Do you love creating art? Imagine if your designs made you passive income. Well, you can definitely sell your art—right on Canva!
Canva is not just a design tool; it is a marketplace where artists and designers sell their art through the Canva Contributor Program.
With millions of people using Canva every day, your art has the chance to reach a huge audience—and get you paid!
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to sell art on Canva step by step.
We’ll cover how to sign up, upload your designs, and maximize your earnings.
Whether you create illustrations, photos, or design elements, this is your chance to turn your creativity into passive income.
Let’s get started!
What is the Canva Contributor Program?
The Canva Contributor Program is a way for artists, designers, and photographers to sell their work on Canva and earn royalties every time someone uses their designs.
It’s an easy way to make passive income while getting your work in front of millions of users worldwide.
How It Works
Who Can Join?
Anyone 18 or older (or of legal age in their country) can apply, and there is no professional experience required!
Getting Approved
Submit a few samples of your work (graphics, photos, templates, or fonts).
Canva reviews them for quality, originality, and user demand.
Once approved, you can start uploading your designs!
What Can You Sell?
Graphics – Icons, illustrations, stickers, and custom elements.
Templates – Pre-made layouts for social media, presentations, and more.
Photos – Stock images, including transparent PNG cutouts.
Fonts – Unique, custom typography.
How You Get Paid
Canva pays royalties every time someone licenses your content.
Your earnings and downloads can be tracked from your contributor dashboard.
Payments are through PayPal or direct bank deposits.
Why sell art through Canva?
One, it’s easy, two, it’s a great entrepreneurial move for those who are passionate about art. Here’s how:
1. Huge Audience = More Sales
With over 55 million active users, Canva gives your art exposure to businesses, marketers, and creators who are actively looking for fresh designs.
2. Earn Passive Income
You don’t have to chase clients to get payment.
When someone uses your design on Canva, you earn with every use.
Canva tracks everything for you, and you earn through paid licenses and subscriptions.
3. Sell Worldwide, 24/7
Your art can be accessed by users on every continent at any time, prolonging the chances to make sales without much added work.
4. No Tech Skills Needed
Canva takes care of hosting, licensing, and distribution—all you need to do is upload your art using their easy drag-and-drop system.
5. Sell different types of content
From illustrations and templates to fonts and AI-generated PNGs.
6. Flexible licensing
Choose between free or paid options while keeping ownership of your work.
7. Join a creative community
Interact with other artists for a chance to expand your brand and grow your reach on Canva.
Sounds exciting, right? Now it’s time to turn your creativity into income!
How to Become a Canva Contributor
Follow the instructions below to become a Contributor and start making money from your designs.
Step 1: Sign Up as a Canva Contributor
1. Head over to Canva’s Contributor Program page and sign up.
Currently, sign-ups are suspended due to high popularity, so make sure to keep an eye out for when they are open and grab the chance while you can.
2. What You Need to Qualify:
Must be 18 years or older, or of legal age in your country.
Agree to Canva’s terms and conditions.
Provide a portfolio or sample designs which can include illustrations, templates, or icons.
Wait until Canva reviews and approves the work.
Once you are accepted, you will be able to upload your designs and monetize them!
Step 2: Understand the Contribution Canvas Freelancer Requirements
Not every design is selected, so assure that you create things that sell.
Best Selling Content:
1. Social Media Posts
2. Business/Card/Presentation Templates
3. High Quality Stock Pictures/Transparent PNGs
4. Icons, Stickers, Illustrations, Custom Typography
What Canva Doesn’t Accept:
a. Blurry or low-quality designs.
b. Copyrighted images (Be smart. Do not use Google Images or brand logos!)
c. There are common generic graphics that are simply overused.
Pro Tip: Check out what’s popular on Canva and see their top-rated designs to find some new inspiration.
Step 3: Create High-Quality, In-Demand Designs
How does one go about getting these elusive extra earnings? For starters, create designs that people actually want!
Hot Trends to Try:
Minimalist Templates: Clean, modern designs for social media.
Seasonal: Christmas graphics, Halloween, and other special event designs.
Business: Resume and cover letter templates, pitch decks, and all other marketing materials.
How to Find Trends:
Browse Canva’s library to see what’s popular.
Use Google Trends and social media for inspiration.
Keep an eye on what businesses and content creators need!
Design Tips for Success:
Use bright, eye-catching colors (Canva’s color tool helps!).
Keep it simple and easy to edit.
Ensure your designs are compatible for edits on mobile and laptop.
