FigJam vs Figma

FigJam and Figma are both made by Figma, Inc., but they solve different problems: FigJam is an online whiteboard for brainstorming and workshops, while Figma is the UI/UX design tool for building interfaces. Here's how they compare on price, features, and use case.

Updated 2026-10 · 2026

FigJam

Online whiteboard for brainstorming, workshops, and planning

Free / $3-$5editor/month

Strengths

+Infinite canvas with sticky notes, stamps, and shapes built for brainstorming
+Built-in templates for retros, sprint planning, and user journey maps
+Live cursors, voting, and timer tools for running real-time workshops

Weaknesses

-No components, auto layout, or design systems
-Not built for pixel-accurate UI design or prototyping
-Dev handoff tools (Dev Mode) aren't available in FigJam

Best for

Teams running workshops, retros, brainstorms, or early-stage planning before design work starts

Figma

Collaborative interface design and prototyping tool

Free / $12-$15editor/month

Strengths

+Industry-standard for UI design with components and variants
+Auto layout for responsive, production-ready design systems
+Dev Mode gives engineers inspectable specs, assets, and code snippets

Weaknesses

-Steeper learning curve than FigJam for non-designers
-More expensive per seat, especially at Organization/Enterprise tiers
-Overkill if you only need a whiteboard for meetings

Best for

Designers and product teams building and shipping actual interfaces

Feature Comparison

Feature	FigJam	Figma
Infinite canvas	Yes	Yes (per file/page)
Sticky notes & stamps	Yes, core feature	No
UI components & variants	No	Yes
Auto layout	No	Yes
Prototyping (click-through flows)	Basic connectors only	Full interactive prototyping
Dev Mode / handoff specs	No	Yes (Professional+)
Workshop templates (retros, voting, timers)	Yes, built-in	No
Real-time multiplayer cursors	Yes	Yes
Free tier limit	3 editable files per team	3 design files + 3 FigJam files per team
Plugin ecosystem	Smaller, workshop-focused	Large, design/dev-focused
Design systems support	No	Yes
Starting paid price	$3/editor/mo (annual)	$12/editor/mo (annual)

The Verdict

FigJam and Figma aren't really competitors — they're owned by the same company and solve different problems. Use FigJam for brainstorming, retros, and early planning, and Figma for actual interface design and dev handoff; most product teams end up paying for both. If you're trying to cut costs, don't drop Figma for FigJam — instead stay on FigJam's free tier for workshops and only pay for Figma seats on people doing real design work.

How to switch from FigJam to Figma

1In FigJam, open the board and go to the file menu to export it as PNG, SVG, or PDF for a static archive, or select objects and copy them (Cmd/Ctrl+C) to paste directly into a Figma file.
2Create a new Figma design file and paste the copied FigJam objects in — they'll convert into standard shapes, text, and frames that you can then rebuild as real components.
3Recreate any workshop outputs (voting results, sticky note clusters, user flows) as structured Figma frames or component libraries instead of loose shapes.
4Re-point any integrations (Jira tickets, Slack notifications, embedded links) that referenced the FigJam board to the new Figma file.
5Upgrade the editors doing actual UI work to Figma Professional seats while keeping reviewers and stakeholders on free viewer access or FigJam for future workshops.
6Archive or lock the original FigJam board and share the new Figma file link with the team to complete the cutover.

FigJam vs Figma: common questions

How do I move a FigJam board into a Figma design file?+

Select the objects on your FigJam board and use Copy (Cmd/Ctrl+C), then paste them directly into a Figma design file — shapes, text, and sticky notes convert into standard Figma layers since both tools run on the same rendering engine. For a static reference instead, export the board as PNG, SVG, or PDF from the file menu.

What do I lose if I move work from FigJam to Figma?+

You lose FigJam-specific objects like sticky notes, stamps, voting results, and timers — these get flattened into basic shapes and text when copied into Figma. Workshop context like comment threads and cursor chat history doesn't carry over either.

Is Figma's free tier enough for a small team doing real design work?+

Figma's free Starter plan limits you to 3 design files per team and caps version history, which is workable for a solo designer or very small project but tight for an ongoing product team. Most teams doing continuous design work need Professional ($12/editor/month annual) for unlimited files and full version history.

Does Figma integrate with the same tools as FigJam?+

Yes — both run on the same platform, so integrations like Jira, Slack, Google Drive, and Notion embeds work the same way in both FigJam and Figma. The difference is Figma also has developer-facing integrations (GitHub, Storybook via plugins) that FigJam doesn't need.

Will switching more work to Figma cost more over time?+

Yes, Figma seats cost roughly 3-4x more than FigJam seats ($12-15 vs $3-5 per editor/month), so moving people from FigJam-only usage to full Figma design seats raises your bill per person. Keep non-designers (PMs, stakeholders) on FigJam or free viewer access, and only pay for Figma seats for people actually producing UI designs.