Is everything on Canva copyright free?
Asked by: Mohamed Powlowski | Last update: February 4, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (56 votes)
No, not everything on Canva is automatically "copyright free," but most content is licensed for broad personal and commercial use, provided you follow Canva's specific terms, like not reselling elements standalone; you get non-exclusive rights, not full ownership, and must respect content marked "Editorial Use Only" or from specific sources. Your final design's copyright depends on how much you modify it and the elements used, making your unique composition yours, but the underlying assets remain licensed.
Is everything on Canva free for commercial use?
All free photos, music and video files on Canva can be used for free for commercial and noncommercial use.
Can I legally sell things I make on Canva?
Yes, you can legally sell things you make on Canva, but you must create original designs by combining elements, not resell Canva's stock assets or unaltered templates as-is; your final product needs to be a unique composition, and if selling editable templates with Pro content, you must share them as Canva template links.
How to avoid copyright with Canva?
1. Link your Canva account to your YouTube account to prevent content ID claims. When you download a video that contains music from Epidemic Sound, Audiosocket, or Artlist, you can sign in to your YouTube channel, and Canva will pass the track's license to help prevent Content ID claims.
Do I need to cite Canva images?
If you pay for Canva and therefore get access to the paid images, you have non-exclusive, perpetual rights to use the images, so you do not have to cite them.
Canva Copyright Rules You NEED to Know (Free vs Pro, Commercial Use, Etsy + More) #CanvaTutorial
Is there copyright on Canva images?
This depends on its composition. Generally speaking, if you're the creator of an original design, you're also its copyright holder. But if you used third-party content (e.g. stock Content from the Canva library) in your design, your ownership is subject to those third-party rights.
Can I use Canva to design t-shirts to sell?
You can't take an element from the Canva library (e.g. photo, illustration, etc.), put it on a t-shirt, and sell it. This isn't a “design” and would amount to re-selling someone else's content. This applies whether you're creating the t-shirt yourself, or using a third-party print service.
Can you legally sell Canva templates on Etsy?
Yes, you can sell designs on Etsy that you create in Canva, but you must follow Canva's commercial terms: create original designs from scratch using a combination of free elements, fonts, and your own photos, and you cannot resell Canva's pre-made templates or Pro elements as-is. You typically sell these as "template links" (allowing buyers to edit in their own Canva account) or as finished printables (PDFs, JPGs).
Can I legally use a logo from Canva?
Canva's logo templates are customizable and can be used by anyone. This means that your rights to the logo are non-exclusive and you can't register it as a trademark.
Do I own the designs I make on Canva?
This depends on its composition. Generally speaking, if you're the creator of an original design, you're also its copyright holder. But if you used third-party content (e.g. stock Content from the Canva library) in your design, your ownership is subject to those third-party rights.
Can I publish something I made on Canva?
You can publish your Canva designs as websites using free domains, custom domains, or your own existing domain.
What sells most on Canva?
The best-selling Canva products are primarily digital templates for businesses, creators, and personal use, with top sellers including social media kits, planners & workbooks, eBooks & guides, branding kits (logos, business cards), and printable event items like invitations and signage, often bundled for specific niches like real estate or coaching to offer comprehensive value and cater to high-demand needs for professional, customizable designs.
What are the limitations of free Canva?
Canva Free offers a robust platform with many templates and elements but limits access to premium content, advanced AI tools (like Background Remover and Magic Expand), certain export options (like transparent PNGs), and Brand Kit features, along with 5GB of storage; you'll see watermarks on Pro content unless you upgrade or pay for individual assets.
Can I sell something I designed on Canva?
Generally speaking, Canva's CLA allows both Free and Pro users to sell their designs on printed merchandise, like posters, mugs and even tote bags. Users can also design and sell certain digital products, like e-books, photo books(opens in a new tab or window), and magazines, or create designs for clients.
Why did Canva charge me $30?
Canva charged you $30 likely because a free trial for Canva Pro or Teams automatically converted to a paid subscription, you have multiple accounts with active subscriptions, or you purchased individual Pro elements/templates, with common triggers being forgotten trial cancellations or accidental renewals after using different emails/logins. To find out exactly why, use Canva's Charge Finder with your invoice details or check your Billing section in Settings to see which account was charged and cancel any unwanted subscriptions to prevent future charges.
Can I use AI generated images from Canva for commercial use?
Convert text to image using an AI generator—it's fun, fast, and free! Yes, you can use the images generated by our AI image generators for any purpose, including personal or commercial projects, as long as you follow our AI Product Terms and Terms of Use.
Why don't graphic designers use Canva?
Professional graphic designers often avoid Canva for complex projects due to its limitations in vector editing, layer control, file quality, brand control, and advanced typography, relying instead on specialized tools like Adobe Creative Cloud for precision, unique branding, and high-quality output for print and large-scale use. While useful for quick social media graphics, Canva's template-heavy nature can lead to generic designs and lacks the robust features needed for truly custom, professional branding.
Do you need to credit Canva images?
Generally speaking, there's no requirement to attribute the creators of the elements used in your designs - but it's always welcome!
How does Canva detect copyrighted music?
or “This audio is protected by copyright.”
These platforms add your track audio content on behalf of their owners through their global identification systems. If Canva's system finds a match, it may block the track from being shared or downloaded. This can happen even if you're the original creator.
How much does Etsy take from a $1000 sale?
For a $1000 sale on Etsy, you'd pay about $90-$100 in mandatory fees, primarily the 6.5% transaction fee (around $65), plus a payment processing fee (around 3% + $0.25, or ~$30 for $1000), and a listing fee ($0.20), with potential for a 12-15% Offsite Ads fee if the sale came through their ads. The exact total depends on shipping, taxes, and whether Offsite Ads were used.
How does copyright work with Canva?
The designs must be your own and not include any pro elements belonging to another creator. All images available in Canva's media library belong to the creators and they own the copyright. However, Canva does distinguish between free-to-use images and pro images.
What is not allowed to sell on Etsy?
The following types of items are prohibited or restricted on Etsy: Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, Drug Paraphernalia, Medical Drugs and Devices, and Items making Medical Claims. Animal Products and Human Body Parts and Fluids. Dangerous Items: Hazardous Materials and Devices, Recalled Items, and Weapons.
Do I need a license to sell Canva products?
Free content can be used in designs without restrictions. But to resell premium designs, you need Canva Pro licensing for templates. Restrictions on using Canva templates or stock as standalone products: Canva's terms of use prohibit the resale of their templates or stock elements as standalone products.
What is the best website to design clothes?
The best websites to design clothes depend on your goals, with Canva, Adobe Express, and Procreate great for beginners and quick graphics, while platforms like Printful, Printify, and Redbubble are ideal for print-on-demand (POD) and selling. For more advanced 3D design and virtual prototyping, Marvelous Designer and Browzwear are industry standards, while Onbrand offers AI-powered tools for idea management and production connection.
Can I design a hat on Canva?
Browse our free templates for hat designs you can easily customize and share.