What users are saying about
Canva
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Top Rated
892 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 9 out of 100
Based on 892 reviews and ratings
33 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 8.2 out of 100
Based on 33 reviews and ratings
Attribute Ratings
- Canva is rated higher in 1 area: Likelihood to Recommend
- Microsoft Publisher is rated higher in 2 areas: Usability, Support Rating
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
Canva
89%
159 Ratings
8.4
Microsoft Publisher
84%
9 Ratings
Likelihood to Renew
9.7
Canva
97%
6 Ratings
Microsoft Publisher
N/A
0 Ratings
Usability
9.4
Canva
94%
12 Ratings
10.0
Microsoft Publisher
100%
1 Rating
Availability
10.0
Canva
100%
1 Rating
Microsoft Publisher
N/A
0 Ratings
Performance
10.0
Canva
100%
1 Rating
Microsoft Publisher
N/A
0 Ratings
Support Rating
6.4
Canva
64%
27 Ratings
8.0
Microsoft Publisher
80%
6 Ratings
Implementation Rating
10.0
Canva
100%
3 Ratings
Microsoft Publisher
N/A
0 Ratings
Product Scalability
10.0
Canva
100%
1 Rating
Microsoft Publisher
N/A
0 Ratings
Likelihood to Recommend
Canva
Canva is ideal for both big and small businesses as graphic designers' time is usually limited. Any person working in marketing or an SMB owner who wants to quickly create aesthetically appealing images for ads, social media or otherwise can do it quickly.If you want some nitty-gritty changes to the image or if you have tight specs you would need to use other tools like Photoshop.
Director & Co-Founder
AltosightInternet, 1-10 employees
Microsoft Publisher
Microsoft Publisher is well suited for almost any situation. It is something that I'm sure has far more advanced tools than I use or am aware of, but it is also very simple for entry-level users to create professional documents quickly. I have used it for very involved brochures in real estate scenarios and I have also used it for very simple "Construction Zone" signs at a job site under construction. There are so many uses for this program!
Executive Assistant
Spiegelglass ConstructionConstruction, 11-50 employees
Pros
Canva
- Provides readily accessible approved fonts and colors for our university publications.
- A great selection of templates to select from.
- Lots of resources for design, like photos, clip art, backgrounds, and other design elements.
- The ability to share your design with others at the university.
- The ability to download your design as a png, pdf, jpg, svg, even MP4 video or gif.
- Easy to edit and alter the design and not lose what you had by creating clones of previous designs and then make the changes.
Global Programs Specialist
Alcorn State UniversityEducation Management, 501-1000 employees
Microsoft Publisher
- Business cards
- Internal memos that use a logo or a little bit of design.
- Quick and simple flyers for internal events.
Owner
Groovy Hemp Company LLCInternet, 1-10 employees
Cons
Canva
- Some pretty basic fonts are missing from the database, which proves to be annoying when trying to stay on brand
- Pre-grouping sections of templates can be a hassle to figure out
- Creating your own template from scratch can have it's hiccups, but that could be my lack of design experience.

