Canva, the Australian design company, achieved significant financial and user growth milestones by the end of 2025, driven largely by the integration of artificial intelligence tools and expansion into new international markets. The company reported surpassing $4 billion in annual recurring revenue and hosting more than 265 million monthly active users. This performance reflects a strategic pivot toward positioning the platform as an AI-centric ecosystem rather than solely a design tool. Executives detailed these developments during the Web Summit Qatar, highlighting specific metrics regarding B2B expansion and the rising influence of large language models on user acquisition.
According to Cliff Obrecht, Canva’s co-founder and chief operating officer, the company reached $4 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by the conclusion of 2025. The platform’s user base expanded to over 265 million monthly active users (MAU), representing a 20% year-over-year increase. Canva also reported having more than 31 million paid users. The company’s B2B segment, defined as organizations purchasing more than 25 seats, experienced rapid expansion, growing 100% to reach $500 million in ARR. While North America remains the primary revenue source, Canva is actively pursuing international growth. To stimulate the adoption of paid subscriptions in emerging markets, the company introduced lower-priced tiers specifically for users in Pakistan, Uruguay, Morocco, and Jamaica.
Canva’s recent product roadmap emphasizes artificial intelligence, specifically tools designed to facilitate the creation of software and web experiences without traditional coding. Last year, the company launched a feature allowing users to generate mini apps and websites using AI. Obrecht reported that this tool has accumulated over 10 million monthly active users. The success of these AI features has influenced the company’s overarching philosophy. Obrecht stated that Canva is moving away from providing a design platform equipped with AI tools. Instead, the company is inverting this model to become an “AI platform with a bunch of design tools.” He described this new direction as positioning Canva to function like a “cursor for design” or a “design agency in your pocket.”
The strategic shift toward AI-centric operations occurs as Canva navigates an increasingly competitive landscape. Rivals include established software providers like Adobe and Freepik, as well as hardware and software giants like Apple. Apple recently consolidated its creative offerings by bundling applications such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage into the “Creator Studio” subscription, priced at $12.99 per month. By deepening AI integration, Canva aims to differentiate its value proposition beyond traditional graphic design capabilities.
Canva is also aggressively integrating with third-party large language models (LLMs) to drive user acquisition. The company has established integrations with popular chatbots, including ChatGPT and Claude. Data from October 2025 indicates that users engaged with the Canva app within ChatGPT more than 26 million times. During this period, Canva ranked among the top 10 referred domains originating from ChatGPT. Obrecht noted that the company views these LLMs as “top of the funnel acquisition platforms,” analogous to how Canva previously utilized Google search to understand user intent and deliver relevant content.
Reflecting this view, Canva is allocating resources to optimize its visibility within LLM search results, a discipline often referred to as “answer engine optimization,” alongside traditional search engine optimization (SEO). Obrecht indicated that while search remains a major traffic driver, referrals originating from LLMs currently account for a double-digit percentage of Canva’s total traffic. The company is actively working to ensure its content surfaces effectively within chatbot interfaces to maintain this growth trajectory.
Financial markets have valued Canva at $42 billion, based on a previous share sale. Regarding the company’s future, Obrecht confirmed plans to go public, telling Bloomberg in November that an initial public offering (IPO) is anticipated within the next “couple of years.” This timeline positions the company for a potential public market debut as it continues to scale its revenue and user base through AI-driven initiatives.
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