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Software · head to head

Canva vs Fresha

Canva logo

Canva

Software

Design anything. Publish anywhere.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fresha logo

Fresha

Software

Free salon and spa software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability; Fresha fresha charges a 50 percent one time commission on each new client booked through its marketplace, subject to a minimum fee per client
  • They diverge on capability: Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Fresha covers Online booking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Canva and Fresha actually diverge.

Attributes where Canva and Fresha differ
AttributeCanvaFresha
Pricing modelUnknownfree
Founded20132015

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

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

Only in Fresha

  • Online booking
  • Appointment management
  • Client database
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Staff scheduling
  • Marketing tools
  • Reports & analytics

Both cover

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

What people use each for

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

Canva

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

Fresha

  • Running appointment booking and point of sale for salons and spasnot Canva
  • Attracting new clients through the Fresha consumer marketplacenot Canva
  • Sending appointment reminders and marketing campaigns to clientsnot 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

Fresha

  • Fresha charges a 50 percent one time commission on each new client booked through its marketplace, subject to a minimum fee per client
  • Online card payments carry a 4.90 percent plus fixed fee per transaction charge on top of the subscription
  • Only 20 SMS or WhatsApp notifications and 50 marketing emails are free each month; everything beyond that is billed per message
  • Team and Enterprise plans are quoted as custom rates with no published figure
  • Add ons such as Team Connect and Insights are billed per team member per month on top of the plan
  • Enterprise pricing applies to businesses with 20 or more team members

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

Fresha

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited appointments
    • Unlimited staff
    • Online booking
  • Payments (Add-on)$2.19/transaction
    • Card payments
    • Contactless payments
    • Online payments
  • Marketing (Add-on)$0.01/message
    • Email campaigns
    • SMS marketing
    • Automated messages

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.
Canva review

Choose Fresha if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want appointment management.
Fresha review

Questions people ask

Is Canva or Fresha better?
Neither clearly leads. Canva starts at Free and Fresha at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Canva or Fresha?
Canva starts at Free and Fresha at Free.
Does Canva or Fresha run on more platforms?
Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android. Fresha runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Fresha is typically brought in for.
What can Canva do that Fresha cannot?
Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects. Fresha covers Online booking, Appointment management, Client database, Point of sale. Both handle Instagram, Facebook.

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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