I remember when I first started using Canva. I created this amazing social media template and wanted to share it with my team. But I had no idea how to do it properly.
I sent them the wrong link. They ended up editing my original design. It was a mess.
That’s when I learned the difference between sharing a regular design and sharing a template. And trust me, once you know how to do it right, everything becomes so much easier.
Let me show you exactly how to share your Canva designs as templates. No confusion. No mistakes.
What Does “Sharing a Canva Template” Mean?
Sharing a Canva template means you’re giving someone a copy of your design that they can edit on their own. Your original design stays safe and untouched.
Think of it like giving someone a recipe. They can follow it and make changes to suit their taste. But your original recipe card stays the same.
When you share a template link, Canva creates a duplicate of your design in the other person’s account. They can change colors, text, images, and anything else. Your design remains exactly as you made it.
Difference Between Sharing a Design and a Template
This is where most people get confused.
When you share a regular design, people can actually edit your original file. If you have edit permissions turned on, they can change things directly. This can be good for team projects where everyone works on the same file.
But when you share a template link, each person gets their own copy. They edit their copy. Your original stays protected.
Here’s a simple way to remember it:
- Regular share = editing the same document together
- Template link = everyone gets their own copy to work with
Why Share Canva Templates Instead of Regular Designs
There are so many good reasons to use template links.
First, it protects your work. No one can accidentally delete something important from your original design.
Second, it’s perfect for clients. If you’re a designer or content creator, your clients need their own versions to customize. They don’t need access to your master file.
Third, it’s great for selling. When you sell Canva templates on Etsy or other platforms, buyers need their own editable copies.
And finally, it saves you time. You create once and share it with as many people as you want. No need to duplicate manually.
Benefits of Sharing Canva Templates
Easy Collaboration With Teams or Clients
I work with several clients who need social media templates. Instead of creating new designs every week, I share template links.
They get instant access. They can customize the templates with their own content. And I don’t have to worry about them changing my original designs.
It’s a win-win situation.
For teams, this is even better. Your marketing team can use your brand templates without asking for permission every time. They just use the template link and create what they need.
Perfect for Selling or Distributing Your Designs
Many people don’t know this, but selling Canva templates has become a real business.
You can sell templates on Etsy, Creative Market, or even your own website. Some template creators make anywhere from $100 to over $1000 per month.
The best part? You create it once and sell it multiple times. That’s passive income right there.
Template links make this possible. Buyers click the link, get their own copy, and start editing immediately.
Saves Time When Reusing Design Layouts
Let’s say you create a weekly newsletter template. Instead of copying and pasting every week, you can just save it as a template.
Use the template link whenever you need it. This saves you so much time.
Same goes for social media posts, presentations, or any design you use regularly.
How to Share Canva Design as a Template
Now let’s get to the actual steps. I’ll walk you through this process exactly as I do it.
Step 1 – Open Your Design in Canva
First things first. Go to your Canva account and open the design you want to share.
Make sure everything looks perfect. Check your text, images, and colors. Once you share it, people will see exactly what you see.
Step 2 – Click on the “Share” Button
Look at the top right corner of your screen. You’ll see a purple “Share” button.
Click on it.
A menu will pop up with different sharing options.
Step 3 – Select “Template Link” Option
This is the important part.
In the share menu, scroll down a bit. You’ll see a section with different sharing options.
Click on the three dots icon that says “More” if you need to expand the menu.
Then click on “Template link.”
Note: You need Canva Pro, Canva Teams, or Canva for Education to create template links. Free users can’t create template links, but they can use templates shared with them.
Step 4 – Copy and Share the Link
After clicking “Template link,” you’ll see a button that says “Create template link.”
Click that button.
Canva will generate a unique link for your template. You’ll see a “Copy” button next to the link.
Click “Copy” and the link is now on your clipboard.
You can now share this link anywhere:
- Send it via email
- Share it in Slack or Teams
- Post it on social media
- Add it to a PDF document for clients
- Include it in your Etsy listing
Step 5 – Test Your Canva Template Link
Before you send the link to anyone, test it yourself.
Open a new browser tab. Paste the link and press enter.
You should see a page that shows your template with a button that says “Use template” or something similar.
Click that button. It should create a copy in your Canva account.
This way, you know the link works perfectly before sharing it with others.
How to Share Canva Template With Specific People
Sharing via Email or Link Access
You have two main ways to share your template with specific people.
