Canva vs AuthoredUp
Canva
- Platform: Multi-platform design (social, web, print)
- Best For: Visual content creation and branding
- Strength: Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
- Users: 2011 brand
Starting at $12.99/month
AuthoredUp
- Platform: LinkedIn only
- Best For: LinkedIn content ideation and analytics
- Strength: Deep LinkedIn post optimization
- Users: 2011 professional
Starting at $12.46/month
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Platform Support
| Feature | Canva | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ Supports LinkedIn templates for visuals | ✓ Exclusive focus with native integration | |
| Multi-platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) | ✓ Templates for all major social platforms | ✗ LinkedIn-only |
| Print and Web Design | ✓ Full support for presentations, websites, print | ✗ Not supported |
| Video and Animation | ✓ Basic video editing and animations | ✗ Text-focused, no video tools |
Content Creation
| Feature | Canva | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop Editor | ✓ Visual editor for graphics and layouts | ✗ Text editor with formatting |
| Template Library | ✓ Thousands of templates for social, marketing | ✓ 300+ hooks, endings, CTAs for LinkedIn |
| AI-Powered Tools | ✓ Background remover, Magic Design | ✗ No native AI generation |
| Drafts and Snippets | ✗ Saves designs but no text snippets | ✓ Unlimited drafts and reusable copy blocks |
| Stock Media Library | ✓ Photos, videos, icons, audio | ✗ No media library |
Scheduling & Management
| Feature | Canva | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Content Calendar | ✗ Basic content planner in Pro | ✓ Centralized calendar for LinkedIn posts |
| Post Preview | ✓ Preview for designs | ✓ Live LinkedIn preview |
| Brand Kits | ✓ Manage logos, colors, fonts | ✗ Basic branding via snippets |
| Multi-Account Support | ✓ Team workspaces | ✓ Multiple LinkedIn profiles |
Analytics & Insights
| Feature | Canva | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Post Analytics | ✗ No built-in analytics | ✓ Impressions, engagement, growth timelines |
| Historical Post Analysis | ✗ Version history for designs | ✓ Saved-post analysis with filters and CSV export |
| Best Time Recommendations | ✗ Not available | ✓ Follower growth and optimal posting times |
| Content Reuse Suggestions | ✗ Magic Resize for formats | ✓ 1-click reuse of top-performing content |
Collaboration & Teams
| Feature | Canva | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time Collaboration | ✓ Commenting, shared folders | ✓ Draft collaboration for teams |
| Team Workspaces | ✓ For teams and organizations | ✓ Sub-accounts for teams and clients |
| Approval Workflows | ✗ Basic sharing and comments | ✗ Shared workflows in Business plan |
| Centralized Asset Management | ✓ Brand Kits and folders | ✓ Posts table and snippets |
Integrations & Accessibility
| Feature | Canva | AuthoredUp |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome Extension | ✗ Web, desktop, mobile apps | ✓ Extension for in-LinkedIn editing |
| Cross-Platform Access | ✓ Web, desktop, mobile | ✓ Web and Chrome extension |
| Export Options | ✓ Images, PDFs, videos, links | ✓ CSV export for analytics |
| AI Enhancements | ✓ Multiple AI tools | ✗ No AI, but template-based |
Pricing Comparison
Canva starts at $12.99/month with a generous free tier for visual design, while AuthoredUp starts at $12.46/month (yearly) focused on LinkedIn. Canva offers better value for multi-format creation, while AuthoredUp provides specialized LinkedIn tools at similar pricing.
