HTML Email Signature vs. Canva Email Signature: What's the Difference?

While it is possible to create an email signature in Canva's Image Editor, that doesn’t always mean it’s a good idea. Some designers have opted to simply make an image in Canva or another design program and give those signatures to their clients rather than taking the time and effort to design an HTML email signature through code or a tool like Signature.email. Let’s look at some of the differences between an HTML signature and one created in Canva:

HTML Email Signatures

• Interactive elements (clickable links, phone numbers & addresses)
• Better compatibility across email clients
• Parts will show up even if images aren't displayed
• Can include tracking and analytics on links
• More professional appearance

Canva Email Signatures

• Easy to create with drag-and-drop interface
• Limited to image-based designs
• May have display issues in some email clients
• No interactive elements
• More variety in designs that can be created

Quick Comparison

Feature	HTML Signature	Canva Signature
Customization	Medium	High
Compatibility	Works in most email clients	Can be lost entirely after 1 reply
Interactive elements	Yes	No
Copyable Text	Yes	No
Professional appearance	High	Moderate
Tracking capabilities	Yes	No

HTML email signatures give you far more control, features, and reliability. While Canva offers quick image-based designs, HTML is the better choice if you want professional, clickable, and future-proof signatures for your brand.

Biggest Advantages of HTML Email Signatures Over Canva Email Signatures

One of the biggest advantages of using an HTML email signature instead of a single-image design is that the most important details are preserved as text. In many email clients, images are either blocked by default or can be stripped out when a message is forwarded or replied to. If your signature is entirely image-based, that means your name, phone number, email address, and other vital details could completely disappear. With an HTML signature, however, the contact information is rendered as plain text. Even if logos or icons don’t display, the essential information is still visible and accessible to the recipient.

This has a direct impact on usability. A text-based phone number in an HTML signature can be clicked or tapped to initiate a call, while an email address can open directly in the recipient’s email client. That functionality is lost in an image-only signature. Beyond convenience, it also helps with accessibility: screen readers can read the text in an HTML signature but cannot interpret words baked into an image. For recipients who rely on assistive technology, this difference can mean the signature is either useful or completely invisible.

There’s also a trust and professionalism element. When someone receives an email where the logo might be blocked, they can still verify the sender’s identity by the clear text signature. This reassures them that they know who they’re dealing with, without requiring them to download or enable images. It reduces friction and makes your communication more reliable.

What are HTML email signatures

HTML email signatures are digital business cards at the end of your emails. They use HTML code for more design options and features than plain text signatures.

These signatures can include:

• Your name and job title
• Company logo
• Contact info
• Social media links
• Call-to-action buttons

The big plus? HTML signatures mix text, images, and clickable stuff in a way that looks good and allows the signature to be useful to the receiver.

Pros of HTML signatures

• Brand boost: Show off your company's look in every email.
• More features: Make everything clickable - send people to websites, emails, or phone numbers.
• Better delivery: Good text-to-image mix means less chance of spam folder.
• Easy to Update: Easy to update for multiple people especially using a generator tool.
• Track it: Add codes to links to see how many clicks you get.

Cons of HTML signatures

• A bit more complex: You'll need to know how to code or use a tool like Signature.email.
• Limited Fonts: You will need to choose fonts that are found on most people’s devices.
• Design can vary: Different email apps render text and images in slightly different ways.
• Updating's a pain: Changing signatures for everyone can be a headache.

Want to make an HTML signature? Use a generator or code it yourself. Here's a simple example:

<table width="500" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
  <td>
    <img src="logo.png" alt="Company Logo">
  </td>
  <td>
    <strong>John Doe</strong><br>
    Marketing Manager<br>
    <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
  </td>
</tr>
</table>

What are Canva email signatures

Canva email signatures are really just an image that has the logo, design, and text all baked together into one combined image. You can create them easily using Canva's design platform. Canva gives you helpful tools to make them quickly.

Here's how to make one:

1. Go to Canva and search "Email signature"
2. Pick a template you like
3. Add your name, job, and contact info
4. Tweak the design (fonts, colors, images)
5. Download as a high-res image

Good things about Canva

• Easy to create: It's super easy to use
• Plentiful Templates: Tons of templates to choose from
• Stock & Graphics: Lots of stock images and graphics

Problems with Canva signatures

• No Clickability: You only get a single image file so links won’t work.
• Too High Rez: Some email apps may treat the image as an attachment if it is too large, you may need to downsample it for it to be used as an email signature.
• No Editability: After you save out the image, it can’t be edited. This means if you need to create email signatures for 100 employees, you will need to save out 100 images and send them on to each person.

