Polotno SDK embeds a full editor with a JSON schema; Konva.js is a low‑level 2D canvas library. In fact, Polotno and Konva have been created by the same person – Anton Lavrenov. Use Polotno when you want an in‑product editor with automation and export. Use Konva.js when you want to build drawing tools from primitives and manage everything yourself.
ㅤ
Core philosophy
Polotno SDK aims to let you ship an editor quickly and keep a single project model for manual editing and automation. Rendering can run in the browser, on your servers, or via the Polotno Cloud Render API. Plans are on Request API key.
Konva.js aims to give you canvas primitives and scenegraph utilities so you can build your own editor or visualization layer from scratch.
ㅤ
Architecture and integration
Polotno SDK integrates as a browser editor with configurable UI, roles, and assets. Rendering paths are interchangeable under one schema: browser, self‑hosted, or cloud. For element depth, see the video element, image element, and text element.
Konva.js integrates as a rendering layer; you provide UI, persistence, automation, and export.
ㅤ
Automation and templating
Polotno SDK exposes every element in JSON, enabling code‑driven generation, variable mapping, and reusable templates.
Konva.js provides shapes and events; automation and templating are custom work you implement.
ㅤ
Rendering and export
Polotno SDK supports PNG, JPEG, PDF, PPTX, GIF, and MP4, and can render in‑browser, self‑hosted, or via Cloud Render; see import and export.
Konva.js renders to canvas in the browser; export, server‑side rendering, and video require custom pipelines.
ㅤ
Feature scope
Polotno SDK
Editor UI, layers, timeline, templates, and element styling
Schema‑level motion and animation
Multi‑format export and interchangeable rendering
Konva.js
Scenegraph, hit detection, transforms, and events
No built‑in editor UI, templates, or export pipeline
ㅤ
Use cases
Polotno SDK
SaaS and MarTech: editors and automation out of the box
eCommerce: product visuals and short video ads
Social/content: post and story editors
Education: worksheets and slides
Real estate/print/DAM: documents and print assets
Konva.js
Custom drawing/annotation tools
Specialized visualizations and diagramming UIs where you own everything
ㅤ
Feature comparison
Capability | Polotno SDK | Konva.js |
|---|---|---|
Primary model | Embeddable editor + JSON schema | Canvas primitives library |
Editor inside your app | Yes (customizable UI) | No (you build it) |
Automation | Programmatic via schema and code | Custom implementation |
Rendering modes | Browser, self‑hosted, cloud | Browser canvas |
ㅤ
Pricing and licensing
Polotno SDK
Team $199/mo for organizations under 10 employees, one domain, 10,000 editor loads. Business $399/mo for organizations under 50 employees, unlimited domains and loads. Enterprise $599+/mo with custom terms and optional source access. Cloud rendering: $0.004 per image, $0.03 per video minute. See Request API key.
Konva.js
Open‑source library; any editor, automation, or rendering pipeline is built by you.
ㅤ
Conclusion
Polotno SDK provides a ready editor and schema‑based automation with flexible rendering. Konva.js gives low‑level power if you want to build the entire editor stack yourself.