Softwr

Software · head to head

Abstract vs Airbase

Abstract logo

Abstract

Software

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review
Airbase logo

Airbase

Software

The first all-in-one spend management platform

From
$29/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; Airbase airbase was acquired by Paylocity; its pricing page now redirects to paylocity.com/pricing and the product is marketed as 'Airbase, a Paylocity Company' within Paylocity's HCM platform rather than as a standalone product.
  • They diverge on capability: Abstract covers Version control, Airbase covers Corporate cards.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Abstract and Airbase actually diverge.

Attributes where Abstract and Airbase differ
AttributeAbstractAirbase
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacos, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152017

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 Airbase

  • Corporate cards
  • Bill payments
  • Expense management
  • Procurement
  • Approvals
  • NetSuite
  • Sage Intacct
  • QuickBooks

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Abstract

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

Airbase

  • Spend managementnot Abstract
  • Expense reportingnot Abstract
  • Vendor paymentsnot 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

Airbase

  • Airbase was acquired by Paylocity; its pricing page now redirects to paylocity.com/pricing and the product is marketed as 'Airbase, a Paylocity Company' within Paylocity's HCM platform rather than as a standalone product.

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

Airbase

$29/month
  • StandardFree
    • Corporate cards
    • Expense reports
    • Bill pay
  • Premium$10/month
    • Advanced approvals
    • NetSuite sync
    • Procurement
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom workflows
    • API access
    • 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 Airbase if

  • You need corporate cards.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want bill payments.
Airbase review

Questions people ask

Is Abstract or Airbase better?
Neither clearly leads. Abstract starts at Free and Airbase at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Abstract or Airbase?
Abstract has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Abstract and $29/month for Airbase.
Does Abstract or Airbase run on more platforms?
Abstract runs on Macos, Web. Airbase runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Yes. Abstract has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Airbase starts at $29/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 Airbase is typically brought in for.
What can Abstract do that Airbase cannot?
Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Airbase covers Corporate cards, Bill payments, Expense management, Procurement. Both handle Slack.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Abstract

More on Airbase

Keep looking

Other head to heads