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Developer Tools · head to head

Cortex vs Lunacy

Cortex logo

Cortex

Developer Tools

Internal developer portal that scores service ownership and maturity rather than just cataloguing services

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit CortexFull review
Lunacy logo

Lunacy

Design

Free design software that keeps your flow

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit LunacyFull review

The short version

  • Lunacy is a free graphic design software.
  • Lunacy is free; Cortex prices on request.
  • Only Cortex lists service catalogue; only Lunacy lists vector editing.
  • Where Lunacy falls short: desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cortex and Lunacy actually diverge.

Attributes where Cortex and Lunacy differ
AttributeCortexLunacy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Lunacy, founded for Cortex.

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 Cortex

  • Service catalogue
  • Scorecards
  • Initiatives
  • Self-service templates
  • Query language
  • Eng intelligence
  • Integrations layer
  • On-call and ownership mapping

Only in Lunacy

  • Vector editing
  • Auto layouts
  • Components
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Built-in photos & icons
  • AI background remover
  • AI upscaler
  • Sketch file support

What people use each for

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

Cortex

  • A platform team that needs to prove to leadership how far a Kubernetes or framework migration has actually progressed across hundreds of servicesnot Lunacy
  • An organisation where ownership of production services is genuinely unknown after reorganisations or acquisitionsnot Lunacy
  • Enforcing production readiness standards on new services at creation time rather than at incident reviewnot Lunacy
  • Replacing a self-hosted Backstage that is consuming a full-time engineer or two just to stay upgradednot Lunacy

Lunacy

  • UI/UX designnot Cortex
  • Web designnot Cortex
  • Mobile app designnot Cortex
  • Icon designnot Cortex
  • Marketing graphicsnot Cortex

Where each one falls short

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

Cortex

  • Pricing is quote only, so a platform team cannot build a business case or compare against the true cost of self-hosted Backstage without entering a sales cycle first
  • The catalogue is only as accurate as the metadata you supply, so an organisation with inconsistent repository conventions spends its first quarter cleaning data before any scorecard means anything
  • Scorecards create political friction: publishing a per-team grade turns an engineering standard into a performance metric, and teams will game the rules rather than fix the underlying issue
  • It is closed source and hosted, so organisations with strict data residency or air-gap requirements have limited options compared with running Backstage themselves
  • Value scales with organisation size, so a company with fifty engineers and thirty services will find the catalogue tells them nothing they did not already know while still paying an enterprise contract

Lunacy

  • Desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • Animation capabilities are basic, lacking timeline-based animation editing or spring physics available in modern design tools
  • Paid collaboration features, unlike Figma's free cloud-based team collaboration

Pricing, plan by plan

Cortex

On request
  • CortexOn request
    • Service catalogue and ownership mapping
    • Scorecards and initiatives
    • Self-service templates

Lunacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lunacy review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cortex if

  • You need service catalogue.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want scorecards.
Cortex review

Choose Lunacy if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want auto layouts.
Lunacy review

Questions people ask

Is Cortex or Lunacy better?
Neither clearly leads. Cortex starts at On request and Lunacy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cortex or Lunacy?
Lunacy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Cortex and Free for Lunacy.
Does Cortex or Lunacy run on more platforms?
Cortex runs on Web, API. Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Lunacy for free?
Yes. Lunacy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cortex starts at On request.
What is Cortex best used for?
Cortex is most often used for a platform team that needs to prove to leadership how far a kubernetes or framework migration has actually progressed across hundreds of services, an organisation where ownership of production services is genuinely unknown after reorganisations or acquisitions, enforcing production readiness standards on new services at creation time rather than at incident review, replacing a self-hosted backstage that is consuming a full-time engineer or two just to stay upgraded. Of those, a platform team that needs to prove to leadership how far a kubernetes or framework migration has actually progressed across hundreds of services and an organisation where ownership of production services is genuinely unknown after reorganisations or acquisitions are not what Lunacy is typically brought in for.
What can Cortex do that Lunacy cannot?
Cortex covers Service catalogue, Scorecards, Initiatives, Self-service templates. Lunacy covers Vector editing, Auto layouts, Components, Real-time collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cortex: How is Cortex different from Backstage?

Backstage is an open source framework you build and staff. Cortex is a hosted product with scorecards and initiatives out of the box and no platform team required to keep it running.

Lunacy: Is Lunacy free to use?

Yes. Lunacy is absolutely free for personal and commercial use. There is no subscription required or trial period limitation.

Source
Cortex: Is pricing published?

No. Cortex requires a sales conversation and prepares a custom proposal.

Lunacy: Can Lunacy open and work with Sketch files?

Yes. Lunacy has smooth integration with Sketch files, allowing designers to import and collaborate on Sketch projects without requiring a Sketch subscription.

Source
Cortex: Can it self-host?

It is offered as a hosted product; on-premise arrangements are handled through sales rather than published.

Lunacy: Does Lunacy require internet connection to work?

No. Lunacy can work offline, allowing designers to work without an internet connection. It is a desktop application that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Source
Cortex: What is the main adoption risk?

Bad or missing service metadata. The catalogue and every scorecard on top of it inherit whatever quality your repositories already have.

Lunacy: What are Lunacy's hardware requirements?

Lunacy is not demanding on hardware and runs smoothly even on moderate laptops. It has minimal system requirements compared to resource-intensive design tools.

Source
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