When it comes to creating blog images, there are a million options out there. From something as simple as Paint (yes, Paint) to a professional program such as Adobe InDesign, the choices are endless*. But for the everyday blogger who doesn’t need a full editing suite but needs something more than the basic cut and paste, there are two key websites that offer just enough options to make images look good but that are easy to use. These are PicMonkey and Canva. For a long time, I only used PicMonkey Pro (try it free for 30 days), but while I loved the collage features, I was disappointed with the more “free flow” creative options. At this point, I had learned about Canva and switched over because they offered a more “professional” look with tons of preset layouts to choose from. What I’ve learned is that in order to make truly great images (which I’m still learning to make), both are necessary. Each program has its own pros and cons and its own suite of unique features, which I’ve broken down below. I hope this proves useful and that it helps you create stunning images for your own blog!
*If you’re looking for a great mobile app, I also recommend Studio, which creates Instagram-ready images and allows you to use their image library, add layers, and includes preset layouts, as well.
PROS
CanvaPicMonkey
- Professional look
- Preset and customizable sizes for various post types (infographics, flyers, social, etc.)
- Preset layouts
- Customizable templates
- Searchable image/graphic library
- Image upload
- Ability to save drafts and works in progress
- Easy collage maker
- Browsable graphic library
- More image editing/recoloring options
- Image upload
- Custom cropping/resizing at any time
- Pro option for enhanced capabilities
CONS
CanvaPicMonkey
- Image library not sortable by “free” and “paid” images
- Custom cropping/resizing more difficult
- Collage feature is nowhere near as great as PicMonkey
- Less “professional” options
- No searchable image library
- Requires paid option for full font options