HTML vs. Canva: Side-by-side comparison

Aspect	HTML Signature	Canva Signature
Email client compatibility	Works with most email apps	Whole image may get lost after a reply or forward
Load time	Can be optimized for speed	May be too high quality, increasing load time
Tracking capabilities	Can include tracking codes	No built-in tracking options
Effect on email delivery	Lower impact on delivery rates (smaller, better text/image balance)	Higher impact, may trigger spam filters

Large or Small Business?

Big companies usually go for HTML signatures. Why?

1. Control: Ability to generate many signatures without a designer having to save each one out manually.
2. Brand match: Keep all signatures in line with company look.
3. Scale: Roll out to lots of employees fast.
4. More features: Add tracking and interactive content.

Small businesses? It's not as clear. If you know tech or can buy a tool, HTML is probably better in the long run, but if you want something quick and pretty: Try Canva.

Technical details

Let’s take a closer look at the technical details behind creating each type of email signature.

HTML coding

• Basic HTML and CSS skills
• Use tables for layout, inline CSS, and HTML attributes
• Stick to web-safe fonts
• Keep it under 600px wide (300-400px for mobile)
• Aim for 60/40 text-to-image ratio
• Keep file size for each image under 100kb

No coding skills? Try our drag and drop HTML signature editing tool. We offer a number of starting templates and customization options.

Canva file types

File Type	Use Case	Notes
PNG	Most common	Medium file size, can have transparency
JPG	Photos	Smaller files, no transparency
GIF	Logos	Older file format, transparency, limited colors
SVG	Web graphics	Not recommended for email signature compatibility

Design tips

When it comes to design, the key is making sure your email signature looks good and functions well across all devices.

Make it work on all devices

• Keep it narrow (300-400px for mobile)
• More text, fewer images (60/40 split)
• Use boring fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana)
• Test on different devices and email apps

Make it easy for everyone (Accessibility)

• Add alt text to images
• Use clear fonts
• Keep it short (7 lines max)
• Make stuff clickable (contact info, links)

Element	Do This	Why
Font	Web-safe, 12-14px	Easy to read
Colors	On-brand, high contrast	Easy to see
Images	Small files (under 100kb)	Load fast
Layout	Left-aligned	Easy to scan

Tracking and measuring results

Want to know if your email signature is working? Here's how to track its impact:

UTM parameters are tags you add to links in your signature. They show you how many clicks you're getting in Google Analytics.

Here's how:

1. Go to Google's Campaign URL Builder
2. Fill in:
   • Website URL (https://yourcompany.com)
   • Campaign Source (email_signature)
   • Campaign Medium (email)
   • Campaign Name (spring_sale_2023)
3. Copy the URL and use it in your signature
4. Use different UTM parameters for each version.
5. After your campaign Log into Google Analytics
6. Go to Acquisition > Campaigns > All Campaigns
7. Look for email signature link traffic

Wrap-up

HTML and Canva email signatures both have their uses. Let's break it down:

Our take

HTML signatures are the top pick for most businesses. Here's why:

• They're more interactive
• They're less likely to get flagged as spam
• The important text shows up even when images are blocked
• You can easily add and update promotional content

Canva signatures are good for:

• Quick, nice-looking designs
• Lots of pre-made templates

Here's a quick comparison:

Feature	HTML	Canva
Multiple links	Yes	No
Works when images are blocked	Yes	No
Marketing potential	High	Low
Design options	Many	Some
Easy to make	Needs tech skills	Easy

Don't worry if you're not tech-savvy. Our email signature generator can quickly help you make a custom HTML email signature to your exact needs.

Your email signature is like a digital business card. It's often the first thing people see, so choose wisely. In short, by keeping key details as text within an HTML signature, you guarantee that the core purpose of your signature—conveying who you are and how to reach you—is always fulfilled. Images can enhance the look and feel, but text ensures the message isn’t lost when technology or email settings get in the way.

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