Canva
Canva Free
Free
Beginners testing basic design
- Access to core Canva editor and basic design tools
- Thousands of free templates across multiple categories
- Hundreds of thousands of free photos and graphics
- Collaboration with basic sharing options
- Limited cloud storage for designs and uploads
Canva Pro (Monthly)
$12.99/month
Individuals needing premium assets
- Everything in Free plus premium templates and elements
- Brand Kit with logos, colors, and fonts
- Background remover and other advanced editing tools
- Magic Resize for adapting designs to multiple formats
- Increased cloud storage and upload limits
Canva Pro (Yearly)
$119.99/year
Cost-conscious creators
- All Canva Pro features at a discounted annual rate
- Full access to premium templates, photos, and graphics
- Brand Kit and brand controls for consistent visuals
- Advanced export options and content planner tools
- Higher storage limits than the Free plan
Canva for Teams (Monthly)
From $14.99/month
Small teams collaborating
- Everything in Pro plus multi‑seat licensing for teams
- Team workspaces and shared folders
- Advanced collaboration and approval workflows
- Additional brand controls and permissions
- Centralized asset management for teams
Canva for Teams (Yearly)
From $149.90/year
Teams seeking annual savings
- All Canva for Teams features with annual discount
- Shared Brand Kits and templates for teams
- Enhanced collaboration and commenting tools
- Centralized billing and user management
- Higher storage and usage limits for organizations
Canva for Education
Free
Teachers and students
- Access to premium features for eligible teachers and students
- Education‑specific templates and classroom resources
- Collaboration tools for group projects and assignments
- Branding options for school or class materials
- Integration with common classroom workflows
Canva for Nonprofits
Free
Nonprofit organizations
- Premium features for eligible nonprofit organizations
- Access to Pro‑level templates and elements
- Branding tools for campaigns and fundraising materials
- Collaboration for nonprofit teams and volunteers
- Increased storage compared to Free plan
AuthoredUp
Individual (Monthly)
$19.95/month
Solo LinkedIn users
- 1 LinkedIn profile connection included
- Full editor with text styling, bullet points, emojis, and preview
- Full Chrome extension and web platform access
- Unlimited drafts, snippets, and company pages
- 300+ hooks and post endings templates
- 1‑click post reuse from historical content
- Content analytics for posts and profile performance
Business (Monthly)
$14.95/month per profile
Teams managing multiple profiles
- Minimum 3 LinkedIn profiles
- Everything in the Individual plan
- Connect and manage multiple profiles in one organization
- AuthoredUp sub‑accounts for team members and clients
- Organization management for centralized control
- Team analytics across profiles
- Draft collaboration between team members
Individual (Yearly)
$16.63/month
Committed solo users
- 1 LinkedIn profile connection included
- Billed at $199.50 per year
- Full editor with formatting and preview
- Full extension and platform access
- Unlimited drafts, snippets, and company pages
- 300+ hooks and post endings
- Content analytics and performance insights
- Access to all saved posts in one place
Business (Yearly)
$12.46/month per profile
Scaling teams
- Minimum 3 LinkedIn profiles
- Billed at $149.50 per profile per year
- Everything in the yearly Individual plan
- Multi‑profile connection and management
- AuthoredUp sub‑accounts for teams and agencies
- Organization management for admins
- Team analytics and reporting
- Draft collaboration and shared workflows
Custom Growth Plan
Custom
Large agencies
- Fast‑tracked LinkedIn success for teams and agencies
- Personalized onboarding and setup
- Dedicated training sessions for teams
- Flexible invoicing options for procurement processes
- Custom offer tailored to team size and needs
Feature Deep Dive
Content Creation Capabilities
Canva
Strengths
- Drag-and-drop editor for graphics, videos, presentations
- Extensive template library and stock media
- AI tools like background remover and Magic Design
- Brand Kits for consistent visuals
- Magic Resize for multi-format adaptation
Workflow
Select template → Drag elements → Apply AI edits → Export or share
AuthoredUp
Strengths
- Rich text editor with bold, italics, bullets, emojis
- Unlimited drafts and snippets for reusable content
- 300+ hooks, endings, and CTA templates
- Live LinkedIn preview for optimization
- 1-click reuse of historical top performers
Workflow
Create draft → Use templates/snippet → Preview in LinkedIn → Save or schedule
Canva shines in visual content creation with templates and AI for graphics/videos across platforms. AuthoredUp excels in text-based LinkedIn posts with formatting and inspiration tools. Choose Canva for visuals, AuthoredUp for LinkedIn copywriting.
Scheduling & Management
Canva
Strengths
- Basic content planner in Pro
- Export/share designs directly to social
- Cross-platform access for on-the-go edits
Limitations
- No dedicated calendar or automation
- Focus on creation, not posting schedules
- No LinkedIn-specific scheduling
AuthoredUp
Strengths
- Centralized content calendar for posts
- Posts table with filters and tags
- Best time to post recommendations
- Direct scheduling to LinkedIn via extension
Limitations
- LinkedIn-only, no multi-platform
- No advanced automation like recurring posts
AuthoredUp offers stronger LinkedIn-specific scheduling and calendar tools. Canva lacks robust management but integrates well for visual exports. For LinkedIn planning, AuthoredUp wins; for broad design sharing, Canva suffices.
Analytics & Reporting
Canva
Strengths
- Version history and collaboration comments
- Basic usage insights in teams
- Export analytics not built-in
Limitations
- No social performance tracking
- Focus on design metrics only
AuthoredUp
Strengths
- In-depth analytics: impressions, engagement, growth
- Follower tracking and best times
- Historical posts analysis with CSV export
- Keyword/author filters for saved posts
Limitations
- LinkedIn-only insights
- No visual reporting dashboards
AuthoredUp provides deep LinkedIn analytics for post performance and optimization. Canva offers none for social metrics, focusing on design collaboration. For data-driven LinkedIn strategy, AuthoredUp is superior.
Use Case Comparison
Solo Visual Content Creator
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Intuitive tools for quick graphics and videos without design skills.
Best Plan: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Poor
Lacks visual design; text-only for LinkedIn.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
Building LinkedIn Personal Brand
Canva
Good
Great for visuals to enhance posts, but no text tools or analytics.
