Canva deepens commitment to South Africa with local team

Communication platform Canva has announced a bold expansion of its investment in South Africa, accelerating its mission to make design accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Canva, which has surpassed $3.5 billion in annual revenue and now celebrates reaching 260 million monthly active users globally, marks a major milestone in its mission to empower the world to design.

Top users in SA

The design company said over 77 million designs were created by South Africans this year alone, showcasing the nation’s growing creativity and entrepreneurial energy.

“Among the top uses of Canva in South Africa are posters, presentations, and Instagram posts, highlighting how users bring their ideas to life across diverse formats.

“South African’s most used AI tools, including Canva AI and Magic Write, continue to make the creative process faster, smarter, and more accessible for everyone,” Canva said.

Empowerment

Duncan Clark, Head of EMEA, Canva said their mission has always been to empower the world to design, and that includes unlocking opportunity where it matters most.

“Africa is home to extraordinary creativity, energy, and potential, and we’re proud to deepen our commitment on the ground. Whether it’s teachers in South Africa, students in Kenya, or creators in Nigeria, we’re here to help local communities design, earn, and learn in ways that make sense for them.”

SA team

Canva now has a dedicated South African team of nine, operating from a new regional office at AfricaWorks in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

The company this investment represents a key step in its broader Africa strategy, which combines local insight with global technology to empower users across education, small business, and the creator economy.

Languages

As part of its localisation efforts, Canva has expanded to nearly 20 African languages, from Swahili and isiZulu to Hausa and Afrikaans.

Canva said users in South Africa can now access curated design showcases celebrating key cultural and commercial moments, such as Black Friday, Wedding Season, and WhatsApp Starter Packs for small businesses.

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Business kits

The platform has also launched Pocket Business Kits, offering ready-made templates for solopreneurs and SMBs

Canva also introduced new collections of templates that celebrate local holidays, storytelling, and visual culture — from digital invitations to social posts and event flyers

Beyond South Africa, Canva has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia, and integrated with Snapplify’s authentication technology, enabling access for more than 800,000 learners and 100,000 teachers across the continent.

Competition

To celebrate South Africa’s growing creator community, Canva has launched the Canva Africa Design Challenge — an open call for designers to create templates that help small businesses, freelancers, and solopreneurs level up their visual identity.

Winners will receive a share of US$10,000, 1:1 mentorship with Canva designers, exclusive merchandise, and the opportunity to have their templates published on Canva for millions to use.

Premium

While there is a free version of Canva, the company has introduced local currency pricing across South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, for the paid version, helping users avoid foreign exchange fees and pay in familiar amounts.

In Kenya and Nigeria, users can now subscribe to daily and weekly Canva Pro plans, offering affordable short-term access to premium features

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