Canva walks back controversial price hike

Popular graphics platform Canva is walking back its controversial price hike which hiked subscription prices as much as three times. In early September, Canva warned customers some plans would see a substantial price increase. Canva Teams, for example, lept from $180 per year to $500. The move was met with considerable backlash on social media, despite the company justifying the hike due to its ongoing investment in AI technology.

In a blog post, Canva rolled back one aspect of its unpopular price hikes as part of what it calls a “Pricing Promise” moving forward. Canva doesn’t apologize but does say it will make two changes to its pricing structure. First, it is re-starting the pricing it gave to early Canva Teams adopters (which was discontinued in April) and making the promise to be more transparent about its pricing decisions moving forward.

In April, Canva discontinued a pricing plan that allowed Canva Teams members — early adopters of that tier — to add up to four extra seats at no additional cost.

“We had planned to gradually transition existing Canva Teams subscribers to our current standard pricing of $10/month per person starting at three people, reflecting the expanded value of our product over the past four years,” Canva says. “Listening to our community is an incredibly important part of our DNA, and we understand this change may have felt too sudden for some, especially early adopters on our old pricing model. Our community is at the heart of every decision we make, and today, as a special thank you to our early Canva Teams users for their loyalty and continued support, we’re pleased to maintain their original pricing for their current team. They’ll continue enjoying their current rate, with no action needed on their part.”

The company outlined its “Pricing Promise”

• Always Affordable: Whether through our premium plans or free product for individuals, nonprofits, and schools, we’re committed to continuing to invest in a range of affordable plans for everyone.
  
• Value-Packed: As Canva grows, so does your toolkit. We’re committed to delivering more value by continuously investing in thoughtful features and improvements, ensuring you get the best experience for your money.
  
• Advance and Transparent Notice: We’ll always provide at least 60 days’ notice of any price changes, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan ahead.
  
• Fair Regional Pricing: We offer accessible prices that reflect local economic conditions, ensuring Canva stays affordable for everyone, everywhere.
  
• No Hidden Fees: What you see is what you get. We’re committed to clear, straightforward pricing with no hidden costs.

Canva isn’t changing its pricing model for new users; the change is only meant to appease current customers.