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If you don't already have Canva, try it for free! Canva makes it ridiculously simple to create blog banners, edit photos, and design social media marketing content. It is also one of the few blogging tools that I use on a daily basis.
CASEY BOTTICELLO
Founder, Blogging Guide
Canva is the most popular online graphic design tool on the internet. With over 75 million active users creating, designing, and editing on the free graphic design platform, Canva is the go-to for anyone looking for an easy way to create beautiful designs. But what happens when we can’t access the internet to do our design work on Canva? What are the best Canva offline alternatives available, and how do they measure up to the online mega-platform?
From ISP downtime to power outages and cost barriers, going offline can be scary. Offline design tools can often be our Plan B or backup option, bailing us out when the world wide web drops the ball.
We’ve picked out some of the top offline graphic design software tools that rival the best that online has to offer. Check out our selection of the best offline graphic design tools you can use with or without an internet connection that may even give Canva a run for its money.
Why is Canva so Popular?
Canva is huge right now. In case you’ve just discovered the internet, Canva is an online graphic design tool where people can create, edit, design, and do anything design related. In just ten years, Canva has grown into a global digital resource with the graphic design software accessed used by millions.
Canva’s simple drag-and-drop functionality, massive free-to-access library, and extensive toolset make it the number one graphic design platform today.
Reasons to Use Canva
While there are many existing and emerging online platforms to challenge Canva, most are in-browser apps and platforms that require you to be online. Sometimes we need to access offline design tools to ensure we still have access to a resource for designing our visuals.
Reasons for Searching for Canva Offline Alternatives
From power outages to no signal, the internet can go AWOL without warning, no matter where we are. Aside from not having access to the world wide web, here are some other reasons you may be looking for a choice of reliable Canva offline alternatives.
- Portability – Working offline means going wherever you want and still getting your work done. Remote work doesn’t necessarily require an internet connection, so an offline option may be your best bet if you want to travel to far-flung destinations without having to rely on a stable internet connection.
- Security – Hackers and thieves are always looking for ways to access information and snoop around our devices, as illustrated by Canva’s May 2019 security breach. From stealing passwords to online spying, the internet can be a dangerous place for you and your designs. Using offline design tools means that nefarious characters can’t easily access your work, leaving you to rest easy and only connect when needed.
- Flexibility – While Canva’s uptime is pretty reliable, the site (like any other major platform) does sometimes experience downtime due to software updates and security checks. Offline alternatives make a great ‘Plan B,’ which users can switch to as a backup if needs be.
- Cost – Users looking for a graphic design option may be unable to afford Canva’s Pro plan or don’t have enough to pay for extra bandwidth once they hit that cap. Free offline alternatives can provide a zero-cost solution, especially if you’re just starting out.
Best Canva Offline Alternatives
No alternative graphic design software will ever 100% replicate what Canva has to offer. But, depending on your reasons for going offline, you do have the opportunity to find a viable alternative that excels in areas where Canva’s expansive offering may fall short.
While some options are built for vector designs, others are either great for photography, are video-focused, or come as basic graphic design resources, not all have been created equal. We’ve picked some of the Canva offline alternatives we think will give you everything you need.
1. Adobe Programs
Adobe is synonymous with graphic design – and pricy fees. While the full Creative Cloud suite will set you back a pretty penny, the longtime design giant’s flagship Illustrator and Photoshop programs are still the go-to offline design tools for many top-end graphic designers. If you’re looking for a full-suite, feature-packed GD toolset that delivers even more advanced editing options than Canva, you can count on Adobe to provide – and charge you for it.
While Adobe’s Creative Cloud Express does give users a free-to-use, limited features option to do their design work on various Adobe programs, they’re all restricted to in-browser and mobile app options.
Adobe programs can take some time to master and can be a little overwhelming for anyone just getting started in the graphic design game. Adobe’s extensive features and tools make it the powerhouse of graphic design resources though, and one of the most effective Canva offline alternatives – if you can afford it.
- Compared to Canva-Adobe gives you everything you need and is a more than capable graphic design software alternative to Canva. Different programs allow you to pick and choose which software you want to use based on your needs, and the advanced feature choices are among the best available.
- Offline limitations–Adobe’s installed programs can take a toll on your PC’s performance, with many users complaining about the resources the software takes up. You’ll need to meet the minimum recommended specs just to get by.
- Platforms–Adobe works with all of the Windows, macOS, and iPad platforms.
- Cost–Adobe is expensive – not surprising, considering those programs boast among the best premier graphic design software tools around. Expect to cough up anywhere from $21 a month per Adobe program or go big and purchase the full suite for $55 per month.
2. Inkscape
Inkscape is one of the top contenders among the best Canva offline alternatives. The popular graphic design tool is great at delivering smooth vector drawings, backed by a spread of design features that allow you to create complex drawings with ease.
The offline design tool can be a little tricky to master, but you can always upskill by taking classes offered on platforms like Skillshare and once you’ve got the hang of the unique toolsets, users can take advantage of the program’s node editing, bitmap tracing, and path-based text functionality.
