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Nonprofits · head to head

Aplos vs Canva for Nonprofits

Aplos logo

Aplos

Nonprofits

Fund accounting for nonprofits and churches, with donor management and online giving attached

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Canva for Nonprofits logo

Canva for Nonprofits

Nonprofits

Design tool for nonprofit marketing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Canva for Nonprofits has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aplos the donor management side is record keeping rather than fundraising software, so any organisation running segmented appeals or automation will still buy a CRM and pay twice.; Canva for Nonprofits free access covers up to 50 users; further seats are charged at 50 percent of Canva Enterprise pricing
  • They diverge on capability: Aplos covers Fund accounting ledger, Canva for Nonprofits covers Design templates.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aplos and Canva for Nonprofits actually diverge.

Attributes where Aplos and Canva for Nonprofits differ
AttributeAplosCanva for Nonprofits
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer month by feature tierfreemium
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2013

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

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 Aplos

  • Fund accounting ledger
  • Nonprofit financial statements
  • Donor management
  • Online giving pages
  • Budgeting by fund
  • Church tools

Only in Canva for Nonprofits

  • Design templates
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Stock images
  • Brand kit
  • Team collaboration
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Aplos

  • A nonprofit whose auditor has raised restricted fund reporting as a findingnot Canva for Nonprofits
  • A church tracking contributions, designated funds and giving statements in one systemnot Canva for Nonprofits
  • A small organisation replacing QuickBooks plus a spreadsheet of fund balancesnot Canva for Nonprofits
  • An Aplos and Keela buyer wanting gifts to post from the CRM into the ledger without exportnot Canva for Nonprofits

Canva for Nonprofits

  • Design work for a registered charity at no costnot Aplos
  • Team collaboration on branded materials across up to 50 usersnot Aplos
  • Access to Canva Pro premium photo, video and graphics librariesnot Aplos
  • Brand kit management for consistent nonprofit communicationsnot Aplos

Where each one falls short

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

Aplos

  • The donor management side is record keeping rather than fundraising software, so any organisation running segmented appeals or automation will still buy a CRM and pay twice.
  • It is not a general ledger for complex structures, so multi entity groups, consolidations and intercompany transactions push organisations back to a mainstream accounting package.
  • Higher tiers are needed for the budgeting and custom reporting many buyers assume are standard, so the entry price is rarely the real price.
  • Payroll is handled through a partner rather than natively, which adds a vendor and a reconciliation step for organisations with staff.
  • The bookkeeper ecosystem is far smaller than QuickBooks, so finding an accountant already fluent in the product is harder and handover after staff turnover takes longer.

Canva for Nonprofits

  • Free access covers up to 50 users; further seats are charged at 50 percent of Canva Enterprise pricing
  • Government agencies, political groups, educational institutions and grant-making foundations are all excluded
  • Most 501(c) categories other than 501(c)(3) do not qualify
  • Eligibility requires registered charitable status and country-specific documentation

Pricing, plan by plan

Aplos

On request
  • Aplos$undefined/month
    • Published monthly tiers separating core accounting from the full suite
    • Advanced accounting, budgeting by fund and custom reporting sit in higher tiers
    • Card and bank processing on donations charged separately

Canva for Nonprofits

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Design templates
    • Basic elements
  • Canva Pro Nonprofit$1/month
    • Premium templates
    • Brand kit
    • Team collaboration

Which should you pick?

Choose Aplos if

  • You need fund accounting ledger.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want nonprofit financial statements.
Aplos review

Choose Canva for Nonprofits if

  • You need design templates.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Canva for Nonprofits review

Questions people ask

Is Aplos or Canva for Nonprofits better?
Neither clearly leads. Aplos starts at On request and Canva for Nonprofits at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aplos or Canva for Nonprofits?
Canva for Nonprofits has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Aplos and Free for Canva for Nonprofits.
Does Aplos or Canva for Nonprofits run on more platforms?
Aplos runs on Web, iOS, Android. Canva for Nonprofits runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Canva for Nonprofits for free?
Yes. Canva for Nonprofits has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aplos starts at On request.
What is Aplos best used for?
Aplos is most often used for a nonprofit whose auditor has raised restricted fund reporting as a finding, a church tracking contributions, designated funds and giving statements in one system, a small organisation replacing quickbooks plus a spreadsheet of fund balances, an aplos and keela buyer wanting gifts to post from the crm into the ledger without export. Of those, a nonprofit whose auditor has raised restricted fund reporting as a finding and a church tracking contributions, designated funds and giving statements in one system are not what Canva for Nonprofits is typically brought in for.
What can Aplos do that Canva for Nonprofits cannot?
Aplos covers Fund accounting ledger, Nonprofit financial statements, Donor management, Online giving pages. Canva for Nonprofits covers Design templates, Drag-and-drop editor, Stock images, Brand kit.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aplos: Is Aplos an accounting system or a CRM?

Primarily fund accounting. The donor management is included but shallow compared with a dedicated nonprofit CRM.

Aplos: What is the relationship with Keela?

Aplos acquired Keela in 2023. The two are being integrated, so a buyer comparing them is comparing products from one company.

Aplos: Can it replace QuickBooks?

For a single entity nonprofit, usually yes, and it handles restricted funds far better. For multi entity consolidation, no.

Aplos: Does it handle payroll?

Through a partner integration rather than natively, so payroll is an extra subscription and an extra reconciliation.

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