Freedom251 › Graphic Design Software
HyCanvas
What HyCanvas is
HyCanvas is a design editor for graphics, presentations, video, whiteboards, documents, sheets, and print. Its tools include an infinite canvas, smart guides, variable font axes, a pen tool, node editing, boolean operations, and SVG import. A template library, presentation design, illustration tools, and brand kit are also listed. The AI studio can generate designs from prompts, assist with edits, resize or reformat work, create charts, and generate imagery. Users connect their own OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, or custom endpoint key; the provider bills them directly without HyCanvas markup. Collaboration includes live presence and cursors, workspaces, roles, comments, approvals, and a shared brand kit. HyCanvas offers browser-based Cloud access and self-hosting. The self-hosted platform is a single binary with the web app embedded and PostgreSQL as its only dependency; installations can use local or S3 storage and keep designs on their own infrastructure. The self-hosted plan is free, billed $0 forever.
Who it suits
HyCanvas suits individuals or teams creating several types of design work in one editor. Its self-hosted option may suit organizations that want designs stored on their own infrastructure.
What it does well
- Supports graphics, presentations, video, whiteboards, docs, sheets, and print.
- Includes collaboration tools and a shared brand kit.
- Self-hosted installations can use local or S3 storage.
- Self-hosted plan is free.
- The .hyc format is described as open and documented.
What to know first
- AI use requires users’ own provider keys.
- Paid cloud plans add capacity, backups, and support.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | $0 forever · Full platform · own server · bring your own AI keys and storage | Free |
| Cloud | Every feature included · browser access · paid plans add hosting capacity, backups, and support | Free |
As hycanvas.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
HyCanvas combines a broad design editor with collaboration, AI tools, and a self-hosting option.
Facts from HyCanvas's own pages
- AI providers
- Users connect their own OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, or custom endpoint key; the provider bills them directly without HyCanvas markup. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- AI studio
- The AI studio can generate designs from prompts, assist with edits, resize or reformat designs, create charts, and generate imagery. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Brand kit
- Yes · hycanvas.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Collaboration
- HyCanvas provides live presence and cursors, workspaces, roles, comments, approvals, and a shared brand kit. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Design formats
- HyCanvas supports graphics, presentations, video, whiteboards, docs, sheets, and print in one editor. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Design tools
- The editor includes an infinite canvas, smart guides, variable font axes, a pen tool, node editing, booleans, and SVG import. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · hycanvas.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Hosted privacy
- The privacy policy says hosted data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and the company does not sell personal information or use user content to train AI models. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Illustration tools
- Yes · hycanvas.com, 20 Sept 2026
- License
- The code is source-available under the Elastic License 2.0. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Open format
- HyCanvas describes its .hyc design format as open and documented, with work exportable at any time. · docs.hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Presentation design
- Yes · hycanvas.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Real-time collaboration
- Yes · hycanvas.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Security controls
- The maker lists OIDC single sign-on, TOTP multi-factor authentication, workspace isolation, and AI keys encrypted at rest for self-hosting. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The platform runs as a single self-contained binary with the web app embedded and PostgreSQL as its only dependency. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Storage
- Self-hosted installations can keep designs on their own infrastructure and use local or S3 storage. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Paid cloud plans add priority support; the hosted service also lists privacy requests and complaints at [email protected]. · hycanvas.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Template library
- Yes · hycanvas.com, 20 Sept 2026
Where HyCanvas stands on Freedom251
- Graphic Design Software#30 of 150
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