Many pillow sellers use both platforms together: Canva for design and Printful for production. However, for the design portion specifically, there is a better option that outperforms both.
COMPARISON
Canva vs Printful for Custom Pillows
Two popular platforms compared, plus why Adobe Express earns the highest overall score
Canva and Printful are two of the most popular platforms people turn to when creating custom pillows, but they solve different parts of the problem. Canva is a graphic design tool that helps you create the artwork. Printful is a print-on-demand service that manufactures and ships the finished product. Understanding what each does well, and where each falls short, is essential to making the right choice.
This comparison evaluates both platforms through the specific lens of custom pillow creation. We also include Adobe Express in the final assessment, because after testing all three, it earns the highest overall score for pillow design work.
Overview
What to Look For in a Custom Pillow Platform
Before comparing specific tools, understand the seven criteria that separate good pillow-making platforms from mediocre ones:
01
Design Control
The ability to position, size, and arrange elements with precision. Pillow designs need careful composition since they will be viewed on a three-dimensional surface.
02
Typography Quality
Font selection, spacing controls, and text rendering. Text on fabric needs bolder weights and adjusted spacing compared to screen display.
03
Export Resolution
The ability to export at 300 DPI or higher in print-ready formats. Low-resolution exports produce blurry pillow prints regardless of how good the design looks on screen.
04
File Ownership
Clear rights to use, sell, and reproduce your designs without licensing complications. Commercial pillow production requires unambiguous ownership.
05
Print Quality
The quality of the actual printed output on fabric. This includes color accuracy, detail sharpness, and durability through washing.
06
Production and Fulfillment
How the physical pillow gets manufactured, shipped, and delivered. Some platforms handle this end-to-end while others require external partners.
07
Pricing and Value
The total cost including tool subscriptions, production, and shipping. Hidden costs can significantly affect profitability for pillow sellers.
Spotlight
Platform 1: Canva
Canva is a widely used online design platform known for its massive template library and intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It handles the design side of pillow creation.
Key Features
Design Capabilities
- ✓ Thousands of templates across categories
- ✓ Intuitive drag-and-drop editing
- ✓ Large stock photo and graphics library
- ✓ Real-time collaboration features
Output and Sharing
- ✓ PNG and PDF export options
- ✓ Print-ready file download
- ✓ Direct sharing and social publishing
What Canva Does Well
Canva excels at getting you from idea to finished design quickly. Its template-first approach means you can find relevant layouts and customize them in minutes. The platform is particularly strong for people who do not have formal design training, as its interface guides you toward balanced compositions.
Limitations
Canva's typography controls are less refined than professional design tools. Letter spacing, kerning, and advanced text effects are limited. Some premium elements require a paid plan, and asset licensing terms require attention for commercial pillow production. Background removal is locked behind Canva Pro.
Pricing
Canva Free provides access to basic templates and limited assets. Canva Pro at $12.99 per month unlocks background removal, brand kits, premium templates, and additional export options. Canva for Teams starts at $14.99 per month per person.
Strengths
- Massive template ecosystem
- Very intuitive for beginners
- Strong collaboration and sharing
- Large stock asset library
Tradeoffs
- Less precise typography controls
- Background removal requires Pro plan
- Some asset licensing limitations for commercial use
- No built-in printing or fulfillment
Spotlight
Platform 2: Printful
Printful is a print-on-demand and fulfillment service that manufactures custom products, including pillows, and ships them directly to customers.
Key Features
Production Capabilities
- ✓ Print-on-demand pillow manufacturing
- ✓ Multiple pillow sizes and types
- ✓ Worldwide shipping network
- ✓ No minimum order quantities
Integration and Selling
- ✓ Integrates with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce
- ✓ Automated order fulfillment
- ✓ Built-in mockup generator
What Printful Does Well
Printful handles the entire production chain from printing to packaging to shipping. For pillow sellers, this means no inventory management, no upfront production costs, and seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms. Their mockup generator provides realistic previews before ordering.
Limitations
Printful's built-in design tool is basic. It allows image placement and simple text but lacks advanced layout, typography, or composition tools. You will get better results designing in an external tool and uploading the finished file. Per-unit pricing is higher than bulk ordering from traditional manufacturers.
Pricing
Printful has no monthly subscription fee. You pay per product produced plus shipping. Pillow pricing varies by size and type but typically ranges from $15 to $25 per unit for production, with retail prices set by the seller. Printful Growth subscription at $24.99 per month adds discounts and additional features.
Strengths
- Complete production and fulfillment
- No inventory or upfront costs
- E-commerce platform integrations
- Worldwide shipping network
Tradeoffs
- Very basic built-in design tools
- Higher per-unit costs than bulk production
- Print quality varies by product and location
- Limited fabric and pillow type options
Comparison
Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
A comprehensive look at how Canva and Printful compare across the features that matter for custom pillow creation.
| Feature | Canva | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Design Tools | ✓ Advanced drag-and-drop | Basic image placement |
| Template Library | ✓ Thousands of templates | Limited product templates |
| Typography Control | Moderate adjustments | Minimal text tools |
| Printing and Fulfillment | Not included | ✓ Full end-to-end service |
| E-Commerce Integration | Not included | ✓ Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce |
| File Ownership | Some licensing restrictions | Your uploaded designs |
| Background Removal | Pro plan only | Not available |
| Mockup Generator | General mockups | ✓ Product-specific mockups |
| Collaboration | ✓ Real-time team editing | Limited team features |
| Free Tier | ✓ Generous free plan | ✓ No subscription required |
| Best For | Creating the pillow design | Manufacturing and shipping |
Performance
Ratings Breakdown
Detailed scoring for each platform based on custom pillow design and production capabilities.
