10 Best Canva Alternatives in 2024 (Buyer’s Guide)

Canva is the go-to platform for users who want to create stunning designs without needing advanced technical skills.

While Canva has gained popularity for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates, several other platforms can elevate your design game even further. 

As I tested some of the best Canva alternatives, I understood the importance of finding the perfect platform to bring your creative ideas to life.

Throughout this exploration, I will leverage my knowledge and experience to objectively analyze these alternatives, helping you discover the ideal platform that suits your design needs.

1. Visme (Editor’s Choice)

Visme is an exceptional alternative to Canva, offering a wide array of advanced features and a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.

With its intuitive interface and powerful design capabilities, Visme allows users to create visually appealing graphics, presentations, and infographics.

I have been impressed by its drag-and-drop editor, which simplifies the design process and enables seamless customization of elements. 

Visme operates on a freemium pricing model, offering a free version with limited features and storage.

For more advanced functionality and access to premium assets, users can upgrade to one of the paid plans, which are competitively priced and provide additional benefits such as increased storage, collaboration tools, and priority support.

2. Adobe Express

Adobe Express, a worthy Canva alternative, stands out as a powerful and intuitive design platform. As part of the renowned Adobe Creative Cloud suite, it offers a seamless experience for beginners and professionals.

With its vast array of tools and features, Adobe Express allows users to easily create stunning graphics, social media posts, and marketing materials.

Having used Adobe Express extensively for various projects, I can attest to its versatility and seamless integration with other Adobe products. 

The pricing model for Adobe Express operates on a subscription basis. Adobe offers a free version with limited functionality, making it accessible to those who want to explore the platform before committing to a subscription.

3. Vista

Vista is an alternative to Canva, specifically catering to the needs of social media users and graphic design enthusiasts.

With its diverse graphic design tools and vast templates, Vista allows users to create eye-catching social media graphics and captivating images effortlessly.

Having utilized Vista for various social media projects, the platform is highly effective in designing visually appealing graphics tailored for different social media platforms.

Vista’s pricing model offers free and pro plans with a 14-day free trial. The plan provides access to premium features, unlimited storage capacity, and various templates designed for social media use.

4. Snappa

Snappa provides users with the tools to create stunning visual content. With its extensive professional templates and user-friendly interface, Snappa empowers individuals and businesses to create eye-catching graphics and captivating images.

I have found the platform to be a game-changer in simplifying the process of creating visually appealing content.

Snappa’s pricing model is based on subscription plans, offering different tiers to accommodate varying needs. The plans grant users access to premium features, increased storage capacity, and a growing library of templates.

Whether you’re an individual or part of a team, Snappa’s pricing structure ensures flexibility and scalability.

5. FotoJet

FotoJet is a versatile alternative to Canva, offering a range of graphic design tools to create stunning graphics and images. With FotoJet, you can unleash your creativity and create attractive graphics.

The platform offers various customizable templates and design elements, allowing you to tailor graphics to suit your needs and preferences.

Its user-friendly interface is a standout feature, enabling me to create visually appealing graphics easily. The platform’s intuitive design and drag-and-drop functionality streamlined the entire process.

FotoJet’s pricing model operates on a freemium basis, offering both free and premium subscription plans.

The free version provides access to basic features and templates, while the premium plans unlock advanced tools and premium templates, allowing you to take your graphic design and image creation to new heights.

6. Stencil

Stencil is a powerful alternative to Canva, designed for creating images and graphics. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of editing features to cater to the needs of both beginners and experienced designers.

Its simplicity and efficiency in creating images for various purposes impressed me. Still, on the other side, the free option is very limited and not a good choice for more demanding users.

Stencil operates on a freemium pricing model, providing a free plan along with premium subscription options.

7. PicMonkey

PicMonkey is a popular alternative to Canva for social media marketers and anyone looking to create eye-catching images.

With its user-friendly interface and robust tools, PicMonkey allows users to design stunning visuals for various platforms effortlessly. 

I found PicMonkey to be intuitive and efficient in meeting my graphic design needs.

When it comes to pricing, PicMonkey offers a subscription-based model. They provide different plans to cater to various user requirements.

The Basic plan is free, providing access to limited features and design templates. The Pro plan, which is their most popular option, unlocks the full suite of tools, additional templates, and advanced editing capabilities. 

8. Pixlr

Pixlr is a versatile graphic design tool that empowers users to create stunning images, edit photos, and leverage various pre-made templates.

