Softwr

Design · head to head

Abstract vs Kami

Abstract logo

Abstract

Design

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review
Kami logo

Kami

Productivity

The ultimate document annotation and collaboration tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Kami the free Basic plan exposes only about 10 of the 40 or more tools
  • They diverge on capability: Abstract covers Version control, Kami covers PDF annotation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Abstract and Kami actually diverge.

Attributes where Abstract and Kami differ
AttributeAbstractKami
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsMacos, WebWeb, Chrome Extension, IOS, Android
CategoryDesignProductivity
Founded20152013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Kami

  • PDF annotation
  • Drawing tools
  • Text tools
  • Voice comments
  • Text-to-speech
  • OCR
  • Split/merge PDFs
  • Video embedding

What people use each for

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

Abstract

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

Kami

  • Free document collaboration for individualsnot Abstract
  • Professional document management with advanced toolsnot Abstract
  • Dedicated account management for workplace teamsnot Abstract
  • K-12 and higher education document workflowsnot 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

Kami

  • The free Basic plan exposes only about 10 of the 40 or more tools
  • Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas and Microsoft Teams integrations require the Teacher plan at $149 per year
  • School and district licensing including domain wide deployment is custom priced and requires a quote
  • Non education users pay separate Workplace plans at $85 or $220 per year rather than the education rate
  • A dedicated account manager is only available on the School or District plan

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

Kami

Free
  • Basic (Free)Free
    • 10+ essential tools
    • Google Drive and OneDrive integration
    • Unlimited collaborators
  • Pro$12/month
    • All 40+ tools and features
    • Unlimited pages and document types
    • Priority support
  • Work$25/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Free onboarding and training
    • Dedicated Account Manager
  • Teacher Plan$149/year
    • All 40+ tools and features
    • Full LMS integrations (Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Teams)
    • Free onboarding and training

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 Kami if

  • You need pdf annotation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome Extension, IOS, Android.
  • You also want drawing tools.
Kami review

Questions people ask

Is Abstract or Kami better?
Neither clearly leads. Abstract starts at Free and Kami at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Abstract or Kami?
Abstract starts at Free and Kami at Free.
Does Abstract or Kami run on more platforms?
Abstract runs on Macos, Web. Kami runs on Web, Chrome Extension, IOS, Android.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Kami is typically brought in for.
What can Abstract do that Kami cannot?
Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Kami covers PDF annotation, Drawing tools, Text tools, Voice comments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kami: Does Kami offer a free plan and what does it include?

Yes, Kami's free Basic plan includes 10+ essential tools, unlimited collaborators, Google Drive/OneDrive integration, and 1,000+ templates. Full feature access requires Pro or higher tiers.

Source
Kami: What is the cheapest paid plan for Kami and what does it cost?

Pro plan is $12/month ($85/year when billed annually) and includes all 40+ tools, unlimited pages, and priority support for workplace users.

Source
Kami: Are there Kami plans designed specifically for educators?

Yes, the Teacher plan costs $149/year and includes all 40+ tools, full LMS integrations (Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Teams), free onboarding, and priority support with a 30-day free trial.

Source
Kami: How much do Kami School or District plans cost?

School and District plans do not publish pricing and require contacting Kami for custom quotes. These plans include domain-wide deployment, dedicated account managers, and full LMS integrations.

Source
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