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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

iMemories vs Canva

iMemories 4.9★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Canva
Canva 4.9★ · Free + IAP 75

Canva is the better choice for general design and content creation due to its versatility and extensive features, while iMemories is a niche service for digitizing physical media with significant usability and pricing issues.

Full reviews: iMemories · Canva

Canva offers a highly versatile platform for graphic design, video editing, and content creation, praised for its ease of use and vast template library, despite a common complaint about premium features being paywalled. iMemories specializes in digitizing old media, a service many users value for preserving memories, but the app itself is plagued by technical issues, hidden costs, and poor customer support.

Head to head

Features & Versatility edge: CanvaR2R6R9R15
iMemories iMemories is highly valued for its core service of digitizing old physical media like VHS tapes, 8mm films, and photos, allowing users to relive precious family memories R2. However, the app's features for managing and editing these digitized memories are limited, with users reporting difficulty uploading new photos after updates and a lack of robust editing tools R6R9R15.
Canva Canva is celebrated for its extensive range of design features, templates, and versatility, capable of handling various projects from social media content to presentations and videos . Users appreciate its ability to create music videos from audio and photos, though some wish for more advanced video editing capabilities . A significant drawback is that many desirable features, such as background removal and premium graphics, are locked behind a paid subscription R73R82.
Ease of Use & Navigation edge: CanvaR6R9R11R15
iMemories While the process of sending in media for digitization is often described as quick and easy R11, the iMemories app itself is frequently criticized for being difficult to navigate, especially after updates R9R15. Users report issues with uploading new content, finding features, and a generally buggy interface R6.
Canva Canva is widely praised for its user-friendly interface and ease of use, making it accessible even for seniors and beginners . However, some users find its layout confusing, with too many similar buttons, and struggle with navigation when trying to perform basic tasks or when unfamiliar with design principles R66.
Reliability & Performance edge: CanvaR6R7R16R21
iMemories The iMemories app suffers from significant reliability issues. Users frequently report videos not playing, constant freezing and pausing during streaming, sound without video, or the app crashing entirely R7R16R21. Uploading new videos and photos is also described as slow and often fails R6.
Canva Canva generally performs well, but some users experience lag, glitches, and slow loading times, particularly with video editing or when dealing with large projects . There are also reports of specific features not working, such as elements becoming unmovable or issues with Typecraft on mobile .
Price & Value tieR1R4R10R13
iMemories iMemories faces strong criticism for its pricing model, with many users feeling misled by hidden costs and unexpected subscription fees R1R4R10R13. Users report paying for digitization only to find they need to pay monthly or annually to access their own videos, or that their content is deleted after 30 days if they don't subscribe R4R13R49. The cost of digitization itself is also deemed expensive by some R10.
Canva Canva offers a free tier, but a significant portion of its valuable features, templates, and graphics are locked behind a paid 'Pro' subscription R66R73. Users frequently express frustration over having to pay for essential tools like background removal or to access premium content R73R82. The subscription price is considered high by some, especially for casual users . However, Canva offers a free program for nonprofits, which is highly valued .
Customer Support edge: CanvaR1R3R13R19
iMemories iMemories' customer support is a major point of contention. Users report delayed responses, unreturned calls, and a complete lack of technical support for the app R1R3R13R19. Some users also describe misleading information regarding pricing and service terms R1.
Canva While not as heavily criticized as iMemories, some Canva users report issues with customer service, particularly regarding billing disputes and refunds . There are also complaints about login errors for school accounts .
Pick iMemories if

You have old physical media (tapes, slides, photos) that you want professionally digitized and are willing to navigate potential app issues and unclear pricing for the emotional value of preserving memories R2.

Pick Canva if

You need a versatile and user-friendly platform for graphic design, video editing, and content creation, and are either willing to pay for a Pro subscription to unlock full features or find the free tier sufficient for your basic needs .

Evidence note: iMemories' reviews are heavily skewed towards the digitization service itself, with many positive comments about the quality of the transfers, but the app experience is consistently negative. Canva's reviews are abundant and cover a wider range of features, with the main negative points revolving around the paywall for premium content.