With its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, Pixlr offers a wide range of possibilities for visual content creation.

While Pixlr offers features for creating captivating images and enhancing photos with pre-made templates, I found the platform lacking user-friendliness and having navigation difficulties and occasional glitches that disrupted my workflow.

Pixlr offers both free and premium subscription options with a wide array of editing options and pre-made templates.

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.
– Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple

9. Fotor

Fotor offers powerful tools for creating stunning images and a static graphic editor that simplifies the design process.

With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set, Fotor provides a seamless experience for creating captivating visual content.

While using Fotor, I liked its ability to create high-quality images and the convenience of its static graphic editor. The intuitive design and drag-and-drop functionality allow great customization and manipulation of graphics.

Fotor offers a flexible pricing model, including a free version with basic features and a premium subscription for enhanced capabilities.

The premium plan unlocks additional features and access to a wider range of templates, empowering users to create images and graphics on a professional level.

10. Luminar

Luminar is an alternative to Canva, primarily focusing on advanced photo editing and enhancement capabilities.

With its extensive range of editing tools and intelligent filters, Luminar provides photographers and graphic designers with the tools they need to transform their images.

In my experience with Luminar, I found the software frustrating and challenging to navigate. The learning curve can be steep, requiring dedication and patience to harness its features fully.

Buyer’s guide

By considering these factors and conducting thorough research, you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision and choose the best Canva alternative that caters to your design needs, regardless of your graphic design experience.

1. Identify Your Design Needs

Before exploring Canva alternatives, it’s essential to understand your specific design requirements. Assess the type of projects you’ll be working on, whether it’s social media graphics, presentations, flyers, or other visual content.

This evaluation will help you narrow down the alternatives that cater to your niche and target audience. 

2. User-Friendly Interface

A user-friendly interface is vital for a smooth and hassle-free design experience. Look for alternative platforms that boast an intuitive layout and are easy to navigate, even for beginners. 

3. Design Flexibility And Customization 

To fuel creativity, the ideal Canva alternative should offer various design elements, fonts, and graphics. This ensures ample options to craft unique and visually appealing designs. 

4. Compatibility And Integration

Ensure that the Canva alternative you choose supports the file formats you commonly use or need for projects.

Seamless compatibility allows for easy importing and exporting of designs, simplifying your workflow.

Moreover, consider platforms that offer integrations with tools you regularly use, such as social media scheduling or photo management software. 

5. Pricing

Take time to compare the pricing models, subscription plans, and features each Canva alternative offers. Look for plans that align with your budget and design needs.

Some alternatives offer free trials or freemium options, allowing you to test the platform before committing financially. 

6. Customer Support 

The platform’s level of customer support and resources is crucial, especially if you encounter any issues or have questions during your design journey. Check for options like live chat, email support, or access to help center resources.

FAQs 

What Are the Disadvantages of Canva?

The disadvantages of Canva include limited customization options, as pre-made templates and design elements may hinder the creation of truly unique designs.

Is Canva Free?

Yes, Canva offers a free version that provides access to a wide range of design tools, templates, and assets.

However, certain features and assets may be limited or only available to Canva Pro subscribers. 

Do Professionals Use Canva?

Yes, professionals use Canva. While Canva is popular among non-designers, it is also utilized by professional designers, marketers, social media managers, and other creative professionals.

Which Canva Alternative Is The Best Choice For You?

When choosing the best alternative to Canva, Visme is a fantastic option. It offers a powerful set of features and a user-friendly interface that makes creating impressive visual content easy.

I’ve used Visme to create eye-catching graphics, presentations, and infographics. What I love about it is the drag-and-drop editor, which simplifies the design process.

Another great thing about Visme is its pricing flexibility. You can start with a free plan, and, if you need more advanced features and support, reasonably priced paid plans are available.

Whether you’re a professional designer, marketer, or someone who wants to create visually appealing content, Visme has you covered. It’s a versatile tool that can meet your design needs, regardless of your skill level.

Our #1 Recommendation: Visme

• Editor's Choice

Overall Rating:

Ease of use

Features

Pricing

Customer support

Key Features:

• User-friendly editor
• Flexible pricing
• Wide range of design options
• Customization options

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Article by

Matt Diggity

Matt is the founder of Diggity Marketing, LeadSpring, The Search Initiative, The Affiliate Lab, and the Chiang Mai SEO Conference. He actually does SEO too.

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