Build an AI website in 60 seconds

If you’ve ever used Canva to design a social media post, you already know how easy it is to drag, drop, and create something that looks polished in minutes. In this Canva website builder review, we’ll explore how that same simplicity translates to building a website. 

Canva’s builder lets anyone design a clean, visual site without touching code. It’s ideal for freelancers, small businesses, or anyone who wants a quick online presence. 

It’s built more for looks than heavy functionality, so think lightweight sites like portfolios, event pages, or digital resumes rather than full business websites. Still, its mix of templates, design freedom, and built-in publishing tools makes it worth a closer look.

7 Canva website builder features at a glance 

Below, we’ll examine how Canva performs across different features, plus how it stacks up against more business-ready options like B12, which blends AI automation with built-in SEO, client tools, and expert support.

1. Templates & design options

Canva’s biggest draw is its huge library of design templates. You can pick from hundreds of visually appealing layouts, from portfolios and landing pages to event invites and resumes. Everything looks clean and modern, and it’s easy to swap out colors, fonts, and graphics to match your personal style.

That said, Canva’s website design features are mostly static. You won’t find many interactive or dynamic elements like sliders, animations, or advanced forms. Each page feels more like a well-designed digital poster than a functional website. 

And because the builder prioritizes simplicity, deep customization is off the table. You can tweak the design, but you can’t fully control layouts or add complex features like advanced e-commerce or SEO functionalities.

By contrast, B12 gives users web design flexibility that goes beyond templates. Its AI drafts a full, professional website tailored to your industry, then lets you refine it with real designers. You can edit layouts, add client forms, integrate scheduling tools, and even automate payments, all in one platform.

2. Ease of use

Canva’s drag-and-drop interface feels second nature, especially if you’ve used Canva for social media or marketing graphics. You can build a simple site in minutes without touching code or dealing with confusing settings.

However, that same simplicity becomes limiting once you want more control. There’s no way to set up complex navigation structures, custom SEO metadata, or integrations that help your business grow. You’ll end up with a great-looking page, but not necessarily one that gets discovered online.

B12, on the other hand, keeps things beginner-friendly while building in scalability. Its AI does the heavy lifting (drafting your entire site instantly) and you can fine-tune everything through an intuitive editor. Plus, SEO optimization comes standard. From on-page optimization to metrics tracking, B12 helps your site get found on Google from day one.

3. Content & editing tools

Editing text and images in Canva is easy. Just click and type or drag new visuals in place. It’s perfect for quick updates or visual storytelling. 

But there’s no built-in blogging tool or advanced layout control, which limits your ability to grow your site over time.

One customer told us, “My site looks like a college student made it,” while another said, “I can’t make changes without breaking something.” Comments like these reveal how frustrated many small business owners feel with platforms that are too limited.

If you need more control and flexibility, B12’s AI Assist comes in handy. It helps you generate web pages, blog posts, and emails 40x faster using AI. You can instantly draft new content, optimize it for search engines, and keep your site updated, all without hiring a writer or using external tools. 

4. Collaboration & team features

Canva supports real-time collaboration, so multiple people can edit a site at once, great for small creative teams. 

The downside? Limited control over permissions. You can’t easily set roles or restrict what others can access.

With B12, collaboration scales more smoothly. Team permissions can be customized, letting you decide who edits content, manages billing, or handles client communication. This makes it far better suited for growing businesses that need clear access controls and accountability.

5. Publishing & hosting

When it comes to publishing, Canva keeps things simple. You can launch your site instantly and share it under a free subdomain like “yourname.my.canva.site.” It’s quick and effortless, ideal for students, creatives, or small events that need a temporary online presence.

But there’s the catch: you can’t connect a custom domain unless you upgrade to a paid plan. Even then, hosting remains basic. There’s no control over things like bandwidth, SSL certificates, or uptime monitoring. It’s all handled behind the scenes, and while that’s convenient, it also means you’re locked into a setup that’s better suited for short-term projects.

On the other hand, B12 gives you managed hosting that’s built to last. You don’t have to worry about the tech stuff, but your site still gets the benefit of secure, reliable hosting. Every site comes with a free TLS certificate, encrypting traffic and keeping sensitive information safe. 

6. SEO & analytics

Canva’s SEO tools are bare-bones. You can add page titles and descriptions, but there’s no deeper optimization or tracking. There’s also no integration with Google Analytics or any in-depth reporting features. In short, it’s good enough to publish, but not to compete.

In contrast, every B12 site is set up for SEO from day one, with both AI and experts working behind the scenes. The platform includes:

• On-page optimization to follow SEO best practices
• Business directory listings (Google Business, Bing, Yelp) to boost discoverability
• Metrics tracking via a built-in dashboard, showing traffic, rankings, and keywords

With B12, you’re not guessing but tracking real results. For small businesses that rely on Google searches to drive new clients, that built-in SEO support can make all the difference.

7. Integrations & add-ons

Canva isn’t designed to integrate deeply with other business tools. There are no native connections for CRMs, contact forms, or payment gateways, which limits what your site can actually do. If you’re running a business that relies on leads, bookings, or online payments, you’ll hit a wall quickly.

