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Productivity · head to head

Canary Mail vs FigJam

Canary Mail logo

Canary Mail

Productivity

Security-focused AI email client with end-to-end encryption and a lifetime purchase option

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FigJam logo

FigJam

Productivity

Free online whiteboard for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Canary Mail pGP encryption only protects a message if the recipient also supports and uses PGP, so most everyday mail to non-technical contacts stays unencrypted regardless.; FigJam organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option
  • They diverge on capability: Canary Mail covers AI Copilot, FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Canary Mail and FigJam actually diverge.

Attributes where Canary Mail and FigJam differ
AttributeCanary MailFigJam
Pricing modelPer user per year, or one-time purchasefreemium
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, AndroidWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2012

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

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 Canary Mail

  • AI Copilot
  • AI Summaries
  • Smart Search
  • PGP encryption
  • Read receipts
  • Lifetime licence

Only in FigJam

  • Infinite whiteboard
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Sticky notes
  • Drawing tools
  • Shapes
  • Widgets
  • Templates
  • Voting

What people use each for

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

Canary Mail

  • A privacy-conscious user who wants PGP encryption built into a mainstream-feeling clientnot FigJam
  • Someone who wants to avoid an open-ended subscription and prefers a lifetime purchasenot FigJam
  • A user who wants AI summaries without sending mail content through an unfamiliar third party indefinitelynot FigJam
  • Someone consolidating several IMAP accounts into one client with unified searchnot FigJam

FigJam

  • Teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing Figma plannot Canary Mail

Where each one falls short

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

Canary Mail

  • PGP encryption only protects a message if the recipient also supports and uses PGP, so most everyday mail to non-technical contacts stays unencrypted regardless.
  • Team and shared-inbox features are minimal compared with Spark or dedicated tools, so it does not suit a support team out of the box.
  • The lifetime purchase price and terms have shifted over past versions, and buyers should confirm current lifetime pricing directly before assuming it still applies.
  • AI features still require sending thread content to a processing service to generate drafts and summaries, so the privacy story is stronger for encryption than for the AI layer itself.
  • Windows and Android apps have historically received updates later than the macOS and iOS versions.

FigJam

  • Organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option
  • Free Starter plan caps AI credit usage at 150 credits per day and 500 per month, well below the 3,000 monthly AI credits on a Professional full seat

Pricing, plan by plan

Canary Mail

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unified inbox
    • Basic search
    • PGP support
  • Growth$36/year
    • AI Copilot and summaries
    • Send later
    • Inbox cleaner
  • Pro+$100/year
    • Advanced security features
    • Priority support
    • All Growth features

FigJam

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited editable boards
    • Basic tools
    • Unlimited viewers
  • Paid$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced templates
    • Moderation tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Canary Mail if

  • You need ai copilot.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want ai summaries.
Canary Mail review

Choose FigJam if

  • You need infinite whiteboard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
FigJam review

Questions people ask

Is Canary Mail or FigJam better?
Neither clearly leads. Canary Mail starts at Free and FigJam at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Canary Mail or FigJam?
Canary Mail starts at Free and FigJam at Free.
Does Canary Mail or FigJam run on more platforms?
Canary Mail runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. FigJam runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
Can I use Canary Mail for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Canary Mail best used for?
Canary Mail is most often used for a privacy-conscious user who wants pgp encryption built into a mainstream-feeling client, someone who wants to avoid an open-ended subscription and prefers a lifetime purchase, a user who wants ai summaries without sending mail content through an unfamiliar third party indefinitely, someone consolidating several imap accounts into one client with unified search. Of those, a privacy-conscious user who wants pgp encryption built into a mainstream-feeling client and someone who wants to avoid an open-ended subscription and prefers a lifetime purchase are not what FigJam is typically brought in for.
What can Canary Mail do that FigJam cannot?
Canary Mail covers AI Copilot, AI Summaries, Smart Search, PGP encryption. FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard, Real-time collaboration, Sticky notes, Drawing tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Canary Mail: Does Canary Mail host my email?

No, it is a client over Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or IMAP accounts you already have.

FigJam: Is FigJam included with Figma or sold separately?

FigJam is included at no additional cost with all Figma plans, from the free Starter plan through Enterprise.

Source
Canary Mail: Is the lifetime licence still available?

Canary has offered a one-time lifetime purchase alongside its subscriptions; check current pricing on their site as terms have changed over time.

FigJam: How many AI credits does each Figma plan include for FigJam?

The Professional plan includes 3,000 AI credits per month, Organization plan includes 3,500 AI credits per month, and Enterprise plan includes 4,250 AI credits per month. Starter (free) does not include AI features.

Source
Canary Mail: Does PGP encryption work automatically?

Only between users who both have PGP set up; it does not encrypt mail to recipients without it.

FigJam: What can I do with FigJam's open sessions feature?

FigJam allows anyone to join open sessions for 24 hours without needing a Figma account, and you can create unlimited open sessions across your team.

Source
FigJam: What diagramming capabilities does FigJam include?

FigJam includes advanced shapes for technical diagramming such as AWS, GCP, Azure, and Kubernetes components, plus standard diagramming tools and connectors. All these features are available on every paid plan.

Source
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