Canva Template Links Are Going Pro (Don’t Panic, Here’s the Scoop)

Rely on Canva’s Template Links to Share Designs? 

Heads up: there’s a change coming June 2, 2025 that you should know about. But don’t worry — nothing’s breaking overnight, and I’ve got you covered on what’s happening and how to prepare.

What’s Changing on June 2, 2025?

Starting June 2, 2025, Canva is making “Template Links” a PAID feature. In plain English, that means only Canva Pro (paid) users will be able to create or access Template Links going forward.

Here’s the breakdown of the update:

• Template Links go Pro-only: After June 2, creating new Template Links (those special share links that let others copy a design as a template) will require a paid Canva plan (Pro, Teams, or an active Canva Pro free trial). Likewise, accessing or editing a design via a Template Link will also require the person clicking the link to be on a paid plan. In short, if you’re not a paid user, Template Links won’t work for you after this date.
• Paid users, carry on as usual: If you already have Canva Pro (or any paid Canva subscription), nothing really changes for you. You can keep creating Template Links and sharing them just like you do now. Your workflows involving Template Links should remain business as usual. 👍
• Free users lose Template Link access: This is the biggie – free Canva users will no longer be able to open or edit Template Links shared with them, even if they belong to the same company or email domain as the link owner. Previously, colleagues on the same email domain might have been able to use shared template links without Pro, but after June 2 they’ll hit a paywall. If someone without a paid plan clicks your Template Link, they’ll be prompted to upgrade to Canva Pro to use it. Essentially, both the person sharing the template and the person using it need to be on a paid plan now.
• Existing links stay live: Good news: any Template Links you created before June 2, 2025 will continue to work for everyone as they did before. Canva isn’t retroactively breaking those links or suddenly blocking access to them. So if you’ve already shared templates with others, those links remain functional and your team or clients on free accounts can still use pre-June 2 links without upgrading. Nothing you’ve shared up to that date will vanish or stop working overnight.

Why Is Canva Making This Change?

You’re probably wondering why Canva would restrict this formerly-free sharing feature. According to Canva, the goal is to bring Template Links into their premium toolkit to benefit teams and businesses.

Officially, this move is meant to:

• Improve Brand Consistency: By making Template Links a controlled (paid) feature, organizations can ensure only approved, on-brand templates are being used. It nudges teams toward using Brand Templates and shared projects within Canva Teams, so everyone works from the same playbook. The result? More consistent logos, fonts, and styles across all designs, since only members on the company’s Pro plan can create and distribute templates.
• Simplify Access Management: Canva wants to simplify who can access templates by tying it to the team’s subscription. When template sharing is limited to Pro accounts, it’s easier for admins and teams to manage access – you’ll know that anyone using your templates is an authorized team member or paid user. No more juggling public template links and worrying about them getting passed around to unintended people. It’s a more streamlined way to keep track of design access (since it’s all under your team’s paid plan).
• Boost Design Security: By limiting Template Links to paid users, your designs are a bit more secure. In the past, a Template Link could theoretically be opened by anyone with a Canva account if the link was shared broadly. Now, with the feature behind a paywall, you have an extra layer of control – only folks with permission (i.e. part of a Pro-enabled team or clients with Pro accounts) can access the templates you share. This reduces the risk of random outsiders or competitors getting a copy of your design via a template link. Think of it as Canva putting your team’s content behind a security checkpoint. 🔐

Of course, it’s also likely that Canva is encouraging upgrades to Pro with this change. But from their perspective, these reasons – consistency, simpler management, and security – are about helping businesses and teams get more control over their brand assets. It makes some sense if you’ve ever managed a growing team’s designs, even if it’s a bit of a hassle for those who are used to the old free sharing.

