Canva: So you can create your own designs for free

This is one of the most complete design suites

It is possible that at some point you have heard of Canva. This service is halfway between Photoshop, Google Docs, PowerPoint and Capcut. With it you will be able to complete with solvency countless tasks related to graphic design, but also with the creation of videos, documents and presentations. It is also a great tool to make mockups or generate images with AI.

In the following sections I invite you to take a tour of Canva and Know your main functionalities. In addition, I explain how much it costs and how you can access its most advanced characteristics. Of course, if you are not willing to pay, I also tell you about everything you will be able to do by just creating an account. In short, I have prepared this guide for all those who want to meet Canva and start getting more out of it.

How Canva works

The first thing I want to explain is How Canva works. It is a design platform that works in the cloud. It allows you to work very similar to how Google Docs does. This text processor synchronizes the changes constantly in the cloud and, in addition, allows to invite other users to work in a document at the same time. With Canva you get exactly the same experience. Mainly, you will have to Use a browser To work with your designs; Every change you make is automatically stored and, in addition, it is possible to add users to Real -time collaborate (This is a payment function).

At first, Canva was a fairly simple tool. Its main tools were focused on image design. To understand each other, it was always a kind of simplified Photoshop. Now, over time this has changed. The platform has grown in users and that has allowed its creators to continue developing it. CANVA is possible to use for a long time create documents of texts, graphics, videos and much more. In addition, it has a supply collection of templates.

Personally, I use Canva to Design many of the covers of my publications. Some generated them with AI, others I am using the free elements and there are those that take advantage of their mockups system, especially to set up screenshots on devices. I have never paid for Canva because I have not needed it. Free functions are more than enough for me, although if you need to create more professional content, it is more than advisable to go through the box.

Everything you can do in Canva without paying anything

First, I’m going to talk about all those functions that I use in my day to day (and some more) and for which I pay nothing. All the tools I mention are now available at Canva’s free level.

Graphic Design

Canva’s main function is the one that has to do with the Graphic Design. In this area, it is a very complete platform. Anyway, although it includes many editing functions, the truth is that It is not as powerful as Photoshop or Gimp. In fact, I think that Canva’s approach is very different.

To start working with a new design, it is necessary to press on the button Create a design.

Then, a template selector will open that will serve as a starting point. However, Canva also allows you to open new white projects and with specific dimensions. For the latter it is necessary to press in Personalized size. This is the way to obtain a canvas with the exact shorts that your project needs.

There are also predefined formats for blank canvases. For example, you can create a 16: 9 project, ideal for panoramic videos or images. Likewise, you will be able to open a canvas for an Instagram story or a WhatsApp state.

Once you have the open project, you have the following resources:

• Items. It is a section where you will find graphic resources, such as images, geometric figures, graphics or videos. Many of these resources are totally freealthough there are many others that are paid.
• Text. It is the section to generate texts. There are predefined designs and, in addition, a huge collection of typefaces. To access many of them it is necessary to pay.
• Photos, audio and videos. Stock media collections for your projects. Some resources can be found in the section Items.
• Apps. Canva integrates several very useful applications, such as the one that allows to create a Mockup or climb an image with AI.

Canva Docs

This is a more or less recent function. Canva Docs is a Google Docs direct competitorboth for its text processing functions and for real -time collaboration. Now, Canva continues more focused on design and lacks many of the functions that Google service does. Without going any further, it only allows the document to be exported to the PDF and Docx formats, when Google Docs has up to 8 output formats.

It could be said that this is a service to create more beautiful than functional documents. Anyway, if you need to collaborate in real time with other users, it is practical.

Dream Lab

Canva has been committed to AI for a long time. One of the integrations is magical writing, which allows generating text in any project. Now, I think Dream Lab It is the most interesting implementation. Basically, he uses diffusion models To generate images from text. It also allows you to upload images to use as a visual reference.

I have used it for some covers and the truth is that the results are of quality. Remember that in this type of tools it is important to send a Prompt well detailed. Of course, if you prefer, you can select the image style manually.

Other free functions

In addition to everything that I have already explained to you, Canva has many others Integrated tools that you will be able to use for free:

• Creation of websites. In addition to easily create a design adapted to all types of screens, it allows you to publish it in a Canva subdomain.
• Online slates. Taking advantage of real -time collaboration, this platform also offers the possibility of opening an online board that is updated with each change. It is ideal for teachers or companies.
• Presentations. Another thing you can do with Canva is a presentation. It integrates many of PowerPoint’s functions and many others focused on design.

How much does Canva cost? Is it worth paying?

Canva It can be used totally freealthough there are some limitations. In general terms, if the use you are going to give it is basic, I do not think it is worth paying the subscription. Now, if you are going to use Canva at work, For professional projectsthen it will be profitable. It is a very interesting tool for marketing equipment, social network management or graphic designers.

Canva has two levels of subscription. In this comparative table you have all the details:

Here are the comparative table of the Canva subscription levels: