Are you wrestling with nightmares of missed delivery deadlines or striving for peak creativity in your team sessions? A good whiteboarding and flowcharting tool is what you need.
Whether you need to create intricate digital twin organization blueprints, master enterprise-class process automation, or simply seek a seamless space for brainstorming, choosing an ideal whiteboard can simplify your life.
FigJam and Mural are popular business tools people rely on for such use cases. And we can help you pick the more suitable one.
But this blog post isn’t just about picking the right whiteboarding tool; it’s about exploring possibilities that encourage collaborative workflows and bring out your team’s innovation.
Dive deep with us as we dissect these tools’ unique features, pricing models, and real-world user feedback. Let’s discover which platform—FigJam or Mural—will be the best for you and your team.
FigJam vs. Mural: Which Collaborative Whiteboard Is Best?
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is FigJam?
FigJam is Figma’s solution for simple and effective team ideation and collaboration.
Positioned as a cutting-edge online whiteboard, FigJam’s simplicity and ease of use make it a popular tool for real-time visual collaboration, especially for remote teams. You can use it to build upon raw ideas, clarify and execute complex workflows, facilitate team conversations, and align your project planning to your expectations.
FigJam’s intuitive interface invites every team member, technical and non-technical, to contribute and share their ideas. Don’t forget—you can choose from 300+ existing templates to start designing the whiteboard.
FigJam features
FigJam offers more than a blank, expansive space for your imagination. Here are the top features of the tool:
1. Interactive sticky notes
FigJam’s virtual sticky notes make your online meetings more creative. They help even cross-functional teams simplify collaborative work.
With FigJam, you and your team can post ideas, organize them, and decide what’s most important.
When planning projects, use the notes to map out what you need to do, filter ideas and tasks by urgency or importance, and start implementing them. These steps make essential work processes transparent, and everyone feels involved.
2. Pre-designed templates
FigJam’s ready-made templates help teams work faster and better.
Instead of starting from scratch, you can use readymade layouts for things like:
- Kicking off a project
- Mapping out workflows
- Running meetings
- Planning timelines
For example, the templates make it easy to set up a structure based on the low code development methodology when launching a new product feature.
They give you a fast way to organize projects and processes without building from the ground up. The templates help teams streamline their systems and improve how they work. They’re a great FigJam feature that saves time and effort.
3. Real-time collaboration
The real-time collaboration feature empowers dispersed teams to work together without delays.
The feature underlines the importance of hybrid teams and supports enterprise process agility by allowing team members to share insights and updates instantly. With built-in audio, live chat, and commenting, the feature creates an interactive space for active participation. Emoticons and stamps add a human touch.
When you manage regulatory compliance projects or conduct training documentation webinars using FigJam, for example, every participant can actively contribute and instantly access the most up-to-date information.
4. Customizable whiteboard tools
FigJam lets each team tailor their whiteboard to their specific needs. This creates the perfect space for thinking through plans and ideas.
You can design a unique workspace that’s just right for your project. For complex projects, you can use FigJam as a digital twin organization software to visualize workflows, see risks, and track progress on strategic initiatives.
FigJam pricing
- Starter: Free
- Professional: $3/month per seat (billed annually)
- Organization: $5/month per seat (billed annually)
- Enterprise: $5/month per seat (billed annually)
FigJam, famous for its ease of use and integration with Figma, fits easily into many design workflows. However, teams looking for additional functionalities or different collaboration dynamics have a world of FigJam alternatives at their fingertips.
And one of those is Mural.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is Mural?
The mural is a comprehensive digital workspace for visual collaboration that turns brainstorming sessions into actionable outcomes.
Known for enterprise-class process automation, Mural is ideal for streamlining large-scale projects and strategic initiatives and hybrid and remote teams.
It enables users to share plans on an interactive drag-and-drop canvas, add comments and annotations, and access hundreds of icons and gifs for engaging team-building activities.
It’s versatile and supports everything from regulatory compliance to virtual events in a cloud environment.
Mural features
Here are the top Mural features to consider for your project planning needs:
1. Visual collaboration tools
The mural is designed for clarity and efficiency. Teams can easily create and share visual content, from flowcharts and team meeting notes to full-fledged project workflows and interactive mind maps.
This feature is essential for enterprise process planning and capacity planning, where individuals of varying designations come together to share ideas.
For example, in a strategic planning session, teams can visually map their business processes for clear understanding and alignment and share them with other teams or people. All of this is done without compromising the security of the files.
2. Advanced integrations
No company works with just one tool, and Mural knows that! That’s why it integrates with tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Webex, and Zoom, further bolstering its collaboration capabilities.
These integrations improve workflow management and are crucial for enterprise-class process automation, ensuring all tools and data are interconnected.
It’s particularly useful for teams relying on technical resources and continuous improvement in their operations.
3. Dynamic facilitation features
With features like voting, timers, and presentation mode, Mural enhances team meetings and decision-making. This approach encourages open communication and creativity within the group.
You can stay focused and on schedule by timing the team activities, ensuring consistency for all the participants, securing confidential information, and locking a board to prevent groupthink.
The dynamic facilitation feature is perfect for managing online meetings, facilitating remote computer sessions, and ensuring project management effectiveness.
4. Interactive polling & voting
Mural elevates team engagement with interactive polling and voting features. This is particularly useful in prioritizing tasks or making key decisions during strategic initiatives.
Imagine a team debating various features for a new association management software. Mural’s polling allows them to vote quickly and see results in real time, facilitating a democratic and efficient decision-making process.
Such an approach promotes quick turnaround and equal opportunities for everyone involved.
Mural pricing
- Free: Free
- Team+: $12/month per member
- Business: $17.99/month per member (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
While Mural’s capabilities make it a strong candidate for managing intricate projects, teams exploring various tools may still seek Mural alternatives that align with their unique needs.
One alternative is ClickUp, a comprehensive project management and visual collaboration platform. Before we talk about ClickUp, let’s take a few minutes to compare Mural vs. FigJam, head to head.
Summarize this article for me pleaseFigJam vs. Mural: Features Compared
Here’s a quick comparison of FigJam’s features against those of Mural:
| Feature | FigJam | Mural |
| Visual collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Templates | Pre-designed & intuitive | Extensive & customizable |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited to the Figma ecosystem | Advanced, with multiple platforms |
| Facilitation tools | Real-time cursor, comments | Polling, voting, timers |
| Sketching & drawing | Yes | Yes |
| Organization | Simple and user-friendly interface | Flexible workspaces, multiple frameworks |
| Price | Free and tiered paid plans | Free and tiered paid plans |
Integration capabilities
Integrating with other tools is a superpower for any software, and both Mural and FigJam wield this power differently.
FigJam
FigJam benefits from its integration within the Figma environment, offering a cohesive experience for designing and prototyping teams already using the Figma ecosystem.
Mural
Mural boasts a broader range of integrations with third-party tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Drive, Adobe, Asana, Github, and Figma. That makes it a versatile choice for teams that require a tool that can fit into their diverse tech stack.
Collaboration
When projects go agile, collaboration is not just a feature; it’s a necessity.
Mural and FigJam bring their A-game to ensure teams can work together seamlessly, but let’s see how they approach collaboration.
FigJam
FigJam offers a user-centric collaboration experience focusing on simplicity and immediacy. Its real-time collaboration tools are intuitive, allowing team members to jump in and start working together with minimal setup.
This immediacy is perfect for teams that value quick interactions and spontaneous brainstorming sessions.
Mural
Mural provides a more structured approach to collaboration. It includes real-time editing and facilitation features like voting and timer features, which can guide more organized and focused communication sessions.
For teams that need to manage complex workflows and detailed collaborative sessions, Mural’s feature set is a powerhouse.
While both tools excel in their rights, Mural would be ideal for teams that require detailed and guided collaborative efforts, whereas FigJam may be the winner for those seeking straightforward and agile teamwork.
Templates
Templates are the scaffolding for efficiency and consistency in digital workspaces, and both FigJam and Mural offer these with their distinct styles.
FigJam
FigJam’s templates are fun and functional, designed to kickstart your projects with speed and a splash of creativity.
It comprises 300+ pre-designed layouts, including wireframe kits, product development roadmaps, quarterly planning templates, and icon designs.
They are user-friendly and come without a learning curve.
Mural
Mural’s template library is robust and diverse, crafted to cater to various complex scenarios. You can choose from agile, brainstorming, education, and design templates.
They are particularly useful for structured sessions that require a deeper level of detail and customization.
When it comes to templates, Mural might take the lead for comprehensive, detail-oriented team sessions, while FigJam shines for those seeking a quick and approachable setup.
Summarize this article for me pleaseFigJam vs. Mural: Who’s the Champion?
The final verdict? Your team needs to decide who wins between Mural and FigJam. FigJam wins for user-friendliness and design synergy. It suits rapid, creative work within the Figma ecosystem.
Mural excels with its detailed toolkit for complex tasks and varied integrations. It’s ideal for remote, multifaceted team projects.
Choose FigJam for simplicity and Mural for comprehensive features.
Summarize this article for me pleaseFigJam Vs. Mural on Reddit
Reddit is buzzing with user experiences and testimonials about FigJam and Mural. Redditors, known for their unfiltered opinions and practical insights, provide enough information to choose between these two collaboration tools.
On subreddits dedicated to productivity and design, FigJam garners praise for its sleek interface and Figma integration, making it a favorite among design enthusiasts who crave a seamless transition from wireframes to collaborative whiteboarding.
Conversely, Mural receives accolades for its comprehensive toolkit and adaptability, making it suitable for facilitating detailed, large-scale projects.
Redditor Smegjunkey highlights Mural’s effectiveness in the discovery phase, noting its “limitless whiteboards and predefined templates” as critical for conveying complex ideas visually.
This breadth of features, integrations, and collaborative tools like voting and comments make Mural a favorite for teams requiring a more structured approach to brainstorming and planning.
Summarize this article for me pleaseMeet ClickUp—The Best Alternative to FigJam Vs. Mural
If you’re still torn between FigJam’s simplicity and Mural’s comprehensive capabilities, let’s introduce you to a tool that encapsulates the best of both worlds.
Meet ClickUp, the ultimate collaboration tool where every project finds its path to success.
ClickUp isn’t just another addition to your digital toolkit; it’s a holistic platform that blends the quick, intuitive collaboration of FigJam with the depth and versatility of Mural.
Think of ClickUp as all your essential work tools combined. You can trust it to consolidate your workflow into a single platform, with features like dynamic whiteboards, detailed documentation capabilities, expansive mind-mapping tools, and more.
But that’s not all!
ClickUp Tasks also make managing your projects effortless, allowing your team to focus on what truly matters.
The result? You surpass deadlines, simplify your workflow, and amplify productivity, all within a single, user-friendly environment.
ClickUp’s versatile tools further support design thinking methodologies, aiding ideation and prototyping.
It’s the ideal companion for any project, from academic endeavors to comprehensive business planning.
ClickUp Whiteboards
ClickUp Whiteboards are more than just a space for doodling. They’re a dynamic, multimedia-rich platform for brainstorming, building strategies, and developing agile workflows. They’re also perfect for creating mood boards that bring your team’s vision to life.
You can collaboratively brainstorm on an infinite canvas, pulling in relevant tasks and projects to map workflows. Whiteboards integrate seamlessly with other ClickUp features, allowing you to attach media, add comments, assign action items, and more.
Whether you’re sketching diagrams, linking processes, or incorporating images and videos, ClickUp whiteboards keep everyone engaged with real-time editing tools. The result is a shared creative space where teams can innovate, organize, and advance projects in a dynamic visual format.
ClickUp Docs
Imagine a documentation tool so versatile that it not only allows you to draft and share ideas but also to collaborate on them in real-time. ClickUp Docs does just that! It offers a rich text editing experience that supports all forms of media, embedding, and even code.
Enhanced by AI capabilities, ClickUp Docs helps you generate content for multiple roles and use cases—from detailed design guidelines to step-by-step action plans for a new feature launch. ClickUp’s AI writing assistant also offers suggestions for improving tone, spell-checks content, and summarizes complex documents for you.
Sparking new ideas and refining content boosts overall productivity and creativity.
It’s the bridge between the simplicity of note-taking apps and the complexity of project management tools, ensuring your documentation is as comprehensive as it is accessible.
ClickUp Mind Maps
Unravel the complexities of your projects with ClickUp Mind Maps.
Visual organization and strategic planning are used to break down ideas, tasks, and projects into digestible, interconnected components.
Whether plotting a new marketing strategy or organizing project milestones, ClickUp Mind Maps provides the clarity and direction to propel your team forward.
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever: Free
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Available on all paid plans for $5/Workspace member/month
Summarize this article for me pleaseGo Beyond Plain Whiteboarding
Generic whiteboarding tools like FigJam and Mural have their place, but why settle for a limited solution when you could access an all-in-one platform to manage projects, organize tasks, and fuel team creativity?
ClickUp checks every box—whiteboarding, documentation, task management, and more—in one powerful workspace.
It brings the ease of FigJam together with the comprehensive capabilities of Mural in one flexible, feature-rich workflow management software.
Don’t just whiteboard—revolutionize teamwork, one project at a time. Sign up for ClickUp today!
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
