Let’s be honest — Canva is amazing. But it’s not the only star in the design galaxy. If you’ve ever wanted more control, different templates, or just something new to shake things up, you’re in luck. Designers are adventurous by nature, and some alternatives to Canva are just too good to ignore.
TL;DR
Canva is popular, but it’s not the only option! Designers love variety and some tools just do things better — whether it’s editing, collaboration, or creative freedom. Below you’ll find five powerful Canva alternatives that real designers actually use and stick with. Bonus: Some are free or offer amazing value.
1. Adobe Express – The Polished Pro
If you love the Adobe vibe but want something simpler than Photoshop, Adobe Express is a dream. It offers beautiful design templates, Adobe-quality fonts, and tight integration with other Adobe tools.
- Great for: Users who already have an Adobe Creative Cloud plan.
- Best features: Background removal, brand kits, animations.
- Price: Free version available, premium starts around $9.99/month.
This is the grown-up cousin of Canva. It’s clean, powerful, and professional. If you’re transitioning from Photoshop or Illustrator, this will feel like home but with training wheels.
2. VistaCreate – The Template King
Formerly known as Crello, VistaCreate gives Canva a real run for its money. It’s fast, sleek, and packed with awesome templates — over 75,000 of them!
- Great for: Social media managers and small business owners.
- Best features: Animated designs, built-in stock photos & videos.
- Price: Free plan with plenty to use; Pro version at $10/month.
VistaCreate is known for being intuitive. Even if you’ve never designed anything in your life, you’ll feel like an artist here. It’s a perfect starting point for non-designers who want professional-looking results.
3. Figma – The Collaboration Hero
Figma isn’t just an alternative — for some teams, it’s the new standard. Especially for UI/UX nerds and product designers. But here’s the cool part: even for social posts or branding, it can be a blast.
- Great for: Teams working on digital products and interfaces.
- Best features: Live collaboration, prototyping, plugins galore.
- Price: Free for individuals, team plans start at $12/month.
Figma is basically Google Docs meets Photoshop. Multiple people can design together… at the same time. And if you like structure, Figma’s layout system is a dream. Warning: it can be addictive!
4. Snappa – The Speed Demon
Don’t want clutter? Want to make a design in like… 30 seconds? Snappa is your guy. It’s built for marketers and bloggers who need graphics fast without a ton of effort.
- Great for: Content creators who don’t want a learning curve.
- Best features: Simple drag-and-drop, instant resizing, social media formats.
- Price: Free plan with limits; $10/month for more access.
Snappa cuts out all the fluff. While it’s not as fancy as Adobe or Figma, it’s fast and tight. You’ll feel like a design ninja, even if you’ve never worn design robes before (or ever).
5. Easil – The Brand Whisperer
Easil might just be Canva’s artsy cousin. It takes visual brand consistency seriously, and lets teams use template locking to keep layouts on point — a dream for brand managers.
- Great for: Agencies, marketing teams, and branding geeks.
- Best features: Brand kits, text effects, template locking, professional print options.
- Price: Free plan with basics; Plus plan at $7.50/month.
You know those slick infographics and sleek Instagram stories? Easil excels at these. It’s got tons of style and gives you just enough control to customize without ever breaking your brand rules. Huge for automation and consistency.
How They Stack Up
| Tool | Best For | Free Version | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Express | Advanced design lovers | Yes | Limited |
| VistaCreate | Small biz & social media | Yes | Yes |
| Figma | Teams & UI designers | Yes | Real-time magic |
| Snappa | Quick marketers | Yes | No |
| Easil | Brands & agencies | Yes | Yes |
So Which One Should You Choose?
Pick the one that fits your style and workflow. Here’s a super-simple suggestion:
- Go with Adobe Express if you want polished design with Adobe vibes.
- Pick VistaCreate if you want lots of beautiful, ready-to-use templates.
- Try Figma if you work in a team and love techy stuff.
- Use Snappa when you need designs in 5 minutes or less.
- Choose Easil for ultimate brand control and team collaboration.
And hey, you can always test them all. Most offer free versions, so play around before you commit. Your perfect match might be just a few clicks away.
Final Thoughts
Canva is awesome — no doubt. But the design world is too full of great tools to settle on just one. Whether you’re diving into advanced layouts, building UI, or just making snazzy Instagram graphics, the right alternative is waiting for you.
So go explore, have fun, and design something awesome today!
