By Destiny Uko
Canva has sustained the reputation as the top go-to platform for graphics, social media content, flyers, and branding designs.
However impressive, it places heavy limitations on the free version, which propels creators to opt for the premium version. Some creators desire more flexible tools and access to design creation offline. And the Canva free version is far from meeting that desire.
Thankfully, there are alternative professional tools offering friendly user interfaces, a lot more free features, and offline design options.
One of such apps is Adobe Express, formerly known as Adobe Spark. Design savvy or not, the app enables users to design posters, quotes, flyers, and videos from their phones. It also offers several modern and bright templates to choose from.
Unlike Canva, Adobe Express offers more font control, all available for free with an optional upgrade. It can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store,
Pixellab is another popular option that sits right with a lot of Nigerian content creators. It allows detailed text effects, 3D text, stickers, and shape layering. A user could create beautiful designs without actively connecting to the internet, making this app even more preferable and cost-friendly.
It is suitable for creators that produce quote cards, church flyers, business flyers, etc. It is available on Google Play Store and has a short video tutorial to put you on track.
For those who seek photo editing and design in one app, PicsArt is a satisfactory option. It enables collage making, background removal, text overlays, and photo editing.
PicsArt is particularly helpful because it allows for the performance of multiple tasks without the trouble of migrating from one app to another. It also connects designers to fellow creators in a community-like section for inspiration and engagement. Download PicsArt from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Next is Desygner, a choice branding app, best for designers who seek to produce professional business cards, logos, social media headers, and even e-books. It allows access to a great number of free images and features. Its simplicity, too, is an added advantage. Desygner is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
There is also Mojo, another app notable for aesthetic designs and an attractive interface. It is quietly becoming more popular among creators. Animated stories, text slideshows, and professional-looking video content are possible with the app.
It works mainly for video designs. Find the app on the Apple App Store and also on the Google Play Store.
For catchy logo creation or branding design, Logo Maker Plus is a viable option. It has customizable shapes, thousands of icons, and gradient settings to experiment with.
While it may not give that polished finish of Canva, it gives a friendly environment to explore creativity. Upcoming business owners that desire fast, professional-looking logos and flyer designs can consider the app. Check Google Play for the app.
Canva remains efficient, but it is not the only option that exists. By exploring the above-listed alternatives, Nigerian creatives, students, business owners, and content creators can produce high-quality designs and business branding materials with minimal cost and maximal ease.
Canva is widely used for graphic design, but its free version has limited capabilities, prompting users to seek alternative tools that offer more flexibility and offline design options.
Adobe Express, formerly Adobe Spark, provides a user-friendly platform for creating posters, quotes, and videos with more font control and modern templates available for free.
Pixellab is favored for its offline capabilities, offering detailed text effects and 3D text suitable for creating quotes and flyers.
For those interested in combined photo editing and design, PicsArt offers features like collage making and background removal, along with a community network. Desygner is ideal for creating business cards, logos, and social media headers with access to numerous free images and features.
Mojo is another app gaining popularity for its aesthetic video designs and animated stories. Lastly, Logo Maker Plus allows users to design logos and branding materials with customizable shapes and thousands of icons.
These alternative apps enable creators to produce high-quality designs with greater ease and minimal cost, demonstrating that Canva is not the only viable option for graphic design on a phone.
