If you’ve been searching for a Canva alternative, you’re not alone. I’ve used Canva for years, but sometimes I need apps like Canva that offer different features, better pricing, or more creative freedom.

In this article, I’ll share some Canva alternatives, explain what makes them stand out, and compare them in detail to help you choose the best alternative to Canva.

Canva Alternatives: Which is Better

Before we dive into the details of each tool, here’s a quick comparison chart of the popular Canva alternatives in 2025. This way, you can immediately see what makes each option different, along with its pros, cons, and best use cases.

1. VistaCreate – Closest Canva Alternative

VistaCreate looks and feels almost identical to Canva. It offers thousands of templates, animations, and video options. The interface is simple, the drag-and-drop editor—it’s all very familiar.

What I love:

• The animation templates are better than Canva’s.
• The pricing is slightly lower.
• Switching from Canva was effortless.

What I don’t love:

• Some stock images aren’t as polished.
• The free plan still locks too many features.

If you want a smooth transition from Canva without relearning a new tool, this is the best alternative to Canva.

2. Fotor – Photo-Focused Canva Alternative

Fotor as an alternative is more like a photo editor with design templates on top. It has strong tools for filters, one-click photo enhancement, and an AI background remover.

Pros:

• One-click photo enhancement actually works.
• Great for retouching product shots.
• The AI background remover is surprisingly accurate.

Cons:

• Design templates aren’t as stylish as Canva’s.
• Not ideal for heavy text-based designs.

I use Fotor when I need polished photos first and graphics second. It’s a strong free Canva alternative if you do lots of image editing.

3. Pixlr – Free Canva Alternative with Photoshop Vibes

Pixlr combines the simplicity of Canva with editing power similar to Photoshop. It has layers, blending modes, and detailed controls, but it’s still online and free.

Best for:

• Creators who need both design and advanced photo editing
• Students who can’t afford Photoshop
• Users looking for a free Canva alternative

I pick Pixlr when I need flexibility. It’s a Canva alternative for creators who want freedom, not just ready-made layouts.

4. Adobe Express – Professional Canva Alternative

Adobe Express is part of Adobe’s ecosystem, with access to stock photos, fonts, and integration with Photoshop and Illustrator. It’s cleaner and more brand-focused than Canva.

Best for:

• Teams who already use Adobe Creative Cloud
• Businesses needing polished branding
• Professionals who want control over brand kits

Disadvantages:

• A bit pricier than Canva.
• Beginners might find it overwhelming.

If your team already uses Adobe products, this is the smartest alternative to Canva. It makes branding so much easier.

5. UltraPic – AI Background Removal & Generation

UltraPic takes a different angle compared to other Canva alternatives. Instead of offering thousands of templates, it focuses on AI-powered background editing. This makes it especially useful for e-commerce sellers, marketers, and businesses that need product images edited quickly and consistently.

Pros:

• AI removes backgrounds with one click, saving tons of time.
• Can generate professional-looking backgrounds for product shots.
• No steep learning curve—just upload and edit.

Cons:

• Limited templates compared to Canva or VistaCreate.

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UltraPic isn’t meant to replace Canva entirely, but as a Canva alternative for e-commerce and commercial images, it’s incredibly efficient.

If your main task is editing product photos—removing backgrounds, creating ads, or generating consistent brand visuals—UltraPic is one of the best tools out there.

6. Stencil – Lightweight Canva Alternative

Stencil is extremely fast and minimal. It doesn’t overload you with features; instead, it focuses on quick social media graphics.

Best for:

• Social media marketers who post daily
• Beginners who get overwhelmed by too many options
• Users with slower devices who want speed

What I don’t love:

• Too basic for big projects.
• Limited customization compared to Canva.

I reach for Stencil when I’m in a rush. It’s an apps like Canva solution for people who just need something fast and easy.

7. Visme – Best for Businesses and Presentations

Visme blew me away with its business features. It’s not just about social posts—it’s about data, reports, and professional presentations.

What I love:

• Stunning infographic templates.
• Powerful tools for reports and slides.
• Perfect for marketing and business teams.

What I don’t love:

• Steeper learning curve.
• More expensive than Canva.

I recommend Visme as a Canva alternative for companies, not casual users. It’s professional-grade.

8. Snappa – Simple but Smart

Snappa feels like Canva’s minimalist cousin. It doesn’t try to do everything, but it nails social media graphics.

Prons:

• Pre-sized templates for every platform.
• Very easy to learn.
• Quick exports, no fuss.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features.
• Smaller template library.

When I want to save time on Instagram or YouTube graphics, Snappa is my go-to free Canva alternative.

9. Pablo by Buffer – The Minimalist Social Media Image Expert

When I need to quickly generate a cover image for a blog post or social media, this is the fastest tool I open.

It's hyper-focused on creating text-based images for social media. No extra features.

Pros:

• Clean interface.
• Buffer integration: If you're already a Buffer user, create and schedule posts

Cons:

• Beyond adding text, background images, and logos, there's almost no complex editing or design capability.

It’s ideal for quickly batch-producing simple social media images.

10. Photopea – A Photoshop Alternative in Your Browser

It replicates nearly all of Photoshop's functionality, yet runs directly in your browser. It takes the exact opposite approach to Canva. While Canva simplifies, Photopea delivers full professional control.

Advantages:

• Supports multiple professional file formats like .psd, .ai, and .xd, complete with advanced features such as layers, masks, and filters.
• No download or installation required—just open the webpage to use it.
• Core functionality is completely free, though ads are present.

Disadvantages:

• The interface feels outdated, and the learning curve is very steep.
• Lacks templates, making it unsuitable for content creation but ideal for image editing.

11. Figma – The Ultimate Choice for Collaborative Design

This isn't just another Canva alternative—it's the ideal platform for collaborative design.

At its core, Figma is built for “real-time collaboration.” Think of it as the Google Docs of design, where multiple people can edit a single file simultaneously without any hassle.

Pros:

• Seamless integration of comments, edits, and version history makes it the go-to for remote teams.
• It's component-driven, not template-driven. You can build reusable design systems where efficiency gains scale exponentially.
• Its vector tools are far more professional than Canva's, perfect for users needing precise icons and illustrations.

Disadvantages:

• The learning curve is steep. For those just wanting to quickly make a social media graphic, Figma might feel overly complex.
• It's not built for “quick turnaround.” If you need to find a template, tweak it, and use it within minutes, Figma's startup speed can't match Canva's.

Conclusion

In the end, the best choice depends on your workflow. If you want a full design platform, go for VistaCreate or Adobe Express. If you’re running an online shop, UltraPic will save you hours of manual editing. And if you just want something quick and easy, tools like Stencil or Snappa will do the job.

Most of these Canva alternatives have free plans. My advice: try a couple, see which one feels natural, and let the tool fit your workflow—not the other way around.