Canva vs Envato Elements
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Canva | Envato Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free; Canva Pro $12.99/mo (annual) or $14.99/mo (monthly) | $16.50/mo (annual) or $33/mo (monthly) |
| Target Audience | Non-designers, small business owners, social media managers | Creative professionals (designers, video editors, web developers) |
| Asset Library | Millions of stock photos, illustrations, and templates (free and pro) | Millions of assets (photos, graphics, templates, fonts, video, audio) with commercial license |
| Design Tools | Drag-and-drop editor, photo editing, background remover, brand kits | No built-in editor; assets used in external software |
| Collaboration | Team collaboration, shared folders, real-time editing (Pro) | Single user license; no team features |
| Integrations | Limited; mainly web-based | Adobe Creative Cloud plugin |
Choose Envato Elements if you're a creative professional needing unlimited assets for commercial projects and have existing design software. Choose Canva if you're a non-designer who needs quick, simple design tools with templates and collaboration. Canva's free tier is more accessible for occasional use, while Envato's subscription offers better value for high-volume asset downloads.
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Who should pick which
- Freelance graphic designerPick: Envato Elements
Needs unlimited stock assets and commercial licenses for client projects; uses Adobe Creative Cloud and can benefit from Envato's plugin.
- Social media managerPick: Canva
Requires quick template-based designs and collaboration with team; Canva's drag-and-drop editor and brand kits are ideal.
- Video editorPick: Envato Elements
Needs unlimited stock footage, video templates, and music; Envato's library covers these needs better than Canva.
- Small business owner (non-designer)Pick: Canva
Wants to create marketing materials without learning design software; Canva's simplicity and free tier are perfect.
- Web developerPick: Envato Elements
Needs website templates and themes; Envato offers a wide variety of web assets with commercial license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canva vs Envato Elements: which should you choose?
Choose Envato Elements if you're a creative professional needing unlimited assets for commercial projects and have existing design software. Choose Canva if you're a non-designer who needs quick, simple design tools with templates and collaboration. Canva's free tier is more accessible for occasional use, while Envato's subscription offers better value for high-volume asset downloads.
Can I use Envato Elements assets in Canva?
Yes, you can download assets from Envato and upload them to Canva, but Envato's license terms must be followed for commercial use.
Which has better stock photos: Envato or Canva?
Envato has a larger library of stock photos with commercial license included; Canva's free library is limited, but Pro adds premium stock.
Can I collaborate with my team on Envato Elements?
No, Envato Elements is single-user only; Canva Pro offers team collaboration features.
Is Envato Elements worth it for occasional use?
No, occasional users are better off buying individual assets from marketplaces like Envato Market; the subscription is cost-effective only for frequent downloads.
Does Canva offer video editing?
Canva has basic video editing features like trimming, merging, and adding text, but not as advanced as dedicated video editors. Envato provides video templates and stock footage for use in external software.
Which tool is better for print design?
Canva offers print templates and can export PDFs, but for professional print with color profiles, Envato assets used in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator are better.
Can I cancel my Envato Elements subscription anytime?
Yes, you can cancel anytime, but annual plans are not refundable for the remaining period.
Does Canva have a commercial license for all assets?
Canva's free plan includes a limited license for free assets; Canva Pro provides a commercial license for Pro assets. Always check usage rights.
More Canva or Envato Elements comparisons
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Last reviewed: May 12, 2026