Software · head to head
Todoist vs Canva
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Todoist no built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl; Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability
- They diverge on capability: Todoist covers Natural language input, Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Todoist and Canva actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Todoist
- Natural language input
- Recurring tasks
- Projects and sub-tasks
- Labels and filters
- Priority levels
- Productivity tracking
- Templates
- Notifications
Only in Canva
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Templates library
- Stock photos & elements
- Text effects
- Animation
- Collaboration
- Brand kit
- Resize tool
Both cover
- Slack
- Dropbox
- 2FA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Todoist
- Personal task managementnot Canva
- Team project coordinationnot Canva
- Goal trackingnot Canva
- Habit buildingnot Canva
- Daily planningnot Canva
Canva
- Social media graphicsnot Todoist
- Presentationsnot Todoist
- Marketing materialsnot Todoist
- Documentsnot Todoist
- Video editingnot Todoist
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Todoist
- No built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl
- Free plan limited to 5 personal projects only
- No Gantt charts, resource allocation, or advanced project management features for large enterprises
- Phone support not available; email and help center only
- Calendar view and advanced filtering only available on paid plans
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
Todoist
Free- BeginnerFree
- 5 personal projects
- Smart Quick Add
- Task reminders
- Pro$5/month
- 300 personal projects
- Calendar layout
- Custom task reminders
- Business$8/month
- Everything in Pro
- Shared team workspace
- Up to 500 team projects
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 Todoist if
- You need natural language input.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want recurring tasks.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Todoist or Canva better?
- Neither clearly leads. Todoist starts at Free and Canva at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Todoist or Canva?
- Todoist starts at Free and Canva at Free.
- Does Todoist or Canva run on more platforms?
- Todoist runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Todoist for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Todoist best used for?
- Todoist is most often used for personal task management, team project coordination, goal tracking, habit building. Of those, personal task management and team project coordination are not what Canva is typically brought in for.
- What can Todoist do that Canva cannot?
- Todoist covers Natural language input, Recurring tasks, Projects and sub-tasks, Labels and filters. Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects. Both handle Slack, Dropbox, 2FA.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Todoist: Does Todoist work offline?
Basic editing and task management work offline, but advanced features like syncing reminders and shared updates require internet connectivity.
SourceCanva: 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.
SourceTodoist: Does Todoist have a free plan and what does it include?
Yes, Todoist offers a free Beginner plan with 5 personal projects, Smart Quick Add, task reminders, flexible layouts, 3 filter views, and 1 week activity history. More advanced features require the Pro or Business plans.
SourceCanva: 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.
SourceTodoist: Can I use Todoist on mobile devices?
Yes, Todoist offers native apps for both iOS and Android with over 30 million downloads. Mobile apps provide full task management functionality across devices.
SourceCanva: 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.
SourceTodoist: What integrations does Todoist support?
Todoist integrates with over 100 apps including Slack, Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, and Toggl Track. Additional integrations are available through Zapier, Make, and IFTTT automation platforms.
SourceCanva: 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.
SourceTodoist: How much does Todoist cost?
Free plan is $0. Pro plan costs $5/month (billed annually) or $7/month (monthly billing). Business plan costs $8/month per user (annual) or $10/month per user (monthly), as of December 2025.
Source