In this guide, we explore the key differences between Canva Free and Canva Pro, their costs, features, and limitations, and how they are compared to other free design platforms like FlexClip , Animaker , Kittl , and Pixlr .
Canva Free offers a wide range of powerful tools and resources designed to help users create stunning designs quickly and easily, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer.
No access to premium templates or assets. Limited brand kit customization (no custom logos, fonts, or multiple color palettes). No background remover or Magic Resize tool. No support for transparent PNGs or advanced video animation. Cannot schedule social media posts directly from the platform.
Canva
Templates for absolutely anything. Customise an office template, or design something more personal, like an invitation.
Canva Pro: Elevating the Design Experience Image Source: Image Source: Canva
Canva Pro is a paid upgrade that dramatically expands the platform’s capabilities. It’s best suited for small businesses, marketers, designers, and teams seeking efficiency and brand consistency.
Cost Canva Pro starts at $14.99/month (or around $119.99/year for individuals).A 30-day free trial is available to test drive its premium features. Key Features Canva Pro provides an enhanced set of tools and features to help you create professional designs with ease, offering exclusive resources and advanced functionalities for businesses and creators.
610,000+ templates, including premium and exclusive designs. 100+ million premium photos, videos, audio, and graphics. Advanced Brand Kit: Upload your own fonts, logos, and create up to 100 brand color palettes. One-click Background Remover for images and video. Magic Resize: Instantly reformat a single design for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube thumbnails, and more.Premium Export Options: Save as transparent PNGs, GIFs, MP4s, and more.Enhanced Animation: Access to high-quality transitions and motion effects.1TB Cloud Storage and unlimited folders for better file organization. Social Media Scheduler: Post directly to Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter from Canva.Advanced Collaboration Tools: Assign tasks, comment in real-time, and create shared folders. Who Is It For? Canva Pro is tailored for:
Freelancers and entrepreneurs looking to save time with automation and templates. Marketing teams and startups need brand consistency. Content creators who frequently work with video, social media, and print. Feature Comparison Table Image Source: Image Source: Canva
The following feature comparison table compares the key differences between Canva Free and Canva Pro side by side, helping you quickly identify which version best suits your design needs .
Feature Canva Free Canva Pro Templates 250,000+ 610,000+ (including premium) Stock Media 1M+ free assets 100M+ premium photos, videos, audio, graphics Storage 5GB 1TB Brand Kit Basic (1 palette, no logos/fonts) Full kit with logos, fonts, 100 color palettes Background Remover ❌ ✅ Images & Videos Magic Resize ❌ ✅ Resize for any platform Export Options Basic only Transparent PNGs, GIFs, videos Social Scheduler ❌ ✅ Supports major platforms Collaboration Basic sharing Advanced workflow tools & shared folders AI Features Basic Magic Write/Design Enhanced AI tools & Smart Mockups Support Community forums 24/7 customer support
Alternatives to Canva with Free Plans Image Source: Image Source: Canva
If Canva isn’t quite the fit for your needs, there are excellent alternatives—some with strong free offerings. Here’s a quick overview:
1. FlexClip FlexClip is an easy-to-use online video maker and editor designed for creating professional-quality videos, slideshows, and animations with minimal effort.
Best for: Video creators and marketers.Free Plan Includes: Up to 12 projects, video trimming, basic templates, and watermark on exports.Pro Features: 1080p downloads, stock media, timeline editing, branding tools. 2. Animaker Animaker is a user-friendly animation and video creation platform that enables anyone to make animated videos, infographics, and presentations with drag-and-drop ease.
Best for: Animated video creators and educators.Free Plan Includes: Basic character animation, 5 free downloads/month, and up to 2 minutes of video.Pro Features: HD quality, voiceovers, commercial rights, and more characters. 3. Kittl Kittl is a design platform focused on creating high-quality illustrations, logos, and typographic designs, offering powerful vector editing tools and templates tailored for print and branding.
Best for: Logo, print, and illustration designers.Free Plan Includes: Access to templates, vector tools, and community designs.Pro Features: Advanced vector editing, commercial license, premium font uploads. 4. Pixlr Pixlr is a cloud-based photo editing tool that offers powerful, AI-enhanced features for quick and professional image editing directly in your browser—no installation required.
