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Software · head to head

Trello vs Canva

Trello logo

Trello

Software

Organize anything, together

From
Free
Rated
-
Canva logo

Canva

Software

Design anything. Publish anywhere.

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Trello free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace; Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability
  • They diverge on capability: Trello covers Kanban boards, Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Trello and Canva actually diverge.

Attributes where Trello and Canva differ
AttributeTrelloCanva
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacosWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20112013

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 Trello

  • Kanban boards
  • Cards & lists
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Activity feed
  • Due dates & reminders
  • File attachments
  • Comments & mentions
  • Power-Ups ecosystem

Only in Canva

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

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • 2FA

What people use each for

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

Trello

  • Project trackingnot Canva
  • Content calendarsnot Canva
  • Sales pipelinesnot Canva
  • Onboarding processesnot Canva
  • Personal task managementnot Canva

Canva

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

Where each one falls short

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

Trello

  • Free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace
  • Free tier automation capped at 250 monthly Butler runs
  • No offline access; web-based platform requires internet connection
  • Advanced views (timeline, table, dashboard) not available on Standard plan
  • SSO only available on Enterprise plan

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

Trello

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 boards/workspace
    • Up to 10 collaborators
    • 250 monthly Butler automation runs
  • Standard$5/user/month
    • Unlimited boards
    • Unlimited Power-Ups
    • 1,000 monthly Butler runs
  • Premium$10/user/month
    • All Standard features
    • Timeline, table, dashboard, calendar views
    • Unlimited automation
  • Enterprise$17.5/user/month
    • All Premium features
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • SSO and user provisioning

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 Trello if

  • You need kanban boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want cards & lists.

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 Trello or Canva better?
Neither clearly leads. Trello 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, Trello or Canva?
Trello starts at Free and Canva at Free.
Does Trello or Canva run on more platforms?
Trello runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos. Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Trello for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Trello best used for?
Trello is most often used for project tracking, content calendars, sales pipelines, onboarding processes. Of those, project tracking and content calendars are not what Canva is typically brought in for.
What can Trello do that Canva cannot?
Trello covers Kanban boards, Cards & lists, Drag-and-drop interface, Activity feed. Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects. Both handle Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Trello: What are the free tier limitations for Trello?

Trello Free supports up to 10 boards per workspace, unlimited cards, 250 monthly Butler automation runs, and up to 10 Power-Up attachments. Limited to 10 collaborators per workspace.

Source
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
Trello: What features are included in the Standard plan?

Standard ($5-6/user/month) adds unlimited boards, custom fields, advanced checklists, 1,000 monthly automation runs, list colors, and calendar view access.

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
Trello: Does Trello offer SSO and on which plan?

SSO through Atlassian Guard is included only on the Enterprise plan ($17.50/user/month or $210/year per user).

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
Trello: How many file attachment options are available?

Free tier includes 2 Power-Ups per board, Standard adds unlimited Power-Ups, and Premium and above offer full Power-Up marketplace access with custom integration options.

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
Trello: Is there offline access to Trello boards?

Trello is a web-based application requiring internet connection. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android but do not support true offline editing.

Source

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