Canva is popular for its templates, drag-and-drop editor, and simple workflow. It helps users design social media posts, presentations, and marketing materials quickly. Despite this, many search for a Canva alternative due to rising costs.
Some want free apps like Canva to manage projects without subscriptions. Others look for similar websites that offer unique templates or AI tools. Meanwhile, professionals often need programs like Canva with stronger features for niche design work.
This guide highlights the best Canva alternatives, both free and paid options, for every need.
Part 1. Why Look for a Canva Alternative
Canva is widely used because it is simple and accessible. Still, many creators search for a Canva substitute when the platform does not fully meet their needs.
- 1. Budget constraints
Budget constraints are a common reason. Students, freelancers, and small businesses often want a free website like Canva to reduce costs. Free Canva alternatives provide similar tools without monthly fees.
- 2. Missing Advanced Features
Some creators have advanced needs. They look for programs similar to Canva that deliver stronger vector editing, AI-powered design assistance, or better team collaboration. Many applications similar to Canva often appeal to professional designers or marketing teams.
- 3. Focus on Video Content
The rise of video content also drives change. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube require polished video editing. Canva’s video features are basic compared to apps similar to Canva that specialize in multimedia. For creators focusing on video, dedicated editors like Filmora offer more powerful options.
With these reasons in mind, let’s explore the best free Canva alternatives that provide cost-effective design solutions without sacrificing creativity.
Part 2. Best Free Canva Alternatives
Many creators search for a free alternative to Canva to avoid subscription costs while still enjoying strong design capabilities. Below are some of the most versatile free Canva alternatives in 2025.
Note that some of these tools provide a free plan but also offer pro plans for advanced features. Each of these tools is optimized for different creative needs: among students, freelancers, and social media managers.
1. Fotor
Fotor combines photo editing and graphic design in one platform, giving users a balance of AI-powered tools and creative flexibility. It is a Canva alternative free that is especially popular among small businesses and online sellers who need polished product photos and promotional designs.
Key Features:
- AI background remover, object replacement, and photo enhancer
- One-click effects and filters to instantly transform images
- Batch editing for up to 50 images at once
- AI image generator for watermark-free visuals from text prompts
2. Snappa
Snappa is designed for simplicity, making it a strong choice for beginners and non-designers who need quick, polished visuals. It focuses on speed, offering prebuilt templates and easy drag-and-drop editing, so users can produce social media posts, blog graphics, or banners in minutes. Snappa offers both free and pro plans that start from $10 per month.
Key Features:
- Access to over 6,000 templates and 5 million stock images
- Automatic image resizing across different platforms
- Royalty-free graphics included in the free plan
- Background remover and text tools are available at no cost
3. Visme
Visme stands out as one of the closest alternatives to Canva, especially for business and education. It goes beyond simple design by focusing on professional presentations, infographics, and data visualization, making it useful for teams and organizations. Visme pricing starts from free with the basic plan, and different pricing for each category that starts from $12.25 per month.
Key Features:
- Templates for interactive presentations, reports, infographics, and banners
- Collaboration features with feedback and asset sharing
- Free plan includes 100 MB storage and access to core templates
- AI tools for generating text, graphics, and images
4. VistaCreate (formerly Crello)
VistaCreate is tailored for businesses and marketing teams that need branded content. It emphasizes animated designs, social media assets, and cross-platform templates, making it a direct competitor to Canva for marketing-heavy workflows. It offers a free plan, but also provides a pro plan for $10 per month for users with advanced needs.
Key Features:
- 100,000+ animated templates and design elements
- Tools for resizing designs across multiple formats instantly
- Brand kit support with logos, fonts, and colors
- Extensive stock photo and video library
5. Desygner
Desygner is a cost-effective design solution aimed at small to medium businesses. It is a software like Canva that provides team collaboration and brand management tools without the steep pricing of enterprise software, making it a smart choice for organizations with limited budgets. It provides a free plan with subscription plans starting from $3 per month.
Key Features:
- White-label editor and custom branding options
- Role-based permissions for teams and clients
- Advanced PDF editing and import functionality
- Unlimited storage on paid plans
6. Kittl
Kittl is a fast-rising design platform that combines simplicity with AI-powered features. It focuses on illustration and typography, making it a favorite among creators who want unique, visually striking designs. Kittl offers a free plan with a subscription starting from $7.90 per month.
Key Features:
- AI image generator and AI text-to-vector tools
- Specialized tools for advanced typography and logo creation
- Large marketplace of templates for posters, merchandise, and branding
- Intuitive vector editing without steep learning curves
These free Canva alternatives offer valuable design solutions at no cost, each excelling in different areas such as AI tools, social media optimization, or professional data visuals.
Next, we’ll look at premium Canva alternatives that unlock even more advanced features for businesses and teams.
Part 3. Paid & Premium Canva Alternatives
While free tools are great for basic needs, many creators and businesses require more advanced features, larger asset libraries, and professional-grade collaboration options. Paid Canva alternatives often provide these extras, making them better suited for marketing teams, agencies, and professionals who need consistent, scalable design workflows.
1. Adobe Express
Adobe Express, part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, is designed to bring Adobe’s design power into a simplified platform. It can be an alternative of Canva that is perfect for users who want professional quality with access to Adobe’s extensive ecosystem. The subscription plan for this tool is $12.99.
Key Features:
- AI-driven tools like text-to-image and quick background removal
- Access to Adobe Stock photos and Adobe Fonts
- Seamless integration with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro
- Branded templates and marketing-focused assets
2. Pixlr
Pixlr is a browser-based graphic design and photo editor that balances simplicity with depth. It is a similar website to Canva that offers both quick editing options and advanced tools, making it suitable for casual users and those who want Photoshop-like functions without the complexity. Its cloud setup ensures designs are accessible across devices. Pixlr subscription plan starts from $2.49 per month.
