Canva – Easy Book Cover Design Templates for Authors

Canva is a fast, beginner-friendly design tool for authors who need professional book covers, KDP graphics, and marketing visuals without hiring a designer. Use the drag-and-drop editor, thousands of book-cover templates, and free stock assets to create ebook and paperback covers, A+ Content, ads, and social posts in minutes — on desktop or mobile.

Canva – Online Book Cover Design & Publishing Tool
Highlights

Why Authors Love Canva

  • 🎨
    Drag-and-Drop Editor – Design professional book covers, social media graphics, and marketing materials with ease.
  • 📚
    Book Cover Templates – Choose from hundreds of ready-made layouts for ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers.
  • 💻
    Cross-Platform Access – Work seamlessly on desktop, iOS, or Android — your projects are synced everywhere.
  • ✍️
    Custom Fonts & Styles – Upload your own fonts or pick from Canva’s extensive library to match your author brand.
  • 📷
    Free Stock Photos – Access millions of free and premium images to make your designs stand out.
  • 🤝
    Collaboration Tools – Share projects with editors, co-authors, or designers for instant feedback and teamwork.

Pricing

Canva is free to use, with a Canva Pro plan at $14/month for advanced features. Pricing may change, so always check the latest details on their site.

Last checked: August 2025

💲 Check Latest Pricing

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop editor
  • Large library of book cover templates and stock assets
  • Print-ready PDF export with bleed and crop marks
  • Affordable Pro plan with premium fonts, photos, and brand kits

Cons

  • Less precise than pro tools like Adobe InDesign
  • Some premium assets require a Pro subscription
  • Limited control over spine alignment for complex covers — consider Atticus

Canva FAQ

Is Canva good for book covers?

Yes. Canva offers thousands of book cover templates, easy image/text tools, and export options sized for KDP and other platforms.

Can I export print‑ready PDFs with bleed and crop marks?

Yes. Use Download → PDF Print and enable “Crop marks & bleed” to create a printer‑friendly PDF.

Does Canva support custom trim sizes and spine widths?

Yes. Create a design with custom dimensions and set the canvas to your exact trim size. For paperbacks, you can align front, spine, and back on a single spread using guides.

Can I use Canva commercially for my book cover?

Yes. You can use your designs commercially. Check individual asset licenses (fonts, photos, elements) to ensure they’re allowed for commercial use.

What’s the difference between Free and Pro?

Free includes core editor features and many templates. Pro unlocks brand kits, premium templates/photos, background remover, and time‑saving tools for publishing workflows.

🚀 Try Canva

Other Top tools for Authors in category

BookBrush — Book Cover & Ad Design for Authors

BookBrush — Book Cover & Ad Design for Authors

BookBrush helps authors design book covers, 3D mockups, trailers, and social ads fast. Use genre templates, Instant Mockups, and background removal to create KDP-ready visuals for launches and ongoing marketing.

Procreate — Illustration & Cover Design for Authors

Procreate — Illustration & Cover Design for Authors

Procreate is an iPad drawing app for book illustrations and cover art. Sketch, ink, and paint with Apple Pencil, CMYK profiles, and PSD/PDF/PNG/TIFF exports—great for KDP interiors, covers, and promos.