7 Best Canva Alternatives to Try for Creative Design in 2025

Want your social media post or a presentation to stand out? The go-to graphic design tool is Canva, but many Canva alternatives also pack a punch. 

I have reviewed and tested 20+ design tools. And talking with marketers at small businesses, all I heard was Canva, Canva, Canva. It made me realize that many could use an alternative that would be better for them. If only they knew about it. So, I wrote this review of the best Canva alternatives.

What is Canva?

Canva is an online design platform to create visual content. You can create any visual content type with Canva’s drag-and-drop editor. Anything, including social media images, posters, websites, infographics, flyers, cards, or presentations. 

Canva has a user-friendly interface, along with AI-powered tools and collaboration features. Anyone, even without design skills, can easily get started with Canva. 

Drawbacks of Canva

Although Canva is a popular design tool, it has its limitations. Here are some worth noting:

1. Less scope for professional designers

Some tools and features that professional designers require are unavailable in Canva. They do not get enough flexibility to work on detailed graphic designs. 

2. Missing export options

Canva supports common formats, such as PNG, JPEG, and PDF. However, you cannot export raw files like PSD or AI. 

3. Slightly expensive

Canva offers a free plan with limited templates, stock images, and graphic assets. Many powerful features are a part of the subscription plan. 

7 Best Canva Alternatives in 2025

After testing and reviewing many design platforms, I have compiled a list of the top 7 that are worth trying in 2025. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you’ll find the best Canva alternative from this list.

1. Adobe Express

Topping the list is Adobe Express. You must have heard of Adobe’s software like Photoshop and Illustrator. Its easy and accessible Canva alternative is Adobe Express. 

You can design your graphics effortlessly with tons of templates and customization options. However, Canva is still easier to use compared to Adobe Express.

Key features: 
Its photo, video, and document editor is equally powerful. This improves your overall design experience. Discover brand kit for consistent branding.

Pricing: 

Try the free plan with 100,000+ templates, 1m+ royalty-free Adobe Stock photos, and 5 GB of storage. The Premium version costs $45.79 annually. It includes generative AI, editing tools, and content scheduling. 

2. LightX

Another one of the free alternatives to Canva and a strong contender on the list is LightX. 

If you are looking for a versatile graphic design tool with AI photo and video editing, LightX is worth a try. Make social media posts, invitations, banners, advertisements, and flyers with the drag-and-drop editor.

LightX stands out with its balance between AI photo editing and graphic design. This makes it a great choice for creators and businesses who wish to create custom designs, AI backgrounds, images, and more. 

Key features: 
Great for both beginners and professionals with an easy-to-use interface. Explore thousands of professional-quality templates, assets, tools, and features. 

Pros: 
1. An all-in-one affordable platform for graphic design, photo editing, and video editing. 

2. A readily available customer support team to solve your queries or issues. 

Cons: 
There are fewer templates than in Canva. 

Pricing: 

The free version offers access to hundreds of photo and video templates. You also get royalty-free stock images, 5 daily free AI credits for editing, and 1 GB storage. The Pro subscription plan costs $5.73 per month for 1000 AI credits and full access to all templates and assets.

3. Pixlr 

I’ve been using Pixlr for some time now. And, I must say, it’s a great alternative to Canva.

Pixlr is perfect for social media enthusiasts and professional photographers. There is Pixlr Editor for photo editing, Pixlr Express for AI photo editing, Pixlr Designer for templates and animation, remove background for AI background erasing, and Batch Editor for bulk photo editing.

Pixlr Designer is their alternative to Canva. Browse an extensive collection of templates. If your focus is advanced photo editing with basic graphic design, Pixlr is a good option. 

Key features: 
Detailed image manipulation and retouching features make Pixlr a compelling choice. The batch editing saves time.

Pros: 

1. Simplified editing process for all skill levels. 

2. Discover greater flexibility for image manipulation. 

3. Enjoy an active community of users and support resources.

Cons: 

The graphic design tools are less advanced compared to Canva.

Pricing: 

The free plan has basic editing tools and it’s ad supported. The starting Plus plan costs $2.49 per month, which offers unlimited saves, 80 monthly AI credits, and no ads.

4. Snappa

For creators and small businesses looking for Canva alternatives, Snappa is ideal. It simplifies the design process. Social media managers, bloggers, and marketers can produce professional-quality graphics. 

