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Design · head to head

Canva vs Xara Designer Pro+

Canva logo

Canva

Design

Design anything. Publish anywhere.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Xara Designer Pro+ logo

Xara Designer Pro+

Design

Desktop publishing, web design, photo editing and graphic design in one workspace

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Canva has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability; Xara Designer Pro+ compatible with Windows only; the product page states no Mac version

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Canva and Xara Designer Pro+ actually diverge.

Attributes where Canva and Xara Designer Pro+ differ
AttributeCanvaXara Designer Pro+
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design).

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 Xara Designer Pro+

Nothing recorded that Canva does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Canva

  • Social media graphicsnot Xara Designer Pro+
  • Presentationsnot Xara Designer Pro+
  • Marketing materialsnot Xara Designer Pro+
  • Documentsnot Xara Designer Pro+
  • Video editingnot Xara Designer Pro+

Xara Designer Pro+

  • Desktop publishing and professional layout workflowsnot Canva
  • Web design and e-commerce site creation without codenot Canva
  • Photo editing and image retouching for visual projectsnot Canva
  • Graphic design and illustration in single workspacenot Canva
  • Multi-discipline creative work with unlimited flexibilitynot 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

Xara Designer Pro+

  • Compatible with Windows only; the product page states no Mac version

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

Xara Designer Pro+

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Xara Designer Pro+ review.

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 Xara Designer Pro+ if

Nothing in the data separates Xara Designer Pro+ from Canva on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Xara Designer Pro+ review

Questions people ask

Is Canva or Xara Designer Pro+ better?
Neither clearly leads. Canva starts at Free and Xara Designer Pro+ at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Canva or Xara Designer Pro+?
Canva has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Canva and On request for Xara Designer Pro+.
Does Canva or Xara Designer Pro+ run on more platforms?
Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android. Xara Designer Pro+ runs on Web.
Can I use Canva for free?
Yes. Canva has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xara Designer Pro+ starts at On request.
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 Xara Designer Pro+ is typically brought in for.
What can Canva do that Xara Designer Pro+ cannot?
Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects.

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
Xara Designer Pro+: Does Xara Designer Pro offer a free trial?

Yes, Xara Designer Pro offers a free trial download, allowing users to test the software before purchasing.

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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