Verified User
Employee in Marketing
Computer Software Company, 51-200 employeesMicrosoft Publisher
- The greatest shortcoming is large (300+ page documents) that require lots of internal hyperlinks. While it can do it, I can tell, due to the way it bogs down, that I am pushing the program to its limits.
- I would like to be able to work better with pdf's. I would like the ability to import a pdf of a graph, picture, or some other object directly into a Publisher document. Currently, I have to first convert the pdf to a jpeg and then import the jpeg. I have not found a way around this issue.
- At one point, I thought I had the option to automatically turn off hyphenation. Somewhere along the way, it seems as if the default for everything is hyphenation is turned on. I detest hyphenation and turning it off on every box I create becomes cumbersome.
- More options for graphics. Particularly the defaults that allow you to place "frames" and effects around photos. More options.
Secretary of the Annual conference
Holston Annual ConferenceReligious Institutions, 11-50 employees
Pricing Details
Canva
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
Yes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
$12.95 per month
Canva Editions & Modules
Edition
Pro | $12.951 |
---|---|
Enterprise | $30.002 |
- per month
- Per Month Per User
Additional Pricing Details
—Microsoft Publisher
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
$139 one time purchase
Microsoft Publisher Editions & Modules
Edition
Microsoft Publisher | $1391 |
---|
- one time purchase
Additional Pricing Details
—Likelihood to Renew
Canva
Canva 9.7
Based on 6 answers
The ease of use makes Canva a powerful tool for manipulating images, creating original content, and testing ideas without requiring the involvement of graphic design or more time-intensive image editing software such as Photoshop. While it doesn't have the full functionality of a mature software, such as Photoshop, The speed and simplicity of Canva makes it a necessity in a business of any size
Web Content Specialist
Scully & ScullyRetail, 51-200 employees
Microsoft Publisher
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Usability
Canva
Canva 9.4
Based on 12 answers
It is super easy to use, but it could be limiting if you're on a small device. It is easier on a bigger device because you can resize graphics and text easier than with your fingers on a small device. I do think it's perfect and easy for non-designers who don't have any training. As long as you have a good eye for visuals, Canva is a wonderful substitute for graphics programs on-the-go.
Graphic Designer
Shishido CreativeGraphic Design, 1-10 employees
Microsoft Publisher
Microsoft Publisher 10.0
Based on 1 answer
It has a great feature set but does not overwhelm me with its complexity. This is not an entry-level program, but it is also not one of the top of line graphic designer programs, like Abode In-Design. I can use Publisher to do 95% of what I need to get done. The other 5% I farm out to the graphics design person in the organization. It simply works and does so in a simple to use manner.
Secretary of the Annual conference
Holston Annual ConferenceReligious Institutions, 11-50 employees
Reliability and Availability
Canva
Canva 10.0
Based on 1 answer
I have yet to encounter Canva being offline in at least 6 years of using it regularly. They also announce well in advance if there may be upgrades to the code and the hours during which there may be issues accessing the service.
Web Content Specialist
Scully & ScullyRetail, 51-200 employees
Microsoft Publisher
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Performance
Canva
Canva 10.0
Based on 1 answer
I haven't ever had issues with a slow-loading site and there haven't been any lag issues within the software. There have been maybe a handful of times over the past six years where I have tried to upload a large image and it will slow down as it loads the last megabyte, but I have yet to have the system time out or require any interference by me
Web Content Specialist
Scully & ScullyRetail, 51-200 employees
Microsoft Publisher
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Canva
Canva 6.4
Based on 27 answers
Overall, Canva is easy to use, easy to train others to use, allows for creativity with a professional look without enormous associated costs. The mobile apps works almost as easily, but at a minimum allows for easy review and downloading in a pinch. Really, anyone can learn to use Canva quickly and will immediately benefit from the results.

Verified User
Director in Research & Development
Non-Profit Organization Management Company, 1001-5000 employeesMicrosoft Publisher
Microsoft Publisher 8.0
Based on 6 answers
While I have not directly used support for Microsoft Publisher, I have used their help files and found them to be useful. I have also found that most answers that I need can be found through simple web searches and chat platforms. In all though, there are very few times when the preloaded help files have not given me the answers that I need.
Community Relations Director
Boley Centers, Inc.Mental Health Care, 51-200 employees
Implementation Rating
Canva
Canva 10.0
Based on 3 answers
Remember to download the mobile app onto your phone for easy image manipulation on the go. Adding company colors, logos, and typefaces to your company account is an easy process. When images are uploaded, these can also be shared between accounts within a company, as can canvases you've created for easy editing among teams.
Web Content Specialist
Scully & ScullyRetail, 51-200 employees
Microsoft Publisher
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Canva
Despite that fact that PowerPoint wasn't completely replaced by Canva, it's now used as a base for sketches and drafts. Presentations are much easier to prepare in Canva, taking advantage of their templates. PowerPoint required more time and edition just to create a standard looking slide... while Canva gives non-creatives the chance to create faster with a greater visual impact.

Verified User
Manager in Finance and Accounting
Marketing & Advertising Company, 11-50 employeesMicrosoft Publisher
Microsoft Publisher is more for beginners, or for basic needs, anyone with some familiarity with the Microsoft suite should be able to use it easily. If you’re looking to create something more graphic and advanced, you’d probably want to look into something like InDesign, which is not as user friendly if you’re not familiar with it at all. For basic needs the average employee should be able to use Microsoft Publisher with ease.
Administrative Office Technician
Lebanon Campus of Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHigher Education, 1001-5000 employees
Scalability
Canva
Canva 10.0
Based on 1 answer
Very easy to add accounts and share content between them. Collaboration is also easy to manage and can be done on a project-by-project basis. The cloud-based software means it is incredibly fast to add a coworker and have them editing images within minutes. A live internet connection is required to access Canva so this is something to consider if expecting to use the software while on journeys without access to wifi etc
Web Content Specialist
Scully & ScullyRetail, 51-200 employees
Microsoft Publisher
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Canva
- As far as ROI is concerned, Canva has proven itself time and time again as having a positive impact for business.
- Just yesterday, I had to prepare an hour-long presentation on the fly; the great reviews of the presentation and the materials (all made in Canva) only served to advertise for Canva and it proves that Canva is a smart investment.
- I don't think in the time that I have been a Canva pro user that I can say that my ROI has been negatively impacted. Highest recommendation. The software more the casually pays for itself time and time again.
Online Course Designer and Professor
University of ConnecticutE-Learning, 5001-10,000 employees
Microsoft Publisher
- Allowed us to created our own documents/educational material for patients. In previous practices I have worked we had to buy "pamplets and brochures" which were very costly.
Medical Assistant
Sound Foot and AnkleMedical Practice, 1-10 employees