Abstract
Mural
| Feature | Abstract | Mural |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $13/mo | Free / from $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | design-teams, agencies, enterprise-design, product-teams | design-teams, facilitators, consultants, enterprise |
| Founded | 2015 | 2011 |
| Version Control | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branching | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design Reviews | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collections | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inspect | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sticky Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Facilitation Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Voting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Timers | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Abstract Pros
- Version control for design
- Great for teams
- Design reviews
- Branching
✗ Abstract Cons
- Sketch-focused
- Expensive
- Steep learning curve
✓ Mural Pros
- Great facilitation tools
- Extensive templates
- Design thinking focus
- Enterprise ready
✗ Mural Cons
- Expensive
- Can be slow
- Learning curve
The Verdict
Abstract is built for design teams and agencies, with a focus on version-control and branching. Mural targets design teams and facilitators and leads with sticky-notes and templates.
Pricing is close: Mural starts at $12/mo versus $13/mo for Abstract — not a deciding factor on its own.
Mural has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Abstract requires a paid subscription from day one.
Both tools are a solid fit for design teams — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Mural has a slight overall edge — but if version control for design matters most to you, Abstract may still be the right call.