I’m looking for design software similar to Canva with features for creating visuals and presentations. Canva works great, but I want to explore other tools with comparable or better capabilities. Any recommendations?
Oh, so Canva isn’t good enough for ya now? Alright, big spender, here’s a few contenders for your fancy design exploration. Drumroll
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Adobe Express (formerly Spark) – Basically Canva but with Adobe’s brand slapped on. Templates? Check. Easy to use? Check. Free tier? Obviously. Only downside: Adobe might flood your inbox with “limited time offers” every time you blink.
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Crello (well, now it’s called VistaCreate, ‘cause clearly we needed that rebranding confusion). It’s like Canva’s twin, born a minute later. Same drag-and-drop vibe. Plus, they’ve got free animated templates, ‘cause slides that MOVE are apparently all the rage.
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Piktochart – If infographics are your jam, this one’s for you. Don’t expect crazy presentation templates, but for clean, professional visuals that scream, “I’m better than basic,” you’re golden.
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Easil – Canva’s artsy cousin who always labels their mason jars. Customizations are deep, but not overwhelming. Bonus: They’ve got a “Brand Kit” tool so your colors and logos stay consistent instead of looking like a kindergarten craft project.
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Desygner – Got trust issues with Canva’s copyright stuff? Try this one. They’ve got pre-made templates for everything—you could probably make a wedding invite and a fast-food menu in one sitting.
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Snappa – Literally feels like Canva-lite. Super simplistic, perfect for when you’re designing under a caffeine-deprived haze and CANNOT deal with extra fluff.
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Figma – Alright, this is for the control freaks who need collaborative EVERYTHING. It’s not “Canva simple,” but you can co-design in real time with your work buddies (or frenemies).
Bottom line: You’ve got options. But if none of these work, maybe the problem isn’t Canva. Just saying.
VistaCreate (don’t worry, I’m not calling it Crello either, @mike34 covered that well enough) is decent, but I wouldn’t say it’s exactly like Canva. It’s got the same vibe, sure, but I’ve noticed the template variety feels somewhat… predictable. It’s like every design looks ready for Instagram influencers selling face masks.
If you really want something different, try Affinity Designer—it’s a bit more robust than Canva, so there’s a slight learning curve, but the tools are way more powerful if you’re into designing beyond those plug-and-play templates. Plus, one-time payment, no subscription nonsense.
Also, for presentations, have you looked at Prezi? Its “zooming” storytelling format beats Canva’s basic slide transitions any day—unless you get dizzy easily. Literally.
Lastly, Gravit Designer is like Figma’s less intimidating sibling. Works straight from your browser (or get the desktop app), and it’s got a free plan, though some features are trapped behind a paywall.
Anyway, it depends what you’re after—ease-of-use, originality, or raw design power. Canva alternatives exist, but let’s be real: sometimes they’re overhyped, shiny duplicates. Might just end up crawling back to Canva once you try a few of these. Or not. Who knows?
Prezi? Figma? Sure, they’re solid, but why isn’t anyone talking about Visme? It’s one of those platforms that straddles the line between simple drag-and-drop tools like Canva and more advanced stuff like Adobe Illustrator. The templates are professional and versatile, not like the cookie-cutter Instagram-focused things you’ll find on VistaCreate (still love ya, Vista). Plus, Visme works wonders for presentations—interactive elements, embedded videos, analytics… boom. Canva doesn’t roll that deep in data.
That said, Visme has its quirks. It’s pricier than Canva, especially if you want the good stuff, and the interface can feel clunky when layering multiple design elements. But if you’re aiming for a polished look with built-in analytics for presentations and content performance tracking, it’s worth a shot.
As for Affinity Designer, @reveurdenuit touched on it, and yeah, it’s powerful. BUT, let’s be real—if you’re coming from Canva, Affinity is gonna feel like going from a kiddie splash pad to the Olympic diving pool. Great for customizing, but it’s no plug-and-play experience. Snappa keeps things way more chill and stress-free if you need “basic yet aesthetic.”
And though Easil has its fans, I’ve found it’s less versatile for corporate/professional designs—it screams small business and creative entrepreneurs more than big office boardrooms. Though that Brand Kit, I’ll admit, is excellent for consistency across projects.
Also, PSA: If you ever lean toward Piktochart (cool for infographics but meh for other stuff), be ready to work within its limited fonts and templates unless your wallet’s open. It’s far less extensive than Canva’s free tier.
My quick take? If you want a close match with extras, Visme deserves the spotlight. If you’re venturing more advanced, Affinity Designer or Figma might fit. For the Canva doubters: test these, but don’t toss Canva aside yet—it might be the easiest win overall.