At Canva Create 2025, Canva expanded its offerings into new areas: AI-powered tools, enterprise features, and, for the first time, tools for developers. Some of the biggest updates included improvements to Magic Media, AI video editing, real-time collaboration, and a new suite for brand management. But the biggest surprise was Canva Code, which adds a code editor to Canva’s drag-and-drop design tool. With Canva Code, designers and developers can work together more easily. You can design something visually and then edit its code directly. This reflects a larger trend: low-code and no-code tools are making coding more accessible to everyone, not just developers or designers.
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What is Canva Code?
Canva Code is a built-in code editor inside Canva that lets you edit the logic, structure, and behavior of your app or design using familiar languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It doesn’t just generate boilerplate code from your design, you can manually fine-tune layouts, connect APIs, and add interactivity. Think of it as a fusion of Figma’s Dev Mode, Webflow’s visual-to-code philosophy, and a lightweight VS Code environment, all inside Canva’s interface.
How is it Different from Just Exporting Code?
Traditional design tools allow export to HTML/CSS, but Canva Code is:
- Editable inside Canva itself
- Live-updated — no need to export, edit elsewhere, and re-import
- Integrated with other Canva AI tools
- Deployable directly via Canva-hosted experiences (coming soon)
This positions Canva not just as a design tool, but as a full-stack creation platform.
Key Features
After designing a page or interface, you can open the Code tab and:
- See the auto-generated code
- Edit HTML/CSS directly
- Add JavaScript functions
- Integrate APIs
Changes are reflected live in your design. You can export the project or embed it directly into a website or app. It also supports component-level editing with class naming conventions and state logic.
Canva Code Users
It’s particularly valuable for startups, solopreneurs, and educators who need design, logic, and deployment in a single platform. Canva Code is for hybrid users:
- Designers who want control over interactions and responsiveness
- Developers who want to prototype fast
- Teams looking to streamline design-to-dev handoff
How Canva Code Uses AI?
Canva leverages AI to:
- Auto-generate responsive layouts
- Recommend code improvements
- Convert designs into semantic, accessible HTML
- Help debug issues via natural language prompts
It blends the intuitiveness of ChatGPT-like coding help with the structure of a visual editor.
How to Use Canva Code?
Follow these steps to code with Canva:
- Launch Canva
Open Canva on your browser or mobile app and log into your account.
- Access Canva Code
Use the search bar or sidebar to navigate to Canva AI. Click on “Code for me” to initiate a coding prompt experience.
- Enter Your Text Prompt
Type what you want to build, e.g., “Create a pricing calculator for my services” or “Build a drag-and-drop quiz for kids.” Include details like theme, functionality, or color palette for best results.
- Refine with Prompts
Didn’t get it right the first time? You can continue the AI chat to tweak the widget. Ask Canva Code to adjust layout, change behavior, or improve styling.
- Integrate and Share
Once you’re satisfied, use the “Use in a design” button to add your widget into other Canva designs. You can also publish it as a standalone site or export the code.
Building Applications with Canva Code
Currently, access to this coding feature is limited to a select group of users. Below are some examples of how people are leveraging these features to their advantage
1. Flash Card Game for 2nd Grade Students
Prompt: “I would like to create a flash card game for addition and subtraction facts for 2nd grade students.”
Source: X (Coleman Brown)
2. To-do App
Prompt: “Build me a to-do list app with a fun UI”
Source: X(@mikeagonz)
3. Price Calculator
Prompt: “I want to create a custom calculator that helps clients understand the different prices I charge for my illustration work.“
Source: X (Adam)
Canva Code vs Windsurf vs Cursor
| Feature | Canva Code | Windsurf | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in to design tool | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| AI Code Suggestions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Visual-to-code editing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Full IDE capabilities | ❌ Light | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Collaboration-first | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Targets designers | ✅ Primary | ❌ Developer-first | ❌ Developer-first |
| Deployment | ⏳ Coming soon | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Also Read:
Other Features Introduced at Canva Create 2025
At Canva Create 2025, several exciting features and updates were introduced, enhancing the platform’s design capabilities and expanding its reach. Here’s a rundown of the key announcements:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Real-time Collaboration | Canva introduced enhanced team collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on the same design in real time, making teamwork smoother than ever. |
| 3D Design & Animation Tools | They added new 3D design capabilities, giving users the ability to create immersive, dynamic content. The integration of animation features enables a seamless transition from static designs to interactive visuals. |
| Improved Brand Management | The Brand Hub now allows businesses to manage logos, colors, and fonts, creating a more consistent and cohesive brand experience across designs. |
| Extended Template Library | A massive expansion in templates, ranging from professional presentations to social media graphics, making it easier for users to find the right style for any project. |
| Canva Video Suite | Video editing got a major upgrade with features that make it easier to trim, cut, and layer video clips, add music, and more, making it a complete video creation tool. |
| Canva Assistant | An AI-powered design assistant that offers helpful tips and suggestions as you design, acting as a smart guide throughout the creative process. |
End Note
Canva Code marks a bold shift in how we think about design and development workflows. It bridges a gap that has long existed between what looks good and what functions well. In a world where AI agents are co-building with us, tools like Canva Code are giving power back to the hybrid creator, the one who designs and ships. And as design tools become coding tools, the line between no-code and full-code just got a lot blurrier. Whether you’re a solo creator or a full-stack dev looking for rapid prototyping, Canva Code is worth a test drive.
Hello, I am Nitika, a tech-savvy Content Creator and Marketer. Creativity and learning new things come naturally to me. I have expertise in creating result-driven content strategies. I am well versed in SEO Management, Keyword Operations, Web Content Writing, Communication, Content Strategy, Editing, and Writing.