Snappa distinguishes itself with its straightforward interface and a focus on speed. You can swiftly create graphics with varied templates and high-resolution stock photos. If you’d like to increase your productivity, check out these time management strategies.

Key features: 
1. Share designs directly on different social media platforms like Instagram. 
2. Experience an intuitive interface.

Pros: 

1. A rapid graphic creation without any need for prior design experience. 

2. The responsive customer support team helps readily with troubleshooting and guidance.

Cons: 

No mobile app restricts designing on the go.

Pricing: 

The free plan has 6,000+ templates, 5,000,000+ HD photos and graphics, and 3 downloads per month. The Pro plan costs $10/month with unlimited downloads, integrations with social media platforms, custom font uploads, and background removal.

Check out the best Instagram scheduling tools to easily share your graphics with your followers.

5. BeFunky

BeFunky is an all-in-one platform for graphic designers and social media marketers. It has advanced image editing tools, collage creation, and graphic design. 

Whether you’re editing personal photos or crafting marketing materials, BeFunky brings you an intuitive platform to do it all.

Compared to Canva, BeFunky has more powerful photo editing capabilities. You can also try many AI-driven features. This is perfect for anyone who requires detailed image enhancements alongside graphic design functionalities across different devices. 

Key features: 
Easily create photo collages with adjustable layouts and backgrounds. Using batch processing, edit multiple images simultaneously.

Pros: 

1. Discover a blend of basic and advanced features for diverse editing needs. 

2. Enjoy an all-in-one platform for photo editing, collage creation, and graphic design. 

Cons: 

More advanced tools, features, and templates are restricted to paid subscribers.

Pricing: 

The free plan has basic photo and batch editing. The Plus plan starts at $6.99 per month with full access to all the premium features. This includes AI-powered tools and an expanded library of design templates and vector graphics. 

6. VistaCreate

VistaCreate is a Canva alternative to create stunning visual content with ease. Find a wide range of design for social media and print-ready templates for posters, certificates, and cards.

VistaCreate sets itself apart with its library of royalty-free images, videos, and vectors. It also offers many advanced editing tools for social media and web design. Check out this guide to learn how smart businesses use video marketing and SEO together.

Key features: 
Enjoy integration with VistaPrint for printing services. Create and manage multiple brand kits with custom logos, colors, and fonts.

Pricing: 

The free Starter plan offers 1 million royalty-free images, videos, and vectors. Get 100,000+ customizable templates. The Pro plan costs $13 per month for more advanced tools, team accounts, and access to the full media library.

7. Visme

If you’d like to create interactive presentations and business reports, try Visme. Its charts, graphs, and 30+ data widgets help you transform raw numbers into engaging visuals. These features make the design process faster, easier, and more accessible.

Although Canva has charts and graphs, Visme takes the cake for data visualization.

Key features: 
Get advanced data visualization tools that help you create engaging presentations and infographics. Collaboration features help teams work together on reports and marketing materials.

Pricing: 

The free plan provides access to templates, regular support, and unlimited projects. The Starter plan costs $12.25 per user per month. It has 1 GB of storage, 200 AI credits, and full access to templates and design elements. 

Which alternative of Canva is right for you?

Canva is undoubtedly one of the most popular design tools. But other platforms offer unique features that may better suit you.

If you need quick and simple social media graphics, go for Adobe Express, Snappa or VistaCreate. If graphic design and image editing are your priorities, try LightX, Pixlr, or BeFunky. For businesses needing interactive presentations and infographics, Visme is a strong option.

If Instagram is your main marketing channel, find the best IG tools to grow your followers here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there better alternatives for Canva?

Yes, there are better alternatives for Canva. 
For example, Adobe Express, with its Creative Cloud, is a great option. LightX, offering a fast and free social media graphic design option, is also a good choice. Pixlr is also worth a try with its advanced photo editing tools and features. 

2. Who is Canva’s biggest competitor?

Canva’s biggest competitor is Adobe Express. It provides a design experience similar to Canva. But you get the entire Adobe Creative Cloud. This makes it preferred among professionals familiar with Adobe’s ecosystem.

3. What is the Microsoft equivalent of Canva?

The Microsoft equivalent of Canva is Microsoft Designer. It’s a graphic design platform to create social media posts, graphic designs, and presentations. It also integrates with Microsoft 365. You get AI design suggestions to simplify the creative process.

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