Canva

Pros

Impressively user-friendly interface, vast template library, and excellent options for full-fledged customization. Canva will easily make graphic design approachable for even the most novice amateurs, but the advanced features found here make it perfect for professionals. Great tool for creative projects!

Cons

It doesn't cost anything, but the free version is limited because you'll have less access to those premium templates. Sometimes collaboration tools are clunky, but the app sometimes lags behind for complicated designs.

Pros

Very user friendly and intuitive. Makes it easy to create great graphics for the web with limited design skills.

Cons

If you don't stay on top of things, your Canva can become very disorganized. Adding things to folders and saving templates isn't that easy.

Pros

I think Canva is a great platform is constantly increasing their apps library and it allows the non-designer to quickly create assets for their business. For the educated designer Canva offers the chance to create assets to sell and share to clients that aren't very design savvy. It's come a long way since it's conception and I think we'll always use it in some capacity.

Cons

The design options are limited for the educated designer and you're dependent on the internet to use it. This platform is aimed at uneducated designers. For educated designers it lacks the high quality design options that other design platforms have.

Pros

The ease of creating really good looking graphics as well as all the templates available. The new AI feature is ok and will likely improve tremendously with time. I also like that we can use premium Unsplash photos with a paid account.

Cons

One of the best things I like about canva is also one of the least things I like about it = the amazing templates also make it very easy to go off-brand when you're not a brand designer. I've done that several times and I really have to be careful. ;)

Another thing I'm not really happy about is the fact that the images and graphics I add in the 'Brand' section are difficult to import into my creatives. Maybe I don't understand this feature, so I upload all my branding graphics so that I can easily use them. I don't know why the graphics/photos in the 'Brand' section can't be easily imported. This makes no sense to me.

The last thing I'm not really happy about is the amount of clicks and time I need to spend to export each graphic. I wish we could default these settings, i.e. I always have to deselect download 'ALL' pages to only download one which is always what I need to do. Also, I download more .jpgs than anything else. It just takes so long to adjust the settings every single time.

Pros

The versatility, hands down. I am always saying to people that "I can do that in Canva" because it literally offers such a diverse set of design options with completely customizable content and amazing starting templates.

Cons

Honestly the only thing that annoys me when working within canva is how my files are organized. I have to dig and dig and dig sometimes to find a file. However, I must say that if I would have been smart, I would have labelled all my files with specific searchable titles and created folders for the various different projects I worked on. It does offer the tools for organization, so this con is probably more user error and lack of thinking ahead. I plan to reorganize it all one day but it will be a daunting task. Luckily Canva saves me time!

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Canva

Pros

Canva has a library of design templates that I can fill in and use. There's also a large selection of photos, animations, script, (etc.) that can be added to the template.
When I open the app there is a selection of design type to choose from and a search bar. I searched "attorney" and "business card" and there were more results than I could look through. I chose one I liked and replaced the example text with my firm name. I also replaced one of the images with a custom image that I imported from my phone. I used Canvas tools to remove the background from the image and add a filter.
I was going to export the finished design and send it to a print shop, but Canva actually prints too and the prices are great. They shipped my business cards quickly and they were beautiful. Everything was exactly how I wanted it.
It's worth noting that I have little skill in the creativity department but Canva was still easy for me to use. There's no need to actually draw or even coordinate colors. It's all done and ready in the templates.

Cons

I would have appreciated more printing options (paper and finish, etc.)
Canva has free templates but most have a star with "Pro" in the corner and can't be printed without a watermark unless you pay for it or purchase a subscription. The subscription is the best value since some templates can cost more but there's no trial.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing Canva

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to Canva

Pros

I love the ease of use of the product, it's user friendly and really anyone can use it easily. When I'm not sure what to do, I just browse for the answer and so far have never been stumped! Drag and drop - drag and drop - repeat. We have the paid version and absolutely love all the options, all the photos and videos.

Cons

The only thing I stumble on sometimes is the navigation. Where to find my files. Where did they go? And I have to click and click and oh there they are! They are always there though. I have folders that I have made that are a bit difficult to find sometimes.

Pros

Very excellent Templates and one stop solution for your designing and campaign creation needs

Cons

I found it costly, and earlier we can view the elements of a pro/paid template now we can not.

Pros

Canva is super amazing artificial intelligence for image and video creation and background replacement!

Cons

It needs more video background replacement and also more layering. At least 3 layers: background, middle and foreground to add an illusion of depth. Also maybe more 3d background space allowing some illusion of movement like a green screen?

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Canva

Pros

Almost everything. I use this program to help me assemble magazine layouts, social media posts, covers for videos, you name it.

Cons

Some features are a bit hard to find but that's my only frustration.

Pros

Very easy to use. Great for branding and logo design with a wide range of ideas and inspiration. We export high quality images which is hard to find an easy to use program with that option at an affordable price range.

Cons

Many features are locked unless you have a paid design. They should give some included in the free version to make life easier such as free resize of canvas. Only minor cons.

Pros

The thing that I value most about Canva as the Director of Brand Management is that it's so simple to use and accessible, allowing anyone on our team to produce designs of a high caliber without needing too much graphic design knowledge. It's easy for anyone to create visually attractive content fast with Canva's user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, whether they're creating presentations, social media graphics, internal papers, or marketing collateral. We can maintain consistent branding across all our visual communications and greatly increase our team's productivity because to its user-friendliness.