Best for: Photo editing.Free Plan Includes: AI Cutout, filters, and essential photo tools.Pro Features: Layer editing, premium overlays, ad-free interface, and more export options. Which Version Is Right for You? Image Source: Image Source: Canva
Here’s a quick summary to help you decide whether Canva Free or Canva Pro is the better fit for your needs, based on your design goals, budget, and feature requirements.
Choose Canva Free if… You’re just starting out with design or creating content casually Ideal for beginners or non-designers who want to create quick visuals without a learning curve. Access to Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, 250,000+ templates, and 1M+ free design assets. Great for simple tasks like event invitations, basic social media posts, and personal projects. You need a tool for school, personal projects, or nonprofit campaigns Perfect for students creating school presentations or teachers designing classroom materials. Nonprofits can use Canva Free to craft posters, brochures, and social media content to support their cause. Additional support available via Canva for Nonprofits, which offers Pro-level features at no cost for eligible organizations. You don’t need advanced editing, branding, or premium content You’re not concerned with uploading custom fonts, setting up a full brand kit, or accessing premium stock content. Basic collaboration tools are sufficient for your workflow. Limited features like no background remover, Magic Resize, or transparent export are not deal-breakers for your use case. Upgrade to Canva Pro if … You run a business or brand and need consistent, polished visuals Use the Brand Kit to maintain visual consistency across all designs by uploading your logos, fonts, and creating up to 100 custom color palettes. Streamline team collaboration with shared folders and permission settings for your marketing or design team. You rely on high-quality exports, animations, and videos Access a massive library of 100+ million premium images, videos, audio, and templates. Export in professional formats including transparent PNGs, animated GIFs, and HD videos for commercial use. Use advanced video editing tools and animations to create eye-catching content for social media, websites, or presentations. You need tools that save time and increase productivity Magic Resize: Instantly reformat one design into multiple dimensions (e.g., Instagram post → Facebook banner).Background Remover: Remove backgrounds from photos and videos with one click—perfect for product shots, thumbnails, or profile photos.AI Tools: Utilize features like Magic Write for AI-generated copy and Magic Design to quickly create layouts from uploaded content. Final Thoughts Canva’s Free version offers a great starting point with plenty of design tools and templates for beginners. The Pro subscription adds advanced customization, premium content, and workflow automation for creators needing more. With its intuitive interface and AI features, Canva stands strong among competitors like FlexClip , Animaker , Kittl , and Pixlr .
Looking to boost your digital design toolkit even further? Check out Softlist.io for exclusive deals and promotions on the latest design software and tools. Explore Top 10 content creation tools all tailored to help you create smarter and faster.
FAQs What Is the Difference Between Canva Pro and Free Canva? The main difference between Canva Free and Canva Pro lies in the range of features and content available. Canva Free includes basic tools such as access to 250,000+ templates, over 1 million free design elements, and 5GB of storage. In contrast, Canva Pro offers advanced tools like Magic Resize, one-click background remover, brand kits, social media scheduling, access to 100+ million premium assets, and 1TB of cloud storage.
Is Canva No Longer Free? No, Canva is free and offers a comprehensive design platform at no cost. The free version is ideal for individuals, students, and nonprofit teams with basic design needs. It includes essential features such as templates, images, collaboration tools, and cloud storage without requiring a subscription.
Is It Worth Paying for Canva Pro? Yes, Canva Pro is worth the investment for users who need more control, flexibility, and efficiency in their design workflow. It’s especially beneficial for professionals, entrepreneurs, and content creators who rely on premium features like the Brand Kit, advanced export options, and a vast media library. The time saved through tools like Magic Resize and the added polish from professional assets often justify the cost.
Is It Possible to Use Canva Pro for Free? Yes, users can try Canva Pro for free through a 30-day trial, which gives full access to all premium tools and content. This trial allows individuals or teams to explore whether the Pro features suit their workflow before committing. Additionally, Canva offers free Pro access to eligible nonprofits and educators through its specialized programs.
Is the Free Version of Canva Any Good? The free version of Canva is widely considered one of the best design tools available at no cost. It offers a solid set of features that are more than sufficient for casual users, students, and small projects. With access to thousands of templates, drag-and-drop editing, and collaborative functionality, it meets the needs of most beginner and intermediate users.
