9 Ways to Use Canva You May Not Have Tried

When you think of Canva , you probably think of it as a social media graphics tool. But it can do so much more. In addition to the familiar templates and features, Canva lets you create QR codes , edit PDFs, build websites, and tackle creative tasks you might not expect.

Table of Contents

• 9. Create documents and presentations
• 8. Create professional invoices
• 7. Edit PDF
• 6. Generate QR code
• 5. Freehand drawing
• 4. Design custom wallpaper
• 3. Build a website
• 2. Create a unique email signature
• 1. Plan and schedule your social media

9. Create documents and presentations

While Canva is primarily known for its design capabilities, it also allows you to create documents. Unlike traditional word processors, Canva Docs takes a visual-first approach. So if you want to create engaging reports, proposals, ebooks, or marketing materials where design is just as important as the text, Canva Docs is a great choice.

You can start with a Canva Docs template or create a document from scratch. You can then enhance your document by adding tables, charts, and elements from Canva’s extensive library. Once your document is ready, you can download it as a PDF or Word document and share it as normal.

Additionally, you can use Canva’s Docs to Decks feature to convert your document into a presentation if you have Canva Pro. This also works with documents created elsewhere, which is a plus.

8. Create professional invoices

In addition to documents, Canva is also a great platform for creating invoices. The platform offers a variety of free templates to help you get started. Simply choose a template that fits your brand, enter the necessary details, and customize it to your liking.

If you've already set up your Brand Kit in Canva, applying your company colors and fonts won't take long. You can then save your invoice as a PDF or share it via email directly from Canva.

7. Edit PDF

If you've ever tried to edit a PDF, you know how difficult it can be, especially when using free tools. With Canva, that's not a problem.

You can upload your PDF file to Canva and it will automatically detect all the elements in the file, including text, images, and design elements. Once imported, you can freely edit the text, change the font, add or remove images, and even resize or reposition elements.

In addition to basic editing, Canva makes it easy to rearrange or delete pages in your PDF. You can also add new elements or use Canva's drawing tools to annotate your PDF.

6. Generate QR code

While there is no shortage of online tools for generating QR codes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that lets you create both static and dynamic QR codes for free. If you want to skip the hassle and avoid the ads, Canva is a great alternative.

For this, you just need to search for “QR Code Generator” in the Apps section of Canva and you will see a number of options. Choose the one you like and use the options to adjust the color of the QR code, the background, and even add a brand logo.

Once your QR code is ready, you can download it in the format you want or use it in one of your designs.

5. Freehand drawing

Even with Canva’s massive library, finding the perfect icon, element, or illustration can sometimes be a challenge. In those cases, you can turn to Canva’s drawing tool to create an icon, element, or illustration from scratch.

Simply click on the Draw option in the left panel, choose from tools like pen, marker, or highlighter, and start drawing. Once your drawing is ready, you can use it in one of your designs.

The drawing tool is also great for annotating PDFs, highlighting key points in a presentation, or adding a personal touch to your designs. It's an easy way to make your images feel more natural and less "original."

4. Design custom wallpaper

If you want to customize your phone or computer with an eye-catching wallpaper, Canva can help you design one. You can start with a blank canvas, use one of your own photos, or use Canva's Text to Image feature if you need a little inspiration.

In any case, make sure to choose the right size based on your screen ratio. From there, you can use Canva’s graphics, frames, shapes, and text tools to create your wallpaper. You can even experiment with the drawing tool to add hand-drawn elements to your wallpaper. The possibilities are endless – it all depends on how creative you want to be.

3. Build a website

Building a website isn't as difficult as it used to be, thanks to no-code website builders. But if you want to keep things simple, Canva offers a free website builder.

While Canva may not offer the advanced features of traditional platforms, it is perfect for creating simple landing pages , personal portfolios, event pages, or one-page business websites.

One of the advantages of using Canva to create a website is that it also allows you to host it for free under the domain my.canva.site . This means you can design and publish your website for free, all within Canva.

2. Create a unique email signature

An email signature doesn't have to just include your name and contact information. If you want to make a lasting impression, you can create an attractive and professional email signature using Canva's customizable templates.

You can enhance your email signature by adding social media icons, a QR code linking to your website, or a personal tagline. Once your signature is ready, simply download it as a PNG and upload it to your email client.

1. Plan and schedule your social media

With Canva, you’re not limited to just creating content for your social media, but you can also schedule it using Canva’s Content Planner feature. However, unlike most of the other features on this list, this one requires you to have a Canva Pro subscription .

With Content Planner, you can schedule posts to platforms like Facebook, Instagram Business, X, LinkedIn, and Slack directly from the Share menu in Canva. This can save you the hassle of downloading your designs and uploading them to different platforms manually.

You can see all of your scheduled posts by going to Apps > Content Planner from the Canva homepage. There, you'll see a calendar view of your upcoming posts, with options to reschedule or delete them as needed.

Canva has come a long way from its early days as a simple design tool. While its clean and user-friendly interface makes designing easy, it also means that some of its features can go unnoticed. So take the time to explore the features listed above and make the most of what Canva has to offer.