Free Canva Bulk Create Alternative (Automate in Minutes)

I've spent way too many hours dealing with Canva's bulk create feature. You know the drill - download your CSV, upload it, wait for processing, download all the images, then manually organize everything. If you're creating 50+ Instagram posts for your product catalog or bulk generating social media content, it gets old fast.

The worst part? You can't automate any of it. Every single batch means going through the same manual process again. No API, no integrations, just you and that CSV upload button.

Here's what I found that actually works: import your Canva design once into Orshot, then generate as many variations as you need automatically. Whether you're using spreadsheets, hitting an API endpoint, or connecting to your favorite automation tools - it's all possible.

Orshot is a Canva alternative, along with a Canva-like editor Orshot also gives you API and integrations for your templates

In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly how I set this up. Takes about 30 minutes the first time, then it just runs.

How to Use This Canva Bulk Create Alternative

Orshot - a free alternative to Canva bulk create with 100 free renders to get started (no credit card required).

This tutorial shows you exactly how to set up automated bulk generation from your existing Canva templates. The process is simple: import your template, make fields dynamic, and use Orshot's spreadsheet feature to generate images automatically.

Step 1: Import Your Canva Template

You don't need to rebuild your design from scratch. Orshot imports your existing Canva template directly.

How to import:

1. Open your Canva design
2. Click the Share button and copy the link
3. Go to Orshot's Canva Import tool
4. Paste your Canva link and click Import

Wait about 30 seconds. Your design comes over with everything intact - fonts, colors, spacing, images. Once imported, you'll see it in Orshot Studio where you can make adjustments if needed.

Step 2: Make Fields Dynamic

Now tell Orshot which parts should change with each generation. Unlike Canva's bulk create (limited to basic text), you can parameterize anything - text, images, colors, even element visibility.

How to parameterize:

1. Open your imported template in Orshot Studio
2. Click on any text or image layer you want to make dynamic
3. In the right sidebar, toggle on "Parameterize"
4. Give it a parameter name like productName or productImage
5. Repeat for all dynamic elements

Example for Instagram product posts:

• Product name text → productName
• Product image → productImage
• Price text → price
• Description text → description

Unlike Canva's bulk create, alignment stays perfect across all generated posts automatically.

Step 3: Use Orshot's Spreadsheet Feature to Bulk Generate

This is where the magic happens. Orshot has a built-in spreadsheet feature - no need for external automation tools or manual CSV uploads like Canva.

Access the Spreadsheet Feature

1. Go to Workspace → Integrations → Spreadsheets in Orshot
2. Click "Generate from Spreadsheet Data"
3. Select your template from the dropdown

The spreadsheet interface will automatically create columns matching your parameterized fields.

Add Your Data

You have two options:

Option 1: Import a file

• Click the "Import" button
• Upload a CSV or Excel file with columns matching your parameters
• Data populates automatically

Option 2: Manual entry

• Click "Add Row" to create entries
• Type or paste directly into cells
• Copy/paste from Excel or Google Sheets

Example data for Instagram product posts:

Generate in Bulk

1. Set your generation options:

   • Format: PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF
   • Response Type: URL or Base64
   • Row Range: Choose which rows (e.g., rows 1-50)
   • Scale: Image resolution

2. Click "Start Generation"

3. Watch as images generate in real-time with preview thumbnails

4. Download all images as a ZIP file or copy individual URLs

That's it! You've replaced Canva's manual bulk create with Orshot's automated system. Add 50 rows and generate 50 Instagram posts with one click - no external tools needed.

Connect the Automation

You'll use an automation platform (n8n, Make, or Zapier) to connect your Google Sheet to Orshot:

1. Create a new workflow in your automation platform
2. Add trigger: "Google Sheets - When row is added or updated"
3. Add action: "HTTP Request" to Orshot API
4. Add action: "Google Sheets - Update row" with generated image URL

API request format:

POST https://api.orshot.com/v1/studio/render
Headers:
  Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
  Content-Type: application/json

Body:
{
  "templateId": "your-template-id",
  "modifications": {
    "productName": "{{row.productName}}",
    "price": "{{row.price}}",
    "description": "{{row.description}}",
    "productImage": "{{row.productImage}}"
  }
}

Map your sheet columns to the parameters.

