Canva vs Penpot
A detailed comparison of Canva and Penpot to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Canva | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free with basic features | ✓ Free (cloud and self-hosted) |
| Lowest Paid | $12.99/mo | Free |
| Enterprise | $30/user/mo | Premium support available |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Canva | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Templates | ✓ | — |
| Drag-and-drop editor | ✓ | — |
| Stock photos | ✓ | — |
| Brand kit | ✓ | — |
| Video editor | ✓ | — |
| Presentations | ✓ | — |
| Social media scheduling | ✓ | — |
| Print ordering | ✓ | — |
| Collaboration | ✓ | — |
| AI tools | ✓ | — |
| Vector editing | — | ✓ |
| Prototyping | — | ✓ |
| Components | — | ✓ |
| Design tokens | — | ✓ |
| Real-time collaboration | — | ✓ |
| Self-hosting | — | ✓ |
| SVG native | — | ✓ |
| CSS-ready inspect | — | ✓ |
| Plugins | — | ✓ |
| Flex layout | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.6 | ⭐ 4.1 |
Pros & Cons
Canva
Pros
- ✓ Very easy to use
- ✓ Massive template library
- ✓ Free tier is generous
- ✓ Constantly adding features
Cons
- ✗ Limited for professional design
- ✗ Can feel generic
- ✗ Export limitations on free
- ✗ Not for complex design work
Penpot
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ SVG native format
Cons
- ✗ Less polished than Figma
- ✗ Smaller plugin ecosystem
- ✗ Performance issues
- ✗ Fewer tutorials
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Canva if: You need non-designers and marketing teams. Canva excels with its very easy to use and massive template library.
Choose Penpot if: You need teams wanting open-source design tools. Penpot stands out with its completely free and open source.
Best free option: Both Canva and Penpot offer free tiers. Canva offers "Free with basic features" while Penpot offers "Free (cloud and self-hosted)".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canva better than Penpot?
It depends on your needs. Canva is better for non-designers and marketing teams, while Penpot is better for teams wanting open-source design tools. Both are excellent tools rated 4.6 and 4.1 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Canva or Penpot?
Canva starts at $12.99/mo while Penpot starts at Free. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Canva to Penpot?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Penpot's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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