Canva is an invaluable resource for professionals across industries. For example, marketing managers use Canva to create social media content, while small business owners use Canva assets to get the word out about an in-store event,
Artists, graphic designers, and other creatives can also use Canva’s graphic design software to make money online. With more than 90% of graphic designers now working freelance, there are plenty of opportunities to make money with Canva.
Whether you use it to build editable social media templates or put its video editor to work creating marketing content for your clients, learn how to make money with Canva in this comprehensive guide.
12 ways to make money with Canva
- Sell Canva templates
- Design social media assets
- Design logos
- Offer digital marketing support
- Create Canva tutorials
- Sell art prints
- Sell printable educational resources
- Sell printable activity books
- Build websites
- Create video content
- Build custom event invitations
- Design business cards and stationery
Plenty of independent creatives have found ways to use Canva to earn money. Scratch the surface of any online marketplace and you’ll find people selling Canva templates, sharing their insights on learning platforms, or using Canva to power their work as consultants.
Here are some of the many ways you can make money with Canva:
1. Sell Canva templates
One of the most popular ways to earn passive income from your own designs is to create templates customers can use for social media posts, banners, and more. It’s easy to create Canva templates on the platform from scratch, then sell them in bundles on sites like Etsy, Fiverr, or your own Shopify store. The key is creating graphics that are unique, visually compelling, and stand out from other listings.
To make money selling Canva templates, you’ll need:
- Basic design skills
- An eye for opportunities in the creative market
- A free Canva account (or a Canva Pro account, which offers advanced editing capabilities and graphics licensing)
- An account on the ecommerce platform where you’ll sell what you make
You can design and create templates for everything, from business model visualizations to event invitations and social media graphics.
2. Design social media assets
Canva is an essential tool for creating social media images. For smaller companies without a dedicated social media team, contracting with a content creator is an easier way to keep their various channels up to date and engaging. Depending on the client, this could include one-time commissions like social media banners or recurring posts based on a retainer.
To create social media graphics, put your own spin on some of Canva’s free social media templates, or build your own. Once you’ve developed loyal clients, you can expand your offering to include social media management services.
3. Design logos
Thanks to its extensive typography and graphics libraries, Canva is an excellent way to support a career as a freelance designer. Logo services—whether logo templates or custom designs made with a logo maker—can cost anywhere from $40 to more than $100. Create a portfolio of past logo work or examples that potential clients can peruse on a freelance network like Upwork, 99 Designs, or Dribbble, and set your price.
4. Offer digital marketing support
If you’re working as a consultant or part-time marketing hire, you can also use Canva’s free and pro templates for more in-depth graphic design services. For example, you can use Canva to design eye-catching ads and social media graphics, website assets, brand zines, or slide decks for employee training or management presentations.
5. Create Canva tutorials
If you’ve been a Canva devotee for some time, you may be able to help newer Canva users learn the ropes. Consider creating Canva tutorials on YouTube or other social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Monetizing video content like this with Google ads or paid partnerships with featured brands is a cornerstone of many content strategies.
To monetize your Canva skills in a more formal setting than social media, consider creating a Canva course that individuals can use to gain a deeper understanding of the platform’s capabilities. Online course creators on sites like Udemy or Skillshare can earn income from popular courses.
6. Sell art prints
You can sell your original illustrations and mixed media artwork created in Canva (with free or licensed assets) on print-on-demand platforms like Redbubble, Society6, or Printful. Print-on-demand services handle the entire fulfillment process, from production and order confirmation to shipping. Depending on what you’d like to sell, you could stick to traditional framed prints, or get your design printed on merchandise like mugs, t-shirts, magnets, and more.
7. Sell printable educational resources
If you have a knack for productivity and goal visualization, consider creating digital planners, calendars, vision board templates, checklists, or booklets using Canva’s free templates. You can sell these items as instant downloads.
8. Sell printable activity books
Creating and selling digital products like downloadable coloring pages or activity books can be an appealing niche for artists with a strong sense of style and social media following. Do some research to see which topics or images sell best, and identify opportunities for untapped potential.