Test It

Add a test row to your spreadsheet. Within a few seconds, the "Generated Post" column should populate with a URL. Click it to verify the image looks correct.

If it works, activate your workflow. Now every time you add or update a row, an image generates automatically.

That's it! You've replaced Canva's manual bulk create with an automated system. Add 50 rows to your sheet and watch 50 Instagram posts generate automatically.

More Ways to Generate Images

Beyond the built-in spreadsheet feature above, here are other ways to use this Canva bulk create alternative:

Via API (for Developers)

If you're comfortable with code, you can generate images programmatically from any system - your app, a script, a cron job, etc.

Quick example:

const response = await fetch("https://api.orshot.com/v1/studio/render", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    Authorization: "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 12345, // Your template ID
    modifications: {
      productName: "Gold Chain Anklet",
      price: "₹1,299",
      description: "Elegant 18k plated",
      productImage: "https://example.com/anklet.jpg",
    },
    response: {
      type: "url", // or "base64"
      format: "png", // png, jpeg, webp, or pdf
      scale: 1,
    },
  }),
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log("Generated:", data.content); // URL to generated image

Perfect for integrating into your applications, processing data from databases, or building custom automation workflows. See API docs.

Via Dynamic URLs

Generate images just by changing URL parameters - no code needed. Great for email signatures, social sharing cards, or personalized links.

Example:

https://api.orshot.com/render?template=abc123&productName=Anklet&price=1299

Each URL with different parameters generates a unique image. Learn more about dynamic URLs.

Automate with n8n, Make, or Zapier

Connect Orshot to thousands of apps for automated workflows:

• Google Sheets → Auto-generate when rows are added/updated
• Airtable → Generate images when records are created
• Typeform → Create certificates from form submissions
• Shopify → Auto-generate product images from new listings
• Webhook triggers → Generate on-demand from any system

These integrations use Orshot's API to trigger generation based on events in other apps. Browse all integrations.

Common Questions

Do I have to rebuild my Canva design?
No. The import brings everything over - fonts, colors, layouts, images. You might tweak a few things, but you're not starting from scratch.

Do I need to know coding?
Not for the spreadsheet method. It's all visual setup through n8n, Make, or Zapier. The API method does require some coding knowledge.

What automation platform should I use?
I like n8n because it's free and open-source. Make and Zapier are also good if you prefer cloud-based tools. They all work the same way for this use case.

How much does it cost?
Orshot starts at $30/month for 3,000 renders. Check the pricing page for current plans.

Can I generate PDFs too?
Yes. Multi-page PDFs work great for certificates, reports, or anything you need.

Is this good for bulk Instagram posts?
Absolutely. This is one of the most common use cases - especially for e-commerce businesses creating 50+ product posts daily. Unlike Canva's bulk create, you get consistent alignment and formatting across all posts.

Can I add prices and descriptions to product images automatically?
Yes. That's exactly what the parameterization does. You can add text overlays with prices, descriptions, or any other product details automatically.

What if I have 1,000 rows in my spreadsheet?
Use Orshot's row range feature to process batches (e.g., rows 1-100, then 101-200). You can also pause and resume generation at any time.

Wrapping Up

Look, Canva is great for designing templates. But bulk create? It's painful when you're doing any real volume. The manual CSV uploads, the lack of automation, the inability to integrate with anything - it just doesn't scale.

That's why so many teams are switching to Canva bulk create alternatives like Orshot. You import your Canva template once and then generate variations however you need - through spreadsheets if you want something simple, or via API if you're building it into an app.

Takes about 30-45 minutes to set up the first time. After that, it runs on its own. And with 100 free renders, you can test this free alternative to Canva bulk create without any risk.

Try This Free Canva Bulk Create Alternative

Ready to switch from Canva's manual bulk create to an automated alternative?

1. Sign up for Orshot - 100 free renders, no credit card required
2. Import your Canva template using this tool
3. Follow the spreadsheet or API steps above
4. Generate your first batch of images automatically

This free alternative to Canva bulk create takes about 30 minutes to set up, then runs automatically. If you run into issues, use the chat button on the site and I'll help you get set up.

Try the free Canva bulk create alternative →