Canva has built a leading design and communications platform and is an early adopter of artificial intelligence (AI). Its AI-powered tools and easy-to-use software enable users to create graphics, videos, and presentations. For instance, Canva's Magic Eraser makes it easy to remove anything from an image.
And the company is just scratching the surface of its potential for using generative AI to empower people to create more.
The company is emerging as a major competitor to Adobe (ADBE +3.77%) in the design software space. It's growing fast and has already amassed more than 240 million monthly active users. That vast and growing user base has enabled Canva to generate lots of recurring revenue. And unlike many start-ups, it's already solidly profitable.
Canva's disruptive capabilities have many investors eagerly anticipating its initial public offering (IPO). Here's a guide on how you can invest in its stock before it goes public, as well as some alternative options to consider while awaiting its IPO.
IPO
Is Canva publicly traded?
Canva wasn't a publicly traded company as of late 2025. It has yet to complete its IPO.
When will Canva IPO?
Canva didn't have an IPO on the calendar as of late 2025. However, the company hired Kelly Steckelberg as its chief financial officer in late 2024. She previously helped take Zoom (ZM +0.27%) public. Her track record and experience taking a company public have many believing Canva could go public in the coming months. And in August 2025, Canva began an employee stock sale, indicating an IPO is on its way.
Is Canva profitable?
As a privately held company, there isn't a lot of publicly available information about Canva's profitability. However, Canva announced in December 2024 that it had achieved seven years of profitability.
Canva is growing its revenue rapidly, which bodes well for future profitability. Canva stated it had revenue of $2.5 billion in late 2024. That's up from $2 billion of revenue in 2023. Rapidly rising revenue and earnings are keys to growing shareholder value over the long term.
Alternatives to Canva
Since Canva isn't public yet, you can't buy shares in your brokerage account. However, interested investors can put their money into a fund holding pre-IPO shares. For example, The Fundrise Innovation Fund made a $6 million investment in Canva in September 2023. The fund is open to all investors and has a low minimum investment of $10 per share.
Investors seeking more direct exposure to the trends driving Canva's growth can consider investing in a publicly traded alternative. Here are three Canva alternatives investors can buy while they await the company's IPO.
Adobe
Adobe is the behemoth in the design software space. It sells a suite of products to help designers create visually stunning graphics. Adobe has created its own AI tools to put that technology's power into creators' hands.
Autodesk
Autodesk (ADSK +1.34%) makes software for architects, builders, engineers, designers, manufacturers, 3D artists, and production teams. The company's product offerings focus on four areas: architecture, engineering, and construction; AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT; manufacturing; and media and entertainment.
Microsoft
Microsoft (MSFT -1.48%) is a titan in the technology sector. Its products span the productivity, cloud computing, social networking, and gaming sectors. It is also an early leader in AI and has invested billions into ChatGPT developer OpenAI. It's integrating AI powered by the company into its products to help more people leverage AI to be more productive.
Cloud Computing
Should you invest in Canva?
Canva isn't public yet and likely won't complete an IPO in the near term. That gives investors ample time to research the company. This research is crucial because it could confirm your investment thesis that Canva will be a good stock to buy once it goes public, or it might change your mind.
As part of the research process, here are a few things to consider that might lead you to buy shares when the company goes public:
- You think Canva can unseat Adobe as the leader in design software.
- You think the company's adoption of AI will pay off over the long term.
- You believe the company can continue growing its revenue and profits at a brisk pace.
- You like to invest in founder-led companies.
- You're comfortable investing in stocks that could be volatile, which is typical of an IPO stock.
- You think Canva can grow into its already lofty pre-IPO valuation.
On the other hand, here are some factors that might lead you not to buy shares of Canva when it goes public:
- You're worried Adobe will pressure Canva by releasing new, more innovative, and lower-cost solutions.
- You're not sure AI will be a big growth driver for the company.
- You'd prefer not to invest in highly volatile stocks, which will likely be true for Canva when it completes its IPO.
- You're more of a value investor and think Canva's roughly $42 billion pre-IPO valuation is rich for a company only generating $2.5 billion in annual revenue.
The bottom line on Canva
Canva is one of the more hotly anticipated IPOs. The design software company is growing briskly as it takes on industry behemoth Adobe. It's also an early adopter of AI, which could be a massive growth driver. These features make it an interesting stock to watch as it prepares to go public.
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