Did you just open your laptop to make a beautiful design? Maybe a poster, a product ad, or maybe a new logo for your small business. You have a proper idea, even choose the colours as well. The idea feels right. But here you come up with a question: Which tools should I use? Well, many people feel the same, especially when they’re just starting with design, so you are not alone. And there is nothing to worry about.
To make things simple for you, we will talk about two well-known tools in the design world. You might also hear about them. One is Photoshop and the other is Canva. We will walk you through these graphic tools features, pros, cons and which type of user they’re best for. And then you have to pick which one you want to use for your design, Photoshop or Canva. So, let’s make the choice easier.
What Is Photoshop and Canva?
Before we start, let’s know what these tools are and why they are so popular.
Photoshop
You might have heard about Photoshop before, right? Well, who doesn’t know about it, as it is a well-known tool in the design world. From its name, you might understand that here you can create visuals, work with photos, like you can fix a photo to make it brighter, change colours, or even draw something totally new, like a cartoon or a poster. But compared to Canva, it can be a little hard to learn at first because it has so many buttons and options, and you might feel lost. However, it’s perfect for professional work as they need to work on details. That’s why it is mostly loved by professionals.
Photoshop Features:
- Use the pen tool to draw perfect lines or shapes.
- Fix every tiny colour to make photos look amazing.
- Paint with cool brushes, like sparkles or real paint.
- Stack layers to build designs like a puzzle.
- Save your work in different formats, like for web or print.
Canva
Canva is easier for beginners, whereas Photoshop is a little complex. Anyone can work here without any prior experience. And most importantly, you will find ready-made templates here, so you don’t even need to work hard. Canva Provide different categories for different content, so you can choose your desired templates, icons, and emojis easily. You can also create your own design by using different colours, fonts, shades and so on. And one thing is, you can easily remove the background of your image with just a few clicks. With its user-friendly interface, you can get your work done earlier than with Photoshop.
Canva Features:
- Pick ready-made sizes for things like posters or social media posts.
- Choose from tons of fun templates to start your design fast.
- Add your own photos to make projects super personal.
- Change colours, fonts, or move stuff around easily, like decorating.
- Save or share your designs in a snap.
How To Use Them?
Photoshop and Canva both have their own unique strengths, and each is great in its own way. Their user interfaces are also different. Here, we’ll take a look at how to use them.
Photoshop
Using Photoshop can feel a little tricky as there are lots of buttons, menus, and options. So, it’s normal to feel messy when you start. It might take some time to learn and understand first. To work on it, you’ll need to find the right tools. You can watch some YouTube videos, or you can take a course on Photoshop as well, as it’s not just a matter of drag and drop. Plus, as Photoshop is a big program, you also need a good computer.
Here you can make logos, edit pictures for yourself, for a magazine and many more. If you want to work in a creative job, learning Photoshop is a must because it’s the tool most companies use.
Canva
While talking about Canva, it’s much easier to use compared to Photoshop, and it doesn’t require any specific device; you can do it on your phone, tab and laptop, as it has a user-friendly interface, with just drag and drop, you can edit whatever you want. You don’t need to practice for weeks to make something perfect. With its free plan, you can make beautiful visuals, you can edit your photos and so on. You just have to create an account on Canva, and you are ready to make your stunning design.
If you are a student, you can make beautiful projects here, teachers can use it to make slides, whereas small businesses can use it for ads or social media posts.
Templates and Ready-Made Designs
Here is the comparison:
Photoshop
In Photoshop, you won’t find any templates. You will have to work manually. So, you have to start from a blank page, and then you can create everything yourself. However, you can find templates online, but that takes extra work. This gives you total control, but it’s more effort.
Canva
While Canva is like a treasure chest full of templates. You will find thousands of designs for posters, social media, resumes, and more. All you have to do is just pick one, change the text or colours, and you’re done.