Step 4: Upload and Optimize Your Designs
Yes, upload your art to sell on canvas, but most importantly, you need to help people find your work.
How to Get More Downloads:
a. Use clear titles (e.g., “Modern Instagram Story Template”).
b. Add relevant tags (e.g., “summer design, social media post”).
c. Write a helpful description (e.g., “Fully customizable Canva template”).
d. Choose the right category so users can easily find your work.
The more optimized your system is, the more downloads you get = more profits!
Step 5: Earn and Get Paid!
Let’s move on to the best part: getting paid.
Canva pays you each time a someone uses your design.
You may sell free designs for visibility or premium priced ones for better returns.
How to Get Paid:
Canva has a minimum payout threshold (varies by region).
Payments are sent via PayPal, Skrill, Payoneer, or local options.
Track your earnings directly from your Canva Contributor dashboard.
How to Increase Sales and Maximize Earnings on Canva
Want to make extra money off your art on Canva? Follow these simple tips to increase sales and get a higher profit.
1. Keep Uploading New Designs
Canva loves active contributors! The more fresh content you upload, the better your chances of getting noticed.
Quick Tips:
✅ Batch Create: Design multiple templates in one session to save time.
✅ Plan Ahead: Upload seasonal designs early (e.g., Christmas templates in October).
2. Stand Out with High-Quality and Unique Designs
Forget the overused, generic templates—original designs sell better!
✔ Be Unique: Find gaps in Canva’s library (e.g., templates for real estate or fitness).
✔ Go High-Quality: Use clean layouts, sharp images, and editable elements so buyers can customize easily.
3. Use the Right Keywords for Better Visibility
Just like Google, Canva has a search system—use it to your advantage!
How to Get Found:
Add popular search terms like “modern Instagram templates” in your titles and tags.
Use Google Trends and Pinterest to find trending topics.
Write clear descriptions (e.g., “Easy-to-edit social media post for small businesses”).
4. Follow trends and seasonal opportunities
Trending designs = more sales!
Ideas to Try:
Holidays:
As mentioned earlier, Christmas cards, Halloween invites, New Year planners.
Industry Trends: AI-related designs, eco-friendly business templates.
Stay Updated: Follow Canva’s blog and social media for trend insights.
5. Promote Your Work and Get More Buyers
Don’t just rely on Canva’s marketplace—market your designs yourself!
How to Promote:
Pinterest: Pin your templates with catchy titles like “Free Canva Templates.”
Reddit and Forums: Share your work in design communities like r/Canva.
Collaborate: Partner with small influencers or offer exclusive designs to your followers.
Bonus Tips for Long-Term Success
Sell on multiple platforms like Etsy, Amazon, or Creative Market for extra income.
Check your analytics to see which designs perform best and create more of them.
Offer premium bundles to increase your earnings per sale.
FAQs About Selling Art on Canva
1. Can I sell art that I’ve already uploaded on other platforms?
✔ Yes! Canva does not require exclusivity, so you can sell your designs on sites like Etsy or Creative Market. Just make sure you own the rights to your work and avoid copyrighted elements.
2. How long does Canva take to approve designs?
✔ There’s no fixed time, but here’s a rough idea:
Contributors: Reviews can take a few days to weeks.
Canva Teams: Approvals usually happen in 2-3 business days.
3. What happens if my design gets rejected?
✔ Canva will tell you why, and you can fix and resubmit! Common reasons include:
Copyright Issues: Remove unlicensed elements.
Quality Problems: Improve resolution, colors, or composition.
4. Can I use Canva’s Brand Kits for my designs?
✔ Yes, but only if you’re part of a Canva Team. Brand Kits help with logos, fonts, and colors, but they’re not part of the Contributor Program.
5. How do I request design approval in Canva Teams?
✔ Click “Get Approval” in the editor, choose an approver, and wait for feedback. Admins can adjust settings under Brand Controls.
6. Can I promote my Canva portfolio on social media?
✔ Absolutely! Share links or images of your designs on Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter to get more exposure and sales.
Conclusion
When you choose to sell your art on Canva, it is a great way to make money from your creativity with little risk and big potential.
By following the steps—signing up, uploading quality designs, and optimizing for search—you can reach millions of users and earn passive income.
Whether you’re a pro artist or just starting, Canva makes the process easy by handling payments and licensing for you.
Focus on trendy, high-quality designs, use smart keywords, and don’t let rejections stop you—they’re just part of the learning process!
More than just a marketplace, Canva gives you a chance to build a creative career.
With consistency and creativity, you can turn your passion into profit.
So why wait? Start today and share your art with the world!