Canva's simplicity makes it a popular tool for many people. In contrast, Photoshop is not for the faint of heart – it has many features and takes a lot of time to learn. But it can give you more bang for your buck.
1. Price is not much different
The Canva Pro plan, priced at $12.99/month, seems like a great value for creators. If you buy an annual plan, you can save money with the price reduced to $119.88, about $10/month.
The Canva Pro plan unlocks dozens of tools. It gives you access to many premium stock photos, branding kits, design elements, templates, and favorite background removal tools. You can also export your files to high quality formats.
The Photography package is only $2 more expensive, at $14.99/month. To save money, you can purchase an annual plan for $120, the same price as Canva's Pro account billed annually. Many people like the Photography package because it allows photo editing using Lightroom.
Canva's basic photo editing features leave a lot to be desired. It's good for quick editing but not for heavy editing, which you can't do as a photographer. With the photography package, simply open photos in Lightroom, edit them, then switch to Photoshop to design posters, flyers, etc. Canva is still a top choice for quick tasks, but even then, people still rely on its free version.
2. More creative freedom
Canva can be a handy tool for quickly creating professional-looking designs, but it's not enough if you have a specific creative vision. For example, you only have the option to write on a standard line in Canva. With Photoshop, your calibration options are limitless.
While you have a ton of fonts to choose from, you're limited to basic effects in Canva. The only way to get a specific effect is to choose a font that looks similar to the font you want.
Tips: If already working with option fx in Photoshop for your text, you'll see exactly how bad Canva's text effects are.
You have more control as a designer with Photoshop. You can make your text look shiny and 3D or add shadows and outlines exactly as you want.
The most annoying problem is not being able to hide layers in Canva. There are certainly alternatives, but that requires too many steps. People often want something quick and simple. Hiding a design element in case you change your mind later is extremely useful.
In Photoshop, it's just one click away. If you are a serious designer, you will know the importance of this. You need the flexibility to hide and show layers as you bring your vision to life in your projects.
3. Reliable desktop experience
Canva is web-based, so all you need is a computer and an Internet connection. While this app is great for occasional design work, you can benefit from dedicated desktop software and a solid workflow.
People enjoy working with Photoshop everywhere, from coffee shops to libraries to city subways. Even though you won't always have Wi-Fi or a personal hotspot, you don't have to worry about slow networks or unexpected interruptions when you travel.
4. Adobe's seamless ecosystem
Canva is a standalone application, while Photoshop is one of many programs from Adobe. So you can integrate your workflow with different software seamlessly.
For example, you can edit your photos in Lightroom and transfer them straight to Photoshop. No need to export images. Once you finish editing and saving, the edited image will automatically display in Lightroom. Even though you are moving between software, the process is simple and quick.
The integration becomes even more powerful if you use other Adobe tools. Photoshop files (.psd) can be linked directly to InDesign, Premiere Pro or After Effects. Updates made to the original file will be reflected immediately across all projects. This connected ecosystem is a big advantage for those who use multiple tools.
5. Scope for creative development
Most of us like to keep things simple. Using Canva helps us become designers without much effort, which is fine if you design things sporadically. In that case, a free Canva account is all you really need.
Using an industry standard tool like Photoshop is your best bet if you're serious about design and want to improve your skills. You're better off spending money on an Adobe package than a Canva Pro account.
Learning graphic design using Photoshop will help you better understand the basics. For example, templates in Canva make life easier, but they don't help you visualize designs. But Photoshop forces you to think seriously about design principles like alignment, hierarchy, and white space.
Furthermore, you can easily transfer what you learn to other tools like Illustrator and InDesign. When you learn one Adobe application, you can learn other applications quickly. Video editing will be much easier – as Adobe Premiere Pro will be much less complicated once you've mastered Photoshop. The same goes for Adobe After Effects.
6. Photoshop helps you in the long run
Both programs are priced similarly and are excellent value. However, learning somewhat complex software like Photoshop will give you the confidence to pursue graphic design more seriously.
Photoshop can be intimidating for beginners, but with practice, it gets easier. Dedicating time every day to vigorous practice can help you become familiar with various tools and learn essential keyboard shortcuts. In the meantime, keep using your free Canva account for quick designs and as a means of inspiration.
In the end, these are just tools and the real designer is you. So, spend time and money developing your creative skills instead of focusing too much on the latest thing.