B12, in contrast, comes packed with integrations that help you run your entire business online. It integrates with tools like Google Calendar, PayPal, and Shopify. 

You can add scheduling tools, contact forms, chat widgets, tracking codes, and even podcast players, all within the same ecosystem. It’s a digital operations hub where your site, payments, and client communications work together seamlessly.

Canva Website Builder Pricing

Canva plans are straightforward and affordable. The free plan lets you create a simple site with a Canva subdomain, while the Pro plan (around $12.99/month) unlocks custom domains, branding tools, and premium Canva website templates. It’s a great deal if all you want is a beautiful online portfolio or event page.

However, once you start adding real business needs (SEO, analytics, payments, scheduling, or multi-user control), it doesn’t hold up as well. You’ll likely need other tools (like Stripe for payments) and extra subscriptions to fill those gaps.

With B12, you get a more comprehensive solution: an all-in-one website builder that actually runs your business. 

B12 has a Starter plan that lets you get a free website up and running with features like scheduling and online invoicing. The Basic plan ($49/month) is great for early-stage businesses that need their own domain and on-site conversion tools, among other key features. If your business grows, there are bigger plans with extra tools and features you can check out.

B12 also offers expert-assisted setup. Professional designers and copywriters build your site for you, so you’re not left tinkering with templates.

Pros and cons of Canva website builder

The Canva website builder has a lot going for it, especially if your goal is to create something that looks great without getting tangled in technical stuff. But once you move beyond the basics, its limits start to show. Here’s a closer, more honest look at what works well and what doesn’t.

Pros

• Extremely beginner-friendly interface: You don’t need any tech skills. Just drag, drop, and publish.
• Canva designs: Its templates are clean, modern, and instantly make your site look professional.
• Perfect for simple portfolios or single-page sites: Ideal for artists, freelancers, or personal projects that need quick, one-page websites.
• Massive built-in design library: Access thousands of fonts, icons, images, and animations without leaving the editor.

Cons

• Not built for complex or business websites: No support for advanced navigation, multi-page websites, or third-party integrations.
• No SEO or analytics depth: Limited to basic titles and descriptions, nothing to help your site rank or track performance.
• Lacks CRM, forms, and payment tools: You’ll need other platforms to collect leads or process transactions.
• Limited scalability: Great for short-term or personal use, but not sustainable for growing a business.

Canva website builder vs. AI website builders (like B12)

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick comparison showing how Canva stacks up against B12, an AI website builder built for businesses that want more than just a pretty site.

1. Design automation & speed

Canva’s free website builder is fast, but only if you’re willing to drag and drop everything yourself. It’s like decorating a digital canvas: fun but manual. 

In contrast, B12’s AI does the heavy lifting for you. It instantly generates full page layouts and content, so you start with a polished draft instead of a blank page. You can still tweak everything, but the groundwork’s already done.

As explained by a B12 team member, “Time saved in design translates directly into faster launches and earlier revenue. That’s the real power behind AI-assisted website creation.”

2. Customization & professional features

Canva gives you freedom to change fonts and colors, but not much else. It’s great for visual expression, yet it stops short of what most businesses need. 

B12, on the other hand, combines industry-specific templates, AI-written copy, and real design support. You can easily add features like lead forms, online scheduling, or client intake tools, things Canva simply doesn’t offer.

3. SEO, integrations & conversion tools

While Canva focuses on design aesthetics, B12 is built for visibility and performance. Every site comes with built-in search engine optimization, business listings, and conversion tools like pop-ups, testimonials, and email automation. Canva’s websites remain static. They look nice, but they don’t help you attract or convert leads.

4. Scalability & business readiness

At the end of the day, Canva works well for creators who just want an online presence. It’s perfect for personal projects, portfolios, or short-term sites. But if you’re building a brand, attracting clients, or trying to scale your business, B12 is a better fit. It’s designed for growth, combining AI speed with real-world business tools that help you run everything from one place.

Who should use Canva website builder (and who shouldn’t)

Canva’s website builder is a great starting point, especially if you care more about visuals than complex features. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all tool. Here’s a realistic breakdown of who will actually get the most out of it (and who won’t).

Best for:

• Personal portfolios, freelancers, or event landing pages: Perfect for showing off creative work, promoting a one-time event, or building a digital resume without overthinking structure or SEO.
• Creative professionals who already use Canva daily: If you’re comfortable designing in Canva, extending that into a mini-website feels natural. You can keep everything (graphics, logos, and site) in one familiar workspace.

Not ideal for:

• Businesses needing multi-page sites, SEO visibility, or conversions: Canva’s sites look nice but won’t help you rank, capture leads, or drive sales.
• Service providers, agencies, and SMBs: You’ll outgrow Canva fast. Platforms like B12 are built for you. It combines AI with professional features like SEO optimization, client scheduling, and payments to help your business actually grow online.

Conclusion

Canva’s website builder strength lies in visual storytelling. It’s simple, fun, and a good website builder choice for small creative projects. But when you need a website that does more than just look good, you’ll run into some limitations.

If you want something fast, AI-powered, and built for real business growth, B12 is the smarter move. You get SEO baked in, client tools ready to go, and expert support when you need it.

Try B12’s AI website builder. Create a professional site with built-in SEO and conversion tools, no design skills needed.