9. Build websites
There’s no shortage of drag-and-drop website builders out there, but many businesses still opt for a freelance designer to help them through the process. Canva’s own website builder does require a Pro account to publish the web pages you design, but the upgraded account also gives you access to millions of stock photos and videos and advanced editing capabilities.
10. Create video content
Canva’s free video editor makes it easy to create and post professional video content on any platform, from short-form stories on TikTok and Instagram to longer-format files on YouTube. Once you create a few work samples for your portfolio, offer your skills on a freelance platform or professional network like Linkedin.
11. Build custom event invitations
People love personalized touches for their events, but not everyone has the time or skills to design stunning invitations. That’s where you come in. With Canva’s easy-to-use templates and design tools, you can create custom invitations for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, and corporate events.
Once you’ve nailed a few designs, promote your services on platforms like Etsy, Instagram, or local Facebook groups. You can even offer digital downloads or printed versions, depending on what your audience prefers. Start small, and as your portfolio grows, so will your demand.
12. Design business cards and stationery
Businesses are always looking for professional, unique designs to stand out, and Canva makes it easy to create sleek, eye-catching business cards and stationery. You can offer complete branding packages that include letterheads, envelopes, and thank-you cards.
Pitch your services to local businesses, freelancers, or startups who need to make a great first impression. You could also list pre-made templates for sale on marketplaces like Creative Market.
Why Canva is a great platform to make money
- Beginner-friendly. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface and pre-designed templates make it easy for anyone to create professional-looking designs, even without prior experience. There are over 400,000 templates to choose from, so there’s something for everyone and every occasion.
- Affordable pro features. Canva Pro costs just $12.99 per month (or $119.99 annually) and gives you access to premium templates, design elements, and features like the background remover and brand kits—tools that can make your designs stand out.
- Versatile licensing. Canva’s licensing terms allow you to customize templates and elements for commercial use, meaning you can sell your designs without legal concerns.
- Wide range of products. Whether you’re creating printable planners, social media templates, business cards, or event invitations, Canva supports a variety of niches to help you tap into different markets.
- Time-saving features. Canva’s tools like Magic Resize and pre-made elements let you create polished designs faster, so you can focus on selling and growing your business.
Start selling your Canva-built products today
If you’re serious about building a brand around your Canva creations, a Shopify store is the perfect way to showcase your products and reach a global audience. With Shopify, you can create a sleek, professional storefront in minutes, easily manage orders, and scale your business as you grow. Start your Shopify store today and take the first step toward turning your creative side hustle into a thriving online business.
Make money on Canva FAQ
Do I need design experience to make money with Canva?
Not at all! Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop tools and extensive library of templates make it easy for anyone to create professional-looking designs, even without prior experience. Start by customizing templates and learning as you go—practice and creativity matter more than formal training.
How do I market my Canva designs effectively?
Focus on showcasing your designs where your target audience hangs out, such as Etsy, Instagram, or Pinterest. Use eye-catching mockups, clear product descriptions, and customer testimonials to build trust. Engaging with your audience, running promotions, and optimizing your listings with relevant keywords can also help boost your sales.
Can you sell what you make on Canva?
Yes, you can sell templates and prints of files you have designed on Canva. Note that free graphics and stock assets may be used for items you plan to publish, sell, or otherwise use professionally; pro assets made by other Canva users require licensing fees.
Can you make money on Canva?
Canva Creators, a program that allows artists and graphic designers to sell original templates on the platform, is currently in beta. (You can apply here.) Historically, you could make money with Canva by applying to become a Canva contributor, which lets you submit your original creations and earn a percentage of a usage fee whenever it was incorporated into a Canva member’s design. As of 2024, the program is no longer accepting new submissions.
Are the Canva Creator and Canva Contributor programs different?
The Canva Contributor Program—currently closed for sign-ups—used to let you earn money by uploading elements to Canva’s database of photos and graphics. Members of the Canva Creator Program create designs for Canva’s template library and element collection.
Where can you sell Canva templates?
Selling Canva templates online is relatively simple. If you want to start your own Canva template business, it’s easy to open a Canva template shop on Shopify, Etsy, Fiverr, Upwork, or similar freelancer resource hubs and ecommerce platforms.