The short answer
Choose VAPortfolio if you want a portfolio that's already laid out for VA work, where you just fill in your details and publish.
Choose Canva Websites if you love designing in Canva, want a page that matches your other Canva designs exactly, and are happy to plan every section yourself.
Side by side
| What matters | VAPortfolio | Canva Websites |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Virtual assistants only | Any one-page or multi-page site |
| Free plan | Yes, with no time limit | Yes, up to 5 sites |
| Branding on the free plan | Small “Made with VAPortfolio” badge | “Designed with Canva” footer |
| Free plan address | vaportfolio.com/me/your-name | A canva.site address |
| Cheapest way to remove branding | $25 a year when it opens (founding price) | Canva Pro: $144/year |
| VA sections ready (services, tools, samples, testimonials) | Yes, in every template | No, you design them yourself |
| Free plan page length | Every section included | Up to 10 sections per page |
| Phone layout | Built in for every template | Responsive; you check and adjust it yourself |
| Your own domain name | Not yet (planned for Pro) | Paid plans |
| Design freedom | Pick a template, colors and fonts | Full control in the Canva editor |
Prices are in US dollars and were checked on . They change, and may differ in your country, so check before you buy. Sources: Canva Help Center: Canva Websites · Canva Help Center: publishing websites for free · Canva pricing
When Canva Websites is the better choice
- You're a design-focused VA, for example offering graphic design or social media design, and your website itself is a sample of your work.
- You already pay for Canva Pro, so your own domain and a branding-free site cost you nothing extra.
- You want a layout no template offers and you're happy to spend the time building it.
When VAPortfolio is the better choice
- You don't want to plan the page from scratch. Services, tools, work samples, certifications, testimonials and contact details already have their place.
- You want it to work on phones without fiddling. Every template is built for computers and phones.
- You want client tools built in: a booking button on Free, and on Pro a booking calendar, contact form and visitor stats.
- You want to start free with 6 templates and room for 3 work samples and 3 testimonials.
The best way to use both
You don't have to choose one forever. Canva is excellent for making work samples: social media graphics, email designs, reports and presentations. VAPortfolio is built for showing them to clients. Design your samples in Canva, export them as images, and add them to your VAPortfolio page. For ideas, read how to create a virtual assistant portfolio, or see real VA portfolios.
Comparing other builders too? Read VAPortfolio vs Wix and VAPortfolio vs Squarespace.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a free VA website with Canva?
Yes. Canva Free lets you publish up to 5 websites on a free canva.site address. Free sites show a "Designed with Canva" footer, and pages are limited to 10 sections.
Do I need Canva Pro for my own domain?
Yes. Connecting your own domain and removing the Canva footer needs a paid plan. Canva Pro for one person was $144 a year when we checked.
Is a Canva website better than a Canva PDF portfolio?
Usually, yes. A website has one link, opens on any phone and is always up to date. A PDF has to be downloaded, and old versions keep circulating.
Is VAPortfolio better than Canva for a VA portfolio?
For most VAs who want to pitch quickly, yes: the sections clients look for are already in place and every template is laid out for VA work. Canva gives you more design freedom, but you plan and design the whole page yourself. VAPortfolio Pro is $25 a year when it opens (founding price).
Can I use my Canva designs on VAPortfolio?
Yes. Export your Canva work samples as images and add them to the portfolio section of your VAPortfolio page, with a link to the full file if you like.