With so many design applications available to users online today, if you’re new to graphic design or looking for a way to bring your designs to life without spending a lot of time learning how to use design software, you have probably already heard about Canva. If you’re new to graphic design or just starting out with your own designs and looking for a way to create eye-catching visuals quickly and easily, is Canva right for you as a designer?
In this comprehensive review of Canva we will give you the in-depth information about Canva’s overall quality, its strengths and weaknesses, provide you with actual examples of what works well with Canva, as well as help give you enough information so that you can determine if using Canva is a good fit for your needs as a beginner designer no matter what type of creative project you are working on including social media graphics, business cards, presentations and simple logos.
What is Canva?
Canva is an online, cloud-based design application that allows you to produce and design graphics, documents and other visual content by dragging and dropping elements into your finished projects without prior design experience, through an online portal accessed through your web browser, tablet or mobile device.
Example of Using Canva to Produce an Instagram Image (for example):
Suppose that you want to post a professional looking image on Instagram but you don’t have any experience creating or producing designs from scratch or using design programs like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or Corel Draw. If you use Canva:
Step 1 – Choose an Instagram Template that You Like (Selecting From 1000s of Different Options)
Step 2 – Insert Your Own Photos and Text into the Design
Step 3 – Share or Download Instantly to Your Device so That You Can Share With People
No Installation Required, No Need for Tutorials (super easy). This is Canva’s most alluring quality!
Here are some Key Features of Canva.
1. An Easy to Use Make Your Own Designs & Creations (Drag & Drop).
The layout of the app is easy to follow and accomplish the design you want by adding text, photos, icons, illustrations, or by moving the items you want into place easily on the canvas.
You can change any element with a couple of simple clicks – adjust text font/color/placement/layout of items, etc.
2. Thousands of Pre-Made Templates
Templates will allow those who are starting out to template exactly how professionals would design.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Birthday invitation
- Facebook or Instagram post
- Event flyer/poster; PowerPoint presentation
- Business Card; and/or Logo design
3. Media Content Library Inside Canva
Canva has tons of content that can be added to your creations and include:
- Cost-Free Stock Photos
- Cost-Free icons/stickers
- Video Clips
- Music tracks
- Fonts/Shapes (to make your designs).
4. Tools To Work with Others
You can easily invite others to collaborate on your design whether they can only review, or they can edit your work—Whether they are co-workers, family, or classmates!
5. Export and Sharing Options
You can EXPORT your designs in the following formats:
- png/ .jpeg (images)
- pdf (document)
- mp4 (video).
OR you can share the URL for example (link) of your design to anyone you want OR share directly to social media.
Canva Pricing: Free Vs Paid
There are 2 major versions of Canva:
Free (You) – if you’re a novice and have limited or no funds, this is your best option
includes
- thousands of templates
- basic editing tools
- cost-free content library
- free cloud storage.
Pro (Someone else)Paid – if you have experience as a graphic designer or have a small business that requires frequent designing, this is your best choice, because of all the great features, templates, etc.
advantages
- Unlimited access to premium content
- Background removal tools
- Magic resizing, which provides quick format change capabilities
- Brand kits
- Collaborating with teams
Canva Pro Subscription Cost – Many users believe it’s worth subscribing if they design regularly or need premium imagery.
Canva Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely simple for beginners
- A myriad of free templates and resources
- No installation necessary
- Available on all devices
- Regularly adds new features
Cons
- No ability to do advanced design functions
- Some limitations in functionality with a free account
- There can be too many common-use templates
Real World Examples of Canva in Use.
Below are three examples that illustrate how effective Canva is for beginners.
Social Media Graphic
If you need to create an attractive graphic for Facebook, you would choose a template from the available photo library, customize the text (headers, body copy etc.), select colors that match your brand, and then download.
Classroom Presentation
You would choose a template for a classroom-based presentation and insert your content, then export as a PDF or print to have a physical copy for distribution.
Logo or Brand Development
If you are looking for a simple to create logo for your side business, then you would pick a template from the logo folder within the library; change the font type and style; change the color of the icon; and then export it as a PNG file with a transparent background.
Tips for Making the Most of Canva
To improve your design process in Canva, follow these tips:
- Start with Templates – Don’t start your design on a blank template.
- Brand Color Consistency – Create a color palette for your brand. His version. Choose Simple Fonts – Make sure to use simple fonts that are easy to read, for clarity purposes.
- Organize Your Projects – Keep your projects in folders to organize them properly and access them quickly.
- Research Tutorials – There are many great resources in Canva’s Learning Library for people who are new to using any software.
FAQs About Canva
Can I use Canva for business graphics?
Yes, there are many small businesses that use Canva to create logos, social media graphics, flyers, and presentations.
Do I need to have design skills to use Canva?
No, Canva is beginner friendly and does not require you to have prior design experience when using it.
Can I download my designs without being able to use them commercially?
It depends on what assets you currently have in those designs. Be sure to read the licensing provisions for all assets in order to determine if you will be able to use your downloaded design commercially.
Best Design Tools for New Designers in 2026
Final Thoughts
Is Canva a good option for newbies, versus more experienced designers?
Yes, and especially for someone wanting to create professional looking designs with no previous experience.
With the easy-to-use tools, large library of templates, and ability to access your work from anywhere via the cloud; you cannot go wrong choosing Canva as your first choice to create your designs (or anything else).
If you choose the free version of Canva, or upgrade to the PRO version, you have access to amazing tools for creating stunning designs easily, with no complex knowledge of other types of design applications…. Unless (you are a professional designer). So, if you want to learn how to create visual content — then, I highly recommend trying out Canva!
