Table of contents
You’ve seen people brag about making money on Canva, right? Turns out, it’s not hype – it’s a full-on creative playground for entrepreneurs.
From selling pre-made templates and print-on-demand (POD) products to teaching design tricks and joining Canva’s Creator program, there are plenty of ways to turn your creativity into real income. Let’s explore how to make money on Canva and build something sustainable.
1. Sell your designs with Print on Demand
Print on Demand lets you turn your Canva creations into tangible products – like t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, and posters – that customers around the world can actually buy. It’s one of the simplest ways to start a creative business with zero upfront stock. You design once, and every sale generates income while someone else handles production and delivery.
How it works:
-
Use Canva as a t-shirt design software and generate unique artwork. Upload it to a platform such as Printful, connect it to your online store, and sell globally, while the POD platform takes care of the rest.
-
Canva’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create product-ready graphics. For example, you can make motivational quotes for office decor, playful designs for kids’ tees, or aesthetic posters for dorm rooms.
How to start: Sign up for a free Canva account, create your designs, and use a POD platform to customize products. Experiment with niches – minimalist wall art, funny mugs, or custom t-shirts. Once you’ve created your first collection, publish it, promote it on social media, and start selling while the platform handles fulfillment.
2. Sell Canva templates and digital downloads
Digital products are always in demand. Businesses, influencers, and creators constantly need social media visuals, planners, or eBook layouts. Selling pre-made Canva templates lets you make money without shipping anything – your customers simply edit and use your designs.
How it works:
-
Create templates and sell them on Etsy, Creative Market, or your own website.
-
Each buyer gets a download link to edit the file in Canva. Think of it as selling digital shortcuts – something that saves your audience hours of work.
Great sellers focus on eCommerce niches, like templates for real estate agents, social media managers, or wedding planners.
How to start: Create Canva templates that solve real problems. For instance, bundle social media posts for small businesses, or design a full Canva template shop with matching branding kits.
Use detailed product descriptions and attractive mockups. Once you start selling, ask for feedback and regularly update your listings to stay competitive.
3. Offer freelance design services
Freelance design work is still one of the most direct ways to make money with Canva. Not every small business can afford an Adobe designer – many just need quick, professional-looking graphics. That’s where Canva freelancers come in.
How it works:
-
You offer services such as creating logos, banners, Instagram posts, or social media graphics for clients.
-
Using Canva Pro gives you access to promotional kits, premium fonts, and pro templates, which speed up your process and help you deliver high-quality results fast.
How to start: Build a small portfolio of work using Canva templates – create sample Pinterest pins, product mockups, and flyers. Then market your skills on Fiverr, Upwork, or social media. As your portfolio grows, you can transition from single projects to monthly retainers.
Freelance work using Canva is perfect for beginners who want to learn client management while still earning consistent income.
4. Join the Canva Creators program
If you want a more passive approach, the Canva Creators program pays you for uploading designs that other Canva users can access directly inside the platform. You can share templates, photos, videos, or design elements and get royalties when people use them.
How it works:
-
Creators earn based on the number of times their designs are used and the level of engagement they generate. The more relevant and appealing your templates are, the more downloads you’ll get.
-
Canva and partner sites feature your work in front of millions of users, so visibility can grow fast.
How to start: Apply via Canva’s Creator portal and submit your best designer-made templates. Keep an eye on trends – such as seasonal promotions, minimalist promotional kits, or wedding invitations. Joining early gives you an edge, especially if you create for underrepresented niches like non-profits or personal brands.
It’s one of the most straightforward paths to income for graphic designers within Canva’s ecosystem.
5. Create AI art
AI art has taken over digital design – and Canva’s built-in AI tools make it simple for anyone to generate original visuals. You can create textures, illustrations, or full compositions for digital products like wallpapers, posters, and printables.
How it works:
-
Use Canva’s Text-to-Image feature to type prompts and instantly produce artwork. These designs can then be used in social media banners, wall prints, or digital paper packs.
-
You can sell them as downloads or integrate them into print-on-demand items through Printful.
How to start: Think beyond random art – focus on niches. For instance, pastel aesthetic wall art, motivational posters, or themed graphics for holidays. Package your designs into sets and sell them on Etsy or your own website.
AI helps you scale your catalog faster and build collections with consistent themes. Always double-check licensing terms to confirm your generated art can be sold commercially.
6. Teach Canva to others
Canva isn’t just a design tool – it’s also a topic people want to learn. From beginners to small business owners, many users are searching for practical tutorials that show them how to create templates, edit designs, or start a Canva template business.
How it works:
-
Turn your knowledge into digital products like eBooks, mini-courses, or video lessons. You can teach topics like “how to design Canva templates that sell” or “how to build social media posts faster.”
-
Upload your lessons to Skillshare or your website and monetize through ads, sign-ups, or course sales.
How to start: Start small – record short tutorials using screen capture tools like Loom. Share your process for designing logos or social media graphics. Once you’ve built an audience, create a structured course.