Best Plan: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Score: 7/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Tailored editor, templates, and analytics for consistent LinkedIn growth.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 10/10
Small Business Marketing Team
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Versatile for multi-channel visuals, branding, and team collaboration.
Best Plan: Canva for Teams ($14.99/month)
Score: 9/10
AuthoredUp
Fair
Useful for LinkedIn but ignores other platforms.
Best Plan: Business Yearly ($12.46/month per profile)
Score: 5/10
B2B Sales Team on LinkedIn
Canva
Fair
Visuals for posts, but no analytics or content reuse.
Best Plan: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Score: 5/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Analytics, reuse suggestions, and multi-profile support for sales content.
Best Plan: Business ($14.95/month per profile)
Score: 9/10
Influencer Managing Multiple Platforms
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Templates and exports for all social formats.
Best Plan: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Poor
LinkedIn-only, no multi-platform support.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 1/10
Nonprofit Organization Branding
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Free premium access, branding tools for campaigns.
Best Plan: Canva for Nonprofits (Free)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Fair
LinkedIn focus helps professional networking, but limited scope.
Best Plan: Individual ($19.95/month)
Score: 4/10
Educator Creating Classroom Materials
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Presentations, templates, free for education.
Best Plan: Canva for Education (Free)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Poor
Not suited for educational visuals or non-LinkedIn.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
Agency Managing LinkedIn for Clients
Canva
Good
Team collaboration for visuals, but no LinkedIn analytics.
Best Plan: Canva for Teams ($14.99/month)
Score: 6/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Sub-accounts, team analytics, multi-profile for clients.
Best Plan: Business Yearly ($12.46/month per profile)
Score: 9/10
Startup Without In-House Designer
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Easy for non-designers to create professional visuals.
Best Plan: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Score: 10/10
AuthoredUp
Fair
Helps with LinkedIn posts, but no design capabilities.
Best Plan: Individual ($19.95/month)
Score: 5/10
Consultant Repurposing Content
Canva
Good
Resize designs for reuse across formats.
Best Plan: Canva Pro ($12.99/month)
Score: 7/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Snippets, historical reuse, and analysis for LinkedIn.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 9/10
Budget-Conscious Content Creator
Canva 🏆
Excellent
Robust free tier with many features.
Best Plan: Canva Free
Score: 9/10
AuthoredUp
Good
Trial available, but no free ongoing use.
Best Plan: Individual Yearly ($16.63/month)
Score: 6/10
Professional Analyzing LinkedIn Performance
Canva
Poor
No analytics tools.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 1/10
AuthoredUp 🏆
Excellent
Deep insights, CSV exports, pattern uncovering.
Best Plan: Business ($14.95/month per profile)
Score: 10/10
Pros and Cons
Canva
Pros
- Very easy to use, even for non‑designers
- Huge library of templates and stock media across many formats
- Strong Brand Kit and collaboration features for teams
- Cross‑platform access via web, desktop, and mobile apps
- AI‑powered tools speed up common editing tasks
- Generous free tier and special plans for education/nonprofits
- Versatile for social, marketing, presentations, and more
Cons
- Limited compared to professional design suites for complex projects
- Asset organization and version control can be challenging at scale
- Heavy reliance on templates can lead to similar‑looking designs
- Advanced export and print workflows are less robust than specialist tools
- Some features and content are locked behind paid plans
- No built-in social analytics or scheduling
AuthoredUp
Pros
- Purpose‑built for LinkedIn, with features tailored to the platform’s nuances
- Powerful editor with formatting, readability, and preview directly in LinkedIn
- Unlimited drafts, snippets, and hooks make content ideation and reuse easier
- Deep analytics and dashboards with CSV export for advanced analysis
- Saved‑post analysis and historical posts help you study and repurpose winning content
- Chrome extension for seamless in-platform workflow
- Supports multiple LinkedIn company pages under one profile
Cons
- Feature‑rich interface can feel complex for users who only need basic posting
- No native AI post generator, so drafting still relies on user input and templates
- Chrome‑centric experience may be limiting for users on other browsers without extensions
- Pricing is per profile for business plans, which can add up for large teams
- Focused only on LinkedIn, so it is not suitable if you need multi‑platform scheduling
- No visual design or media tools
Final Verdict
Canva and AuthoredUp target different aspects of social media management. Canva is a versatile design platform ideal for creating visuals across channels, with strong collaboration. AuthoredUp is a niche tool for LinkedIn, excelling in text content, drafting, and analytics to drive professional growth.
Choose Canva for visual-heavy, multi-platform needs where design is central. Opt for AuthoredUp if LinkedIn content creation and insights are your priority. For LinkedIn visuals, pair Canva with AuthoredUp for comprehensive workflow.
Overall Scores
Canva
LinkedIn Focus: 6/10
Content Creation: 9/10
Multi-Platform: 10/10
Value: 9/10
AuthoredUp
LinkedIn Focus: 10/10
Content Creation: 8/10
Multi-Platform: 1/10
Value: 8/10
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