HostPrep Kit / Free guides
Airbnb welcome book: Canva vs Google Docs, an honest comparison
Last updated: October 2026
Short answer: Canva suits a designed, photo-heavy book. Google Docs or Word suits a book you want to edit, update and print quickly. Our own Guest Welcome Book Pack is an 8-page Word (.docx) file in A4 and US Letter that opens in Google Docs. It is not a Canva template.
Side by side
Canva vs Google Docs for a welcome book
| Canva | Google Docs (or Word) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A design tool. Pages are layouts with text boxes, photos and shapes. | A word processor. Pages are text that flows, with tables and photos. |
| Cost to start | Has a Free plan, plus paid Pro, Business and Enterprise plans. | Anyone with a Google Account can create in Docs. |
| Best at | Looks: covers, photo pages, brand colors. | Content: house instructions, appliance tables, rules, lists. |
| Changing the Wi-Fi password or door code | Find the right text box and edit it. | Edit the line, or use Find and replace. |
| Working from a Word file | Can import .docx files. Check the layout after import. | Opens .docx files from Google Drive and lets you edit them directly. |
| Exporting | PDF Standard, or PDF Print at 300 dpi with bleed and crop marks. DOCX download is only for Canva Docs designs. | File, then Download, then PDF or Word (.docx). |
| Sharing before arrival | Share a view link, or send the PDF. | Share a view-only link, or send the PDF. |
Checked in October 2026 against Canva's pricing page and Help Center (Word import, download file types, sharing) and Google Docs Editors Help (Office files, downloading). Features change, so check the current pages before you choose.
A third option: Airbnb's own guidebook
Airbnb lets hosts create a guidebook of local recommendations, such as places to eat, shops and things to do. Airbnb says guests can find it on your listing and profile pages and in their Trips tab, and you can send it with a quick reply. It is a good home for local tips. You may still want a separate welcome book for check-in steps, house instructions and rules.
Which should you pick?
- Pick Canva if the look of the book matters most and you are happy to edit text boxes when details change.
- Pick Google Docs or Word if you change details often, manage more than one property, or want a book a cleaner or co-host can update.
- Use both if you like: write and maintain the content in a document, then design a single cover or front page in Canva.
- Add Airbnb's guidebook for local recommendations either way.
What our welcome book is, plainly
- A Word (.docx) welcome book with 8 pages to fill in, in A4 and US Letter.
- It opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages and LibreOffice. You do not need a design app.
- Everything you need to change is in yellow brackets.
- It is not a Canva template. If you prefer Canva, you can import the .docx into Canva, then check the layout.
Not sure what to write in it? Start with the free welcome book checklist and quick-facts page.
Common questions
Is the HostPrep Kit welcome book a Canva template?
No. It is a Word (.docx) file that you can edit in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages or LibreOffice.
Can I use Canva for free?
Canva has a Free plan as well as paid Pro, Business and Enterprise plans. Check Canva's pricing page for what each plan includes.
Can I open a Word welcome book in Google Docs?
Yes. Google Docs Editors Help says you can edit Office files directly in Google Docs, for example by double-clicking the .docx file in Google Drive.
Does Airbnb have a built-in welcome book?
Airbnb has a guidebook feature for local recommendations. Guests can find it on your listing and profile pages and in their Trips tab.