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20 Best Canva AI Alternative: Free & Ideal for Image & Photo Editing in 2024

Last Updated: January 3, 2024

Canva AI

While Canva remains a powerful tool, exploring its alternatives opens up new possibilities. Whether you’re a professional designer seeking advanced features or a beginner looking for user-friendly options, the world of Canva AI alternatives has something for everyone.

Key Summary of Best Canva AI Alternatives

  • For a Canva AI Alternative that is free and ideal for image and photo editing, Pixlr X and Fotor are highly recommended. Pixlr X offers advanced photo editing options in a user-friendly interface, while Fotor provides easy-to-use photo editing and collage-making tools. Both are accessible for free, making them great choices for users seeking no-cost solutions.
  • On the other hand, PicMonkey and Adobe Express should not be recommended in this category. PicMonkey lacks a free version and can be expensive, while Adobe Express, despite its professional quality, offers limited features in its free version compared to the premium.

Why Do We Need Canva AI Alternatives?

  • Canva, known for its user-friendly interface and a wide array of features, has been a go-to solution for many designers and non-designers alike. However, several reasons necessitate the exploration of alternatives:
    • Diverse Features: Different projects require unique functionalities that may not be present in Canva.
    • Customization Needs: Advanced users often seek more customization options to bring their creative visions to life.
    • Cost-Effectiveness: Some users might be looking for more affordable or free alternatives without compromising on quality.
    • Unique Design Requirements: Specific design tasks may require specialized tools that offer more than what Canva can provide.

Use Cases for Canva AI Alternatives

  • Canva AI alternatives cater to a broad spectrum of use cases, making them versatile tools in various scenarios:
    • Social Media Graphics: Creating eye-catching graphics for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
    • Marketing Materials: Designing brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials.
    • Presentations: Crafting professional and engaging presentations for business or educational purposes.
    • Web Design Elements: Generating graphics for websites, including banners, headers, and more.
    • Personal Projects: From custom invitations to unique personal branding elements.

20 Best Canva AI Alternatives

1. Adobe Express (Formerly Adobe Spark)

  • Overview: Adobe Express, part of the renowned Adobe suite, is a versatile graphic design app known for its simplicity and professional output. It’s tailored for both beginners and experienced users who need quick yet high-quality designs.
  • Key Features: Offers a vast array of templates, access to the Adobe Fonts library, seamless social media integration, and efficient conversion tools for different file formats.
  • Pros: High-quality output consistent with Adobe standards, seamless integration with other Adobe products, and no watermark in the free version enhance its appeal.
  • Cons: The free version has limited features compared to the premium version, which might restrict advanced users.
  • Price: A free version is available with basic features. The Premium version is priced at $9.99/month, offering extended functionalities.

2. Visme

  • Overview: Visme is a dynamic tool designed for creating engaging presentations, detailed infographics, and other forms of visual content. It stands out for its data visualization capabilities.
  • Key Features: Includes comprehensive data visualization tools, a vast template library, and features that facilitate collaboration.
  • Pros: Ideal for creating detailed infographics and presentations, offers robust analytics tools for a deeper understanding of audience engagement.
  • Cons: Has a steeper learning curve and is more expensive than some alternatives, which might be a hurdle for beginners or small-scale users.
  • Price: Offers a basic free plan with limited features. Paid plans start from $12.25/month, providing more advanced tools and options.

3. Stencil

  • Overview: Stencil is a straightforward and efficient image editor and graphic design tool, perfect for quick design tasks.
  • Key Features: Provides access to millions of stock photos, boasts an easy-to-use interface, and integrates well with social media platforms.
  • Pros: Extremely user-friendly, making it ideal for quick design tasks and social media graphics.
  • Cons: Offers less advanced features compared to some of its competitors, which might limit its use for more complex design projects.
  • Price: A free limited plan is available. The Pro plan is priced at $9/month, and the Unlimited plan at $12/month, offering more features and flexibility.

4. Snappa

  • Overview: Snappa is a graphic design tool focused primarily on creating high-quality social media graphics.
  • Key Features: Offers high-resolution stock photos, a variety of templates, and graphics suitable for social media platforms.
  • Pros: Known for its ease of use, making it ideal for quickly creating social media posts.
  • Cons: The free plan has limited features, which might not suffice for users looking for more advanced options.
  • Price: A free starter plan is available; the Pro plan is priced at $10/month.