Inkscape uses open source graphic design software, so those with some coding experience can access and change the source code to meet their needs. The user interface does tend to be a little bare, but the free software’s impressive power more than makes up for that.
- Compared to Canva–Inkscape is designed along the same lines as Adobe’s programs, so anyone who knows how to use those will figure Inkscape out in a flash. While Inkscape it’s best to keep up with Canva on the features front, it lacks the templates and video editing tools that the online platform does have.
- Offline limitations–As with many open source programs, Inkscape can get buggy from time to time, and the needy regular updates can get tiresome – especially if you’re internet access limited.
- Platforms–Windows, macOS, and Linux users can all take advantage of Inkscape’s flexibility.
- Cost–Inkscape is open source and 100% free to use.
3. GIMP
Bloggers looking for Canva offline alternatives often cite GIMP as their top offline design tool choice. The open source program allows users to create stunning graphic designs using a varied toolset that includes image editing and enhancement too. The lightweight program provides just the right blend of image enhancement, cropping, resizing, recoloring, and more without being slowed down by too many needless features.
GIMP is a free program and can be used as a powerful offline tool across the Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris, and BDS operating systems. This flexibility means that GIMP is used far and wide by many graphic designers and creators everywhere.
- Compared to Canva–GIMP’s image editing and enhancing capabilities challenge Canva’s dominance among bloggers and photographers who need an offline alternative. Customer support isn’t bad – for a free-to-use resource, compared to Canva’s – and its extensive file format range is a sweet spot. But arguably, the biggest winner for GIMP is its customizable interface. Thanks, open source.
- Offline limitations–GIMP’s default settings are a little disorganized and clumsy, but you can fix that by tweaking the customizable interface. Also, the lack of a mobile app version can hold GIMP back for those who need it on their portable devices.
- Platforms–One of GIMP’s most significant features is its ability to function across all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris, and BDS.
- Cost–GIMP is open source graphic design software, so you know what that means – everything is free to use.
4. Gravit Designer (Now CorelDRAW)
Next, we have another of those powerful Canva offline alternatives that make easy design look good. Gravit Designer is a multifunctional online and offline tool that works across all OS platforms and in-browser. Rather than an offline alternative to Canva, the platform is a regular graphic design tool alternative to Canva – full stop.
Gravit Designer is incredibly easy to use and offers a wide range of tutorials and training resources that unpack every one of its tools and features. The platform does provide a free version, but you’ll be limited to online use only. You’ll need to pay for a PRO subscription to operate the tool offline.
- Compared to Canva–Gravit Designer beats out some of its graphic design software rivals on this list owing to the platform’s extensive features (though not as comprehensive as Canva’s), flexibility, and tutorials, giving the online platform a real run for its money.
- Offline limitations–Not many – but you’ll have to pay to play to use the program as an offline design tool. Gravit Designer doubles as an online and offline graphic design tool that performs admirably whether connected to the internet or not.
- Platforms–Windows, macOS, Linus, iPad, and Chromebook systems are all supported by Gravit Designer. However, the platform’s mobile apps can be significantly improved.
- Cost–There is a free version, though, with pretty limited features. If you want to see the real potential of the Canva offline alternative, you’ll need to pay, starting at $99 per year.
5. Sketch
Sketch is a graphic design tool designed for those who use Macs and people focusing on developing web and app interfaces – online or offline. Users can enjoy the app’s intuitive interface for their app and screen designs, and the platform’s prototyping capacity gives it an edge over some of its Windows-based offline graphic design software counterparts.
- Compared to Canva-Sketch is Mac user-only vector-based GD software, so everyone else will have to sit it out. While this limits its appeal, Mac users and anyone needing a GD tool for their web design and app interface needs can turn to Sketch. And it’s not too pricy either.
- Offline limitations–No Windows, of course, but Mac users don’t have much to complain about when out of WiFi range or working offline. The platform impresses with its ability to function pretty well as an offline design tool, regardless.
- Platforms–Only macOS, iPad, and iPhone users get to enjoy Sketch.
- Cost–Starting at $9 a month – not bad for a Mac product.
Before You Choose
When looking for the Canva offline alternatives to match the graphic design behemoth, there are a couple of things to consider before making a selection.
- Take note of any additional features and options these alternates might bring to the table that Canva doesn’t.
- Cost is an important factor – especially considering Canva’s hard-to-beat free option.
- Offline limitations, which affect collaboration, cloud storage, the need for updates, etc., can also make or break your choice.
Conclusion
All programs once came as offline graphic design software that we had to install from CDs or flash drives before using. Today, cloud computing and better bandwidth mean we can open our browsers and access expansive platforms and tools online without downloading anything.
While Canva may be the top graphic design choice for millions, some of the more selective designers out there may be looking for something else to take care of their graphic design needs that they aren’t able to find or willing to pay for online. For this, we can always turn to offline design tools that work just as well, and in some cases, better than Canva itself!
