Canva has become one of the most popular free graphic design tools. With its user-friendly interface and huge library of templates, even non-designers can create stunning graphics for both personal and commercial use.
However, Canva’s free version comes with some annoying limitations:
- Restricted number of downloads
- Mandatory watermarks on designs
- Lack of animation and advanced design capabilities
If you’re looking to step beyond Canva without spending a dime, there are several excellent free alternatives worth considering.
In this post, we compare six of the best free Canva alternatives for graphic design.
List of Best alternatives to Canva for free
Here’s a table summarizing the key features of the best free alternatives to Canva for graphic design:
| Canva Alternatives | Design Templates | Free Version Limitations | Standout Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Express | Thousands | None | Advanced design capabilities with Adobe’s signature polish |
| Visme | Infographic and presentation focus | Limited downloads | Animation and data visualization tools |
| VistaCreate | Massive library | None | AI-powered capabilities like Focus Mode and integrated GPT-3 |
| Stencil | Curated, social media focused | Watermark on exports | Streamlined for efficient social graphic creation |
| Snappa | Broad but fundamental | None | Unlimited download and commercial use |
| Pixlr X | None, photo editing focus | None | Robust advanced photo editing tools rivaling Photoshop capabilities |
List of Great Free Alternatives to Canva
1. Adobe Express
Adobe Express provides access to Adobe’s powerful creative tools through simplified web and mobile interfaces.
It offers a wide range of templates, graphics, fonts, and editing capabilities for creating social media posts, logos, presentations, posters, videos, and more.
While not as advanced as Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps, Express maintains that professional Adobe polish. It’s an excellent free alternative for those seeking quality over complexity.
Key Features:
- Thousands of professional templates
- Option to edit/remix existing designs
- Advanced image editing capabilities
- Adobe’s signature fonts and graphics
- Tools for basic video editing
- Robust mobile app
2. Visme: Your Ultimate Tool for Stunning Visuals
Are you ready to create captivating presentations, eye-catching infographics, and engaging videos effortlessly? Look no further than Visme. This all-in-one platform empowers you to craft professional designs that stand out from the crowd.
Why should i use Visme?
Versatility at Your Fingertips
Visme isn’t just another tool; it’s a creative powerhouse used by millions worldwide. From presentations to social media graphics, unleash your creativity without any design experience.
Features That Shine
With Visme, you get more than just design capabilities. Enjoy data visualization, branded content, content calendars, and seamless teamwork features, all in one place.
Team Collaboration Made Easy
Work together seamlessly with your team, no matter where they are. Say goodbye to endless email threads—Visme allows real-time collaboration and precise communication.
Create Anything, Effortlessly
Whether you’re a business owner, marketing manager, project manager, or sales professional, Visme simplifies your workflow and helps you create impactful content in record time.
Integrations for Efficiency
Connect Visme with your favorite tools for a smoother workflow. It’s all about empowering everyone to communicate visually.
While the free version of Visme has limited downloads, it provides more than enough capabilities for personal and basic business usage.
Its excellent workflow and collaboration tools also set Visme apart.
Key Features:
- Numerous infographic, presentation, and banner templates
- Animated charts, graphs, maps, etc.
- Tools for interactive infographics and presentations
- Team collaboration capabilities
- Ability to embed designs on websites
3. VistaCreate: Free Graphic Design Software with 100,000+ Free Templates
If you’re searching for easy-to-use and free graphic design software, VistaCreate is your answer. This tool offers a range of powerful features and over 100,000 ready-made templates, ensuring you can create professional designs effortlessly.
What Does VistaCreate Offer?
Free Trial and Pro Discount
- Sign up and enjoy a free trial, plus an exclusive 50% discount on the Pro version.
Diverse Templates and Creative Assets
- Access thousands of free templates to narrate your brand story uniquely.
- Explore 150,000+ professionally-designed templates for inspiration.
- Utilize a vast library of fonts, music, animations, illustrations, backgrounds, and more for your projects.
