To make a photo collage in Canva, choose a collage template, replace its pictures with your own, then select Share > Download to save it. For more control over the layout, you can use grids, individual frames, or pictures arranged directly on a page. Templates, grids, and frames work with free accounts, although premium assets may require payment or an eligible subscription.
The short version
- Start with a template: Choose a collage layout and use Replace to add your pictures.
- Keep pictures aligned: Use grids for a structured layout or individual frames for custom arrangements.
- Arrange freely: Upload pictures directly onto a page to move, resize, and overlap them.
- Save the result: Open Share > Download and choose an image or PDF format.
| Option | What it does | Account or usage detail |
|---|---|---|
| Collage template | Provides a layout with pictures to replace | Free and paid plans; premium assets may cost extra |
| Grid | Organizes pictures into cells | Free and paid accounts |
| Individual frames | Creates a custom arrangement of picture containers | Free and paid accounts; asset licensing applies |
| Shapes converted to frames | Turns eligible shapes into photo frames | Requires an eligible shape with a single visible outline |
| Freeform arrangement | Lets you position and overlap pictures directly | Free and paid plans |
| Background removal | Creates cutouts to arrange together | Paid plan required |
| Canva AI or Magic Design | Generates a starting design from a description | Available on supported accounts |
| AI voice input | Uses a spoken description for a design draft | Supported accounts and devices |
| AI Collage Maker app | Combines 2 to 10 photos | Listed as free with any Canva plan |
| Collage Maker app | Offers packs, text layouts, and frame conversion | Listed as free with any Canva plan |
| Frame Collage app | Builds frame arrangements on an 8×8 grid | Listed as free with any Canva plan |
| Download | Exports the finished collage | Basic exports available to free accounts |
| Canva app download | Provides an installed app for collage creation | Browser creation also available |
Start with a collage template
Open Canva’s collage maker and select Create a photo collage. Choose a collage template to begin with an existing arrangement. You can follow this template workflow in Canva’s web, desktop, or mobile editor.
Select a picture in the template, then select Replace on the editor toolbar. Choose a picture from Uploads for your own photos or Photos for stock pictures. Repeat for the remaining pictures until the template contains the images you want.
Upload the pictures you want to use
To add pictures from your device, select Uploads > Upload files and choose your photos. You can use those uploads in a template, grid, frame, or freeform arrangement. To place a picture directly on the page, select or drag the upload onto the design.
You can also use stock pictures in your collage. Select Elements and search using Search elements. When filling a template or grid, you can choose pictures from Photos.
Use a grid for a structured layout
On a computer, open your design and select Elements > Browse categories > Grids, then choose a layout. Open Uploads for your pictures or Photos for stock pictures. Drag each picture into a grid cell to fill the arrangement.
Double-click a placed picture to adjust how it fits its cell. Reposition or resize the picture, then select Done. Repeat for any other pictures that need adjusting.
To change the gaps between pictures, select the grid, select Spacing, and move the slider. Canva also supports grids on mobile, but the dragging and double-clicking steps here use computer gestures.
Build a custom layout with frames
For an arrangement made from separate frames, select Elements > Browse categories > Frames. Use Search elements to find a frame and add it to the design. Repeat to assemble your layout.
Open Uploads, Elements, or Projects to choose pictures. On a computer, drag a picture into each frame. To swap one later, select its frame, select Replace, and choose new media.
You can also turn an eligible shape with a single visible outline into a photo frame on a computer. Add a shape and a picture to the design, then select both by dragging across them or holding Shift while selecting each. Right-click the selection and choose Change to frame. Repeat with other shape-and-picture pairs to build the collage.
Arrange pictures freely or create cutouts
Start with a blank design or an existing page for a freeform collage. Select Uploads > Upload files, choose your pictures, and select or drag each upload onto the page. Move and resize the pictures to create your composition, overlapping them if you want.
With a paid plan in Canva’s desktop or mobile editor, you can make a cutout collage by removing photo backgrounds. Add multiple photos, select one, and select BG Remover. Wait for processing, repeat for the other photos, then arrange the resulting cutouts together.
Another background-removal route is to select a photo and choose Ask Canva. Enter Remove background and send the request with the arrow icon. Canva applies the result to the selected picture, which you can then arrange with the other cutouts.
Create a starting design with Canva AI
For accounts with Canva AI access, select Canva AI from the homepage and enter a description of the design you want. Select + > Upload to attach pictures, or + > Add from Canva to use existing uploads. Select Submit, then Edit design to refine the result.
Use the generated design as a starting layout and review its picture placement. Complete the collage with grids, frames, or manually positioned pictures as needed.
Try a collage app for a specialized layout
Sign in to Canva, open Apps Marketplace, search for the app by name, and choose a design to use with it. Canva lists the following three third-party apps as free with any Canva plan.
AI Collage Maker by Imgkits combines 2 to 10 photos. Choose from Original, Custom, or Templates modes and choose an aspect ratio. Add the finished image to your design. If you start from the app’s listing, select Open app, then choose your design.
Collage Maker by Repixo offers ready-made collage packs and text layouts. Its Convert feature turns shapes or Canva designs into frame collages. Complete the resulting layout with your pictures.
Frame Collage by Qrdy - Dynamic Qr lets you toggle frame positions on an 8×8 grid or choose a supplied template. Use the resulting frames for your pictures. If you start from its listing, select Open app and choose a design before creating the layout.
Fix missing options and paid asset prompts
If you cannot find Photos while filling a grid, open Apps first. You can also open Uploads to fill the grid with your own pictures.
If a shape does not offer Change to frame, check that it is an eligible shape with a single visible outline. You can instead select Elements > Browse categories > Frames and choose a frame for your picture.
Premium template assets and some export settings require payment or an eligible plan. If a picture requires payment, select it, choose Replace, and choose one of your own pictures from Uploads. For export settings that require payment, use a basic export option.
Download your finished photo collage
When the collage is ready, select Share > Download. Choose PNG or JPG to save it as an image, or choose a PDF format for printing. Select Download to export the file. Basic exports are available to free accounts on computers and mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to install Canva to make a collage?
You can create a collage in your browser without installing an app. If you prefer an installed app, open Canva’s official download page and choose Download Canva for Mac or Download Canva for Windows, or follow the iOS, Android, or Chromebook link for your device. You can then use the collage workflows in the installed app.
Can you download just one page of a multipage collage design?
Yes, during download, choose This Page to export the current page, All for every page, or Custom for a selected set. Then select Download.
Can you describe a collage aloud to Canva AI?
Yes, on supported accounts and devices, open Canva AI from the desktop side navigation or mobile bottom menu and select the microphone icon. Describe the design aloud, optionally attach pictures through + > Upload, and select the arrow icon (Submit). On mobile, choose Design as the content type before tapping the arrow. Open the resulting design for editing, selecting Use Canva Editor on mobile if needed, and complete the collage with grids, frames, or manually positioned pictures.
How do you open Canva AI while already editing a design?
Open Templates and enter four or more descriptive keywords. Select Can’t find something?, then Try Canva AI. Review the prompt, attach media if needed, and select Submit.