Scalemage vs Canva
Canva is a full design suite, and its Magic Resize feature rescales a design you’ve built into other sizes. Scalemage solves a narrower problem better: take an existing image or photo and let AI intelligently recompose it for each ad format — no design work, no subscription, pay only per image.
| Feature | Scalemage | Canva |
|---|---|---|
| Works on existing photos | Yes — upload any JPG, PNG or WEBP | Best with designs built in Canva |
| How it resizes | AI recomposes for each aspect ratio | Scales/repositions layout elements |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go — $3 for 10, 3 free | Magic Resize needs a Canva Pro subscription |
| Design skills needed | None | Helpful |
| Exact ad dimensions | Yes, preset + custom | Yes, manual sizes |
Recompose, don’t just rescale
Stretching a horizontal photo into a vertical Story usually crops out the subject or leaves awkward empty space. Scalemage’s AI rebuilds the scene for the new aspect ratio, keeping the important parts in frame — something layout-scaling tools can’t do with a flat photo.
No subscription required
Magic Resize lives behind Canva Pro. If you only need to adapt creatives now and then, a monthly plan is overkill. Scalemage is pay-as-you-go: 3 free credits to start and $3 for 10 more, with no recurring charge.