For people like me who aren’t trained graphic designers but are still able to come up with captivating graphics, you’ll agree that Canva stands out as a trusted ally. It embodies an array of features and resources to help us craft stunning graphics.
I particularly love that the tool is user-friendly and caters to different users. Whether you’re a small business owner, a content creator, or simply a passionate designer, Canva is a useful tool for building your brand.
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You have thousands of templates to play with for any of your design needs – whether it’s social media posts, business cards, flyers, presentations, or logos. You simply need to customize the templates by adding text, images, and any other design elements to suit your preferences.
Indeed, there is a lot you can do with Canva, especially considering that it’s a free tool that gives you access to lots of images and graphics. But can you use these images for commercial purposes? Well, that’s what I will be discussing today.
The answer is yes. Canva images can be used commercially because the platform has entered into licensing agreements with stock image providers to enable users to access and use their images for free.
I remember browsing through Canva’s image library and coming across an image I had previously seen on Pixel. I got curious and searched some more and realized that most of the images on Canva Free Plan are also available on Pexels and Pixabay.
This proves that the images on Canva are already royalty-free and can be used for commercial use. Next, I’ll give you a breakdown of the platform’s media license and the restrictions on using the images for commercial use.
Make sure you read to the end.
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Canva Free Media License Agreement
I took time to go through this license agreement and it was expressly stated that users can use the free images, music, and video files on the platform for both commercial and non-commercial use.
This means that you can use these resources in projects that you intend to make money or for personal and non-profit use. This agreement applies specifically to those under the free plan.
I also noticed that the images are free because Canva is in partnership with platforms like Pixabay and Pixels to distribute royalty-free images. This allows you to use these images without the need to pay additional royalties or licensing fees each time you use the image commercially.
I think it’s such a cost-effective option for small business owners especially. And you don’t need to attribute the images to the original owners. If you do it, that’s fine but if you don’t, you won’t be penalized.
However, as long as the images are there for you to freely modify to suit your creative needs, Canva also attached a disclaimer in the agreement stating that it can’t guarantee that the images are free from copyright restrictions.
That is to say, just because those resources are available on Canva for free, does not mean that they are free from copyright protection. I think the disclaimer is to remind users that as much as Canva strives to provide a wide array of visual resources, they do not own the copyright for all the content in their library.
You must understand that copyright laws may still apply to the free resources especially if the original creator retained copyright ownership. Because of this lack of guarantee, you should carry out due diligence when using any free image on Canva.
You should check to see if the image has any specific usage restrictions or requires attribution to the original creator. You must be aware of these potential requirements and adhere to them.
Failure to do so, Canva retains the right to terminate your account for violations.
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Canva Pro Subscription
If you intend to make profits from Canva images, it’s best to subscribe to the pro version. This gives you access to an even larger selection of images, including premium content.
You’ll notice that on Canva’s free version, most graphics and images have watermarks on them. However, when you upgrade to the pro version, these watermarks are removed, allowing you to use the image commercially.
I think one of the major reasons why this is so is because, being a paid version, Canva utilizes the subscription to pay for the licensing fees to access and use these premium images.
Because they are paid for, the images and graphics have more exclusive usage rights compared to free images. They are also high-quality.
And as a business owner, you’ll need quality visuals for your marketing materials and projects. All of them are available on Canva Pro and no attribution is required when you use them for commercial purposes.
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Canva Content Licensing Agreement (CLA)
Generally, the Canva Content Licensing Agreement (CLA) allows both free and pro users to use Canva images for different purposes. You can use it to design marketing materials, invitations, school projects, social media posts, commercials, book covers, and a host of others.
Since there are templates for you to work with, you simply need to customize them to your preference.
As long as they are your designs, the Content Licensing Agreement gives you the right to sell them on physical merchandise, such as posters, mugs, tote bags, and other digital products. You can even create designs for your clients and transfer the rights to them.
In essence, this means that you can monetize your creative work by producing and selling tangible digital products with Canva designs. It’s a great opportunity for you to turn your designs into marketable products and generate revenue.
However, you’re not allowed to sell Canva Content as a standalone product. For example, you can’t add the platform’s template on a t-shirt and sell it that way. The templates are there for you to customize and not to use verbatim.
Hence, your designs should always be unique and your creations.
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Restrictions On Using Canva Images For Commercial Use
As stated above, one of the major restrictions to using Canva images for commercial purposes is that the design created must be original and not simply assembled from the platform’s pre-made template.
I think this policy was made to foster originality and creativity among Canva users especially if they are using it for commercial projects. What makes your brand unique if the designs you’re using have been used by 10 other brands?
If you’re creating commercial content, it’s best to read the licensing agreements to know which image is available for non-profit use and which ones are not available. This is important especially if you’re using the free version of Canva.
In some cases, the images free for commercial use may be limited to a one-time usage. This means that you cannot use the same image repeatedly in more projects without buying an additional license.
Another restriction to note is that you cannot resell or redistribute Canva images or any of its design templates as a standalone asset. You can use them in your projects but you can’t sell them outright for financial gain.
All in all, never overlook Canva’s licensing agreement. If you’re an avid user of the platform, make sure that you read and understand the terms of use and any specific restrictions with each image you use. This is more important if you’re creating commercial content.
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Conclusion
To wrap it up, you certainly can use Canva images for commercial use – whether you are on the free or pro version. However, the pro version has more library sources and is the best option if you’re creating designs for your business.
Aside from that, Canva inserted a disclaimer in the Free Media License Agreement stating that it can’t guarantee that the images are free from copyright restrictions. There’s no such caveat if you’re using the pro version.