Extensive Creative Assets
- Benefit from a collection of over 70 million royalty-free photos, videos, and vectors to enhance your designs.
Brand Showcase and Customization
- Upload your brand elements like colors, fonts, and logos for easy access in the Brand Kit.
- Experiment with the Styles feature to blend colors and fonts seamlessly into your designs.
Animation, Video Editing, and Background Tools
- Engage your audience with video posts and add animated text effects and transitions effortlessly.
- Instantly remove backgrounds or turn images into stickers with ease.
Easy Design Adaptation and Collaboration
- Resize your designs quickly for various formats without recreating them.
- Collaborate seamlessly with up to 10 team members on projects in real-time.
Pricing Options
Here’s a table detailing the pricing options for VistaCreate:
| VistaCreate Plans | Features |
|---|---|
| Starter (Free) | Access 100K+ templates, 1M+ media files, Brand Kit, free design elements, and more. |
| Pro ($6.5 USD/month with 50% off) | Unlock premium templates, background removal, team accounts, infinite Brand Kits, and more. |
VistaCreate offers a free Starter plan, granting access to a substantial library of templates, media files, and design elements. The Pro plan, priced at $6.5 USD per month with a 50% discount, provides additional benefits like premium templates, background removal tools, team accounts, and infinite Brand Kits for a more enhanced design experience.
4. Stencil: Your Ultimate Online Graphic Design Tool
If you’re seeking an effortless, user-friendly online graphic design tool tailored for bloggers, business owners, and social media marketers, Stencil is your answer.
This platform is a haven for those aiming to create captivating visuals without wrestling through complexities.
Why Stencil Stands Out
Features That Spark Creativity
- Effortless Creation: With Stencil, crafting stunning social media graphics, eye-catching ads, and blog headers becomes a breeze.
- Limitless Resources: Over 5,000,000 stock photos, 1,350+ templates, 3,100,000+ icons & graphics, and 6,000+ Google web fonts offer a vast pool for your creative endeavors.
- Tailored Branding: Upload multiple logos or your own fonts, ensuring that your brand identity shines through every image.
Seamless Accessibility
- Across Browsers: Stencil is compatible with all modern web browsers, ensuring a smooth experience regardless of your choice.
- Handy Extensions: Chrome and Firefox addons, along with a WordPress plugin, allow image creation from any corner of the web.
Effortless Workflow Integration
Simplifying Design Across Platforms
Whether you’re browsing the web or working within WordPress, Stencil integrates seamlessly to expedite your image creation process.
The intuitive interface and diverse array of features make it a go-to tool for enhancing your visual content effortlessly.
Embrace Stencil’s simplicity today and witness your visual storytelling reach new heights.
Join the league of 385,000 delighted users who’ve harnessed the power of Stencil for their graphic design needs.
5. Snappa: Simplify Your Graphic Design Experience
Snappa is a game-changer in the world of online graphics, revolutionizing design for everyone. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, this software makes creating stunning visuals a breeze.
No need for intricate design skills—Snappa simplifies the process.
Easy Graphics Creation
Craft graphics for social media, blogs, ads, and more without breaking a sweat. Even if you’re not a graphic designer, Snappa empowers you to produce professional-grade images effortlessly.
Streamlined Process
Save valuable time with Snappa’s user-friendly interface. Start with pre-set image dimensions for various platforms, avoiding the hassle of resizing or worrying about pixel-perfect layouts.
Templates Galore
Say goodbye to staring at a blank canvas! Access thousands of pre-made templates designed to capture attention, increase clicks, and drive customer engagement. Choose from diverse options tailored for different purposes.
Extensive Stock Photos
Snappa offers access to over 5 million high-resolution, royalty-free images. No more concerns about usage rights or settling for cheesy visuals.
Effortless Editing
Customize images swiftly with 200+ fonts, 100,000+ vectors and shapes, and various photo effects. No design expertise needed—bring your creative vision to life in seconds.
Instant Background Removal
With just one click, bid farewell to time-consuming background removal. Witness the magic as unwanted backgrounds vanish effortlessly.
