Canva vs. PicMonkey

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Canva
Score 9.2 out of 10
N/A
Canva is a popular, simple online graphic design tool. Users can import images, use templates to design banners and logos, or pay to use Canva's premium stock images/paid templates (elements starting at $1).
$12.95
per month
PicMonkey
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
PicMonkey, from the company of the same name in Seattle, is an application designed to help users create standout visuals for Insta posts, Facebook covers, YouTube thumbnails, web pages, holiday cards, posters or anything with a visual, offering graphics and templates, unlimited stock photos and features to support illustrative presentations.
$7.99
per month
Pricing
CanvaPicMonkey
Editions & Modules
Pro
$12.95
per month
Enterprise
$30.00
Per Month Per User
Basic
$7.99
per month
Pro
$12.99
per month
Team
$33.99
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CanvaPicMonkey
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CanvaPicMonkey
Considered Both Products
Canva
Chose Canva
PicMonkey does not provide a free option, and its template library is less than Canva's. Both platforms have a simple user interface and are suitable for beginners. Canva, on the other hand, provides more comprehensive tools for producing graphics for social media, …
Chose Canva
Canva is a user-friendly platform that beginners can learn easily. Canva is a fast way to get designs done quickly. The Templates are very good. I found the others were hard to learn, limited in design abilities, or just too expensive. I love other software options but this is …
Chose Canva
Clear and objective interface, ease of use. A clear and objective interface provides the user with a lot of freedom to create the content they want and use their creativity to their advantage during the construction of the most diverse models of newsletters, cards, invitations, …
Chose Canva
Canva is more intuitive and easier to use than Adobe PhotoShop or Illustrator. I'm not a designer, I work in Marketing so when I needed creatives made I had to outsource to our design team and try to fit my project on their calendar. I tried to learn other programs myself but …
PicMonkey
Chose PicMonkey
Adobe Photoshop is a better service with many more options, but for basic image manipulation for someone who is a beginner, PicMonkey is superior. There is almost NO learning curve. Canva has much better templates and design options, but not as many photo editing options. I …
Chose PicMonkey
I believe that PicMonkey is more user-friendly than something like Canva. I have used PicMonkey for several years (since before its name change!), so I am most comfortable with PicMonkey.
Chose PicMonkey
We find that PicMonkey is better suited for our needs, which are largely for online graphics, images, and infographics aimed at catching the attention of our audience and soliciting them to engage in our posts and email requests. Canva is better suited perhaps for the creation …
Chose PicMonkey
PicMonkey better suited my needs than Canva because it was easier to complete multiple items within one editing template. As a busy professional, I have to find time in between clients to push content out on Social Media or to email graphics to potential clients and PicMonkey …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
CanvaPicMonkey
Small Businesses
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
Score 9.5 out of 10
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe PhotoShop
Score 9.2 out of 10
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe PhotoShop
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe PhotoShop
Score 9.2 out of 10
Adobe PhotoShop
Adobe PhotoShop
Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CanvaPicMonkey
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
(173 ratings)
9.9
(5 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(7 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
9.2
(12 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
6.9
(15 ratings)
9.8
(5 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
CanvaPicMonkey
Likelihood to Recommend
Canva
I would say that Canva is best suited for beginner and Novice level applications. If you're an experienced designer, there's definitely no point in using Canva as it's developed for designers entering the field. OR, if you want to experience that flexibility while you designing and let the creativity flow, You shouldn't consider Canva as your Choice. If you feel like delivering quick and not spend your time on deciding on 'How to Design', then you should go for Canva.
Read full review
PicMonkey
I would definitely recommend PicMonkey! It is diverse for the average person or the business professional. If you need to edit pictures, create graphics, or implement marketing media this is the tool to use! It may not be enough for someone who needs something a bit more advanced like Photoshop, but in my experience it has covered everything I need.
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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.
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PicMonkey
  • Simple & easy to use.
  • Plenty of content - always make something unique.
  • Organized.
  • Inexpensive.
  • Always improving & adding new content.
  • Search bar.
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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.
Read full review
PicMonkey
  • Changes to toolkit / use buttons are sometimes difficult to keep up with
  • Separating free items (fonts, images, etc.. ) from those requiring upgrade
  • Explanation of sizing tools / pixels is difficult to understand and apply
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Likelihood to Renew
Canva
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
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PicMonkey
No answers on this topic
Usability
Canva
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.
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PicMonkey
PicMonkey's usability is outstanding! I was able to learn how to edit my photos and create graphics in a short period of time. Between the tutorials and the amazing user interface, I felt like a pro! PicMonkey is very detailed but not so overwhelming that you miss out on great features.
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Reliability and Availability
Canva
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.
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PicMonkey
No answers on this topic
Performance
Canva
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
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PicMonkey
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Canva
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.
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PicMonkey
I personally never really need support with PicMonkey. It works great, and I can find what I need. There may have been a few times when I've Googled for an answer related to PicMonkey, but I've not had a question answered.
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Implementation Rating
Canva
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.
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PicMonkey
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Canva
Canva is faster and easy to use. There aren't complex menus like Adobe products and everything is generally intuitive. Menus are mostly open and visible or relatively small. Small changes to the program add to it's usability rather than detract. I also appreciate that Canva helps the user become more creative through use. By giving you editable examples through templates you can choose to re-design something ir create something from scratch w/ a similar concept or feel. Canva often gives me ideas that I can implement into my design or into the entire project even. I also like how Canva is intuitive in it's approach. The program gives you suggestions when it comes to graphics, etc. without getting in your way if you know what you already want
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PicMonkey
Adobe Photoshop is a better service with many more options, but for basic image manipulation for someone who is a beginner, PicMonkey is superior. There is almost NO learning curve. Canva has much better templates and design options, but not as many photo editing options. I like to use a combination of PicMonkey and Canva for my small-business marketing needs.
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Scalability
Canva
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
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PicMonkey
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.
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PicMonkey
  • Gain in Facebook followers.
  • Increase in awareness of important city announcements.
Read full review
ScreenShots