Looka vs Canva for Logos (2026): Which One Should You Use?

Both tools will give you a logo in ten minutes. They're built for completely different jobs, though, and the difference that catches people out isn't price — it's what you're allowed to do with the result.

The short version: Canva is a general design editor where a logo is one of a thousand things you can make. Looka is a logo-specific tool that generates options for you. If you're going to register a trademark, read the licensing section below before you pick either one.

The short answer

Pricing structures verified July 2026. Check each site for current numbers.

How they actually differ

1. A design editor vs. a logo tool

Canva hands you a canvas and a huge template library. You're the designer — you pick a layout, swap the icon, change the font. That's freedom if you enjoy it, and a blank-page problem if you don't.

Looka asks you a handful of questions about your industry and style preferences, then generates a wall of finished options. You're a curator, not a designer.

Neither is better. It depends on whether you want to make design decisions.

2. What you pay, and when

This is where the two models genuinely diverge:

• Canva is a subscription. The free tier is generous and you can absolutely make and export a logo on it. But the moment you need SVG export, brand kits, or the premium element library, you're on a recurring monthly or yearly plan. Stop paying and you lose access to those features.
• Looka is one-time, but tiered. $20 gets you a PNG. $65 gets you the vector files. No recurring charge for the logo itself — though its separate Brand Kit is a yearly subscription. We broke this down in detail in Looka pricing explained.

Rough guide: if you only ever need one logo and nothing else, Looka's one-time fee is cheaper over time. If you're producing social posts, decks, and flyers every week anyway, Canva's subscription earns its keep on everything besides the logo.

3. The vector file

Both make you pay for it, just differently.

A vector (SVG) file is the one that scales cleanly — favicon to storefront sign — and it's what a printer or developer will ask you for. A PNG has a fixed resolution and blurs when enlarged.

• Canva: SVG export is a Pro feature.
• Looka: SVG is in the $65 tier, not the $20 one.

If you skip the vector, expect to pay a designer to recreate your logo later. That's a $100+ job that costs more than either subscription.

4. Trademark: the one most people miss

Here's the part worth slowing down for.

Canva's content licence restricts using its stock elements in a design you register as a trademark. The icons, shapes, and illustrations in its library are licensed to you for use — not assigned to you exclusively — and Canva's own terms tell you not to register such a design as a trademark. If you build a logo from Canva elements and later try to trademark it, you can hit a wall.

Looka is a softer version of the same problem: your logo is assembled from a shared library of icons and fonts, so the assets aren't exclusively yours and another business can end up with something similar.

The practical takeaway: if you plan to register a trademark, a logo assembled from a shared stock library is the wrong starting point — whichever tool assembled it. Use text-only wordmarks, commission a designer, or use a tool that generates original artwork rather than pulling from a common pool.

This isn't legal advice — check each tool's current terms and talk to a trademark attorney if it matters to your business.

5. How unique will it look?

Both draw from shared pools, so both carry a same-look risk — Canva more so, because its templates are the most-used design assets on the internet. If you've ever seen two local businesses with near-identical branding, this is usually why.

Who should pick which

Pick Canva if you:

• already pay for Pro, or will use it for far more than a logo
• enjoy designing and want full control over the canvas
• need social posts, decks, and print materials from the same tool
• aren't planning to register a trademark

Pick Looka if you:

• don't want to design anything yourself
• want finished, polished options in minutes
• prefer a one-time fee over a subscription for the logo itself
• are fine paying $65 when you need the vector

Consider a third option if you:

• want the vector included in one price with no subscription
• want artwork generated for your brand rather than assembled from a shared library
• want to see the logo on real products before you pay

That last case is what we built LogoWren for: $39 one-time (launch price, rising to $59) that includes high-resolution PNG, transparent PNG, and an editable SVG — no vector upsell, no subscription. Each logo is generated by a text-to-image model from your brief rather than pulled from a common icon library, and you can preview it on signage, cups, and business cards before deciding.

Frequently asked questions

Is Canva or Looka better for a logo?

Looka, if you want finished options fast and don't want to design. Canva, if you want control and will use the subscription for other design work too.

Can I make a logo on Canva for free?

Yes, and you can export a PNG for free. SVG export requires Pro, and the content licence restricts trademark registration for designs using Canva's stock elements.

Is Looka cheaper than Canva?

For a single logo, usually yes — Looka is a one-time $20 or $65 versus an ongoing subscription. If you need broader design tooling anyway, Canva's subscription covers far more.

Can I trademark a logo made in Canva or Looka?

Canva's terms restrict registering designs that use its stock content as a trademark. Looka's shared library means your assets aren't exclusive. For either, get legal advice before filing.

What's the cheapest way to get a logo with an SVG included?

Tools that bundle the vector into a single price. LogoWren includes PNG, transparent PNG, and SVG for one $39 payment with no subscription.

Try the third option

You can generate logos free with our AI generator — three a day, no card required — and see the full pricing before you download. Or read our Looka pricing breakdown if that's the one you're weighing up.