Canva tutorials also perform well on platforms like TikTok, where short-form videos can drive huge traffic to your paid offers.
7. Start a YouTube channel dedicated to Canva
YouTube remains a massive platform for creatives to share expertise – and Canva topics are especially popular. If you love talking through design processes or reviewing Canva’s library updates, this can be enjoyable and profitable.
How it works:
-
Create videos that answer real questions like “how to use Canva to make money” or “how to design Instagram templates.”
-
Monetize through YouTube ads, affiliate links for Canva Pro accounts, or digital product sales. You can even promote Printful products by showing viewers how to design t-shirts or posters.
How to start: All you need is a simple recording setup and a consistent posting schedule. Plan a mix of short tutorials, reviews, and trending challenges. Encourage sign-ups via your affiliate links, and always include callouts for your own templates or store.
What mistakes to avoid when making money on Canva?
Making money on Canva is exciting, but it’s easy to slip up if you’re not cautious. Here’s how to stay on the smart side of the business:
-
Choose the right Canva account. The free plan is perfect for beginners testing ideas, but upgrading to Canva Pro unlocks premium assets, pre-made elements, fonts, and brand kits that make your work look polished and professional.
-
Manage cookies and permissions. Canva uses essential cookies to make the platform function smoothly and additional cookies to tailor ads you see based on your preferences. You can adjust them, accept all, or reject all cookies within your settings. These choices don’t affect your ability to create or sell but are good to know for privacy and personalization.
-
Don’t sell unlicensed content. Always use your own designs or elements available for commercial use. Selling copyrighted graphics or unapproved assets can get your store suspended – and damage your reputation.
-
Avoid low-quality listings. Blurry mockups, weak product descriptions, or missing download instructions turn away buyers. Treat every template or product like it’s in a storefront window – clean visuals, clear value, and simple access.
-
Don’t depend on one income stream. Mix things up. Design print-on-demand products, sell Canva templates, and offer freelance projects. Multiple revenue streams protect you when one slows down.
-
Stay updated. Canva often changes its rules, especially regarding Pro assets or the Canva Creator program. Check licensing terms regularly and stay informed through the Creator community or official newsletters.
-
Research SEO. Use descriptive titles like “editable social media templates for small business owners” instead of vague names. This helps your listings rank higher on Etsy or Creative Market and reach the right audience.
-
Don’t underprice your work. Undervaluing your designs makes scaling difficult. Research competitors and price according to quality, niche, and time invested.
-
Engage your audience. Keep your shop active by sharing new designs in Canva’s template library and posting updates on Pinterest or social media. Consistency brings visibility and repeat customers.
Think long-term – the best Canva template shops and creators treat this as a real business, not a quick side hustle for passive income.
How to make money with Canva and Printful
Pairing Canva with Printful is one of the easiest ways to start selling physical products. You design using Canva’s tools, and Printful handles printing, packing, and shipping directly to your customers. Here’s how to start selling.
Sign up for free
Creating a Printful account is totally free – no fees, no inventory, no risk.
Pick your products
From tees to posters, tote bags, and phone cases, you can choose from hundreds of options to match your niche.
Customize the design
Upload your Canva designs directly to Printful’s Design Maker. Adjust placement, preview in 3D, and publish to your own website or popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces.
Sell to a global audience
Printful handles production and delivery worldwide while you focus on marketing your brand and growing your customer base.
Conclusion
So, how to make money on Canva? By thinking creatively and using it as more than just a design tool. You can sell templates, digital products, or merch – or teach, freelance, and build a personal brand. The platform rewards originality, and when paired with Printful, it becomes a full business ecosystem for creators chasing passive income.
How to earn money with Canva: FAQ
Absolutely. Many creators and graphic designers make money selling Canva templates, eBooks, and printable designs through platforms like Printful or Etsy. The secret is solving problems – for example, a template creator can design branded social media kits for coaches or editable resumes for freelancers.
Yes, you can sell designs made in Canva as long as you follow licensing rules. Use only your own artwork or pro elements and media clearly marked for commercial use. Many Canva users build stores selling editable templates, planners, animated stickers, or digital invitations. Always read Canva’s content policy before you upload or publish products for sale.
Top-performing items include social media templates, printable planners, wall art, and small eBooks. These products save time for customers and are easy to create using Canva’s drag-and-drop interface. You can also sell Canva templates for influencers, business owners, or teachers – basically, anything editable and reusable has strong profit potential.
Earnings differ widely among Canva creators and not everyone sees success over night. Some earn a few hundred dollars monthly from their uploaded templates, while top creators who regularly release trending designs can make thousands. Joining the Canva beta program helps early adopters test tools and grow faster. Think of it as a creative business – the more effort and consistency you put in, the more money you can make.
By Baiba Blain
With 7+ years of experience in translation and creative writing, Baiba now leads a squad of talented writers, balancing research-backed storytelling with team guidance, quality assurance, and SEO processes. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring old castles, spontaneous road trips, and talking back to her cats. 10/10 arguments won so far.
