Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d build a real workflow around.
If you’re a creator, Canva is usually the “default.” But default isn’t always optimal—especially when you’re making Pinterest pins daily, building lead magnets, or designing POD listings and you need (1) speed, (2) consistency, and (3) assets that don’t look like everyone else’s.
Here’s the twist: Envato Elements isn’t really a Canva alternative. It’s the thing you plug into any design tool to instantly level up your visuals with templates, fonts, graphics, and mockups. Envato Elements is a subscription with unlimited downloads of 26+ million assets and a lifetime commercial license for completed projects. Envato+1
Quick Answer
- Want a Canva-like editor (fast, template-first)? Pick Adobe Express or VistaCreate. Use Envato Elements to escape template sameness with better fonts, graphics, and premium templates.
- Want pro-grade design without subscriptions? Look at Affinity’s new all-in-one app (now positioned as free, no subscription) and pair it with Envato assets.
- Want system workflows / brand kits / UI-like design? Use Figma + Envato for assets.
What You Need to Know First
1) “Canva alternative” can mean two different needs
- Need A: An editor (drag-and-drop, layout, text, export)
- Need B: Assets (fonts, graphics, templates, mockups, photos)
Creators get stuck because they try to solve Need A and Need B with one tool.
2) Where Envato Elements fits (and why it matters)
Envato Elements is the “asset engine.” It includes templates, fonts, graphics, photos, video, audio and more under one subscription.
Also important: the license is project-based for most items (register per project), while fonts have their own rules.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Pick your “home editor”
Choose based on what you actually produce most days:
- Pinterest pins + quick marketing graphics → Adobe Express / VistaCreate
- POD designs (text layouts, vector-ish work, print files) → Affinity / Adobe apps
- Brand systems + templates you reuse → Figma
Step 2: Add an “asset engine”
This is where Envato Elements shines: you stop hunting assets across 12 websites and build a consistent visual library.
Envato Elements pricing (Individual) shows $16.50/month (at time of writing).
Step 3: Build 3 reusable “creator kits”
- Pin kit: 20 templates, 10 font pairings, 30 background textures, 30 icons
- Lead magnet kit: cover templates, section dividers, icon set, 2 font families
- POD kit: typography presets, badge shapes, outline elements, mockups
Step 4: Decide your workflow stack (pick one and don’t overthink)
Here are stacks that work in the real world:
Stack A (fastest): Adobe Express + Envato Elements
Stack B (brand + systems): Figma + Envato Elements
Stack C (POD serious mode): Affinity + Envato Elements
Stack D (stay in Canva but upgrade): Canva + Envato Elements
Best Practices / Tips
- Use Envato for “signature elements”: font pairings, icon style, textures, frames. That’s what makes pins look “yours,” not “template-y.”
- Standardize typography: choose 2 font families and stop “collecting fonts like Pokémon.”
- Make Pinterest-friendly exports: keep text huge, contrast brutal, and whitespace generous.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to replace Canva with Envato (wrong category: editor vs assets).
- Ignoring licensing flow: Envato is project-based for most items; register assets per project.
- Switching tools weekly: your audience doesn’t care; the algorithm cares that you post consistently.
FAQs
Is Envato Elements a Canva replacement?
No. It’s an asset subscription you plug into whatever editor you choose.
Can I keep using assets after I cancel Envato Elements?
Completed projects registered during an active subscription become perpetual for the life of that end product, but you can’t start new projects with those items after cancellation.
What’s the best Canva alternative for beginners?
Adobe Express is frequently recommended as a top alternative; it’s the closest “Canva-like” experience.
What’s best if I want zero subscriptions?
Affinity has been repositioned as a free all-in-one app (with optional paid tier around AI features).
What’s best for POD design files?
Affinity (or Adobe apps) tends to be better for print-focused outputs; pair with Envato for fonts, graphics, and mockups.
What should I use if I’m building a brand system?
Figma + a consistent asset library (Envato) is hard to beat.
Next Steps
- Read: Pinterest for POD: How Creators Drive Consistent Traffic
- Read: How to Validate a Print-on-Demand Niche Before You Design Anything
- Go to: Best Design Bundles & Fonts for Print-on-Demand (My Picks)
CTA: Want the exact content system I use? Grab the free Podwise Roadmap (Pinterest → Blog → Email → Income).