Rapid Resizing
Transform graphics effortlessly for different platforms. Convert your designs for various uses with a single click, saving you from recreating the same stunning visuals repeatedly.
Seamless Sharing
Share directly to popular social media platforms without leaving Snappa. Save time by scheduling posts through integration with Buffer.
Testimonials Speak Volumes
Experts like Sujan Patel and Olga Andrienko praise Snappa’s simplicity, speed, and limitless creative potential, making it a must-have tool for content creators.
Inclusive and User-Friendly
Snappa’s inclusivity extends to its pricing—everything’s included with no hidden fees. Plus, its intuitive design ensures a smooth experience for all users.
6. Pixlr X: Your Gateway to Effortless Design
Looking to bring your creative visions to life without breaking the bank? Enter Pixlr X, the free online photo editor and design tool that’s revolutionizing digital creativity.
What is Pixlr X?
Pixlr X isn’t just another photo editor; it’s a powerhouse of possibilities. This intuitive tool harnesses the power of AI to offer an expansive range of features that cater to both beginners and seasoned designers.
Quick and Easy Design
With Pixlr X, simplicity is key. Dive straight into your design project without the hassle. Whether it’s crafting a stunning YouTube thumbnail or polishing a professional profile picture, Pixlr X streamlines the process.
The Magic of AI Image Generation
The AI Image Generator feature is a game-changer. Remove backgrounds, objects, or create captivating collages effortlessly. Its lightning-fast background removal capability elevates your images in seconds.
Design Templates and Animations
Don’t know where to start? Pixlr X’s library of templates is a goldmine. Craft eye-catching banners, resumes, or business cards with ease. And for added flair, animate your designs seamlessly.
Premium Access and Support
Looking for more? Unlock Pixlr’s full potential with Premium access. Dive into a world of elements, fonts, and tools that transcend ordinary designs. Plus, rest assured with Pixlr’s robust support system.
Pixlr X isn’t just a tool; it’s a gateway to limitless creativity. Join the Pixlr community today and explore the art of effortless design.
Choose the Best Free Canva Alternative for You
When choosing a free Canva alternative, consider your use case and primary type of visual content needs.
Adobe Express and VistaCreate provide the broadest design scopes alongside powerful features. Visme excels for those focused on infographics and presentations while Stencil streamlines social graphic creation.
Snappa offers efficient fundamental design needs for all. Pixlr X serves as the best free advanced photo editor.
Remember to consider the limitations of any free graphic design tool. But with the options compared above, you can find an excellent free Canva alternative tailored to your needs.
Each provide immense design capabilities without forcing burdensome watermarks or download restrictions upon users.
Conclusion
While Canva deserves immense praise for democratizing graphic design, the restrictions of its free plan certainly limit creators who desire more capabilities.
Thankfully, excellent completely free Canva alternatives like VistaCreate, Adobe Express, Visme, and more provide expansive, powerful features without forcing frustrating constraints upon users. Better yet, some even offer advantages over Canva in areas like animation, efficiency, specialization, and photo editing.
So if you feel stifled by Canva’s free design boundaries, give the options above a try to unlock new creative potential.
FAQ About Free Canva Alternatives
What is the best completely free alternative to Canva?
VistaCreate likely provides the most comparable completely free alternative to Canva in terms of features and scope. Snappa also offers excellent free capabilities without any watermarks or download limits.
Can I legally sell designs made with a free Canva alternative?
Every Canva alternative mentioned above legally allows you to sell or commercially use designs created through their free versions without worrying about copyright issues or attribution.
What free alternative provides the best infographic templates?
Visme specializes in data visualization and infographics. So for free infographic creation, it provides the best dedicated templates and tools.
Which has better templates: VistaCreate or Adobe Express?
VistaCreate has a slightly larger volume of curated templates spanning more design categories. However, Adobe Express provides more polished, professional templates on par with Adobe’s reputation.
Last modified: December 18, 2023
