Canva or BigCollage for a photo collage?
Canva is a design tool for almost anything, with a free plan and a collage maker inside it. You pick a template, drop your photos in and arrange them by hand, and it does that well.
BigCollage does one job: you choose up to 100 photos and a style, and it lays them out for you, keeping the faces it can detect in frame. No account, nothing uploaded while you design, £4.99 once for the print-ready file. Here is how the two compare, with a source for every row.
Make your collage - free preview
Canva and BigCollage, side by side
| Canva | BigCollage | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan. Canva Pro is £100 a year for one person. | Free watermarked preview. £4.99 once per collage for the hi-res file. | canva.com |
| Account | You sign up or log in to start: the 'Create a photo collage' button opens Canva's sign-up page. | No account. Open the page and start. | canva.com |
| How many photos | 'As many images as you like'; you place each one in the template. | Up to 100 photos, laid out automatically. | canva.com |
| Layout | Drag and drop, with over 1.6 million templates. Every photo, caption and sticker can be moved by hand. | Four styles, laid out for you with the faces we can detect kept in frame. You can shuffle, swap two photos, star or remove them, but not drag or resize a tile freely or add stickers. | canva.com |
| Where your photos go | Uploaded to your Canva account; the free plan includes 5GB of storage. | Nothing is uploaded while you design. After you pay, the photos your collage uses are uploaded to make the file and deleted within 3 days. | canva.com |
| App or browser | Browser, plus the Canva app. | Browser only. No app to install. | canva.com |
| Print-ready file | Save as PDF on any plan. CMYK print-ready export needs Pro or above. | A 7200 x 9600 pixel JPEG, which photo shops and home printers accept. | canva.com |
| Prints | Canva Print sells posters and other print products where it operates. | Not yet; our own prints are coming. Until then, print the file at any photo shop. | canva.com |
Checked on 23 October 2026 against Canva's own pages, linked in each row. Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, tell us at hello@bigcollage.co.uk and we will correct it. Canva is a trademark of its owner; BigCollage is not connected with it.
How it works
- Choose photos. Up to 100, and star your favourites.
- Pick a style. Grid, Curves, Editorial or Mosaic, with a title if you like.
- Download. See it free with a watermark, then get the print-ready file for £4.99.
Questions
Is Canva free for photo collages?
Canva's free plan includes its editor and templates. BigCollage's preview is free; the hi-res file is £4.99 once per collage.
When is Canva the better choice?
When you want full control: text anywhere, stickers, your own arrangement, or a design that is not a collage at all. If you have dozens of photos and want them laid out for you, BigCollage is quicker.
Do I need an account for BigCollage?
No. There is no sign-up and no app. Your photos stay on your device while you design.
Where did these facts come from?
Canva's UK pricing page and its photo collage page, read on 23 October 2026. Each row of the table links to its source. If something has changed, email hello@bigcollage.co.uk and we will correct it.
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