FigJam
Heptabase
| Feature | FigJam | Heptabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | From $11.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | design-teams, product-teams, workshop-facilitators, remote-teams | researchers, students, visual-thinkers, phd-students |
| Founded | 2021 | 2021 |
| Sticky Notes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Drawing Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Stamps Reactions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Figma Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Features | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Whiteboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Card System | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mindmaps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Journal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pdf Annotation | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ FigJam Pros
- Seamless integration with Figma design files
- Generous free tier with unlimited files
- Fun and engaging collaboration features (stamps, emotes)
- AI-powered features for summarizing and organizing
- Templates for common workshop activities
✗ FigJam Cons
- Less powerful than dedicated diagramming tools
- Requires Figma account to use
- Limited offline functionality
✓ Heptabase Pros
- Visual-first approach to note-taking
- Whiteboards for spatial thinking
- Card-based system is very flexible
- Great for research and learning
✗ Heptabase Cons
- No free plan
- Mobile app is limited
- Steeper learning curve than simple note apps
The Verdict
FigJam is built for design teams and product teams, with a focus on sticky-notes and drawing-tools. Heptabase targets researchers and students and leads with whiteboards and card-system.
On pricing, FigJam is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $11.99/mo for Heptabase. That $6.99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
FigJam has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Heptabase requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, FigJam offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 6), while Heptabase takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.
