Are Canva images copyright-free?

It’s a common question among users of the design platform, both old and new. 

Whether you’re planning to use the platform for marketing materials and brand infographics or for your print-on-demand business, it’s crucial to understand Canva’s copyright policy to ensure that you’re not breaking any legal boundaries.

Table of Contents

Understanding Canva’s Image Library

Before we discuss copyright, let’s tackle the basics. Canva’s image library is a treasure trove for designers, offering a vast array of visual content to enhance any project. This library is divided into two main categories: 

  • Free images
  • Pro images

When you use the Canva image search on the sidebar, Free and Pro images will appear, regardless of whether you’re using a free account or a paid subscription.

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Canva Free Images

If you’re using a free account on Canva, you can use Canva Free images on your designs, as seen on the side panel. You’ll know it’s free to use when it doesn’t have a crown icon embedded on the lower right side of the image. Once you click the free image, it automatically appears on your design:

Canva Free Content using a free account

Canva Pro Images

On the other side of the coin, Canva Pro images are easy to spot on the side panel with a crown icon embedded on the lower right side. If you click a pro image using a free account, it will appear on your design but with a watermark:

Canva Pro Content with a watermark using a free account

If you want to use Pro Content with a free account, you’ll need to pay a one-time license fee to use it without a watermark in that specific design. Since the license fee is only good for that particular project, you’ll have to pay for it again if you use the same content for another design.

If you don’t want to pay separately for each piece of Pro Content you need, you can upgrade to Canva Pro, which will give you access to all the Pro Content and all your projects.

Canva’s Content License Agreement

The platform has a content license agreement available for perusal on its platform. Are Canva images copyright-free? It depends. According to the document, licenses are stricter for Pro Content.

Whether it’s a Free or Pro image, you can check the license by clicking the three dots on the upper right corner of the image. Doing so will open a toolbar and you can click the info (i) icon to know more.

Clicking the license information of a Canva Free image

Canva Free Content License

Here are the basic ground rules for Canva Free Content license, based on the information you see on the toolbar: 

  • If the content is from Pixabay, refer to the Pixabay License.
  • If the content is from Pexels, consult the Pexels License.
  • For content labeled as CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) or Public Domain, review the CC0 License or the source information provided.
  • If the content does not come from Pixabay, Pexels, or CC0, it falls under the Free Content License. 

Under the agreement terms, Canva grants users a “perpetual, non-exclusive, non-transferable worldwide license to use the Free Content.” 

Canva Free and Pro Content License

For both Free and Pro Content, Canva grants the following permitted uses:

  • Invitations, advertising, and promotional projects
  • School or university projects
  • Social media posts or profile images
  • Decorative backgrounds for computers or mobile devices
  • Design templates exclusively for Canva use
  • Entertainment applications (e.g., books, book covers, magazines, newspapers)
  • Online or electronic publications (e.g., web pages, blogs, ebooks)
  • Prints and posters

The platform offers additional permitted uses for Free Content, including:

  • Using them in multiple Canva designs without needing an additional license.
  • Downloading them as standalone files.
  • Including them in templates for websites, social media, documents, and other projects for distribution or sale to third parties.
  • Using them in design templates intended for resale, such as website templates, etc.
  • Using them in multiple locations or on network servers for use by employees or service providers

Going over the platform’s license agreement could be tedious, so here’s a cheat sheet on how it could be applied to practical scenarios:

Selling Designs Made Using Canva

Are Canva images free for commercial use, and can you use Canva images to sell products? Yes, you can sell designs made with Canva content, but there are important restrictions:

  • Free Content: You can use it in multiple designs without additional licenses, download it as standalone files, and include it in templates for websites and documents. However, you cannot sell standalone Canva content without adding significant modifications or elements to make it a unique design.
  • Pro Content: A license is required for each use in different designs. You can incorporate Pro content into designs for commercial products, but the content must not be used as a standalone element.

Here’s an example of the allowed use of Canva content or images according to the platform:

 Allowed use of Canva content for selling designs

In short, you can sell products with designs made with Free or Pro Content from Canva, but you can’t sell them as standalone products, such as a print of a stock photo without any modifications or design elements added to it. 

Selling Templates Made in Canva

In general, you can sell Canva templates but not those already on the platform. You must create a template from scratch if you want to sell it. To sell the template, provide your customer a sharable link that directs them to Canva or a downloadable file.

But here’s the catch: the limitations of selling templates would vary depending on whether you used Pro or Free Content for them:

  • Templates with Free Content, such as website templates, business card templates, and electronic greeting cards, can be included in templates for resale.
  • Templates with Pro Content, meanwhile, must remain within Canva. They can’t be sold as off-platform downloadable files but should be shared as Canva links to ensure all royalties go to the original creators.

If you want to sell Canva templates, you can check out the Canva Creators program, which allows creators to make money from their templates.

Using Canva Content on Logos and Trademarks

You can use Canva logo templates for logos or personal projects that don’t require exclusive rights. After all, these images are free for other Canva users to use in their own designs as well.

But here’s an important note to remember concerning trademarks: you can’t use any Pro or Free Content from Canva in a trademark, save for basic shapes, fonts, and lines. 

To get a unique logo that you can use for a trademark, you can do any of the following:

  • Use any of the platform’s fonts
  • Use basic shapes and lines
  • Upload and use graphics that you designed yourself or commissioned from a professional like our excellent Penji designers

Here’s an example of what Canva images you can and can’t use for a logo trademark:

Canva content you can and can’t use for trademark

As seen in the image, you can’t trademark a logo with a graphic from the Canva library. You can, however, use basic Canva shapes and lines to create icons from scratch, just as how the oblong shapes and straight lines were used to depict coffee beans in the example.

Using Canva Stock Photos to Promote Goods and Services

You can use both Free and Pro Content for marketing materials, including:

However, the images cannot imply endorsement or be used in a way that might be offensive or misleading.

Users should also avoid using stock images in any manner that may defame the individuals depicted or imply they endorse a product without their explicit permission.

Best Practices for Using Canva Images

Here are a few best practices for using Canva images:

  • Read and comprehend the licensing terms associated with any Canva image you use. This will help ensure you know any usage restrictions and legal obligations.
  • Do not use Canva images as standalone products, such as unaltered prints on merchandise. Always integrate the images into unique designs to comply with Canva’s terms.
  • Verify the source of the images, especially if they come from external libraries like Pixabay or Pexels, and follow the specific licenses provided by these sources.
  • Alter images by adding text, graphics, or other elements to make them part of a unique composition. This practice helps avoid copyright issues and makes your designs more original.
  • Do not use images in a way that could mislead or defame the individuals depicted. Avoid suggesting that models endorse products without explicit permission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are a few frequently asked questions about Canva images:

Can you use Canva pictures for free?

Yes, you can use Canva pictures for free, but they come with specific licensing terms. Free content can be used in personal and commercial projects if you comply with the platform’s usage guidelines. Always check the licensing information associated with each image to ensure proper use.

Can I use Canva AI images for commercial use?

Yes, you can use Canva AI images for commercial use, provided you adhere to Canva’s licensing terms and conditions and AI product terms. 

Can I sell Canva designs on Etsy?

Yes, you can sell Canva designs on Etsy, but you must follow specific guidelines. Designs must be unique and incorporate significant modifications; simply reselling Canva templates or standalone content is prohibited. 

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