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Software · head to head

Abstract vs Capsule

Abstract logo

Abstract

Software

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review
Capsule logo

Capsule

Software

Visual CRM for small teams

From
$19/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; Capsule the free plan is capped at 2 users, 250 contacts, 5 custom fields and a single pipeline
  • They diverge on capability: Abstract covers Version control, Capsule covers Contact management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Abstract and Capsule actually diverge.

Attributes where Abstract and Capsule differ
AttributeAbstractCapsule
Starting priceFree$19/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacos, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152008

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 Capsule

  • Contact management
  • Deal tracking
  • Task management
  • Email sync
  • Activity timeline
  • Google Apps
  • Web support
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Zapier
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Abstract

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

Capsule

  • Simple contact and pipeline CRM for a small teamnot Abstract
  • Tracking deals and follow-up tasksnot Abstract
  • Linking emails and notes to contact recordsnot Abstract
  • Multiple sales pipelines on the paid tiersnot 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

Capsule

  • The free plan is capped at 2 users, 250 contacts, 5 custom fields and a single pipeline
  • Contact ceilings gate every tier, from 30,000 on Starter to 120,000 on Advanced
  • Per-user prices are not shown as figures on the pricing page, only as tier names
  • Ultimate is quote-only

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

Capsule

$19/month
  • Starter$19/month
    • Contact management
    • Task tracking
  • Professional$39/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Pipeline management
    • Reporting
  • Enterprise$99/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Custom fields
    • API access

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 Capsule if

  • You need contact management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want deal tracking.
Capsule review

Questions people ask

Is Abstract or Capsule better?
Neither clearly leads. Abstract starts at Free and Capsule at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Abstract or Capsule?
Abstract has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Abstract and $19/month for Capsule.
Does Abstract or Capsule run on more platforms?
Abstract runs on Macos, Web. Capsule runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Yes. Abstract has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Capsule starts at $19/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 Capsule is typically brought in for.
What can Abstract do that Capsule cannot?
Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Capsule covers Contact management, Deal tracking, Task management, Email sync. Both handle Slack, Zapier, GDPR, Cloud deployment.
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