Add Border to Video: VideoToBe vs Canva - Which is Better for Large Files?
Canva is great for quick graphics and social media posts. But when it comes to adding borders to large video files, Canva hits some frustrating limitations. Let's compare both tools so you can pick the right one for your needs.
How to Add Border to Video in Canva
Before we compare, here's how you'd add a border in Canva:
Canva Method (7 Steps)
- Log into your Canva account (required)
- Create a new design with your video's dimensions
- Upload your video file
- Add a rectangle shape behind your video
- Resize the video to be smaller than the rectangle
- Customize the rectangle color (your border)
- Export as MP4
It works, but there are catches...
Canva Limitations for Video Borders
File Size Limits
| Plan | Max Upload Size |
|---|---|
| Canva Free | 250MB |
| Canva Pro | 1GB |
| Canva Teams | 1GB |
The Problem: A 15-minute 1080p video easily exceeds 1GB. A 30-minute webinar or course recording? Canva simply won't accept it.
Video Duration Limits
| Plan | Max Duration |
|---|---|
| Canva Free | 5 minutes |
| Canva Pro | 7.5 minutes |
If your video is longer than 7.5 minutes, Canva simply won't process it - even on paid plans.
You Must Wait - No Background Processing
This is the big one. With Canva, you must:
- Wait for upload to complete - keep your browser open
- Wait for processing - can't close the tab
- Wait for download - sit there watching the progress bar
Close your browser? Start over. Lose your connection? Start over.
Account Required
You must create a Canva account before you can even upload a file. For a quick one-off task like adding a border, this friction adds unnecessary steps.
No Specialized Border Effects
Canva offers basic solid colors. Want the popular 3D gradient "floating" effect? You'd need to manually create complex layered designs.
VideoToBe: Built for Video
VideoToBe's border tool is purpose-built for video processing:
| Feature | VideoToBe | Canva Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Max File Size | 2GB | 1GB |
| Max Duration | 30+ minutes | 7.5 minutes |
| Account Required | No (to preview) | Yes |
| 3D Border Effects | Built-in presets | Manual design |
| Background Processing | Yes - close browser anytime | No - must wait |
| Email Notification | Yes - we notify when ready | No |
No Waiting Around
Upload your video, pick your border, and close your browser. Go do something else. We'll send you an email with the download link when your video is ready. No babysitting required.
More Than Just Borders
When you sign up for VideoToBe, you get access to our entire toolkit that we're constantly expanding:
- Video Transcription - Convert video to text with AI
- AI Chat - Ask questions about your video content
- Video Library - Organize and manage all your media
- More tools rolling out regularly
When to Use Canva
Canva is still great for:
- Short clips under 5 minutes and under 250MB
- Projects where you need other Canva features (text overlays, animations, graphics)
- If you're already in Canva working on a larger project
When to Use VideoToBe
Choose VideoToBe when:
- Your video exceeds 500MB - We handle up to 2GB
- Your video is longer than 7.5 minutes - No duration caps
- You want 3D gradient borders - One-click presets
- You need quick turnaround - Purpose-built processing
- You want to preview first - No account needed
Side-by-Side: Adding a Border to a 20-Minute Video
Canva Experience
- Log in → "Video too long" error
- Try to split video into parts externally
- Process each part separately
- Re-join parts (requires another tool)
- Result: Multiple tools, multiple hours
VideoToBe Experience
- Upload 20-minute video
- Select border style
- Click Download
- Receive email when ready
- Result: One tool, ~20 minutes
Real User Scenario: Course Creator
Sarah creates online courses. Her typical lesson video is 25 minutes at 1080p - about 800MB.
With Canva: She'd need to compress her video (losing quality), split it into parts, or give up on borders entirely.
With VideoToBe: Upload the full file, pick a professional black border, download. Done. Her courses look polished without compromising quality.
Pricing Comparison
For Occasional Use (1-3 videos/month)
| Tool | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| VideoToBe Free | $0 | 3 videos/day, up to 5 min each |
| Canva Free | $0 | 250MB limit, 5 min limit, must wait |
For Regular Use
| Tool | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| VideoToBe Pro | $10/month | Unlimited videos, 30+ min, 2GB files, email notifications |
| Canva Pro | $13/month | 1GB limit, 7.5 min limit, must babysit uploads |
VideoToBe Pro costs less and removes all the limits that matter for video work. Plus you get access to transcription and other video tools.
The Bottom Line
Canva is a fantastic general-purpose design tool, but video processing isn't its strength. The file size and duration limits make it impractical for anything beyond short social clips.
VideoToBe is purpose-built for video. If you're working with videos longer than 5 minutes or larger than 250MB, VideoToBe handles them without compromise.
Related Guides
- How to Add Border to Video - Complete guide with all border styles
- Free Video Transcription - Convert video to text
Have a real video? Try VideoToBe
No account needed to preview. Handles files up to 2GB.
Try Video Border Tool