Frequently asked

Does iMemories offer free access to digitized videos?
No, iMemories users frequently report that after paying for digitization, they are required to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to access or rewatch their own videos, and content may be deleted if they don't pay R4R13R43R49.
Is Canva truly free to use?
Canva has a free tier, but many desirable features, templates, and graphics, such as background removal and premium elements, are locked behind a paid 'Pro' subscription, leading many users to feel that significant functionality requires payment R66R73R82R84.
What are the main issues with the iMemories app?
The iMemories app is frequently criticized for its unreliability, with videos constantly freezing, pausing, or failing to play, and the app often crashing R7R21. Users also report difficulty uploading new content and poor navigation after updates R6R9R15.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] iMemories 5/5 · US Fills My Heart With Joy!: I submitted about 15 VHS tapes to be digitized. Watching them and seeing my children when they were babies, special moments like holidays, birthdays and baptisms is truly special will. But being able to hear my mom’s voice again and see her face and those of other family members that have passed away truly fills my heart with joy. Thank you!!!
  2. [R6] iMemories 3/5 · US Slow and limited what you can do: I find myself going to the iMemories website actually even the old website not the new one because it works so much better even though the visual is not as good the upload speeds are much better and you don’t have to stay on the app for it to upload. It’s a pain when you are trying to upload things on the app and you want to go to another app or to do some thing i
  3. [R9] iMemories 3/5 · US Bad app upgrade: I can’t figure out how to upload photos since the new app update. So confused! Used to LOVE this service.
  4. [R15] iMemories 3/5 · US Terrible update!: Love the app but can’t figure out how to upload to my albums now that I updated the app. Please fix!!
  5. [R11] iMemories 5/5 · US Process: Excellent quick and perfect!
  6. [R7] iMemories 2/5 · US Won’t stay open: Shuts down constantly in the middle of playing videos
  7. [R16] iMemories 1/5 · US yikes: $60 a year to have black screen videos that dont play
  8. [R21] iMemories 2/5 · US Streaming video just doesn’t work: Do I spent a few hundred dollars getting old videos digitized. The entire process was great. However, when trying to stream through the app, the video constantly freezes and continues to play sound but the video is frozen. Give stars for the process but one star for the app. A streaming video service that won’t stream is pretty useless.
  9. [R1] iMemories 1/5 · US Hidden costs does not allow full download of material: Customer service delayed response hidden cost does not download effectively.
  10. [R4] iMemories 1/5 · US Beware: They make it seem like you have unlimited access to your movies in their cloud and then they send you a sudden warning at 30 days requiring you pay to access your films in the cloud. A rip off. Download your movies as soon as you get them and be done with their cloud service.
  11. [R10] iMemories 2/5 · US Rip off: This was way more expensive than other options. They got me with the free shipping, just to charge $18 to ship the tape back. Paid $25 for a 12 minute digital copy, then you have to pay monthly or annual to have access to rewatch your videos? Scam.
  12. [R13] iMemories 1/5 · US Total fraud: Went thru walgreens. Didn’t want dvds, wanted to download onto pc. Haven’t had a dvd player in 15 years. Paid $175 No email communication. Got on site, said 1 week to dl otherwise call for permission to download. I kid you not. I call. On hold for 45 minutes, whole time #1 in queue, w the time remaining 2:15 & 3:15 for the whole time. Refusing to pay for cloud, says if i dont
  13. [R3] iMemories 3/5 · US Missing minutes from my Fathers last video.: I told the company by email, minutes were missing from a video when they added digitized video to my app, I downloaded here. I confirmed missing minutes to them by email, twice. No reply second time. No one answers their telephone. Payment is required upfront of service. I did not receive an actual receipt. The app is expensive and it offers no
  14. [R19] iMemories 1/5 · US No technical support: The app stopped working on my son's iPad. Deleting and reinstalling did not help. So I called iMemories customer support and was told that they provide no support for their app. So we are stuck.
  15. [R43] iMemories 1/5 · US Don’t do it: I paid a ridiculous amount of money to have my videos put on my phone and now they want eight dollars a month for me to view/ access my own videos?
  16. [R49] iMemories 1/5 · US DO NOT USE HORRIBLE SERVICE: If you don’t download within 30 days they DELETE everything and you have to resend everything back. And you have to pay again. Customer service is also rude.
  17. [R66] Canva 3/5 · US Confusing layout, too much similarity in buttons for navigation: It’s hard to distinguish between some things because everything looks too similar. 99% of content is premium and so you have limited options when trying to make a design. Also it’s hard to navigate when you’re just trying to figure out how to set up a single 8.5x11 paper and put one photo on it scaled down. It’s like it encourages te
  18. [R73] Canva 1/5 · US Why is the one thing I need money?: I went to CapCut couldn’t find the move background. I went to here to try to remove the background. It said I had to pay $250 or $25 and I’m not doing a free trial cause they make you pay afterwards.
  19. [R82] Canva 1/5 · US WHY.: Why do we have to pay just to REMOVE THE BACKGROUND. AND EVERYTHING GOOD IS BASICALLY PAY TO USE.
  20. [R84] Canva 3/5 · US Kinda: This is .. a good game . But you can only use the ones that don’t have little crowns 👑and that means those little crowns you have to PAY for . And im a kid. So I can’t pay for those little crowns . But anyway you have a LIMIT on EVERYTHING and then you have to Pay for more time !!!other than the price , it’s an ok app you can make pictures and videos but you don’t get the really good ones b

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store