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Software · head to head

Canva vs Clockify

Canva logo

Canva

Software

Design anything. Publish anywhere.

From
Free
Rated
-
Clockify logo

Clockify

Software

Free time tracker for teams

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability; Clockify the free plan stops at 5 users
  • They diverge on capability: Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Canva and Clockify actually diverge.

Attributes where Canva and Clockify differ
AttributeCanvaClockify
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension
Founded20132017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Canva

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

Only in Clockify

  • Timer & manual time entry
  • Timesheets
  • Calendar view
  • Projects & tasks
  • Reports & analytics
  • Team dashboard
  • Kiosk mode
  • Offline mode

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Canva

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

Clockify

  • Employee time trackingnot Canva
  • Project time budgetsnot Canva
  • Client billingnot Canva
  • Productivity analysisnot Canva
  • Payroll calculationnot Canva

Where each one falls short

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

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

Clockify

  • The free plan stops at 5 users
  • Free accounts are throttled to 30 API requests per hour and 3 webhooks
  • Reporting on the free plan only covers a 1 month range
  • Invoicing needs Standard at $5.49 per seat per month and GPS tracking needs Pro at $7.99
  • SSO, SCIM provisioning, a custom subdomain and the audit log are Enterprise only at $11.99 per seat per month

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Clockify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited projects
    • Time tracking
  • Basic$3.99/user/month
    • Bulk edit
    • Billable rates
    • Rounding
  • Standard$5.49/user/month
    • Timesheet approvals
    • Invoicing
    • Scheduled reports
  • Pro$7.99/user/month
    • Profit & loss
    • GPS tracking
    • Screenshots

Which should you pick?

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.

Choose Clockify if

  • You need timer & manual time entry.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension.
  • You also want timesheets.

Questions people ask

Is Canva or Clockify better?
Neither clearly leads. Canva starts at Free and Clockify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Canva or Clockify?
Canva starts at Free and Clockify at Free.
Does Canva or Clockify run on more platforms?
Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android. Clockify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension.
Can I use Canva for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Canva best used for?
Canva is most often used for social media graphics, presentations, marketing materials, documents. Of those, social media graphics and presentations are not what Clockify is typically brought in for.
What can Canva do that Clockify cannot?
Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects. Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry, Timesheets, Calendar view, Projects & tasks. Both handle SOC2, ISO27001, GDPR.

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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