Canva has just announced significant enhancements to its developer platform, including the addition of premium apps for Pro subscribers, a translation feature for applications, improved discovery options, and new API functionalities.

The creative tool company launched its developer program in June 2023, enabling developers to create add-ons for Canva—similar to Chrome extensions. According to Canva, over 300 apps have been developed, collectively used more than 1 billion times.

For example, Meta has developed the Meta Design Check app to assist users in applying the company's best creative practices.

With this latest announcement, Canva will allow users with Pro or higher subscriptions to access certain premium apps. Previously, apps could charge for their services without Canva taking a share, but this new feature introduces a monetization option for select developers.

Additionally, Canva has established a $50 million developer innovation fund to reward apps participating in the monetization program based on their overall usage.

To enhance user experience, Canva is also improving app discoverability. Previously, apps were located in a separate tab, but now they will appear in various sections, including the Text tab, Elements tab, and Photo Editor. They will also be integrated into Canva Docs, alongside Canva’s native editing tools.

In addition to these updates, the company is introducing a translation tool that allows users to translate an app's content into their preferred language.

Canva is also rolling out new API capabilities for developers. One notable feature is the content query API, which enables users to inquire about the content within their designs. It also allows apps to read and update text with user consent. Additionally, a new design editing API, currently in beta, can generate design elements and layouts based on user prompts. Canva has introduced an API for authentication through a Canva account and a tables API for creating tables within designs.

“We have taken our time to build out a developer platform because we thought a lot about how we should tackle data sharing with developers and how much flexibility we should give them. We also wanted to ensure that we can sustain this program long-term, which is why we have explored different monetization models,” said Anwar Haneef, GM and Head of Ecosystem at Canva, in a call with TechCrunch.

Canva also offers a Connect API that allows companies to integrate Canva’s functionalities within their environments for enterprise customers. Recently, the company unveiled Canva for Salesforce, enabling sales teams to transform customer data into presentations, such as building decks based on account information.

Moreover, developers can now apply for Leonardo.Ai APIs, a startup acquired by Canva earlier this year, and receive credits to help build their apps.