Template links are essential if you share or sell designs in Canva, but they often raise questions about how they work and when to use them. This tutorial breaks down everything you need to know, from creating template links to understanding permissions, limitations, and plan requirements.
Resources Mentioned
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Transcript
If you’ve ever wanted to share a Canva design so that other people can make their own copy (rather than editing your original) you’ll want to use what’s called a template link.
In this video, I’m going to walk you through some of the most common questions about Canva’s template links so you can share your designs the right way and avoid a few common mistakes along the way.
What is a Template Link?
A template link lets you share your Canva design in a way that allows someone else to open their own copy. When they click the link, Canva will indicate that a template created by you has been shared with them, and it will prompt them to view the template to make a copy. Once they open the template, it will save it as a new editable version in their own Canva account, while your original design stays exactly as it is.
This feature is ideal if you create and sell templates or want to share ready-made layouts with your clients, students, or audience. It gives people a polished starting point without ever touching your original work.
That’s very different from simply sharing your design with someone through Canva’s regular sharing options, and this is where a lot of users get tripped up.
What’s the Difference Between Sharing a Design and Sharing a Template?
When you share a design using the People with Access section, you’re giving someone permission to view or edit your actual file. If they make changes, they’re changing your version.
When you share a template link, Canva automatically creates a new copy for them inside their account. They can edit that copy however they like, and your original design remains untouched.
So if your goal is to give someone their own editable version, not access to your original file, you’ll want to use a template link instead of standard sharing.
How Do I Create a Template Link?
Open your design, click the Share button in the top-right corner, and in the sharing options, look for the Template link option. If you don’t see it, click on “See All,” and then you should see it in the Share options.
Once you’ve clicked on the Template link option, you’ll create a template link and then from there you can copy the link.
That’s the link you’ll share with your audience in order to access the template.
Can You Create Template Links on a Free Canva Account?
No, you’ll need a paid Canva plan to create new template links. Canva made this change in early 2025, and while many people still aren’t aware of it, free users can no longer generate new template links.
If you created template links before February 15, 2025, they’ll still work, but you won’t be able to create new ones unless you’re on a paid plan.
Free users can still open and use template links shared by others; they just can’t make their own.
Can Someone on a Free Canva Plan Use My Template?
Yes, free Canva users can open template links that you’ve shared with them; however, there are a few limitations to keep in mind.
If your template includes Pro photos, graphics, or other premium elements, those will appear with watermarks for free users. They can still edit the design, but when they try to download a design, Canva will prompt them to either purchase a license for those Pro elements or upgrade to Canva Pro.
The same applies to Pro fonts and uploaded fonts — free users can edit text using any contained Pro or uploaded fonts, but they’ll need to purchase a license or upgrade to Pro before downloading the design.
If they’d prefer not to upgrade, they can replace any Pro elements (including images, graphics, and fonts) with free content on Canva or their own uploaded files. Once those Pro assets have been swapped out for free or personal ones, they’ll be able to export the design without any watermarks or licensing prompts.
And there’s one additional restriction that went into effect in June 2025. If you share a template link with someone who’s using a free Canva account under the same business domain as you, they won’t be able to open or use that template link unless they’re part of your Canva team or have their own Pro account.
For example, if I’m using a Pro account under hello@brendacadman.com and share a template link with someone on a free account under assistant@brendacadman.com, that assistant account will be prompted to upgrade if it’s not on my Canva team.
This domain rule only applies when both people use the same branded domain. If you share a template link with someone using a completely different domain, or personal email address, like Gmail, this restriction doesn’t apply.
What Happens to my Template Links if I Downgrade from Canva Pro to Canva Free?
If you downgrade from a Pro plan to the free version of Canva, the template links you previously created will remain accessible and will continue to work.
However, you won’t be able to modify those existing links or create new template links until you upgrade to a paid plan again.
Do Canva Template Links Expire?
No, Canva’s template links don’t expire. They’ll continue to work as long as you keep the original design in your Canva account and don’t permanently delete it. Even if your account later changes from Pro to Free, the links you created while you had Pro access should still function.
Can I Update a Canva Design After Sharing the Template Link?
Yes, you can make changes to your original design at any time, but it’s important to understand how those updates behave.
When someone opens your template link, Canva creates a completely separate copy of that design in their account. Any changes you make afterward won’t appear in the copies that have already been created and saved by others.
However, if you update your original design and keep the same template link active, anyone who opens that link in the future will see your updated version.
Can I See How Many People Have Used My Template Link?
At the moment, Canva doesn’t provide analytics for shared template links, so you won’t be able to see how many times your template has been opened, copied, or used.
Canva does offer analytics for shared designs. For example, if you share a design via a public view link, you can see engagement data such as how many people viewed or interacted with it. But those insights don’t extend to templates yet.
If you want a general idea of how often your template link is being accessed, you might instead consider sharing it through a link shortener or tracker such as Bitly to track basic click data.
Can I Delete a Canva Template Link?
Yes, you can delete a template link without deleting the design itself.
To do this, open the shared design in Canva and click the Share button, and then click on the Template link option again.
You’ll see that it’s already showing as having an active link, and when you click on the template link again, you’ll have the option to delete the template link.
When you click Delete, Canva will display a confirmation message letting you know that this action can’t be undone and that anyone who has that link will no longer be able to make copies of your design.
If you’re sure you want to remove access, click Delete to confirm. The template link will be permanently deleted, but your original design will remain safely in your Canva account.
Can I Share a Folder of Canva Templates Instead of One at a Time?
No, not at this time. Each Canva design needs its own template link, so if you want to share multiple templates, you’ll need to create and distribute separate template links for each design.
Final Thoughts
If you regularly share Canva templates as part of your business or creative work, template links are what you’ll rely on most. They’re simple to use, they keep your original designs safe, and they’re the standard way to deliver templates to clients, students, and your audience.