Key Features:
- Multiple editing modes for beginners or advanced users
- AI-powered background remover and image generation
- Liquify tool for reshaping images creatively
- Works across browser, desktop, and mobile apps
3. Picmaker
Picmaker is built with social media creators in mind, especially YouTubers and influencers. It uses AI to suggest layouts optimized for visibility and engagement, making it a practical choice for designing thumbnails, ads, and posts. The subscription plan starts from $6 per month.
Key Features:
- AI-powered layout suggestions tailored for different platforms
- Background remover is included in the free plan
- Access to millions of images, icons, and graphic elements
- Brand kit tools for maintaining consistent visuals
Premium Canva alternatives like Adobe Express, VistaCreate, Desygner, and Kittl provide deeper creative control and collaboration than free tools. They are ideal for teams and professionals who need advanced features, consistent branding, and scalable design workflows.
In the next part, we will explore open-source and professional software for those who want even more customization and control.
Part 4. Open-Source & Professional Design Software
Some creators prefer tools that provide more technical control than Canva-style platforms. Open-source and professional software often deliver advanced customization, better scalability, and freedom from subscription costs. These options are well-suited for designers who want to refine every detail of their work.
1. Inkscape
Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor widely used for logo design, illustrations, and print-ready graphics. It is a strong alternative to Canva for users who need full control over vector art.
Key Features:
- Advanced SVG editing with path operations, node editing, and bezier curves
- Professional color management with CMYK support
- Extensions for pattern generation, 3D effects, and batch export
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
2. LibreOffice Draw
LibreOffice Draw is part of the free LibreOffice suite and is designed for diagrams, flowcharts, and technical illustrations. It’s a practical Canva substitute for those who prioritize structured documents and presentations.
Key Features:
- Built-in diagramming tools with connectors and shapes
- Supports exporting to PDF, SVG, and other open formats
- Integration with LibreOffice apps like Writer and Impress
- Handles large-scale diagrams up to 300x300 cm
3. Boxy SVG
Boxy SVG is a modern design tool focused on scalable vector graphics. It works as both a desktop app and a browser-based editor, bridging accessibility with professional-grade features.
Key Features:
- Clean interface optimized for SVG creation and editing
- Advanced filters, gradients, and typography tools
- Direct export to PNG, JPEG, PDF, and WebP
- Cloud-based syncing and cross-device editing
For creators seeking more control than apps like Canva can provide, these open-source and professional tools are excellent choices. They support technical workflows, precise customization, and scalable outputs.
Next, we’ll shift to multimedia and video alternatives for those whose projects focus on dynamic content.
Part 5. Multimedia & Video Alternatives
If your primary focus is video content, Canva is not the strongest option. Its video tools are basic and limited, making it difficult to create polished, professional-level clips. This is where Filmora becomes the best Canva alternative for multimedia projects.
Wondershare Filmora
Filmora is an intuitive video editing software that helps creators turn static designs into engaging motion content. Unlike most apps similar to Canva, which specialize in graphics, Filmora bridges design and video seamlessly, making it ideal for YouTubers, marketers, and educators. Filmora offers reasonable pricing that starts from $9.99 per month.
Secure DownloadKey Features:
- Import thumbnails, banners, or slides from tools like Picmaker or Adobe Express, then animate them with transitions and effects
- AI Audio Denoise to clean up background noise automatically
- Auto Beat Sync for matching video cuts with music rhythms
- Advanced keyframing for smooth, custom animations
- Built-in stock assets, titles, and motion templates optimized for social platforms
Filmora gives creators the ability to go beyond static visuals and transform designs into compelling video stories. For anyone blending design with video content, it is the most practical Canva substitute.
Secure DownloadComparison Table: Best Canva Alternatives in 2025
| Tool | Best For | Unique Strengths | Free or Paid |
| Fotor | Small businesses | AI enhancer, batch editing, AI image generator | Free |
| Snappa | Beginners, freelancers | Simple templates, fast resizing, free stock assets | Free + Paid |
| Visme | Students, businesses | Infographics, presentations, and collaboration tools | Free + Paid |
| VistaCreate | Marketing teams | Animated templates, brand kits, instant resizing | Free + Paid |
| Desygner | Small businesses | White-label editor, PDF import, unlimited storage | Free + Paid |
| Kittl | Designers, illustrators | AI vector generation, typography, logo creation | Free + Paid |
| Adobe Express | Professionals | Adobe Stock integration, AI design, Creative Cloud | Paid |
| Pixlr | Photo editors | AI background remover, liquify tool, cross-device | Paid |
| Picmaker | Social media creators | AI layouts for YouTube/Instagram, brand kits | Paid |
| Inkscape | Graphic designers | Advanced SVG editing, CMYK support, extensions | Free |
| LibreOffice Draw | Educators, offices | Diagramming tools, PDF export, large-scale layouts | Free |
| Boxy SVG | Web/UX designers | SVG-focused editor, gradients, filters, cloud sync | Free |
| Filmora | Beginner to professional editors | AI audio denoise, beat sync, keyframing, video effects | Paid |
Conclusion
Canva remains a powerful design tool, but it is not the only option. Many free Canva alternatives like Fotor, Snappa, and Visme give budget-conscious users strong creative tools, while premium apps such as Adobe Express, Pixlr, and Picmaker provide deeper functionality for teams and businesses. For technical users, open-source programs like Inkscape provide unmatched flexibility.
And for creators who focus on video, Filmora is the best choice to transform static visuals into dynamic stories. Exploring these alternatives ensures you’ll find the right balance of cost, features, and creative control for your projects.
