How to Make Money on Canva: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Earning Online
Want to turn your creativity into cash without spending a penny? Canva, the free graphic design platform, is a goldmine for side hustlers, freelancers, and anyone looking to make money online.
No design skills? No problem. With Canva’s drag-and-drop tools and ready-to-use templates, you can create professional designs—logos, printables, social media graphics, and more—and start earning today.
In this guide, you’ll learn five proven ways to make money on Canva, step-by-step instructions, tips from my own journey, and tools to maximize your income. Whether you’re a student, stay-at-home parent, or digital hustler, this is your blueprint to start a profitable side gig.
Why Canva Is Perfect for Beginners
Canva is simple, free, and powerful. Unlike Photoshop or Illustrator, you don’t need technical skills or a design degree.
With thousands of templates, fonts, and elements (many free), you can design anything in minutes: Instagram posts, flyers, business cards, resumes, or even merch. This accessibility makes it perfect for anyone who wants to start earning online with zero upfront cost.
1. Sell Printables on Etsy or Gumroad
Printables—digital downloads like planners, calendars, or party invitations—are one of the easiest Canva side hustles. People love affordable, ready-to-use designs, and you can create them quickly.
How to Start
- Sign up for Canva free and explore templates (search “planner,” “budget tracker,” or “invitation”).
- Customize with colors, fonts, and elements to make it unique.
- Export as a high-quality PDF.
- List your products on Etsy ($0.20/listing) or Gumroad (free to start).
- Promote your listings on Pinterest (see my Pinterest guide).
Tips for Success
- Research niches with high demand (habit trackers, wedding planners).
- Create bundles (e.g., “Teacher Printable Pack”).
- Use Canva mockups to showcase your products.
Earning Potential: $100–$1,000/month with consistent designs and promotion.
2. Offer Freelance Design Services
Small businesses and influencers constantly need graphics for branding and social media. Canva gives you the tools to deliver professional results.
How to Start
- Create a portfolio using Canva templates (logos, Instagram posts, flyers).
- Join platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.
- Offer entry-level gigs (e.g., “5 Instagram posts for $25”).
- Pitch directly to small businesses on Twitter (X) or Instagram.
- Deliver polished designs in PNG, JPG, or PDF formats.
Tips for Success
- Start with low rates ($10–$30) for reviews, then scale up.
- Use Canva’s collaboration feature for client feedback.
- Learn basic branding with Canva tutorials to stand out.
Check out my story on how I started freelancing for pitching tips.
Earning Potential: $50–$500/month part-time, scaling to $2,000+ with regular clients.
3. Create Content for Your Blog or Social Media
If you run a blog, YouTube, or social media page, Canva can be your secret weapon for growth.
How to Start
- Design infographics, carousel posts, or short videos.
- Post on Instagram, Twitter (X), or Pinterest with links back to your blog or affiliate products.
- Monetize through AdSense, affiliate links, or sponsored posts.
Tips for Success
- Shareable content (like “5 Side Hustle Ideas”) gets more engagement.
- Use Canva’s animation for short Reels or TikToks.
- Track performance with Google Analytics.
See my Twitter guide for creators for content tips.
Earning Potential: $10–$500/month from ads/affiliates, with growth potential as your audience scales.
4. Teach Canva to Others
When you’ve mastered Canva basics, you can monetize by teaching.
How to Start
- Record tutorials (e.g., “How to Create a Logo in Canva”) with free tools like Loom.
- Share on YouTube (earn from ads) or sell courses on Gumroad.
- Promote on social media or via Telegram communities.
Tips for Success
- Use Canva for thumbnails and course graphics.
- Offer a free Canva cheat sheet to grow an email list.
- Engage viewers with questions and feedback requests.
For more inspiration, check my side hustle guide.
Earning Potential: $50–$300/month from YouTube ads or course sales.
5. Design Merchandise for Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand is booming—and Canva makes it easy to create designs for T-shirts, mugs, and posters.
How to Start
- Create designs using Canva’s T-shirt or poster templates.
- Upload to Redbubble, Printful, or Teespring.
- Sell via your store or Etsy.
Tips for Success
- Target trending niches (quotes, pets, minimalist art).
- Use Canva mockups to preview products.
- Run small test ads on Instagram.
Earning Potential: $50–$500/month with 5–10 popular designs.
Tools You’ll Need
- Canva Free: Enough to start.
- Canva Pro (Optional): Background remover, premium templates.
- Platforms: Etsy, Gumroad, Fiverr, Printful, Pinterest, Twitter (X).
- Time Commitment: 5–15 hours/week for results.
My Canva Journey
When I first opened Canva, I didn’t know a thing about design. My first win? A $20 Fiverr gig for a social media post I made in 15 minutes.
That small win gave me confidence to expand into printables and freelance work. Within months, I was making $300/month on the side. The lesson? Start small, experiment, and promote your work.
If I can do it, you can too.
SEO Tips for Canva Side Hustles
- Use keywords in file names (e.g., “wedding-planner-printable.pdf”).
- Write blog posts about your Canva projects to rank for niche searches.
- Share reviews or results on Twitter (X) for credibility.
Get Started Now
Pick one method—printables are the easiest for beginners—and create your first Canva design today.
Want more zero-investment hustles? Read my guide on 7 legit side hustles you can start with no money.
Start designing, start earning—your Canva hustle begins now.