Softwr

Software · head to head

Abstract vs Affinity

Abstract logo

Abstract

Software

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review
Affinity logo

Affinity

Software

Relationship intelligence platform for professionals

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Abstract has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Abstract the product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm; Affinity built specifically for private capital firms, so it is not a general purpose CRM
  • They diverge on capability: Abstract covers Version control, Affinity covers Contact management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Abstract and Affinity actually diverge.

Attributes where Abstract and Affinity differ
AttributeAbstractAffinity
Starting priceFree$49/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacos, WebWeb
Founded20152013

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Abstract

  • Version control
  • Branching & merging
  • Asset library
  • Design tokens
  • Collaboration
  • File management
  • Comments
  • Activity tracking

Only in Affinity

  • Contact management
  • Deal tracking
  • Intelligence engine
  • Relationship mapping
  • Integration aggregation
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • LinkedIn

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Abstract

  • Design systemsnot Affinity
  • Version controlnot Affinity
  • Asset managementnot Affinity
  • Team collaborationnot Affinity

Affinity

  • Deal sourcing and pipeline management for venture capital and private equitynot Abstract
  • Automatic capture of email and meeting activity into relationship recordsnot Abstract
  • Finding warm introductions through existing relationship networksnot Abstract
  • Investor relations and fundraising trackingnot Abstract
  • Portfolio company support and reportingnot Abstract

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Abstract

  • The product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm
  • Built around Sketch files, so it never covered teams that moved to Figma

Affinity

  • Built specifically for private capital firms, so it is not a general purpose CRM
  • Pricing is not published and requires a demo

Pricing, plan by plan

Abstract

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 shared library
    • Basic version control
    • 2 team members
  • Pro$12/month
    • Unlimited libraries
    • Full version control
    • Unlimited team members
  • Enterprise$50/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced admin controls
    • Compliance & security

Affinity

$49/month
  • Pro$49/month
    • Contact management
    • Deal tracking
    • Intelligence
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced customization
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Abstract if

  • You need version control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Macos, Web.
  • You also want branching & merging.
Abstract review

Choose Affinity if

  • You need contact management.
  • You also want deal tracking.
Affinity review

Questions people ask

Is Abstract or Affinity better?
Neither clearly leads. Abstract starts at Free and Affinity at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Abstract or Affinity?
Abstract has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Abstract and $49/month for Affinity.
Does Abstract or Affinity run on more platforms?
Abstract runs on Macos, Web. Affinity runs on Web.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Yes. Abstract has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Affinity starts at $49/month.
What is Abstract best used for?
Abstract is most often used for design systems, version control, asset management, team collaboration. Of those, design systems and version control are not what Affinity is typically brought in for.
What can Abstract do that Affinity cannot?
Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Affinity covers Contact management, Deal tracking, Intelligence engine, Relationship mapping. Both handle SOC2, GDPR, Cloud deployment.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Abstract

More on Affinity

Keep looking

Other head to heads