Canva vs. Illustrator

Let’s break down the differences in a nutshell the ultimate differences between Canva & Adobe Illustrator.

Canva is a great easy-to-use, drag and drop online design platform that I mainly used by hobbyists, bloggers, and sometimes start-ups. Overall, Canva is a great option if you’re looking to create simple graphics and require little design skill.

Illustrator, however, is an industry standard program for graphic design that allows for completely custom graphics for your clients, your blog, or your business.

With that being said, let’s break down some of the major differences between the two.

Canva: Creates Raster Images
Illustrator: Creates Vector Images (with the ability to also create raster images)

The biggest and probably most important distinction between the two programs is that Canva only creates raster images, whereas Illustrator creates vector images.

For those of you who think I’m speaking another language right now, let me explain.

Raster images are graphics that are made up of pixels. This allows them to be smaller in file size and are the type of graphics file that is used for digital output (anything on the internet or that will be used/seen on a screen).

The downside of raster images, however, is that they cannot be enlarged without becoming pixelated, they’re not easily editable, and if they’re not saved a high enough resolution they’ll look terrible when they’re printed. (Pro tip – please don’t print raster files unless absolutely necessary).

Vector images, however, are made up of what I like to think of as magical, computer generated paths that when resized or edited the paths are automatically recalculated, ensuring that they never become pixelated or blurry – meaning they’re always in the highest resolution possible.

Vectors are also easily editable because these paths create shapes that can be changed, re-coloured, or re-configured at any time you want.

With that being said, Illustrator allows you to save the designs you create as BOTH raster AND vector files, whereas Canva only creates inherently raster graphics.

Canva: One Size graphic per document
Illustrator: Multiple graphic sizes per document

In Canva you can create tons of different documents and multiple pages in each document, however, you can only have one size graphic within each document. Meaning, if you want a super sweet social media template where you can create all the sizes you’ll need for every social media platform all within the same document, you can’t… without using Illustrator that is!

Inside Illustrator, however, you can have a bajillion different pages (or art boards, as they’re called in Illustrator), and each art board can be a totally different size. I use this feature ALL the time and it makes my life way easier.

Canva: Never should be used for logo design
Illustrator: The industry standard for logo design

Because of the whole raster vs. vector explanation above, this makes Canva a terrible choice for logo design.

The NUMBER ONE rule of logo design is to ALWAYS have a vector file of your logo on hand.

Conversely, Illustrator is actually the industry standard when it comes to logo design, so whether you’re designing your own logo or you’re designing logos for clients, Illustrator is always where you’ll want to do so. Not only will Illustrator provide you with vector logos, but it will allow you to create truly custom designs and icons using their super powerful tools like the pen tool, the shape builder tool, and the pathfinder tool.

Essentially what I’m saying is that you 100% need to design logos (or have a logo designed) in Illustrator. Period.

Canva: Only allows you to import jpg & png
Illustrator: Allows you to import vector images which you can also edit inside the document, in addition to easter images

In both programs, you can upload your own images to the program to use within your designs (which you’re always going to need!). The only difference, however, is that in Canva you can only import jpg and png files (aka raster images).

Whereas, in Illustrator you can also import vector images (along with raster images, of course). The best part is that once you import the vector graphics you’ll also be able to edit them inside the document as well.

Canva: Requires internet access to use
Illustrator: Once installed, you’re good to go. Hello, working from anywhere!

One of the bummers about Canva is that you need internet access to use it. It is an online platform which means if you don’t have access to wifi, you won’t be able to log in and design graphics.

Illustrator, however, is downloaded onto your computer so you don’t need any sort of internet access to start designing

Canva: Minimal design skills necessary
Illustrator: Will need a pro designer

Probably the best part about Canva is that you literally need zero design skills to use it and the learning curve is super small. They provide great templates that you can customise for your brand that make it easy to create nice designs without an eye for design

Although you’ll need a designer for Illustrator (unless you’re totally keen on trying it yourself) you know that the designer knows the program through and through. And a good designer will know exactly how to illustrate what is going on in your head.

Canva: Limited amount of functionality – Just takes care of the basics
Illustrator: The sky is the limit. Anything you envision, your designer can create with the tools and functions inside the program.

Like I said earlier, Canva is great for any simple, basic designs and graphics. However, anything past that can cause you some grief. It can be super frustrating when you have a design in mind that you’re not capable of executing with the tools provided.

This is where Illustrator comes in. The versatility and customisability of Illustrator are leaps and bounds above Canva. All of the tools and functions inside the program allow you to literally design anything your little heart desires! Including creating custom icons, illustrations, drawings, and logos. It’s for real the best! See, this is why you can trust your designer.

Canva: Your designs cannot be trademarked
Illustrator: Allows you to create completely custom graphics that can be trademarked

Another reason to not use Canva for logo design is that you’re not able to trademark the work you create inside the program. Illustrator, however, doesn’t have this restriction, giving you the ability to trademark your work if desired.

Canva: Can upload your own fonts to the platform (pro version only)
Illustrator: Can use any don’t downloaded onto your computer, as well as thousands through Adobe Type Kit.

Finally, let’s talk about fonts. Canva comes with a font library of its own and also allows you to upload your own fonts to the platform.

Illustrator accesses any fonts installed on your computer, as well as gives you the opportunity to install thousands of fonts for free from an Adobe-run platform called Typekit. Typekit has been a huge game changer with the Creative Cloud membership and has been so convenient when searching for new, quality fonts for my design projects.

So there you have it!

Overall, if you’re looking for branding or a logo design, speak to your graphic designer or have a play with Illustrator. Don’t make them in Canva.

BUT, if you’re going to be playing around with social media stuff, Canva is a lot of fun.