Learn About Crello: Cost, Functionality, Courses, Alternatives

Since Crello first launched in 2016, it has been a powerful tool used by graphic designers and other professionals in many industries to create high-quality graphic designs for various projects. In January 2022, it merged with VistaPrint and rebranded as VistaCreate. Although the cloud-based programme is still known as Crello, an internet search for it will lead you to VistaCreate's website.

It remains a leading popular graphic design programme with a massive library of more than one million royalty-free images, thousands of professional ready-made templates, and easy-to-use tools to build creative designs for online and offline use. Continue reading to explore Crello's ins and outs, including its widely recognised alternatives.

What is Crello, and how does it work?

Crello, now called VistaCreate, is an online design tool anyone can use to create professional-looking designs, even without a graphic design background. Crello offers free and pro (paid) subscription plans. Using this programme allows you to create:

• Static designs using images, photos, and other visuals

• Designs that incorporate video and audio content

• Animated graphics

• Social media assets, such as graphics for Instagram stories

• Visual material for blogs and long-form content

• Assets for paid ads and other digital marketing campaigns

• Invitations, flyers, business cards, and other print material

As a web-based programme, Crello allows you to design online through your personalised account without downloading the programme to your device. Once signed in, you can choose from thousands of ready-made templates and design formats that you can easily customise with your text, images, or other files. You can also start projects from scratch using custom dimensions. The result can be print-ready or shared digitally.

What are the benefits of using Crello?

Following its merger with VistaPrint to form VistaCreate, Crello provides expanded benefits. One significant perk is that this programme empowers people with limited graphic design experience to make creative designs at affordable rates.

Below are the features you'll find in the free and pro versions: 

Crello also includes image cropping and resizing tools, which allow you to adjust contrast, fade, and saturation. You can download your completed projects to your computer or device and post them to Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram directly from the program.

How much does Crello cost?

Crello has two usage options: a free version called Starter and the VistaCreate Pro plan with added features, including team accounts, version history, and other features listed in the table above. You can subscribe to the Pro plan for 13 USD a month or pay annually at a rate of 10 USD a month, saving 23 per cent.

Both versions are available on the web and as an app on Android and iOS.

What can you do with Crello?

 Crello opens up a wealth of design possibilities. Some popular project options include: 

Social media content:

• Facebook posts, covers, event covers, video covers, video stories, ads

• Instagram stories, posts, highlight covers, video stories, ads

• LinkedIn covers

• Pinterest graphics

• Tumblr graphics

• Twitch offline banners

• X posts, headers, ads

• YouTube channel art, video thumbnails

Documents:

• Brochures

• Certificates

• Flyers

• Invitations

• Cards

• Invoices

• Letterhead

• Menus

• Newsletters

• Postcards

• Posters

• Resumes

Graphics:

• Logos, animated logos

• Email headers

• Infographics

• Storyboards

• Zoom backgrounds

• Blog posts, headers, banners

Projects:

• Coupons

• eBooks

• Gift certificates

• Photo books

• Schedule planners

• Recipe cards

• T-shirts

• Tickets

• Business cards

• Labels

• Presentations

• Proposals

• Full HD videos

Who uses Crello?

Anyone who wants to complete a visual project can use Crello. Below, you’ll find listed some professionals and creators who can benefit from this graphic design software.

Small business owners

Start-up owners or small business leaders often wear many hats, including serving as their marketing team. They can use Crello to design for businesses and create compelling advertisements, social media posts, website elements, blogs, and outreach videos, potentially without investing in professional design services.

Social media influencers and users 

Social media influencers and marketing executives may opt for Crello’s Pro plan to create content consistent with their client's brand identities. Whether the marketing executive works for a company or runs their own freelancing business, they can use this tool to make attractive designs for Instagram and blog posts.

Educators

To convey lessons effectively, presentations to learners must be highly engaging. Teachers, professors, consultants, and corporate trainers can use Crello to create high-impact graphics and presentations for the learners they support.

Event planners

Crello can also make invitations, name tags, seat placement cards, thank you cards, and guest books for weddings. Wedding planners can create a matching set with the same font, colour palette, and images to align with their vision for the bride and groom’s special day.

Marketers and advertisers 

Marketing professionals can use Crello to design assets for the marketing plans they devise for their clients.

Offline content designers

People who want to design print materials also benefit from Crello. Posters, flyers, coupons, and business cards are some types of printed material you can create.

Alternatives to Crello 

The following are examples of popular free and low-cost online graphic design tools. Explore them alongside Crello to make an informed buying decision. 

Canva

Another popular online graphic design tool is Canva. It also has a user-friendly interface like Crello but with a drag-and-drop technology that makes it easy to insert particular elements into a project. It also has built-in integrations, so you can email, link, or share assets on social media without downloading and saving the file. It has more than 250,000 templates from which to choose and unlimited downloads for the free version.  

DesignWizard

This online graphic design tool has more than 1,000 templates for social media project use. Buffer, HubSpot, and Marketo are also integrated. While you have 24/7 customer support, DesignWizard is unavailable as an app on mobile devices.

Piktochart

Piktochart is another graphic design tool with a user-friendly interface for photo editing, flyers, infographics, and more. Although it is often used for social media projects, it is best known for creating professional reports. Unlike the other options, transferring complex data from your files online is easy.

BeFunky

With one million stock images and vector files, you have plenty to choose from when creating content on BeFunky. It provides a simple design process, which you can access on your computer and a mobile app.

Vectr

People with little graphic design experience may also appreciate Vector, a mobile app and a web-based version that integrates easily. People primarily use it to create vector files for offline designs such as flyers, brochures, business cards, and other print-ready projects.

View the table below to compare the aforementioned software tools easily:

Crello key takeaways

Crello, now VistaCreate, can easily create attractive designs for offline and online purposes, whether you have little graphic design experience or years of formal training. You can subscribe to the free or paid version of VistaCreate and access many features to customise a design. Compare VistaCreate to similar programmes to select the best one for your graphic design needs.

Learn new skills today with Coursera

Crello is an excellent option to help you with your graphic design goals. However, even with free and low-cost graphic design tools like Crello or VistaCreate, your work can improve dramatically by learning the principles and best practices professionals know. Enrol in the California Institute of the Arts Graphic Design Specialisation on Coursera to take your visual communication projects to the next level.