The first way is using the template link method I just showed you. Just copy the link and send it via email to whoever needs it.
The second way is to use Canva’s built-in email sharing. In the share menu, you can type someone’s email address directly.
But here’s the thing. If you want to share a template (not just the design), always use the template link method.
The email method is better when you want people to collaborate on the same design, not create their own copies.
Managing Editing Permissions and Access Levels
When you share a template link, everyone who has the link can use it. There’s no way to restrict this with template links.
But if you’re sharing the actual design (not as a template), you can control permissions:
- View only – they can see it but not change anything
- Comment only – they can leave feedback
- Edit – they can make changes
For template sharing specifically, once you give someone the link, they can make their own copy. You can’t control what they do with their copy. That’s the whole point.
If you need more control, don’t use template links. Use regular sharing with view or edit permissions instead.
How to Make Canva Template Public
Publishing Templates for Anyone to Use
Want to share your template with the world? You can do that.
Just create your template link as I showed you earlier. Then share that link anywhere publicly.
Post it on:
- Your blog or website
- Social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook
- Pinterest pins
- YouTube video descriptions
- Free resource pages
Anyone who clicks the link can use your template. This is perfect for building your audience and showing off your design skills.
Adding Your Template to Canva Marketplace (If Applicable)
Canva has its own marketplace where creators can submit templates and earn royalties.
But here’s the catch. Not everyone can join.
You need to apply to Canva’s Template Creator program. They’re currently accepting applications, but it’s selective.
If you get accepted, you can publish your templates directly to Canva’s library. Millions of Canva users can find and use your templates. And you earn money based on how many people use them.
To apply, you need to show your portfolio and prove your design skills.
Is it worth it? Absolutely, if you get accepted. But for most people, selling on Etsy or other platforms is easier to start with.
Common Issues When Sharing Canva Templates
Template Link Not Working
This happens sometimes. Here’s what to check:
First, make sure you actually created a template link. Sometimes people copy the wrong link by mistake.
Second, check if you have Canva Pro. Free accounts can’t create template links.
Third, try creating a new template link. Sometimes the old one stops working if you deleted it by accident.
Recipients Can’t Access the Design
If someone says they can’t access your template, here are the usual problems:
They might not have a Canva account. Tell them to create a free account first.
They might be clicking on the wrong type of link. Make sure you sent them the template link, not a view-only or edit link.
Their internet connection might be slow. Sometimes the template takes a minute to load.
Shared Template Showing Edits Instead of Copy
This is a big one. If people are editing your original design instead of getting their own copy, you shared the wrong type of link.
Go back and create a proper template link. Delete the old link if needed.
Template links should always create a new copy for each person. If that’s not happening, you’re using a regular share link with edit permissions.
Tips for Creating Shareable Canva Templates
Use Editable Text and Placeholders
When you create a template for others to use, make it easy for them.
Use clear placeholder text like “Your Name Here” or “Add Your Title.”
Don’t use locked text boxes. People need to edit everything easily.
Choose fonts that are available in Canva’s free library if possible. This way, everyone can use your template without issues.
Organize Layers and Elements Clearly
Nothing is worse than a messy template with elements all over the place.
Keep your layers organized. Group related items together.
Delete any elements you’re not using. Extra clutter just confuses people.
If you have multiple pages, name them clearly. “Cover Page,” “Inside Content,” “Back Cover” – things like that.
Use Consistent Branding for Professional Look
If you’re creating templates for your brand or clients, consistency matters.
Use the same color palette throughout. Save your brand colors in Canva so they’re easy to access.
Use the same fonts for similar elements. Headings should all use one font, body text another.
Add your logo or watermark if you’re selling the templates. This protects your work and builds your brand.
How to Share Canva Templates on Social Media or Website
Embedding Canva Template Links
You can’t actually embed a working template directly on a website like you can with a video.
But you can create a clickable button or link that leads to your template.
On your website, create a button that says “Get Free Template” or “Download Template.” Link that button to your template link.
On social media, you can’t add clickable links in most posts. But you can:
- Put the link in your bio
- Share it in Instagram stories with a link sticker
- Include it in Pinterest pin descriptions
- Add it to YouTube video descriptions
Promoting Canva Templates on Instagram, Pinterest, or Blogs
Instagram is great for promoting templates. Create eye-catching posts showing what your template looks like.
Use carousel posts to show different pages or uses of your template. Add text overlay that says “Link in bio” or “Free template.”