Photoshop vs Canva: Pricing Plan
Both Canva and Photoshop have plans for different kinds of creators, from beginners to pros. Here’s how their prices stack up.
| Category
|
Canva | Photoshop |
| Free Plan | $0, Basic templates, over 3 million stock photos, and some graphics. Perfect for school posters or simple projects. | No free plan. Offers a 7-day free trial for most paid plans to try Pro Tools. |
| Canva Pro / Photography Plan | Canva Pro: $55/year ($6.50/month). 130+ million stock images, premium templates, and background remover. Great for bloggers or small businesses. | Photography Plan: $239.88/yearly or $19.99/month (monthly). Includes Photoshop, Lightroom, and 1TB cloud storage. Awesome for photographers. |
| Single App Plan | Not applicable, Pro covers everything for one price. | Photoshop Single App: $22.99/month or $239.88/year ($20/month). Photoshop for desktop/iPad, 100GB storage. Best for professional designers. |
| Team Plan | Canva for Teams: Starts at $50/year per person (yearly, $150.30, minimum 3 people). All Pro features plus team collaboration tools. Ideal for group projects. | Creative Cloud All Apps: $37.99/month. Includes Photoshop + other Adobe apps. More expensive for teams, but great for pros. |
| Free Trial | 30 days free for Canva Pro. Test all premium features, such as the background remover. | 7 days free for most plans. Try Photoshop’s advanced editing tools. |
| Storage | Canva Pro gives 1TB of cloud storage for your designs. | Photography Plan: 1TB storage. Single App: 100GB storage. |
| Value for Beginners | Free and Pro plans are super affordable, perfect for quick, easy designs by students or beginners. | Plans are pricier, better for pros needing advanced editing, not ideal for beginners. |
| Team Affordability | Canva for Teams ($5/month per person) is way cheaper for groups. | Creative Cloud for teams can cost hundreds, or much more. |
Which One Should You Learn First?
Okay, now that we’ve compared them, let’s figure out which one is right for you. Here’s a quick guide:
Choose Photoshop If:
- You want to be a pro designer, photographer, or artist.
- You like learning tricky tools for detailed designs.
- You need powerful tools for advanced photo editing.
- You’re okay paying for software and have a good computer.
- You want a skill for creative jobs.
Choose Canva If:
- You’re new to designing and want an easy tool.
- You want to make quick designs for school or social media.
- You don’t want to spend money.
- You like using templates and drag-and-drop features.
- You want to work with friends or a team.
Can You Learn Both?
Want to learn both? Well, you can learn both Photoshop and Canva, but not together. What you can do is start with Canva because it’s beginner-friendly, and here you can practice the basics with its free plan. After that, if you think you want to be a pro, then you can move to Photoshop for advanced designs. This way, you can learn both and grow your skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions:
Is Canva free to use?
Yes, Canva’s free plan is perfect for most people. With its free plan, you can create all sorts of designs, social posts, flyers, and resumes, without spending a single dollar. But if you want more premium templates or a background remover, you can go for the paid version, which is Canva Pro.
Do I need a computer to use Canva?
No, you can use Canva on any device, like, laptop, tablet, or even your phone, as long as you’ve got internet. No need for a high-powered setup like you’d need for Photoshop.
Can I use Photoshop for free?
Not really. Photoshop doesn’t have a free version, but Adobe does offer a 7-day free trial so you can try it out.
Can I make pro-level designs using Canva?
Of Course, Canva has thousands of clean, modern templates, great for logos, business cards, or marketing materials. It’s perfect for small businesses and content creators. But if you’re aiming for pixel-perfect, high-end design work, Photoshop still has the edge.
Which one is better for making social media posts?
Canva wins here. It has ready-to-go templates for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube thumbnails. You can create eye-catching posts in minutes. Photoshop can do it too, but it takes more time and skill.
Final Say
As you saw, both are amazing in their own places. Canva is a little easier, while Photoshop requires practice and learning. But based on your needs and skills, you can pick one and start working. There’s no one right answer. It depends on what you want to create and how much time you’re ready to spend learning.
