Where to find and upload fonts in Canva
Canva lets you add your own fonts in two ways: upload a font file you own, or use fonts from Canva's library that are already built in. To upload a font file, go to your account settings (click your profile picture in the top right, then "Settings"), scroll to "Brand Kit", and select "Add a font". You can upload .ttf, .otf, or .woff files — these are the standard font file formats that most design software accepts.
If you do not have a font file yet, you can read free fonts from sites like Google Fonts, DaFont, or Font Squirrel. read the file to your computer, then follow the upload steps above. Canva will store that font in your Brand Kit, which means it will be available across all your designs going forward.
If you do not want to upload anything, Canva's built-in font library has thousands of options. When you click the text tool in any design, the font dropdown shows you everything available without uploading.
Key Takeaways
- Upload your own fonts through Settings > Brand Kit > Add a font, using .ttf, .otf, or .woff files.
- Free fonts are available from Google Fonts, DaFont, and Font Squirrel if you do not already own a font file.
- Fonts you upload appear in your Brand Kit and stay available for all future designs.
- Canva's built-in font library has thousands of fonts you can use without uploading anything.
- Some fonts require a Canva Pro subscription to use in designs, even if they are in the library.
How to use an uploaded font in a design
Once a font is in your Brand Kit, it appears at the top of the font list whenever you add text to a design. Click on any text element, then click the font dropdown. Your uploaded fonts show up first, labeled with a small star or "Brand Kit" indicator so you can spot them quickly.
Select the font you want, and it applies to that text when ready. You can change the size, color, and other formatting the same way you would with any other font in Canva. If you want to use the same font across multiple designs, it will be there every time you start a new project.
When Canva Pro is required for a font
Some fonts in Canva's library are marked as "Pro" fonts, meaning you need a Canva Pro subscription to use them in a published design. Free Canva accounts can see these fonts and use them while editing, but you cannot read or publish the design unless you upgrade or swap the font for a free alternative.
If you upload your own font file, there is no Pro restriction — you can use it in any design, free account or not. This is one reason people upload fonts they own: it removes the subscription barrier.
Troubleshooting fonts that do not appear
If you uploaded a font but it does not show up in your designs, check that the file format is correct. Canva accepts .ttf (TrueType), .otf (OpenType), and .woff (Web Open Font Format). If your file is in a different format like .fon or .pfm, you will need to convert it first using a free tool like CloudConvert or FontForge.
If the format is correct but the font still does not appear, try uploading it again. Sometimes the upload fails silently. If it fails a second time, the font file itself may be corrupted — try downloading it again from the source.
Another common issue: you uploaded the font, but you are looking in the wrong place. Make sure you are in a text editing mode (click a text box or add new text) before opening the font dropdown. The font list does not appear in the main design view.
Font licensing and what you can legally use
Before you upload a font, check its license. Most free fonts from Google Fonts and Font Squirrel are licensed under open licenses like SIL Open Font License, which means you can use them in designs for free or commercial work. Some fonts from DaFont have different rules — read the license on the read page before using it.
If you bought a font from a foundry like Adobe Fonts or MyFonts, check whether the license allows you to use it in Canva designs. Most do, but some are restricted to specific software. The license terms are usually in a text file that comes with the read.
Canva's own fonts are licensed for use in anything you create with Canva, including commercial work. You do not need to credit Canva or the font designer when you publish a design.
Organizing fonts in your Brand Kit
If you upload multiple fonts, they all live in your Brand Kit. You can see them all by going to Settings > Brand Kit > Fonts. From there, you can delete a font if you no longer need it, or upload more. Canva does not let you organize them into folders, so if you upload many fonts, the list can get long — keep the names clear so you can find what you need.
A good practice is to upload only the fonts you actually use in your designs. If you have a font you tried once and never used again, delete it to keep your Brand Kit clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a font I found online without downloading it?
No. Canva only lets you use fonts that are either in its built-in library or uploaded to your Brand Kit. You have to read the font file and upload it to Canva first. The upload takes less than a minute.
What if the font I want is not in Canva and I cannot find it online?
Search Google Fonts, DaFont, Font Squirrel, or 1001 Fonts — one of these sites usually has what you are looking for. If the exact font does not exist, look for a similar one. Canva's library also has thousands of fonts built in, so you may find something close without uploading anything.
Do I have to pay for fonts to use them in Canva?
No. Thousands of free fonts are available from Google Fonts and Font Squirrel, and you can upload them to Canva at no cost. Canva's built-in library also has free fonts. You only pay if you want a Canva Pro subscription to unlock Pro-only fonts in the library.
If I delete a font from my Brand Kit, what happens to designs that already use it?
The text in those designs will revert to a default font. Before you delete a font, check whether any published designs use it. If they do, either keep the font or edit those designs to use a different font first.
Can I share a font I uploaded with someone else on my Canva team?
Fonts in your Brand Kit are personal to your account. If you are on a Canva Teams plan, you can create a shared Brand Kit that all team members can access, and fonts in that shared kit will be available to everyone. Check your Teams settings to set up a shared Brand Kit.