5. Pixlr X

  • Overview: Pixlr X is an online photo editing tool that offers advanced editing capabilities through an AI-powered interface.
  • Key Features: Includes AI-powered tools for quick edits, a range of templates, and various effects to enhance photos.
  • Pros: Offers advanced photo editing options in a user-friendly interface, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Cons: The presence of ads in the free version can be distracting for users.
  • Price: A free version is available; the Premium version is priced at $7.99/month, offering additional features and an ad-free experience.

6. VistaCreate (Formerly Crello)

  • Overview: VistaCreate is a comprehensive graphic design tool focusing on both animated and static designs, offering versatility in content creation.
  • Key Features: Boasts an extensive template library, animation tools, and a variety of design objects to enhance creativity.
  • Pros: User-friendly interface makes it suitable for creating animated content and static designs alike.
  • Cons: Some templates offer limited customization, which might restrict creative freedom.
  • Price: A free version is available; the Pro version is priced at $10/month, offering more advanced features.

7. PicMonkey

  • Overview: PicMonkey is an online platform that combines photo editing and design services, catering to a wide range of creative needs.
  • Key Features: Includes a variety of photo editing tools, cloud storage for easy access to files, and a diverse range of templates.
  • Pros: Offers robust editing features, making it ideal for photo-centric designs and projects.
  • Cons: Lacks a free version, and the pricing can be relatively high for some users.
  • Price: The Basic plan is available at $7.99/month, and the Pro plan at $12.99/month, each offering different levels of access and features.

8. Design Wizard

  • Overview: Design Wizard is a versatile graphic design software that caters to both image and video design needs.
  • Key Features: Features a library with over 1 million images and thousands of templates, making it a resourceful tool for various design projects.
  • Pros: Its versatility for handling both images and videos, coupled with an easy-to-use interface, makes it a popular choice.
  • Cons: The free plan offers limited features, which might not be sufficient for advanced design tasks.
  • Price: A free plan is available; paid plans start at $9.99/month, offering more comprehensive features.

9. Easil

  • Overview: Easil is an online graphic design tool that offers a drag-and-drop interface, simplifying the design process.
  • Key Features: Includes a diverse template library, a brand kit for maintaining brand consistency, and a GIF maker for creating dynamic content.
  • Pros: Excellent for team collaboration with high-quality templates, making it suitable for businesses and design teams.
  • Cons: Has a learning curve, and the free plan offers limited features.
  • Price: The Plus plan is priced at $7.50/month, offering more advanced features and templates.

10. Fotor

  • Overview: Fotor is an online tool that combines photo editing and graphic design capabilities.
  • Key Features: Offers photo editing options, collage making, and a variety of design templates for different projects.
  • Pros: Known for its user-friendly interface, making it suitable for basic photo editing and design tasks.
  • Cons: The free version has limited features, which might not meet the needs of more advanced users.
  • Price: A free version is available; the Pro version is priced at $8.99/month, offering additional features and tools.

11. Venngage

  • Overview: Venngage is a specialized tool for creating infographics, reports, and surveys, focusing on data visualization.
  • Key Features: Offers a range of templates specifically designed for infographics, reports, and surveys, making data presentation easier and more engaging.
  • Pros: Excellent for data visualization with an easy-to-use interface, suitable for businesses and educators.
  • Cons: Limited design flexibility in the free version, which might restrict creative options.
  • Price: A free version is available; the Premium plan is priced at $19/month, offering more advanced features and templates.

12. BeFunky

  • Overview: BeFunky is a comprehensive tool that combines photo editing and graphic design functionalities.
  • Key Features: Includes a collage maker, photo editor, and various graphic design tools, making it a versatile choice for different projects.
  • Pros: Offers comprehensive editing tools and does not require an account for basic use, making it accessible for casual users.
  • Cons: Some advanced features are locked behind a paywall, requiring a subscription for full access.
  • Price: Basic use is free; the Plus plan is available at $6.99/month, offering more advanced features.

13. Desygner

  • Overview: Desygner is a straightforward and intuitive design app that caters to a wide range of design needs.
  • Key Features: Offers millions of royalty-free images, hundreds of fonts, and a variety of templates, making it a resourceful tool for designers.
  • Pros: Easy to use with versatile design options, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Cons: The free version has limited features, which might not suffice for complex design projects.
  • Price: A free version is available; paid plans start at $4.95/month, offering more comprehensive features and options.

