Canva is a graphic design app that you can download and use for free.
You can also access the web-based version of the platform once you create an account. So, it’s free to download and open, but is Canva free forever?
The answer is yes.
There is a free forever version of Canva, along with paid Pro and Enterprise versions.
If you’re an individual content creator, the free version’s impressive list of features may be enough for you. But if you own a business that depends a lot on graphics and media, Canva Pro is the better way to go.
Let’s look at what Canva is, the differences between Canva’s free and Pro versions, and what you can do to get Pro for free. Here we go!
What is Canva?
At its core, Canva is an online application that helps graphic designers and content creators make digital assets.
Think Instagram and social media posts, party invitations, and backgrounds for video conferencing software.
You can also make business cards and flyers, and use your own photos.
Canva is an application that does not require a lot of graphic design skills or knowledge to use. The platform has an intuitive interface with drag and drop capabilities.
Within Canva are over 50k templates you can customize and make your own. In a sense, Canva is a more sophisticated and extensive version of PowerPoint. You can start with premade, professional templates and add custom text and photos to them.
Alternatively, you can design your own templates or start with a blank canvas.
Some people prefer this because it allows more creativity and supports a unique look. But using premade templates increase efficiency and supports content creators with various skill sets.
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What is Canva Good For?
Canva is good for a number of your graphic design needs. Some of the advantages of using Canva are:
Design a logo
Create and edit videos
Social media graphics
Social media stories
Instagram quotes
YouTube video editor
Business cards
Invitations
Custom mugs
Design custom t-shirts
Canvas prints
Greeting cards
e-Books
Letterheads
Resumes
Posters
Photobooks
Presentations
Stickers
Printable art
Is Canva Free?
Yes, there is a free version of Canva and it does not cost you anything to sign up. You’ll find that Canva is free to download in the Google Play or Apple App store, depending on what type of phone you have.
You can also sign up for free with your Google, Facebook, or email account.
The free version gives you access to many content creation, graphic design, and photo editing features. There are thousands of stock images and custom-made fonts to design your work.
Once you create content, you can also download it to your device or computer. Canva has complimentary video tutorials to guide you every step of the way.
How Much is Canva Pro?
Normally, Canva Pro is $119.99 a year for up to five people. However, this is the entry-level price tier.
If your team is larger than five individuals, the price points are as follows:
Up to 10 people: $419.99 a year
Teams of 25: $1,319.99 a year
Up to 50 individuals: $2,819.99 a year
You can also choose monthly billing instead of annual contracts. Plus, there are custom price points for teams that are larger than 50.
Let’s break down the monthly pricing per non-custom tier.
$327.99 a month for 50 people
$152.99 a month for teams of 25
$47.99 a month for 10 people
$12.99 a month for 1 to 5 individuals
One of the advantages of Canva Pro is access to branded content and templates. In other words, you can use your brand’s existing logo and logs with your company’s taglines or slogans.
Therefore, you can have predesigned, easy-to-use templates that meet your brand standards.
This can be convenient for companies with interdisciplinary teams.
Say an executive needs to use a template for a presentation. And another marketing employee without graphic design experience needs to arrange a web page. They can add to standard templates easily.
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Is Canva Pro Worth It?
Absolutely! If you need access to premium features and branded templates, Canva Pro is worth the investment.
Also, if you have multiple collaborators who have various graphic design and photo editing skills, Canva Pro is a good investment.
If you don’t want to commit to an annual subscription, choosing the monthly option can help you see how Canva Pro will fit into your organization.
Of course, the monthly billing option is more expensive but you can switch to an annual subscription to save 23%.
Besides branded content, you have more templates and resources to choose from. These include stock photos to enhance your marketing materials, including emails and web pages.
While the free version is robust, Canva Pro gives your team enhanced capabilities.
What are the Features of the Canva Free Version?
The free version of Canva includes:
Templates
Designs for various social media platforms
Stock photos
Graphics
Cloud storage.
You and your team can also collaborate on content in the cloud. You can do this asynchronously or in real-time. Administrators can add and invite members as they join.
The amount of cloud storage you get is up to 5GB, which is pretty impressive if you’re a small group.
You can start browsing over 250,000 templates to spark ideas for your work. With the collaboration features, team members can contribute feedback and manage content.
Plus, staff members can send drafts to you or other creative managers for approval. Once approved, content can go into a “final assets” folder for others to use. Other features include content sharing and the ability to organize media assets into different folders.
What are the Benefits of the Canva Pro Version?
The Canva Pro version gives you everything the free version offers plus more templates and photos.
With Canva Pro, you get the additional benefits of:
Premium and free templates that include new designs that are added each day.
Millions of videos, graphics, and stock photos.
Over 100 brand kits for custom templates and media designs.
The ability to remove image backgrounds and watermarks from templates.
Up to 10GB of cloud storage.
The ability to automate and schedule social media posts and content.
Media resizing capabilities.
Essentially, Canva Pro expands the media assets your team has access to.
Plus, you have additional content creation and automation benefits that the free version lacks. It’s more geared toward professional content teams that support high volumes.
Try Canva Pro for free
How to Get Canva Pro for Free?
Organizations in the education and non-profit sectors are eligible for a forever free version of Canva Pro.
However, businesses outside those industries can enjoy Canva Pro for free with a 30-day trial.
When you first upgrade to or sign up for Canva Pro, you can activate the trial.
As long as you cancel your Pro membership before the 30-day trial expires, you won’t have to pay for it.
This gives you time to evaluate whether Canva Pro’s benefits meet your needs. You can always go back or downgrade to the free version once the trial ends.
Try Canva Pro for free
Final Thoughts on Canva
Is Canva free? Of course, it is. You can stay on the forever free plan or upgrade to the Pro version for a free 30-day trial.
Also, if your organization is in the education or non-profit sectors, Canva Pro is free for the entire time your account is active.
Both versions offer a wealth of content creation, graphic design, and photo editing tools.
It’s a nice alternative to other photo editing and media creation programs that cost money from the get-go. Plus, you don’t need to be a design expert to use Canva.
You can easily create, collaborate on, and store media assets. Organize them according to brands, social platforms, and more.
Try Canva Pro for free
Common FAQ’s:
1. How many times can you use Canva for free?
Canva is free for anyone to use, so you can use it as many times as you like. But if you want to use some of their premium features then Canva’s Pro option is the best way to go.
2. What is the difference between Canva Pro and Canva’s free version?
While Canva’s free version gives you access to templates, photos and graphics, the Pro version has its perks.
Some advantages of Canva Pro are access to premium stock photos and videos, remove image backgrounds, set up your brand kit, resize designs with magic designs, 100GB of cloud storage and more.
3. How can I pay for Canva Pro?
Payment methods include PayPal and most major credit cards.
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