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Full Canva review: pros, cons and key features you need to know about
Need to make a quick graphic for that blog post you’re working on or create a website mock-up for a client? You no longer need to be a professional graphic designer to do beautiful work. You just need a few Canva tips and tricks to create masterful graphics, even when you’re on the go.
Canva has been one of the fastest-growing graphic design tools on the internet for one big reason. Anyone can learn to use it with a minimal time commitment. Tap or click for five simple Canva tips and tricks for better designs and graphics.
But there’s more about this helpful tool that you should know. For example, you can use it to make brochures, gifs and even business cards. Keep reading for everything you need to know about Canva.
Pro: Web-based application (no download)
You can access Canva through your browser. There’s no need to download software and take up space on your PC. You can access this from a Windows machine or Mac computer.
Some programs are only available on one major operating system. Even if they’re available on both, they can underperform on one OS versus another. Canva is free from those constraints since you can access it whenever you have web access.
Con: Grids and tables are difficult to make
Some visuals require a table or grid-style display system to make sense. However, you can’t edit graphics within Canva on a grid-style system. It’s much easier to make a table in Excel or Google Sheets to display information.
When you drag and drop different graphics (called “Elements” in Canva), the alignment tool does a decent job. But it can’t perfectly line everything up.
Pro: Affordable pricing
Canva offers a simple pricing structure with no hyperbole. There is a free version with limited capabilities. If you want to take advantage of what Canva offers, you’ll want to upgrade to the Pro version.
You can pay a monthly recurring subscription of $12.99 or choose an annual plan for $119.99. Even if you upgrade to a Teams or Enterprise option, the yearly price only bumps up to $149.90 per person for the first five team members.
Con: Editing video content is very basic
You can edit video content within Canva, but it’s far from ideal. Uploading videos from your PC into Canva quickly consumes your 5 GB of cloud storage space.
Editing videos is similar to editing static images but isn’t quite as intuitive. Plus, video editing feels like an add-on feature that isn’t quite finished yet.
Pro: You can create templates for your entire team
Working in a team? Share templates with your team members and allow them to make edits. The collaborative element of Canva is relatively intuitive for multiple people to use simultaneously.
You can create a suite of templates and share copies with your team, so they’re on the same page. Invite them to the project or send a direct invitation using the share option.
Con: Can’t download raw files
Want to take a design that you started in Canva and finish it in Photoshop? Sadly, you can’t. There are no raw project files to download, so everything you do in Canva has to be completed and product-ready.
Because Canva wants you to stay on its platform, we don’t see this being a feature it will unveil in the future. It’s counterintuitive to its product.
Pro: Exporting projects in multiple formats
You made an infographic, but it needs to go to two different people in different formats. No worries. You can export your project as a PDF, JPG, PNG and other file types.
This makes it easy to download and send attachments. Alternatively, you can invite a co-worker or client onto a project and they can export it as they see fit.
More Canva tips and tricks you need to know about
We want to keep it brief, but we can’t let you go without discussing the critical features that make Canva one of our favorite web-based apps.
- Sell templates: You can get codes for template copies and sell them on websites such as Etsy or your own shop. People make a living out of selling Canva templates, so if you get savvy with the platform, you can cover the subscription expense easily.
- Templates for everything: Whether it’s a YouTube thumbnail, infographic or Twitter banner, there’s a template for just about everything you can think of. It makes it simple to get started on many project types.
- Stock photo access: Canva offers access to a ton of stock photos through its templates. You can use them as you see fit, although many are offered in Canva Pro and the free version is limited.
- 100 GB of Storage: With Canva Pro, you can access 100 GB of cloud storage. Free accounts still get 5 GB, which is often more than you need.
While Canva is limited and has cons, it works well for basic-level design. Even if you plan on hiring a graphic designer, giving them a visual idea of what you want with quick Canva templates can make the entire process much easier.
You can use Canva in your browser or download the Canva app. Canva can be used on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. You can download the app for iOS devices here. Or get it for Android here.
What will you create?
Canva has enough customization options to make an array of different designs. Plus, it offers thousands of quality templates to help you get started.
Basically, it’s the design tool you don’t need to be a designer to use. Try Canva by creating a free account, or upgrade to a Canva Pro account and access millions of graphics and photos as part of your subscription.
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