Canva is undergoing a significant transformation, solidifying its position as a major player in the online creative tools market. Once viewed primarily as a simpler alternative to professional suites, the Australian platform is now demonstrating performance indicators that place it in a different category altogether.
Driven by double-digit growth, increasing monetization, and a deep integration of artificial intelligence, Canva is scaling up and redefining its position in the global design market.
265 Million Monthly Active Users, Including 31 Million Paid Subscribers
As of the end of , Canva reports over 265 million monthly active users, with more than 31 million subscribing to a paid offering. This user base has enabled the company to reach $4 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR), according to figures communicated to TechCrunch.
The momentum is strong, with the platform registering a 20% increase in users year-over-year. While North America remains its primary market, Canva is strengthening its international presence, notably through reduced-price subscriptions in select emerging markets.
The B2B segment is also thriving, with enterprise accounts of 25+ seats showing 100% growth to reach $500 million in ARR. This evolution demonstrates an increasingly structured use within organizations, extending beyond independent creators and marketing teams.
AI as a Growth Engine… and New Acquisition Channel
While Canva built its success on ease of use, artificial intelligence is now at the heart of its strategy. The tool for creating mini-applications and websites using AI already exceeds 10 million monthly active users.
However, the most interesting development is occurring in distribution. Large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are increasingly directing users to Canva when they request assistance with tasks like creating a presentation or designing a logo.
Canva indicates that traffic originating from LLMs now represents a double-digit percentage of its user acquisitions, as seen with ChatGPT, where over 26 million conversations have involved the Canva application.
This paradigm shift is transforming AI assistants into genuine entry points for software. Where Google search historically dominated user acquisition, chatbots are now becoming a strategic lever.
Increased Pressure on Adobe
With $4 billion in revenue and an estimated valuation of $42 billion during its latest secondary sale, Canva is establishing itself as a credible competitor to Adobe. While the American publisher retains the advantage in advanced professional use cases, Canva is capturing a significant share of the non-designer and SME markets.
Canva is evolving from a design platform with AI tools to an AI platform that integrates design tools. This strategic inversion could fundamentally reshape the creative sector. According to Canva co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht, the company is aiming to become a “design agency in your pocket.”
This shift isn’t simply about adding AI features to an existing platform. Canva is actively integrating with chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude, leveraging their conversational interfaces to drive users to its design capabilities. This integration is proving successful, with LLM referrals contributing significantly to Canva’s growth.
The company is also adapting its pricing strategy to broaden its reach. Lower-priced subscriptions have been introduced in countries like Pakistan, Uruguay, Morocco, and Jamaica, making its design and collaboration suite more accessible while preserving long-term revenue potential. This international approach isn’t solely about discounts; it also supports wider Canva adoption among small businesses, schools, and creators in emerging economies.
Canva’s B2B business is also experiencing rapid growth, increasing by 100% and reaching $500 million in ARR. This demonstrates a growing demand for Canva’s collaborative design tools within larger organizations. The company’s focus on enterprise teams, alongside individual creators, is a key component of its scaling strategy.
Despite the competition from established players like Adobe, Freepik, and Apple’s Creator Studio, Canva’s innovative approach to AI integration and its expanding user base position it for continued success in the evolving creative landscape.
