Design platform Canva just expanded its suite of generative AI features and has been doing so in recent years. In fact, given how many such features are present on the platform, it should seem justified that prices for subscriptions to the platform would rise. However, what has had some people frown is actually the amount of the price increase. Now, some of the new rates are rising by over 300% in some instances, which is what shocked some users.
Canva Teams is a subscription created for businesses with multiple users. Subscribers to this plan were notified via email about the upcoming changes in the pricing. And, as would be understandable, that created a backlash online. There were complaints from users like Jenna Harding on Threads urging the company to justify the price increase.
Canva seems to not have publicly shared its new Teams pricing structure just yet. However, there are reports that the cost of Teams in Australia will jump from $39 AUD per month for the whole team to $40.50 AUD per month… for each user! For a team of five users, this translates to an annual price increase from $480 AUD to $2,430 AUD. And this is one shocking price increase, I might add.
In the U.S., there are also similar hikes. X user Will Sanders shared a portion of the Canva email he received. The quote detailed how his $120-per-year subscription will ultimately rise to $500 per year. He would get a discount though – 40% off for the first year. But that still amounts to $300 per year, more than double the initial price he used to pay.
Image Credit – Will Sanders on X
Canva seems to attribute the price increases to the new AI-powered features. The company reportedly told The Verge that its suite of products has grown significantly in the last two years, and new offerings like Visual Suite and Magic Studio were added to its feature set. However, it seems many users won’t be happy about having to pay that much more for AI tools.
There’s also another aspect of this. In fact, this platform was once known as an affordable variant of Adobe and other competitors.
I personally have no problem with price increases to reflect the addition of a wide variety of new features. However, this price increase seems a bit too big, and it definitely makes me raise my eyebrows.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master’s degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She’s also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it’s walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