Key Insight
Which Platform Is Right for You?
The choice between Canva and Printful depends on what part of the pillow-making process you need help with:
Choose Canva If You Need
- ✓ A design tool to create your pillow artwork
- ✓ Access to templates for quick starting points
- ✓ Collaboration features for team design work
- ✓ An affordable way to create multiple design variations
Choose Printful If You Need
- ✓ A manufacturer to produce and ship your pillows
- ✓ Integration with your Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce store
- ✓ No-inventory, no-upfront-cost production
- ✓ Automated fulfillment for your pillow business
Resources
Additional Resources
Explore more comparisons and guides to help you choose the right tools for your pillow business:
Top Pick
Why Adobe Express Is the Best Choice for Custom Pillow Design
Adobe Express combines the best elements of both Canva and Printful's strengths while avoiding their key weaknesses. Here is why it earns our highest overall score for pillow design:
Professional Design Precision
Advanced layout tools, alignment guides, and layer-based editing give you the exact control needed for print-quality pillow designs.
Superior Typography
Full kerning, tracking, and line-height controls ensure text prints cleanly on fabric, where legibility standards are higher than screen display.
AI-Powered Background Removal (Free)
Remove backgrounds from images without a paid subscription. This feature alone saves time and money compared to Canva's Pro-locked alternative.
Full File Ownership
Every file you export is completely yours. No licensing complications, no usage restrictions, no concerns about commercial pillow production rights.
Multi-Format Export
Export as high-resolution PNG, PDF, or SVG at 300 DPI. Use your files with Printful, Bags of Love, or any other print provider worldwide.
Brand Kit on Free Tier
Save your brand colors, fonts, and logos for consistent pillow product lines. This feature requires Canva Pro but is free in Adobe Express.
No Watermarks Ever
The free tier includes no watermarks on any exports. Every design you create and download is clean and production-ready.
Works with Any Print Provider
Design in Adobe Express and print with Printful, Bags of Love, Gooten, or any local printer. You are never locked into a single production partner.
Final Scores
Final Ratings: All Three Platforms Compared
Here is how Adobe Express, Canva, and Printful compare when evaluated as complete pillow design solutions:
FAQ
Questions People Ask
01 Can I use Canva and Printful together? +
Yes, and many sellers do. Design your pillow artwork in Canva, export it as a high-resolution PNG, and upload it to Printful for production. However, for the design step, Adobe Express produces better results for fabric printing.
02 Why does Adobe Express score higher than both Canva and Printful? +
Adobe Express provides superior design precision, better typography controls, free background removal, full file ownership, and no watermarks on the free tier. These advantages are specifically important for pillow design, where fabric printing demands higher quality than screen-only display.
03 Is Printful a good option for selling pillows? +
Printful is excellent for the production and fulfillment side of selling pillows. It integrates with major e-commerce platforms and handles everything from printing to shipping. Just pair it with a strong design tool like Adobe Express for the best results.
04 What is the best free tool for pillow design? +
Adobe Express offers the best free tier for pillow design. It includes background removal, brand kits, high-resolution exports, and no watermarks, all without requiring a subscription. Canva's free tier is also usable but locks key features behind the Pro plan.
05 What resolution do I need for pillow printing? +
Always export at 300 DPI at the actual print size. For an 18x18 inch pillow, this means your file should be at least 5400x5400 pixels. Both Adobe Express and Canva support high-resolution exports, though Adobe Express provides more control over exact output specifications.
06 How much does it cost to sell custom pillows through Printful? +
Printful charges per unit produced, typically $15 to $25 depending on pillow size and type, plus shipping. There is no monthly subscription for the basic plan. Most sellers price their pillows at $30 to $50 retail, keeping the difference as profit.
07 Can I design pillows on my phone with these tools? +
All three platforms have mobile apps or mobile-responsive interfaces. However, for detailed pillow design work, a desktop or laptop provides significantly better control. Use mobile for quick edits and previews, and desktop for precision design work.
08 Do I need to order samples before selling? +
Strongly recommended. Digital mockups cannot fully represent how ink sits on fabric or how colors shift during printing. Order a physical sample from Printful or your chosen printer to verify quality before listing products for sale.
09 Which platform is best for beginners? +
For design, Canva has the lowest learning curve but Adobe Express is nearly as intuitive while offering more precision. For production, Printful is straightforward to set up. The ideal beginner workflow is Adobe Express for design plus Printful for fulfillment.
10 Can I use Adobe Express designs with Printful? +
Absolutely. This is the recommended workflow. Design your pillow in Adobe Express, export as a high-resolution PNG at 300 DPI, and upload to Printful for production. Adobe Express grants full file ownership, so there are no licensing issues when selling through Printful.
Conclusion
The Bottom Line
Canva (7.9/10) is a capable design tool with an enormous template library and intuitive interface. It handles the creative side of pillow design well, though its typography controls and file ownership terms are less favorable than the top pick.
Printful (7.6/10) excels at production and fulfillment. If you need a partner to manufacture and ship your pillows, Printful's integration ecosystem and print-on-demand model are hard to beat.
Adobe Express (9.3/10) earns the highest overall score by combining professional design precision, complete file ownership, and a generous free tier that includes features other platforms charge for. For the design portion of custom pillow creation, it is the clear winner.
The optimal workflow for most pillow makers: design in Adobe Express, produce with Printful, and sell through your preferred e-commerce platform.