A Canva Magic Layers alternative that exports PSD
Magic Layers makes a flat image editable inside Canva. When the next step happens in Photoshop, Photopea or Affinity, you need the layers as a file.
Short answer
Canva Magic Layers (beta) turns a flat PNG or JPG into editable layers inside a Canva design, text included. It is a Premium AI tool on Canva's shared monthly AI allowance: up to 20 Premium-AI uses on Canva Free and up to 200 on Pro, by Canva's estimate. Canva's download types (JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF and others) do not include PSD, so the layers stay in Canva. LayerPSD does the split outside Canva and gives you the file: every element on its own transparent layer, the background repainted behind it, exported as a layered PSD, a ZIP of PNGs or single PNGs, with text as native Photoshop type (beta). It costs $0.018 per output image with no subscription. Stay with Magic Layers when you finish the design in Canva; use LayerPSD when the layers have to leave Canva.
Canva Magic Layers and LayerPSD side by side
Quoted from each site on 2026-10-05. "Not stated" means the site does not say; it is not a claim that the feature is missing.
- Layered PSD
- No
Layers stay inside a Canva design; Canva's download types (JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, PPTX, DOCX, GIF, MP4) do not include PSD
- Editable text layers
- Yes
"Edit text directly. Fix the typo, change the font", inside Canva
- Background filled in
- Not stated
Not stated
- Pricing (as shown on the site)
A Premium AI tool on Canva's shared monthly AI allowance: up to 20 Premium-AI uses on Canva Free, up to 200 on Pro (US$144 a year per person, US prices). Canva's estimates for simple tasks; complex ones use more
- Notes
Beta. PNG or JPG, single page, up to 5,000 px on the longest edge; works best on graphics and illustrations, photo-realistic images "may not separate as cleanly"
- Layered PSD
- Yes
Layered PSD, ZIP of PNGs or single PNGs, built in the browser
- Editable text layers
- Partial
Optional native Photoshop type layers with stroke, glow, shadow and gradient as layer styles (beta); lettering the model cannot read stays as pixels
- Background filled in
- Yes
Background repainted behind every element (amodal inpainting)
- Pricing (as shown on the site)
$0.018 per output image on Seedream 5.0 Flash, $0.12 on Pro; background + 4 layers = $0.09. One free try with Google sign-in. No subscription; runs on your LaoZhang API key
- Notes
Input up to 50 MB, output 1K–2K. Real runs with cost and time on /examples and /data/benchmarks.json
Which one to pick
Both are reasonable choices; it depends on how often you split images and what you need in the file.
Pick Canva Magic Layers if
- You finish and publish the design in Canva: the layers land straight in the editor you already use.
- You already pay for Canva Pro: Magic Layers runs on the AI allowance you have, up to 200 Premium-AI uses a month by Canva's estimate.
- You want to retype a line and change its font in the same place you edit everything else.
Pick LayerPSD if
- You need a PSD: for Photoshop, Photopea, Affinity or GIMP, or for a designer who works in Photoshop.
- You need the background filled in behind every element: LayerPSD repaints it on every split; Canva's pages do not say whether Magic Layers does.
- Your image is large or photo-like: LayerPSD takes up to 50 MB, and the sneaker photo on the examples page split into 6 layers and a background in 79 s. Magic Layers takes up to 5,000 px on the longest edge and says photo-realistic images may not separate as cleanly.
- You do not otherwise use Canva: pay per output image (about $0.20 for a busy poster) instead of a yearly plan (Canva Pro is US$144 a year in the US).
- You want to change words but keep the exact lettering: the retype tool redraws the new words in the same style, including custom lettering that no installed font matches.
Other tools worth a look
From the full comparison of 17 tools.
- imagetolayers.com
Free layered preview (no credits). Creator $19/mo ($10/mo yearly, 12,000 credits/yr), Studio $49/mo ($30/mo yearly, 36,000 credits/yr); credits per layer not stated
- Adobe Photoshop / Firefly
Photoshop US$22.99/mo (annual, billed monthly) with 25 generative credits/mo. Firefly Standard US$9.99/mo (2,000 credits) to Premium US$199.99/mo
- Photopea
Free with ads; Premium 5 USD/month removes ads and, per its blog, adds no features
See every tool on the comparison page, or real LayerPSD runs with time and cost on the examples page.
Sources read on 2026-10-05:Canva Magic Layers / product pageCanva Magic Layers / help: file types and limitsCanva Magic Layers / help: AI allowance by planCanva Magic Layers / help: download file typesCanva Magic Layers / pricing (US)Spotted a mistake? hi@layerpsd.com
Questions
Can Canva Magic Layers export a PSD?
Canva's download types are JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, PPTX, DOCX, GIF and MP4; PSD is not one of them (checked 2026-10-05). The layers stay editable inside Canva. To take them into Photoshop, split the image with a tool that writes a layered PSD, such as LayerPSD.
Is Canva Magic Layers free?
It runs on Canva's shared monthly AI allowance. Canva estimates up to 20 Premium-AI uses a month on Canva Free and up to 200 on Pro, fewer for complex tasks. LayerPSD gives one free split after Google sign-in, then charges $0.018 per output image.
Can I use LayerPSD layers in Canva?
Yes. Download the split as a ZIP of transparent PNGs, one per element, and place them in any editor that takes PNG, Canva included. Use the PSD when the design continues in Photoshop.