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Software · head to head

Airbase vs Canva

Airbase logo

Airbase

Software

The first all-in-one spend management platform

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Canva logo

Canva

Software

Design anything. Publish anywhere.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Canva has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Airbase airbase was acquired by Paylocity; its pricing page now redirects to paylocity.com/pricing and the product is marketed as 'Airbase, a Paylocity Company' within Paylocity's HCM platform rather than as a standalone product.; Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability
  • They diverge on capability: Airbase covers Corporate cards, Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airbase and Canva actually diverge.

Attributes where Airbase and Canva differ
AttributeAirbaseCanva
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Founded20172013

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Airbase

  • Corporate cards
  • Bill payments
  • Expense management
  • Procurement
  • Approvals
  • NetSuite
  • Sage Intacct
  • QuickBooks

Only in Canva

  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Templates library
  • Stock photos & elements
  • Text effects
  • Animation
  • Collaboration
  • Brand kit
  • Resize tool

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Airbase

  • Spend managementnot Canva
  • Expense reportingnot Canva
  • Vendor paymentsnot Canva

Canva

  • Social media graphicsnot Airbase
  • Presentationsnot Airbase
  • Marketing materialsnot Airbase
  • Documentsnot Airbase
  • Video editingnot Airbase

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Airbase

  • Airbase was acquired by Paylocity; its pricing page now redirects to paylocity.com/pricing and the product is marketed as 'Airbase, a Paylocity Company' within Paylocity's HCM platform rather than as a standalone product.

Canva

  • Requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability
  • No vector pen tool or advanced vector editing features
  • No CMYK color management or print-ready bleed controls
  • Cannot export to PSD (Photoshop) or AI (Illustrator) formats
  • Large user base means many templates see repeated use, reducing design uniqueness

Pricing, plan by plan

Airbase

$29/month
  • StandardFree
    • Corporate cards
    • Expense reports
    • Bill pay
  • Premium$10/month
    • Advanced approvals
    • NetSuite sync
    • Procurement
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom workflows
    • API access
    • Dedicated support

Canva

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1.6M+ templates
    • 5GB storage
    • 50 AI credits/month
  • Pro$18/month
    • 141M+ premium assets
    • Magic Studio
    • 500 AI credits/month
  • Business$25/user-month
    • Unlimited brand kits
    • Team collaboration

Which should you pick?

Choose Airbase if

  • You need corporate cards.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want bill payments.
Airbase review

Choose Canva if

  • You need drag-and-drop editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want templates library.
Canva review

Questions people ask

Is Airbase or Canva better?
Neither clearly leads. Airbase starts at $29/month and Canva at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airbase or Canva?
Canva has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Airbase and Free for Canva.
Does Airbase or Canva run on more platforms?
Airbase runs on Web, Ios, Android. Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Canva for free?
Yes. Canva has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Airbase starts at $29/month.
What is Airbase best used for?
Airbase is most often used for spend management, expense reporting, vendor payments. Of those, spend management and expense reporting are not what Canva is typically brought in for.
What can Airbase do that Canva cannot?
Airbase covers Corporate cards, Bill payments, Expense management, Procurement. Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Canva: Is Canva really free?

Yes. The free plan is permanent with no trial or credit card required. It includes 1.6M+ templates, 5GB storage, 50 Magic Studio AI credits/month, and basic collaboration.

Source
Canva: What requires internet connection?

Canva is web-based and requires an active internet connection to use. It cannot be used offline and may experience slowness or freezing on poor connections.

Source
Canva: Can I export to professional formats like PSD or AI?

No. Canva does not support export to Adobe PSD or Illustrator AI formats. Export options are limited to PNG, PDF, MP4, and other basic formats.

Source
Canva: How many AI credits do I get?

Free tier includes 50 Magic Studio credits per month for AI image generation, copywriting, and background removal. Pro and higher tiers get 500 credits/month.

Source
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