Cons

Canva's limited customization and sophisticated design skills in comparison to more professional graphic design software are my main concerns as the Director of Brand Management.

Pros

The ease and practicality of finding models, elements and resources, so that you feel like a designer who knows how to make models for companies through great resources, where over time you will be able to do better things than in Photoshop.

Cons

It needs a little more resources, so that we can get close to Photoshop when it comes to static images. Because many resources we have to do a "jump" to look like what we do in Photoshop and as a result we waste a little time.

Pros

The versatility, lots of templates to use and the AI component for photos

Cons

Wish it was a bit cheaper with them putting their pricing up this month.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Canva

Pros

Canva is the one-stop-shop for anything I need to design as an Events Manager - menus, food labels, special cards, invitations, Instagram posts, email blasts, signs. The best feature is its massive bandwidth of what you can do!

Cons

I would like to better organize by files in the "Uploads" section but it is not a deal breaker.

Pros

Canva has transformed how I create and manage design projects, from family history book templates to social media graphics. It's incredibly user-friendly, making it ideal for beginners and experienced designers. The drag-and-drop interface, extensive template library, and access to free (and premium) design elements mean I can easily create professional-quality designs without needing advanced design software.

One of Canva’s standout features is its collaborative nature. Being able to share projects and work on designs with clients and colleagues in real time has been a huge asset, especially when making quick edits or receiving feedback. The export options are versatile, allowing for high-quality downloads across various formats, which has been perfect for digital and print projects.

Cons

A couple of areas for improvement would be the file organization within folders, as managing many designs can become overwhelming, and sometimes the platform can be a bit slow with larger projects, I don't care for how you have to click to edit now, However, the pros far outweigh these minor inconveniences. Canva is essential in my business, whether I'm creating detailed genealogy pages or promotional content. I recommend Canva for anyone looking to streamline their design workflow!

Pros

Ease of use. The interface is user-friendly, there are tons of stock photos, something for every need. The templates are beautiful and I can always find something to fit my style and branding. I can upload my own images and add Canva elements to enhance the images. I can create reels, gifs, and mp4's. Canva has pre-loaded image dimensions, so I can easily resize my projects without having to start from scratch.

Cons

The only thing I don't like is how easy it is to spend hours exploring and creating images, lol! I'm not really sure that's a negative.
I personally need to make better use of the folders for organization.

Pros

What is there NOT to like about Canva? It's great for professional designers AND those of us who need to DIY but aren't pros.

Things I love about Canva:
- There is a template for EVERYTHING
- Every template is customizable
- With paid plans, you get access to so many different plugins and assets
- I was able to create so many things: invoice banners, email signatures, LinkedIn photo and banner, business cards, social media posts, reports, slides — the list goes on.

Canva never lets me down. Whenever I log into Canva to make something, I'm always pleasantly surprised at what I *can* do with it.

But the main thing I love about Canva is how easy it is to use.

Cons

The only teeny tiny thing I don't love about Canva is the actual dashboard with all the folders and projects. I still find it not intuitive and messy-looking. I like things organized in folders, but for some reason my dashboard is always flooded with "recent" designs. Looking for and finding an existing file always takes longer than it should

Pros

I like how versatile it is. I can do just about anything I can imagine on Canva. The creation possibilities are endless and if I want, I can create a physical product and print directly with Canva.

Cons

Canva has so many functions and features that it can feel like a lot to digest. It takes time to learn all the different layers of this platform but they provide several tips and tricks and videos to help users!

Pros

Canva offers an abundance of options for templates, or allows you to create from scratch in any size, format, or medium you could ask for.

Cons

I am sometimes frustrated when elements are automatically aligned to other objects when I do not want them to be. This limits your control of placement or sizing in some circumstances.

Pros

What I love most about Canva is its versatility. I can use it for both my nanny agency and my doula services to create everything from professional social media graphics to informative brochures, all without needing any formal design skills. The drag-and-drop interface, along with its extensive library of templates, makes designing quick and easy.

Cons

The one downside I’ve encountered is that some premium elements require additional fees, which can add up over time if you’re frequently using premium assets. Also, the need for an internet connection can be limiting if I’m working on the go without access to Wi-Fi.

Pros

While it is bet with the paid subscription I had been using this for years, probably for 10 years and I got by with the free version until this year when it made sense to access more materials. It is easy and fun to use. I have made everything from flyers advertising school courses, to company newsletters.

Cons

Organizing and sorting uploaded images is probably the most taxing.

Pros

I love canva, there are so many elements available, they make it really easy to use their program. They have tons of design templates available for you, and really help you to stay unique and creative. The search function allows me to find my projects easily. I can change a design size and make a copy within 1 second. canva is amazing!

Cons

I honestly can't think of a con to canva, it does everything it is supposed to do. The only thing I could think of is that some people say it's limited with the designs, but personally I think they offer an incredibly wide range of templates, designs, and elements. Maybe a wider music selection would be nice.

Pros

Canva is a great product especially for someone who is just beginning a business online as it's easy to use and comes with templates which are simple to edit and customise.

Cons

The graphics are not in HD quality ... not even for paid members which is very upsetting!

Pros

What I like most about Canva is how easy it is to use and how many design templates it offers. Even if you’re not a professional, you can still create really cool and professional-looking designs quickly. The customizable branding options are great for keeping everything consistent.

Cons

The biggest downside of Canva is that the free version has some limitations. You can’t access all the premium templates and design elements unless you pay, which can be frustrating if you need more advanced features.