When you’re just getting started with design, it can be hard to know which tools are worth your time and which ones you should ignore. The abundance of design choices out there can make it tricky to know where to begin. So if you’ve just started using Canva and are wondering if it’s worth upgrading to the paid version, we’ve got you covered. There are so many great things about the free version of Canva. It’s simple and easy to use, has a wide selection of good designs that are regularly updated, and the interface is intuitive enough that anyone can pick it up in minutes. But there are also a few shortcomings in the free version that might make you consider switching over to Canva Pro.
Canva Pro is 100% free from ads.
One of the most annoying things about using free design software is the ads. You’re trying to create something amazing and you’re distracted by flashy pop-ups and loud commercials. Canva Pro is 100% ad-free, which means you get to focus on your designs without any extra noise. It’s also important to note that Canva Pro is a completely separate site from the free version. You can’t access the paid version if you’re signed into your free account. This makes it easy to avoid accidentally spending money and keeps the two platforms separate so you don’t have to worry about mixing up your accounts.
You can use your own images, so there’s no need to hunt for good stock photos.
This is one of the biggest advantages of Canva Pro. There are tons of great stock photos out there, but most of them are pretty expensive and not exactly what you’re looking for. On the other hand, if you want to use your own photos, most design platforms don’t make it simple to import your own images. With Canva Pro, you can import your own images and use them in your designs. This is a huge advantage for anyone who regularly uses their own photos in their marketing. You can create consistent branding and avoid the extra time it takes to find and search for the right stock photos. If you regularly create images that have a person in them, you’ll still need to look for a stock photo of a person. But almost any other image you regularly use can be imported and used in your Canva designs.
You get unlimited access to hundreds of fonts.
The free version of Canva comes with a few fonts and allows you to add a small selection of paid fonts to your account. Canva Pro, on the other hand, gives you access to hundreds of fonts and allows you to add as many as you want for no extra cost. Whether you’re looking for the perfect font for a blog post or want to add a little flair to your social media posts, Canva Pro makes it easy to find new fonts and add them to your designs. You can browse their available fonts or search for specific fonts you’re looking for. When you find a font you like, you can add it to your Canva library so you can easily access it again later. If you’re designing for social media, it’s also easy to adjust the font to match the character settings for each platform.
You can create unlimited size canvases and save images in different resolutions.
One of the first things people notice when creating designs on the free version of Canva is the maximum canvas size. If you want to create a design that’s bigger than the free version allows, you’ll have to split it up into separate images and put them together in an image editor like Photoshop or Pixelmator. In the paid version of Canva, you can create images of any size and put them together in one canvas to create a bigger image if you want. This is great if you’re designing for events or are creating social media graphics for different accounts. You can create bigger posts and avoid having to create a bunch of different posts for each social media platform.
You’ll have unlimited access to premium quality design elements.
When you’re just getting started with design, it can be tempting to stick to basic shapes and text. After all, those are the basics of design and easy to add to your images. But as you advance your skills and grow as a designer, it’s important to start using more advanced elements in your designs. As you use the free version of Canva more and more, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and leave some designs incomplete because you don’t have access to the right elements. These are the times when it’s worth investing in a paid version of Canva if you want to be able to finish your designs.
Your collaborators will be able to view your designs in real-time — no more waiting by the Skype window!
If you regularly work with other people on designs, you know how much of a pain Skype is. You have to wait by the window for your collaborators to view your designs and make comments, which is both inefficient and prone to human error. If you upgrade to Canva Pro, you can invite your collaborators to view your designs in real-time. This lets them make comments and suggestions right away. It also makes it easier to view your designs on different devices and computers.
2GB of storage space which is more than double the standard amount for most cloud storage services.
The free version of Canva gives you access to 1GB of cloud storage. If you create designs regularly, that space will fill up fast and leave you scrambling to delete designs so you have room to work on new ones. On the other hand, Canva Pro gives you 2GB of cloud storage, which leaves plenty of room for your designs and lets you keep your best work saved for as long as you like. It also makes it easy to access your designs from any device. You can upload images to your cloud storage and access them from your laptop, home computer, or even your phone.
Conclusion
If you’re just getting started with design, the free version of Canva is a great place to start. It’s simple and easy to use, has a wide selection of good designs that are regularly updated, and the interface is intuitive enough that anyone can pick it up in minutes. But there are also a few shortcomings in the free version that might make you consider switching over to Canva Pro. If you’re looking to create more professional designs and want to use your own images or be able to use more advanced design elements, the free version of Canva may not be enough. If that sounds like you, the best thing to do is sign up for Canva Pro to take your designs to the next level.
