Before an app can be released, it must be submitted for review and pass through an app review process. The exact details of this process depend on whether the app is a public app or a team app.

Public apps

A public app is an app that can be made available to the general public and, once released, is discoverable via the Apps Marketplace. If you want an app to be used by as many people as possible, it should be created as a public app.

Why is there an app review process?

At Canva, we conduct extensive user research and have a clear understanding of what will resonate with users.

The purpose of our app review process is to share these insights with app developers, with the ultimate goal of releasing better apps that are more likely to succeed in the Apps Marketplace.

This dedication to quality prevents the Apps Marketplace from becoming bloated with low-quality apps, while also rewarding developers who are willing to create high-quality apps. As a result, there's less competition, users are more likely to try new apps, and developers (and their apps) have the best opportunity to thrive.

Who reviews public apps?

Public apps are reviewed by Canva's dedicated team of app reviewers. This team consists of engineers, designers, and quality assurance experts who will work with you to make the best app possible.

What is the review criteria?

Public apps must adhere to a number of requirements, both in terms of functionality and design. These requirements are explained throughout the documentation, where relevant, and in the submission checklist.

How long is the app review process?

There are many factors that affect the duration of the app review, such as the complexity of the app and the amount of feedback required, so it's not practical for us to provide an average or expected duration.

How do I get help with my submission?

When a public app is submitted for review, a Jira Service Desk (JSD) ticket is created to track the progress of the submission. You can use this ticket to communicate with Canva, such as to ask clarifying questions.

What are the outcomes of a review?

There are two possible outcomes of a review:

Approved
Rejected

Approved

If a public app is approved by Canva's app review team, the app review process is complete, and the app can be released on-demand by the owner of the app. To learn more, see Releasing apps.

Rejected

If a public app is rejected, the app owner will receive feedback that explains what changes are required before the app review process can continue. This feedback will be visible in the Developer Portal, via the View feedback page.

The rejected version of an app cannot be modified. A new version of the app must be created before it can be updated and submitted for review. To learn more, see App versioning.

All communication relating to the submission will continue on the original JSD ticket.

Team apps

A team app is an app that can only be made available to members of a team. If the app is only useful to a team, such as an app that integrates with an organization's internal systems, it should be created as a team app.

Who reviews team apps?

Canva is not involved in the review process for team apps.

Instead, team apps are reviewed by the owner or an administrator of the team. Any owner or administrator has the power to single-handedly review an app. There's no need for a consensus.

To learn more about reviewing and otherwise managing team apps, see Managing team apps.

What is the review criteria?

As Canva is not involved in the review process for team apps, we don't enforce any specific review criteria. The criteria are at the discretion of the team's owner and administrators.

How long is the app review process?

The duration of the review process depends on the team's own processes and may be affected by a number of factors, such as the team's capacity and review criteria.

How do I get help with my submission?

There's a built-in mechanism for app reviewers to provide feedback to app owners, but if additional help is required, the team will need to organize alternative means of communication.

What are the outcomes of a review?

There are two possible outcomes of a review:

Approved
Rejected

Approved

If a team app is approved, the app is immediately released and made available to members of the team — that is, the approval and release steps are combined into a single step. To learn more, see Releasing apps.

Rejected

If a team app is rejected, the app owner will receive feedback that explains what changes are required before the app review process can continue. This feedback will be visible in the Developer Portal, via the View feedback page.

The rejected version of an app cannot be modified. A new version of the app must be created before it can be updated and submitted for review. To learn more, see App versioning.

Known limitations

In the Developer Portal, only the most recent feedback is visible.