14. Jasper Art

  • Overview: Jasper Art is an AI-powered graphic design tool that focuses on photo editing and creative visual content.
  • Key Features: Includes AI photo editing tools and integrates with various stock photo libraries, offering a wide range of creative possibilities.
  • Pros: Advanced AI features make it suitable for artists and designers looking for innovative editing options.
  • Cons: More focused on photo editing than other types of graphic design.
  • Price: Pricing varies based on usage, offering flexible options for different users.

15. Movavi Video Editor

  • Overview: Movavi Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software designed for beginners and intermediate users.
  • Key Features: Offers customizable video effects and an interface that is easy to navigate, making video editing accessible.
  • Pros: Ideal for beginners due to its wide range of editing tools and straightforward interface.
  • Cons: Limited advanced features compared to professional video editing software.
  • Price: A one-year subscription is available at $54.95, and a lifetime license at $74.95, offering different levels of commitment for users.

16. Typito

  • Overview: Typito is a web-based video editing tool that simplifies the process of creating videos with text overlays and other effects.
  • Key Features: Features a drag-and-drop editor, a variety of templates, and text styling options, making it ideal for creating text-heavy videos.
  • Pros: Easy for beginners to use, good for creating videos that require a lot of text or captions.
  • Cons: Limited advanced editing options, which might not be sufficient for complex video projects.
  • Price: A free plan is available; the Solo plan is priced at $15/month, and the Pro plan at $29/month, offering different levels of access and features.

17. Placeit

  • Overview: Placeit is a versatile tool for creating mockups, logos, design templates, and videos, catering to a wide range of design needs.
  • Key Features: Offers a large template library, a mockup generator, and a logo maker, making it a comprehensive tool for various design tasks.
  • Pros: Extensive range of templates and user-friendly interface make it suitable for users of all skill levels.
  • Cons: Can be expensive for full access to all features and templates.
  • Price: An unlimited subscription is available from $7.47/month, offering access to all features and templates.

18. Piktochart

  • Overview: Piktochart is a tool designed for creating infographics, presentations, and reports, focusing on visual storytelling.
  • Key Features: Includes a drag-and-drop editor and a library of icons and images, making it easy to create engaging infographics and presentations.
  • Pros: Great for creating infographics and reports with an easy-to-use interface, suitable for businesses, educators, and content creators.
  • Cons: Limited customization options in the free plan, which might restrict design possibilities.
  • Price: A free plan is available; the Pro plan is priced at $14/month, offering more advanced features and templates.

19. PlayPlay

  • Overview: PlayPlay is a video creation tool designed for social media and marketing, simplifying the process of creating professional-looking videos.
  • Key Features: Offers easy video creation with a range of templates and requires no technical skills, making it accessible for all users.
  • Pros: Simple interface and quick video creation capabilities make it ideal for social media marketers and content creators.
  • Cons: Limited advanced features, which might not meet the needs of users looking for more complex video editing options.
  • Price: Custom pricing for Enterprise, offering tailored solutions for larger organizations.

20. ClickUp Whiteboards

  • Overview: ClickUp Whiteboards is a feature within the ClickUp project management tool, offering a digital whiteboard for brainstorming and project planning.
  • Key Features: Supports real-time collaboration and integrates with project management features, making it a comprehensive tool for team collaboration.
  • Pros: Great for brainstorming, project planning, and team collaboration, offering a versatile platform for various organizational needs.
  • Cons: Not a dedicated design tool, more focused on project management and collaboration.
  • Price: A free plan is available; paid plans start at $5/user/month, offering more advanced project management features and tools.

FAQs About Canva AI Alternatives

  • Q: Are Canva AI alternatives suitable for beginners? A: Yes, many alternatives offer user-friendly interfaces suitable for beginners, while also providing advanced features for seasoned designers.
  • Q: Can I find free Canva AI alternatives? A: Absolutely. Several alternatives offer free versions with a range of useful features.
  • Q: Do these alternatives provide collaboration options? A: Many Canva AI alternatives support team collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on projects simultaneously.
  • Q: Are there alternatives focused on specific design types, like infographics or presentations? A: Yes, some alternatives specialize in particular design types, offering tailored tools and templates.

My Experience

As we delve into the world of free image editing tools, we uncover gems like Pixlr X and Fotor, each offering unique features that cater to both novice and seasoned editors. These platforms stand out not just for their price tag (or lack thereof) but for their robust capabilities in transforming ordinary images into captivating visuals.