The Problem
Why teams leave Canva
Per-seat pricing for simple graphic creation
Brand controls limited to Teams/Enterprise
Content approval workflows only on Enterprise
Template lock-down requires higher tiers
Storage limits on lower plans
What We Build Instead
Your custom design & creative tool
Brand-controlled template system for your org
Drag-and-drop graphic creator with your brand assets
Content approval and publishing workflows
Template library with locked brand elements
Multi-format export for social, print, and web
Unlimited users without per-seat costs
The Math
Canva vs. custom build
Based on 50 seats at $10/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Canva
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 50 seats
-$30,950
-156% less than Canva
Pricing Breakdown
Canva tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Canva's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $10/mo | $10/mo | Unlimited designs, Brand Kit, 100 GB storage, Background remover |
| Teams | $10/mo | $10/mo | Brand controls, Team templates, Approval workflows, SSO (100+ seats) |
| Enterprise | $25/mo | $25/mo | Advanced brand controls, SSO/SCIM, Design approval, 24/7 support |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $25,000–$45,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Canva to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Canva in 6-10 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekAudit brand assets, templates, and team design workflows
Architecture & Design
1-2 weeksDesign brand template system with approval workflows
Core Development
3-5 weeksBuild template engine, brand asset library, and approval system
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksMigrate brand assets, templates, and test design workflows
Deployment & Training
1 weekLaunch platform and train teams on template creation
Total build time
6-10 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Canva features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Canva | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template-based Design | |||
| Brand Kit & Assets | |||
| Drag-and-drop Editor | |||
| Multi-format Export | |||
| Team Templates | |||
| Content Approval Workflows | |||
| Brand Controls & Lock Elements | |||
| Background Remover & Magic Tools | Integrate open-source AI image tools as needed | ||
| Stock Photo Library | Use dedicated stock photo services for better selection | ||
| Unlimited Users | No per-seat pricing for your entire org |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Canva offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Canva to ownership in 6-10 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Canva usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom design & creative tool with only the features you need. 6-10 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Canva, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.
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