Canva is a design platform used by millions for social posts, presentations and print. There are two main ways to earn with it. The Canva Creators program pays royalties when people use your templates or elements inside Canva. Or you design templates in Canva and sell them yourself on sites like Etsy.
At a glance
| What it is | A design platform with a creator royalty program |
| How you earn | Royalties from Canva Creators, or selling templates you make |
| Cost | Canva has a free plan; Pro adds more tools |
| Entry | Template Creators apply with a portfolio |
| Who it’s for | Designers, illustrators and template makers |
| Where it works | Worldwide |
Route 1: Canva Creators
Canva Creators publish work into Canva’s library. Template Creators apply with a portfolio, and Canva says the template program is in beta and that answers can take up to a couple of months. Element Creators supply graphics and illustrations; Canva has paused new sign-ups for that track because of demand. There’s also a track for specialty creators, such as verified teachers making education resources.
Canva pays creators from a royalty pool, based on how often their content is used. You don’t set prices, and Canva doesn’t publish a fixed rate per use, so earnings vary month to month. Canva has also published guidance on how creators earn when their templates feed into Canva’s AI features.
Route 2: Sell your own Canva templates
You can design templates in Canva and sell access to them on Etsy, Gumroad, Creative Market or your own site. Buyers get a link that opens an editable copy in their Canva account. Popular products include social media kits, planners, resumes, wedding stationery and business cards. Read Canva’s content license rules first, because they limit how you can use Canva’s own elements in templates you sell.
Getting started
For Canva Creators, build a portfolio of polished, on-brand templates before you apply. Social media template sets are a popular category. For selling your own templates, pick a clear niche, such as templates for real estate agents or wedding planners, and design matching sets rather than single pieces.
What makes a good Canva template
Good templates are easy to edit. Use Canva’s styles and clear text boxes, group elements logically and keep layers tidy, so a buyer with no design skills can change colours and words in minutes. Stick to fonts and elements your buyer can access, or note which ones need Canva Pro. Include a short guide that explains how to open and edit the template.
Sell sets, not single pages. A social media kit with matching posts, stories and highlight covers is worth more to a small business than one post. Bundles also look better in listings and give buyers a reason to choose you over free templates.
Pricing your own templates
When you sell on your own shop or marketplace, look at what similar template sets sell for in your niche and price to match the value, not the time you spent. Niche, ready-to-use sets for a specific profession tend to command higher prices than general templates.
Owen’s take
The Creators program is great exposure but hard to plan around: entry is slow and income depends on a pool you can’t see. Selling your own Canva templates is the more controllable side hustle. You set the price, own the customer and can start this week. I’d do both if you can get into Creators, and lead with your own shop if you can’t.
Who it suits
It suits designers who are fast in Canva and enjoy making reusable templates. It suits less well anyone who wants predictable income from day one, or who prefers designing in pro tools like Illustrator.
Similar options
- Creative Market is a marketplace for templates, fonts and graphics.
- Etsy is a popular shop for Canva templates and printables.
- Gumroad lets you sell digital files directly to your audience.
More options are in Designing and Selling Templates.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Huge built-in audience inside Canva
- Two separate ways to earn
- Free plan to start designing
Cons
- Creators program entry is slow and partly closed
- Royalty pool earnings are hard to predict
- Licence rules limit use of Canva elements in templates you sell
FAQ
How do Canva Creators get paid?
From a royalty pool, based on how much your content is used inside Canva.
Can anyone become a Canva Creator?
Template Creators apply with a portfolio. New Element Creator sign-ups are currently on hold.
Can I sell Canva templates on Etsy?
Yes, as long as you follow Canva’s content license rules on the elements you use.
Do I need Canva Pro?
Not to start. Pro adds tools that many template sellers find useful.
