Starts atFreemium; Pro US$144/yr per person
- Free plan
- Free trialfree trial of Pro or Business
- No watermark on free exports
Head-to-head
Kapwing vs Canva: which one should you edit short videos in?
At a glance
Starts atFree plan · paid from $16/mo
- Free plan
- Watermark on free exports
Canva is a design tool with a basic video editor and thousands of templates. Free video exports have no watermark, at up to 1080p. Kapwing is a video editor first, with AI subtitles and repurposing. Its free plan adds a watermark and caps exports at 4 minutes and 720p. Kapwing Pro is $16/month.
Quick verdict
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Canva | Kapwing |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Design, with basic video | Online video editing |
| Free plan | Yes: free templates and tools | Yes: 720p, watermark, 4 min max, 30 min/month |
| Free watermark | No (our tool data) | Yes |
| Paid plan | Pro: US$144/year for one person (about $12/month) | Pro: $16/month, 1,000 credits, 4K, 120 min exports |
| Higher plan | Business: US$250/year per person | Business: $50/month, 4,000 credits |
| Max export | 1080p (our tool data) | Pro: 4K |
| Commercial use | Yes (our tool data) | Not on the pricing page (Oct 2026) |
| Best for | Thumbnails and branded graphics | Captioned edits and repurposing |
For Shorts, TikTok and Reels
Canva is quick for text-on-screen videos and templates. It is weaker for cutting long footage. Kapwing handles trimming, subtitles (10 free minutes) and resizing one video for several platforms.
How to choose
- If you mostly design, stay in Canva.
- If you cut talking videos or add captions daily, test Kapwing.
- Note Kapwing Free's watermark before posting.
- Kapwing offers no free trial of paid plans, so test on Free.
Common questions
Is Kapwing free?
Yes, with a watermark, 720p exports and a 4-minute max length.
Does Canva add a watermark to videos?
Free Canva video exports have no watermark in our data. Premium elements may need Pro.
Is Kapwing better than Canva for video?
For editing footage and captions, yes. For templates and design, Canva.
Related: CapCut vs Kapwing, Kapwing vs VEED, Kapwing alternatives.
Sources: kapwing.com/pricing, canva.com/pricing. Canva prices are US prices from canva.com/pricing (checked 16 Oct 2026). Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.