Canva is a household name in the world of online design tools, especially for marketers and business owners looking to create eye-catching graphics without a background in design. With its easy drag-and-drop interface and vast template library, it’s hard to imagine needing anything else. However, there are several lesser-known tools that pack an equal punch—sometimes more—when it comes to creating standout marketing and promotional graphics.
TL;DR: Canva isn’t the only powerful design tool available for marketers. Several alternatives offer unique features, better customization, or niche capabilities tailored for promo content. This article introduces you to seven underrated Canva alternatives that deserve a spot in your digital toolkit. From intuitive editing to AI-based design suggestions, there’s something here for everyone seeking more control and flexibility.
1. Crello (Now VistaCreate) – Intuitive and Feature-Rich
Best for: Users seeking a Canva clone with a slightly different UI and budget-friendly premium options.
Originally known as Crello, this Canva-like tool is now rebranded as VistaCreate, backed by the same company that owns Vistaprint. It offers thousands of templates, animated graphics, and access to a vast library of design elements.
- Easy to use interface almost identical to Canva
- Extensive free template selection
- Great for ecommerce and small business marketing assets
The free version is impressively robust, and premium subscriptions open up access to unique features like brand kits and team collaboration tools.
2. Snappa – Quick Designs for Social Media
Best for: Social media managers and content creators seeking speed and simplicity.
Snappa shines as a rapid graphic design platform focused on simplicity. Designed with social media content in mind, it supplies templates for everything from Facebook event covers to Instagram stories.
Snappa integrates stock photos directly into the workflow, streamlining the process even further. While it doesn’t offer as many templates as Canva, its ease of use makes it ideal for creating quick promotional visuals.
3. RelayThat – Consistent Branding Everywhere
Best for: Marketers who need brand consistency across multiple platforms
RelayThat focuses less on creative flexibility and more on maintaining brand integrity. Upload your brand assets once, and the tool auto-generates dozens of designs to fit different platforms using uniform brand guidelines.
- Automatic resizing for various platforms
- Pre-made layouts focused on branding consistency
- Ideal for teams needing scalable outreach campaigns
RelayThat offers a unique edge in saving time when generating cross-platform visuals, which is especially useful for agencies and busy marketing teams.
4. Easil – Drag-and-Drop with Professional Polish
Best for: Businesses that want sleek marketing campaigns with polished design elements
Easil is more than just a design tool; it’s a marketing engine. With high-end templates, advanced text effects, and the ability to lock elements for brand control, it’s ideal for businesses with multiple users.
Among the standout features are:
- Access to team collaboration and advanced user permissions
- Creative assets like image masking, color palettes, and pre-designed text styles
- Extensive template designs focused on events, promos, and new launches
Many users praise its ability to build brand kits and print-quality downloads, making it perfect for both digital and print marketing needs.
5. Adobe Express – Adobe’s Answer to Canva
Best for: Designers already in the Adobe ecosystem looking for a lightweight alternative.
Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) offers a suite of design and video tools meant to simplify the design process for non-creatives while maintaining the power of Adobe quality.
Key benefits include:
- Integration with Adobe Suite for deeper editing if needed
- Clean, mobile-first tools for quick design on the go
- Ready-to-edit marketing templates and social media assets
Its seamless sync with Adobe Creative Cloud makes it a great alternative for those familiar with Adobe products but seeking a faster, simplified workflow for marketing graphics.
6. PixTeller – Animation Capabilities for Promotional Material
Best for: Marketers looking to dip their toes into animation without expensive software.
PixTeller combines an online image editor with motion animation tools, letting users create graphics and short animations directly within its browser platform.
- Create memes, social posts, posters, and animated stories
- Simple frame-by-frame animation features
- Large template library with animation presets
Although its UI isn’t as sleek as Canva, its ability to create animated promotional content easily makes it a valuable alternative—especially for small businesses wanting to increase engagement on social media.
7. Design Wizard – Stock Image Deep Integration
Best for: Teams that need high-quality stock photography bundled into graphic creation.
Design Wizard is an underdog platform that puts emphasis on pairing graphics with royalty-free stock media. With large integrations with libraries like Pexels and others, it’s ideal for creating marketing-based visuals such as flyers, YouTube thumbnails, and event posters.
- Huge library of 1.2+ million images
- User-friendly UI tailored for marketing material templates
- Real-time content editing and resizing features
This Canva alternative works well for marketing professionals who rely heavily on visuals sourced externally, without constantly shifting between platforms.
Final Thoughts
Each of these tools may not enjoy the recognition that Canva does, but they each offer powerful, often superior features in certain use-cases like team collaboration, animation, or brand automation. Whether you’re running an ecommerce store, heading a marketing team, or bootstrapping your freelance gig, exploring these alternatives can unlock new ways to streamline your promotional content creation.
Keep in mind that the “best” tool always depends on your specific needs. Try out a few of these Canva alternatives to see which one aligns best with your design workflow and marketing goals.
Did we miss one you love? Let us know what hidden design gems you’ve discovered in the world of marketing graphics.
