The free version of this software offers numerous options and features, which can help you create professional designs without the need to spend a penny. However, Canva Pro is not lacking in perks.
We’re here to shed a light on the biggest benefits of going Pro in Canva, and will help you decide whether or not it’s worth your money.
1. Magic Resize: Replicate Designs in Different Sizes
Normally, when you start to work on a new design in Canva, you choose your preferred design type, such as an Instagram Post, poster, YouTube video, etc. The type of design determines the dimensions of the workspace.
In the free version of Canva, once you choose the type and start to create it, you’re pretty much committed to that size.
But if you’re halfway through your work and decide that you want the post to be for Facebook instead of Instagram, you’re stuck. This means that you either have to start over or somehow copy from one design to the other.
In the Pro version, however, you can use the Magic Resize tool at the top left corner of the screen. With a few clicks, you can create duplicates of your creation in other sizes. In those copies, you may need to move some elements around to make them fit better, but the basic layout remains.
This is a great timesaver if you plan to post the same thing on multiple social media platforms. Another example is when you want to create multiple materials to represent the same brand, like a website header, letterheads, and presentations.
2. Brand Kit: Consistency Across All Designs
To continue with the topic of brand representation, Canva Pro offers a great tool called Brand Kit. If you use the software to create images and videos for one client, this can come in handy. It’s also invaluable if you use Canva to promote yourself as a small business, and want to have a cohesive look.
The feature allows you to add all of your logos in one place, as well as your brand colors and fonts. After you do that, you can adapt any design to match the same brand with just a few clicks.
You simply go to the Style tab on the left, click the brand colors and fonts, and watch the transformation on the screen.
The logos you upload to the Brand Kit are also accessible from the Logos tab on the left. All of this is even more useful if you work with a team, and all of your designs need to fit the same mold.
3. Premium Templates and Assets: More Opportunities for Creativity
For people who use Canva regularly, templates are another huge timesaver. They provide you with a good base to start your designs and help you create designs on Canva with zero effort.
You can find templates for almost any situation, from an Instagram Story to a resume. These can be extremely helpful when you feel overwhelmed at the thought of having to design something from scratch. While these are available in the free version, there are so many more to choose from with the Pro version.
Additionally, a Pro account opens access to numerous assets that can enrich your designs. This includes over four million photos, as well as numerous stickers, fonts, and additional animations.
The biggest difference is with videos and sounds, as there is a much wider selection to choose from. A Pro account also helps you find assets precisely for your needs when you use the Search option. Looking for a specific word will yield multiple usable results.
4. Custom Templates: Reuse Your Creations
Canva users who have been using the software for a long time, and are familiar with most of its features, will appreciate the Pro option that lets them create a custom template.
With this, you can have a few templates specifically tailored to your needs (including all of your brand colors, fonts, and logos). You can also change the text and images every time you use them.
In the free version, there is a way around this if you duplicate an existing design. However, by creating a template, you ensure that you don’t accidentally overwrite something you wish to keep for future uses. This comes in handy if a team uses the same account.
The option to turn a design into a template is located next to the Download button. Click the three dots, and then See all. The next time you choose that design, you can either edit the template or use it as a template, which won’t affect the original.
5. Schedule to Social Media: Manage Directly From Canva
One of Canva’s greatest strengths is designing for social media, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more. So it only makes sense that the software will let you post directly to these platforms, which you can already do in the free version.
However, the Pro account also lets you schedule these posts, taking the social media game to a whole other level. On top of that, with the Canva Content Planner, you can plan ahead and spot gaps in your posting schedule.
Unfortunately, the scheduler doesn’t cover all platforms, and Instagram, for instance, is sorely missing. For that, you have to use a third-party app that lets you schedule posts to multiple platforms.
Who Will Benefit the Most From Going Pro?
The free Canva account has a lot to offer, and in some cases, you don’t need more. It has beautiful templates, a variety of assets, and many features that are open to exploring, even if they are limited.
Canva Pro is a great tool for teams, as it makes it easier to collaborate with brand colors and templates. We haven’t even mentioned the bigger storage space, and the ability to create more folders, which can also help with collaboration.
The main difference is saving time, whether through resizing or finding the best picture right away, which could be worth the investment.
Canva Pro is available from $12.95/month, and that price will increase depending on the size of your team. If you’re still unsure, you can always take advantage of the 30-day free trial.