How to Prepare (Practical Tips for a Smooth Transition)

Alright, so how do we deal with this change without stress? Here are some practical, non-overwhelming steps to make sure you’re ready by the time June 2 rolls around:

• Audit your Template Links now: Take stock of any Canva Template Links you’ve already created and shared. Make a list of which designs you’ve shared as templates and who uses them. This audit will tell you which teams, colleagues, or clients might be affected. Pay extra attention to any templates you’ve shared with people on free Canva accounts (or links you’ve posted publicly for others to use). Knowing what’s out there will help you decide what action (if any) is needed for each link.
• Share Important Templates Before the Deadline: If you have some designs that you want people on free accounts to use as templates, consider sharing those before June 2. Remember, any template links created before the cutoff will still work for free users afterward. It’s a bit of a loophole you can take advantage of right now. So if you have an important template to distribute widely for an event or a client handoff, do it now and send out that link early. They’ll be able to use it even after the change (no Pro required for existing links).
• Invite Collaborators To Your Team (if you have Pro): If you’re on a paid Canva plan and work with others, this is a great time to set up a Canva Team and invite your collaborators into it. By working within a Team space, you can share designs directly or use Brand Templates (a Pro feature) internally, without needing to send out Template Links to individual emails. Essentially, your team members will access templates through the team’s shared projects or brand folders. If your coworkers join your Canva team (under your Pro umbrella), they’ll get access to the templates and designs you share there, even if they individually don’t have Pro. This keeps everything in-house and under the managed team, achieving the same result as a template link (copying a design) but in a more controlled way. Bonus: it also keeps your brand elements centralized and easy to update for everyone.
• Consider Upgrading if Templates are Mission-Critical: If you or your organization rely heavily on Canva templates and you’re currently on the free plan, it might be time to weigh the value of Canva Pro. Upgrading will ensure you continue to have uninterrupted access to creating and using template links. Canva Pro isn’t just about template links, either – you’d also get other perks (brand kits, content scheduler, Magic Resize, etc.). If the template link feature is critical to your workflow (for example, if you sell Canva templates or frequently share templates with clients), the cost of Pro could be worth it to avoid disruption. You could even try the 30-day free Canva Pro trial around the end of May to cover the transition period and see if it fits your needs before committing.
• Communicate With Your Team or Clients: Don’t keep the change a secret. Give your team members, clients, or customers a heads-up now so they’re not caught off guard. A quick note like, “Hey, Canva is changing how template sharing works on June 2. To keep accessing [Project X], you’ll need a Canva Pro account – let’s coordinate on this,” can save everyone confusion later. If you manage a large team, make an announcement in your next meeting or send an email outlining what they might need to do (such as join the Canva Team or start a trial). If you sell or distribute templates to external users, consider informing them of the new requirement or adjusting your product info to mention that a Pro account will be needed for templates created after that date.
• Don’t Panic – You’ve Got Time: Most importantly, remember that nothing is exploding on June 2. Your existing shared templates will not suddenly stop working. You have a grace period here to put plans in place. The change is significant but not immediate – Canva gave us advance notice so we can adapt. Use the next few weeks to implement the steps above at a comfortable pace. By the time the switch happens, you’ll be prepared and it’ll feel like just another Monday. 😉

Final Thoughts

Change is never fun, especially when a handy free feature becomes paid. 😕 But with a little preparation, this Canva update doesn’t have to throw you off your design game. Template Links going Pro-only is a push toward better control and consistency for teams, and you might even find it streamlines how you share designs in the long run.

The key takeaway: take stock of your current template links and sharing habits now, and make a game plan so you’re not scrambling later. Whether that means locking in some links before the deadline, looping in your team on Canva Pro, or just deciding that an upgrade is worth it for you, at least you’ll make an informed move. And remember, I’m right here alongside you – you’ve got this! 💪

Have questions or concerns about this Canva change? Feel free to reach out or comment below. I’m happy to help untangle any confusion and hear how you’re adjusting. Good luck, and happy designing – even in the new Template-Link-as-Pro world!