Pinterest is even better for templates. Create tall, vertical pins that show your template in action. Write keyword-rich descriptions.
Search terms like “free social media template,” “Instagram template,” or “business plan template” get a lot of searches.
On your blog, write helpful posts about design or templates. Include your template links naturally in the content.
FAQs About Sharing Canva Templates
Can I Share Canva Templates with Free Users?
Yes, absolutely. Free Canva users can use templates that you share with them.
Here’s how it works. You need Canva Pro to create the template link. But anyone with a free account can click the link and use the template.
However, there’s one catch. If your template uses Pro elements (like certain photos or graphics), free users won’t be able to download the final design without upgrading.
They can edit it and see it. But downloading requires Pro if it has Pro elements.
Can I Sell Canva Templates?
Yes, you can sell Canva templates. Many people do this as a side business or full-time income.
But you need to follow Canva’s rules. You can sell templates as long as you’re sharing them as template links, not as downloaded files.
You also need to make sure you have the rights to all elements in your design. If you use Canva Pro elements, you can include them in templates you sell. But you can’t sell standalone graphics or photos from Canva.
Popular platforms for selling templates include Etsy, Creative Market, Gumroad, and your own website.
Prices for templates range from $5 to $100 or more, depending on complexity.
How to Edit a Template After Sharing It?
Good news. You can always edit your original design, even after creating a template link.
Just open your design in Canva and make whatever changes you want. Save the design.
The template link stays the same. But here’s the important part – people who already used the template won’t see your updates.
The template link always shows the current version of your design. So anyone who clicks the link after your edits will see the updated version.
But people who already made copies have their own separate versions.
Can I Track Who Uses My Canva Template?
Unfortunately, no. Canva doesn’t provide analytics for template links.
You won’t know how many people clicked your link or used your template.
This is different from selling templates on platforms like Etsy. There, you can see how many people bought your template.
If tracking is important to you, consider using a link shortener like Bitly. You can shorten your template link and track clicks that way.
Or use a platform that has built-in analytics if you’re selling templates.
Do I Need Canva Pro to Share Templates?
Yes, you need Canva Pro, Canva Teams, Canva for Education, or Canva for Nonprofits to create template links.
Free accounts cannot create template links.
But free users can use templates that are shared with them. So if someone shares a template link with you, you can use it with a free account.
If you plan to create and share templates regularly, Canva Pro is worth the investment. It costs around $13 per month when billed annually.
Can I Delete a Template Link After Sharing?
Yes, you can delete template links anytime.
Go to your design, click Share, then click Template link. You’ll see an option to “Delete template link.”
Once you delete it, the link becomes inactive. Anyone who tries to use it will get an error.
But here’s important to know – people who already used the link and made copies keep their copies. Deleting the link doesn’t delete their work.
What Happens If I Share a Template With Hidden Elements?
Be careful with this one.
If your design has hidden pages, cropped images, or hidden elements, people can still see them when they use the template.
Canva warns you about this when you create a template link.
So before sharing, make sure you don’t have any hidden content you don’t want others to see. Delete anything that should stay private.
Final Thoughts
Mastering Canva Template Sharing for Collaboration and Growth
Learning how to share Canva designs as templates changed how I work with clients and teams.
It makes collaboration so much easier. It protects your original work. And it opens up opportunities to earn money by selling templates.
The process is simple once you know it. Open your design, click share, create a template link, and copy it. That’s it.
But the impact is huge. You can help others with your designs. You can build a template business. You can streamline your workflow.
I encourage you to try it today. Create a simple template and share it with someone. See how easy it is.
And if you’re feeling ambitious, consider selling your templates. Start small with one or two designs. See what happens.
The Canva template world is full of opportunities. You just need to take the first step.
Conclusion
Sharing Canva designs as templates is one of the most useful features Canva offers. Whether you’re collaborating with your team, helping clients, or building a template business, knowing how to create and share template links is essential.
Remember these key points:
- Template links create copies for each user while protecting your original design
- You need Canva Pro to create template links, but anyone can use them
- Test your template links before sharing them widely
- Keep your templates organized and easy to edit for the best user experience
- You can sell Canva templates on platforms like Etsy or your own website
Start small. Practice with a few templates. And soon, you’ll be sharing designs like a pro.
Have you tried sharing Canva templates before? What challenges did you face? Let me know in the comments below.
Also, Read more about Canva in my other blogs:
