencil is perfect for marketers, bloggers, and small business owners who need professional-quality designs in minimal time.

Features of Stencil:

• User-Friendly Interface: Stencil offers a simple, drag-and-drop design interface that makes it easy to create visuals even for beginners.
• Templates: Provides a wide variety of templates for social media posts, banners, ads, and more, saving time in the design process.
• Stock Photos & Icons: Access to over 5 million stock photos, icons, and illustrations to enhance designs.
• Customization Options: Allows users to customize templates with their logos, colors, and fonts to match their brand.
• Social Media Integration: Direct integration with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for easy sharing of designs.
• Cloud Storage: Designs are stored in the cloud, allowing for easy access and collaboration from anywhere.

Pros of Stencil:

• Quick and Easy: Perfect for users who need to create designs fast without complicated tools or learning curves.
• Large Asset Library: Access to a huge collection of stock images, icons, and illustrations, with both free and premium options.
• Affordable: The pricing is competitive, with a free plan offering solid features and affordable paid plans for advanced options.
• Great for Social Media: Optimized templates and integration with social media platforms make it easy to create designs tailored to social media marketing.

Cons of Stencil:

• Limited Advanced Features: Lacks some advanced design tools and customization options found in more robust platforms like Photoshop or Illustrator.
• Restricted Free Plan: The free plan is limited in terms of available features and assets, with more advanced tools and assets available only in paid plans.
• Basic Design Capabilities: While ideal for quick designs, Stencil may not be the best choice for users looking for highly detailed or intricate designs.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes basic templates, access to 1,000+ free photos and icons, and limited cloud storage.
• Pro Plan: $9/month or $72/year, offering unlimited access to stock photos, premium icons, and advanced features like custom fonts and logo uploads.
• Business Plan: $12/month or $120/year, which includes team collaboration tools, additional cloud storage, and priority support.

VistaCreate

VistaCreate, formerly known as Crello, is an intuitive graphic design tool that allows users to create eye-catching visuals for social media, marketing materials, and more. With a variety of customizable templates and an easy-to-use interface, VistaCreate is perfect for beginners and professionals alike who want to create stunning designs quickly.

Features of VistaCreate:

• User-Friendly Interface: VistaCreate's drag-and-drop interface is simple, making it easy for users to create professional designs without a steep learning curve.
• Templates: Offers a wide range of templates for social media posts, advertisements, presentations, and more, all of which are fully customizable.
• Animation and Video Tools: Allows users to create animated graphics and videos, offering dynamic designs for social media and online marketing.
• Stock Library: Access to millions of free and premium photos, videos, and illustrations to enhance your designs.
• Collaboration Tools: Users can collaborate with teams in real time, sharing and editing designs effortlessly.
• Branding Features: The Pro plan offers brand kits, allowing users to upload logos, fonts, and colors to maintain consistent branding across all designs.

Pros of VistaCreate:

• Easy to Use: Designed for both beginners and experienced designers, making it a versatile tool for various skill levels.
• Large Asset Library: Access to millions of images, icons, videos, and animations, with both free and paid options available.
• Animation and Video Creation: Allows users to create animated graphics and videos, a feature not always available in other graphic design tools.
• Affordable: Offers a free plan with plenty of features, while the paid plans remain affordable for individuals and businesses.

Cons of VistaCreate:

• Limited Advanced Features: Lacks some of the in-depth design capabilities of professional software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
• Premium Content: Many advanced features and assets are locked behind the paid version.
• Less Customization: While it's great for quick designs, some users may find it limiting in terms of detailed customization options.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes access to a wide range of templates, 5GB of storage, and hundreds of free photos and animations.
• Pro Plan: $10.99/month or $109.99/year, offering unlimited access to premium assets, advanced design tools, and the ability to upload custom fonts and logos.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for businesses needing team collaboration features, additional storage, and priority support.

Photopea

Photopea is a powerful, web-based photo and graphic design editor that provides a range of advanced editing tools comparable to Adobe Photoshop. It allows users to create and edit images, design graphics, and work with PSD files, all from a browser, making it an ideal solution for professionals and enthusiasts looking for a free alternative to Photoshop.

Features of Photopea:

• Advanced Editing Tools: Photopea offers a full suite of advanced features like layers, masks, filters, blending modes, and more, giving users full control over their designs.
• Support for Multiple File Formats: Photopea can open and edit various file formats, including PSD, AI, Sketch, PDF, and more, making it versatile for users with different design needs.
• Layered Editing: Just like Photoshop, Photopea supports working with multiple layers, which makes it easier to manage and edit complex designs.
• No Installation Required: As a web-based tool, Photopea runs directly in the browser, which means there's no need to install any software on your device.
• Free to Use: Photopea offers all its features for free, with minimal ads and no hidden charges, making it accessible to anyone.
• Customizable Interface: Users can adjust the workspace to fit their personal preferences, making the tool flexible and efficient for different design tasks.

Pros of Photopea:

• Powerful Features for Free: Photopea offers a feature set comparable to professional tools like Adobe Photoshop but without the cost.
• No Installation: Being web-based, it’s easy to access from any device with a browser, without needing to install heavy software.
• Supports PSD Files: Unlike many free design tools, Photopea can open and edit PSD files, making it an excellent alternative for users working with Photoshop documents.
• Advanced Editing: Provides complex editing features like layer management, masks, and vector editing, suitable for more detailed design work.

