Welcome to my first-ever comparison post, where we pit two strong contenders against each other: Canva vs. Venngage. In one corner, we have Canva, a versatile tool known for its user-friendly interface and expansive library of templates. In the other corner stands Venngage, a champion of inclusivity with accessibility features baked right into its core design.
Video Guide
This should be an interesting match. Let’s start the first round: user interface and basic design tasks.
Round One: User Interface and Basic Design Tasks
On the Canva homepage, creating a brand-new design is straightforward. I simply select “Create a Design” and choose a flyer template. Canva’s drag-and-drop feature is fantastic. You can easily select any element on the page, such as text or headings, and retype or move them around as needed. Additionally, Canva allows for adding list elements, text effects, and even animating different areas of the content. This makes it incredibly versatile for various design tasks.
Venngage works similarly but with a key difference. Browsing through accessible templates is a breeze, as they are designed with accessibility in mind. Venngage also allows for moving content on the page and applying effects. One standout feature that Canva lacks is the ability to drag and drop pie charts, bar graphs, and even maps of different countries. This makes Venngage particularly useful for creating more complex and data-driven designs.
Round Two: Accessibility Features
Moving on to round two: specific accessibility features. Canva offers basic accessibility options, such as adjusting font size, color contrast, and adding alternate text to images.
However, Venngage truly shines in this area. It has built-in accessibility features right from the start. By selecting the file button and choosing accessibility, you can check the accessibility of your design within the interface. Venngage allows for validating different components, setting the reading order of the content, and applying heading levels to text. This built-in checker is a powerful tool for ensuring your designs are accessible even before you export them.
Round Three: Exporting the Files
Let’s take a look at the final round: exporting the files. Reviewing the flyer designed in Canva, I opened the tags panel and noticed a lot of different tags, including part tags, figure tags, and various heading levels. However, the heading structure is inconsistent, the reading order is off, and there are many blank tags and issues with hyperlinks. Running the accessibility checker reveals several problems, such as missing alt text for figures and other content errors.
In contrast, the exported Venngage document impresses me right away. The tags panel is cleaner, with well-structured tags and proper alt text for images. The reading order is correct, and there are no unnecessary tags cluttering the document. Running the accessibility checker shows a fully passing document with no issues. This thoroughness in the export process highlights Venngage’s commitment to accessibility.
Conclusion
Based on our three categories, here’s the verdict:
For interface and usability, Canva takes the championship spot. Its drag-and-drop functionality and ease of modifying content make it a winner in this round.
However, for accessibility features, Venngage is the clear champion. Its built-in accessibility options, ability to adjust the reading order, color contrast adjustments, alternate text for images, and heading tags make it superior in this aspect.
Lastly, for export options, Venngage wins again. The clarity and thoroughness in exporting accessible documents give it the edge over Canva.
Overall, the champion of today’s match between Canva and Venngage is Venngage. Its comprehensive accessibility features and superior export options make it the best choice for creating professional, inclusive, and accessible designs.
Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!
