Canva review

Canva belongs on this list because many hobby photographers do not stop at the edit: they make a collage, a birthday card, a print layout or a social post. Canva's photo editor handles filters, lighting and contrast, removes backgrounds and builds collages, and then the rest of the platform takes over with thousands of templates and a video editor with captions and Beat Sync. Everyone gets 5GB of storage, and designs can be shared and edited with others in real time. On the US App Store, Canva Pro costs $119.99 a year or $14.99 a month. The weakness is the editing itself. There are no curves, no precise masking and no real RAW workflow, so it cannot replace Lightroom, Snapseed or Darkroom for getting the most out of a photo. Use it as the second step after a proper editor, or pair it with Affinity, which Canva also owns and which is free.

Who it is for

People who turn photos into posts, cards, collages and flyers more than they fine-tune exposure.

Price

Free plan; Canva Pro $119.99 per year (about $10.00 per month) or $14.99 per month as an in-app purchase on the US App Store.

Canva Pro - Yearly $119.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Photo editor with filters, lighting and contrast adjustments
• Background eraser and collage maker
• Thousands of templates for posts, cards and flyers
• Video editor with captions and Beat Sync
• Real-time collaboration and 5GB of storage for everyone

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Easiest app here for turning photos into finished designs
• Strength: Free plan with 5GB of storage
• Strength: Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac
• Weakness: Photo adjustments are basic next to dedicated editors
• Weakness: No serious RAW workflow
• Weakness: Pro costs $119.99 a year, more than the Lightroom plan

Key facts

• Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac
• Free plan: Yes, with 5GB storage
• Pro price (US App Store): $119.99 per year or $14.99 per month
• Collaboration: Real-time
• Owner of: Affinity

Where it ranks

Canva is No. 8 in our Best Photo Editing Apps verdict.