Cons of Photopea:

• Ads in the Free Version: The free version of Photopea includes ads, which can be distracting for some users.
• Steep Learning Curve: While it's powerful, the interface and tools may be overwhelming for beginners, especially those new to graphic design.
• Limited Cloud Storage: Photopea does not offer cloud storage for saving projects, so users need to download their work manually or use third-party cloud services.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes all features with ads and limited cloud storage.
• Premium Plan: $9/month, removing ads, offering priority support, and providing access to additional features, including more cloud storage.

Animaker

Animaker is an online animation and video creation tool designed for both beginners and professionals. It allows users to create animated videos, explainer videos, presentations, and social media content with ease.

Features of Animaker:

• User-Friendly Interface: Drag-and-drop interface suitable for beginners.
• Templates: Pre-made templates for various types of videos, including explainer and marketing videos.
• Animation Tools: Create character animations, motion graphics, and text animations.
• Stock Assets: Access to a large library of videos, images, music, and sound effects.
• Customizable Characters: Design and customize characters for your videos.
• Collaboration: Allows team members to work on the same project in real time.

Pros of Animaker:

• Easy to Use: No animation experience is required.
• Affordable: Offers a free version and affordable paid plans.
• Wide Range of Templates: Helps speed up the video creation process.
• Comprehensive Animation Tools: Includes character animations, motion graphics, and more.
• Cloud-Based: Access your projects from anywhere with an internet connection.

Cons of Animaker:

• Limited Free Plan: Some features and templates are only available in paid plans.
• Watermarked Videos: Free plan videos come with a watermark.
• Limited Audio: Free version offers fewer music and sound effects options.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes basic features with a watermark.
• Basic Plan: $10/month for more features and no watermark.
• Pro Plan: $19/month for premium features and HD video exports.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for businesses with advanced features.

Fotor

Fotor is an online photo editing and graphic design tool that provides an easy-to-use platform for creating and editing images, posters, social media posts, and more. It is designed for users who want to enhance their photos and create professional-quality designs without advanced skills.

Features of Fotor:

• Photo Editing Tools: Includes a wide range of editing tools such as crop, resize, filters, and retouching options.
• Templates: Offers customizable templates for creating social media posts, ads, and other designs.
• Collage Maker: Allows users to create photo collages with various templates and layouts.
• AI Tools: Features AI-powered tools like background remover, portrait enhancement, and automatic adjustments.
• Stock Library: Access to a large library of stock photos, icons, and design elements to use in your projects.
• Cloud Storage: Store your projects and designs in the cloud for easy access and editing across devices.

Pros of Fotor:

• User-Friendly: Easy to use with a simple interface, making it perfect for beginners.
• Powerful Editing Tools: Offers advanced editing features for photo enhancement and design creation.
• AI Tools: The AI-powered tools save time and improve workflow with automatic adjustments.
• Affordable: Fotor offers a free plan with solid features and affordable paid plans.
• Cloud Storage: Access and edit your projects from any device with internet access.

Cons of Fotor:

• Limited Features in Free Plan: Some features, like advanced templates and stock assets, are only available in paid plans.
• Watermark on Free Plan: The free version adds a watermark to downloaded designs.
• Limited Customization: Some design elements may be limited compared to more advanced tools like Adobe Photoshop.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Includes basic editing tools and limited templates with a watermark.
• Pro Plan: $8.99/month for advanced tools, premium templates, and no watermark.
• Business Plan: $19.99/month for additional team collaboration features and access to more stock assets.

Why Look for Canva Alternatives?

While Canva is popular, there are several reasons you might want to explore alternatives:

• Limited Customization: Canvas templates can be restrictive for users needing advanced customization. Alternatives may offer more flexibility and control.
• High Cost for Premium Features: Canvas paid subscriptions can be expensive for individuals or small businesses. Alternatives may offer more affordable pricing or robust free plans.
• Advanced Design Features: Canvas design tools are basic. Alternatives like Adobe Spark or Pixlr offer more advanced editing capabilities and professional-level features.
• Video Editing Limitations: Canvas video editing is basic. Tools like Animaker or Adobe Express provide more advanced video creation features.
• Different Design Styles: Canva may not suit every project’s style. Alternatives offer unique templates and tools that may better align with your design vision.
• Team Collaboration: Canvas team collaboration tools are limited. Alternatives like Visme or Adobe Express provide more robust collaboration features and workflow management.
• Specialized Tools: Canva is general-purpose, but alternatives like Visme or Piktochart cater to specific industries like marketing and data visualization.
• Interface Preferences: Canvas interface may not be preferred by all. Other tools offer different workflows that might suit your design process better.

Conclusion

While Canva is a widely popular and user-friendly tool, numerous alternatives cater to specific design needs. Whether you're seeking more advanced features, better customization, or affordable pricing, tools like Adobe Express, Animaker, and Pixlr offer powerful solutions. Depending on your design goals—be it professional photo editing, animation, or social media content creation—there’s an alternative that can better suit your needs. 

Exploring these options can help you find the perfect tool that enhances your creativity and improves your design workflow.