Is Canva Pro worth it? What you need to know

Canva has been a go-to graphic design platform for millions of users worldwide since its launch in 2012. The service has continuously evolved, introducing Canva Pro in 2018 to provide even more features and benefits to its user base. While Canva Pro has steadily gained popularity, there are still many users who haven’t made the jump to the premium version.

So, if you are yet to give Canva Pro a try, we are here to tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly about the service.

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What is Canva Pro?

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform that allows you to create a wide range of visual content, from social media graphics to presentations. But what does the premium version, Canva Pro, offer?

Canva Pro is the platform’s paid subscription service, providing users with access to additional features, templates, and resources that aren’t available in the free version.

Canva Pro features

So, what can you expect from a Canva Pro subscription? Below is everything you can expect with your subscription:

Premium assets — access to over 100 million premium stock images, videos, audio, and graphics.
Extensive templates — over 420,000 premium templates with new designs added daily.
Brand Kit — create a Brand Kit with custom fonts, colors, and logos for a consistent visual identity.
Magic Resize — easily adapt designs for different platforms with this time-saving feature.
Organization tools — unlimited folders and storage for organizing and managing your work.
Team collaboration — collaborate with your team using real-time editing and commenting tools.
Priority support — enjoy faster customer support response times.
Background remover — effortlessly remove backgrounds from images with this powerful tool.
Version history — view and restore previous versions of your designs as needed.
Animation options — create engaging content with animated graphics and videos.

These features can significantly enhance your design capabilities, making it easier to create professional-looking content for any purpose.

How much is Canva Pro?

Canva Pro offers a 30-day free trial, but how much does it cost once the trial period ends?

There are two plans available: the standard plan monthly plan, which costs $12.95 a month, or the annual plan, which is billed at $119.40 annually (effectively $9.95 per month). Canva Pro also offers a special Teams plan with additional features, starting at $14.99 per user per month.

Here are those plans again in brief:

Standard: $12.95/mo
Annual: $119.40/yr (equivalent to $9.95/mo)
Teams: $14.99/month + $14.50/month for every team member beyond 5th

What we like

Canva Pro offers a wealth of features that make it a worthwhile upgrade for users seeking a more professional design experience. To start, having access to over 100 million premium assets, including stock images, videos, audio, and graphics, is incredibly valuable. The sheer volume of resources ensures that users can create unique and visually stunning designs without scouring the internet for additional content.

Moreover, Canva Pro’s impressive selection of more than 420,000 premium templates streamlines the design process, saving users time and effort. These templates cater to a wide range of design needs and are constantly updated, ensuring fresh and trendy designs for users.

The Brand Kit feature is a game-changer for businesses and individuals seeking a cohesive visual identity. By allowing users to store custom fonts, colors, and logos in one place, Canva Pro makes it easy to maintain consistency across all designs.

Organization and collaboration tools also make Canva Pro a worthwhile upgrade. With unlimited folders and storage, users can effortlessly manage their work, while real-time editing and commenting features facilitate seamless collaboration with team members.

Lastly, the inclusion of advanced tools like the Magic Resize and Background Remover significantly enhance the overall design experience. These time-saving features help users create engaging content quickly and efficiently without needing extensive design skills.

What Canva Pro needs to improve

While Canva Pro offers a significant upgrade over the free version, there are still areas where improvements could be made. For example, the platform’s mobile app experience could be more refined and feature-rich, matching the capabilities of the desktop version.

Additionally, Canva Pro’s search functionality could be improved to make it easier to find specific templates, images, and other assets. While the vast library is a significant advantage, it can sometimes be overwhelming to navigate and find the perfect element for your design.

Some users might also feel that the price point is a bit steep, particularly if they’re not utilizing all the features Canva Pro has to offer. Casual users or those with more basic design needs might find it hard to justify the cost, especially when the free version of Canva already provides a robust set of tools.

Lastly, Canva Pro could benefit from offering more advanced design features, such as advanced typography controls or more complex vector editing tools. While the simplicity of the platform is one of its main appeals, more experienced designers might crave additional functionality to create truly unique designs.