Softwr

Design Tools · head to head

Abstract vs Principle

Abstract logo

Abstract

Design Tools

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review
P

Principle

Design

Animate your ideas, design better apps

From
$129/one-time
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; Principle macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
  • They diverge on capability: Abstract covers Version control, Principle covers Timeline-based animation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Abstract and Principle actually diverge.

Attributes where Abstract and Principle differ
AttributeAbstractPrinciple
Starting priceFree$129/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacos, WebmacOS
CategoryDesign ToolsDesign

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2015).

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 Principle

  • Timeline-based animation
  • Interactive prototypes
  • Touch gestures
  • Component reuse
  • Video export
  • Sketch import
  • Figma import
  • Driver animations

Both cover

  • Sketch
  • Figma

What people use each for

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

Abstract

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

Principle

  • Mobile app prototypesnot Abstract
  • Micro-interactionsnot Abstract
  • Animation designnot Abstract
  • User flow designnot Abstract
  • Gesture-based interfacesnot 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

Principle

  • macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
  • No vector morphing capability for complex shape transformations
  • Limited asset creation tools; cannot create vectors or shapes directly within Principle
  • Sketch import flattens certain properties including paths, fills, borders, masks, blur effects, and text layers
  • Limited variable support, logical loops, and data input capabilities compared to tools like ProtoPie or Origami

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

Principle

$129/one-time
  • License$129/one-time
    • One year of upgrades
    • Full access to all features
  • Upgrade License$99/year
    • Annual renewal for ongoing upgrades

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 Principle if

  • You need timeline-based animation.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want interactive prototypes.
Principle review

Questions people ask

Is Abstract or Principle better?
Neither clearly leads. Abstract starts at Free and Principle at $129/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Abstract or Principle?
Abstract has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Abstract and $129/one-time for Principle.
Does Abstract or Principle run on more platforms?
Abstract runs on Macos, Web. Principle runs on macOS.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Yes. Abstract has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Principle starts at $129/one-time.
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 Principle is typically brought in for.
What can Abstract do that Principle cannot?
Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Interactive prototypes, Touch gestures, Component reuse. Both handle Sketch, Figma.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Principle: Does Principle run on Windows or Linux?

No. Principle is macOS only and runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. There is no Windows or Linux editor available; however, prototypes can be shared and viewed on any platform via web link.

Source
Principle: What is the cost of Principle?

Principle costs $129 for a one-time purchase with 1 year of upgrades included. After 1 year, upgrade licenses cost $99/year. A 14-day free trial is available with all features included.

Source
Principle: Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch into Principle?

Yes. Principle supports importing designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging of re-imported files. Some Sketch properties such as paths, fills, borders, blur effects, masks, and text layers are flattened upon import.

Source
Principle: How do I share Principle prototypes with others?

Prototypes can be shared via web link with one click (File > Export > Share to Web). Recipients can view and interact with prototypes in any browser on any platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. No installation required.

Source
Principle: Can I create vector shapes and morphing animations in Principle?

Principle does not support vector morphing, where vector objects transform into other vector shapes. It also has limited asset creation capabilities and editing is restricted to basic operations like scale and rotate.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Abstract

More on Principle

Keep looking

Other head to heads