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Education · head to head

eBird vs FigJam

eBird logo

eBird

Education

Free citizen-science checklist app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology for logging bird sightings

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: eBird it does not identify birds for you, so a beginner needs Merlin or field guide knowledge alongside it.; FigJam organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option
  • They diverge on capability: eBird covers Checklist logging, FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which eBird and FigJam actually diverge.

Attributes where eBird and FigJam differ
AttributeeBirdFigJam
Pricing modelFree, no ads and no in-app purchasesfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android
CategoryEducationProductivity
FoundedUnknown2012

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 eBird

  • Checklist logging
  • Hotspot exploration
  • Life list tracking
  • Rare bird alerts
  • Regional review
  • Data used in research

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.

eBird

  • A birder who wants to keep a searchable life list across every location they have visitednot FigJam
  • Someone wanting alerts when a rare species is reported nearbynot FigJam
  • A researcher or land manager pulling public sighting data for a specific regionnot FigJam
  • A group leading a birding outing who wants to log a shared checklist for the tripnot FigJam

FigJam

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

Where each one falls short

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

eBird

  • It does not identify birds for you, so a beginner needs Merlin or field guide knowledge alongside it.
  • Data quality depends on volunteer regional review, so unusual sightings can take time to verify or may be rejected.
  • The interface is built for structured data entry rather than casual browsing, which some users find less inviting than a photo-first app.
  • Hotspot and rare bird alert usefulness varies heavily by region, since it depends on local birder density submitting checklists.
  • As a research tool first, some workflows such as trip list exports and taxonomy changes prioritise data accuracy over ease of use.

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

eBird

Free
  • eBirdFree
    • Unlimited checklist logging
    • Hotspot and rare bird alerts
    • Web and mobile access

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 eBird if

  • You need checklist logging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want hotspot exploration.
eBird 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 eBird or FigJam better?
Neither clearly leads. eBird 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, eBird or FigJam?
eBird starts at Free and FigJam at Free.
Does eBird or FigJam run on more platforms?
eBird runs on iOS, Android, Web. FigJam runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
Can I use eBird for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is eBird best used for?
eBird is most often used for a birder who wants to keep a searchable life list across every location they have visited, someone wanting alerts when a rare species is reported nearby, a researcher or land manager pulling public sighting data for a specific region, a group leading a birding outing who wants to log a shared checklist for the trip. Of those, a birder who wants to keep a searchable life list across every location they have visited and someone wanting alerts when a rare species is reported nearby are not what FigJam is typically brought in for.
What can eBird do that FigJam cannot?
eBird covers Checklist logging, Hotspot exploration, Life list tracking, Rare bird alerts. FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard, Real-time collaboration, Sticky notes, Drawing tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

eBird: Is eBird free?

Yes, entirely, with no ads or paid tier, funded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

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
eBird: Does eBird identify birds?

No, it records checklists of species you already believe you saw; Merlin Bird ID handles identification.

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
eBird: Who uses the data?

Researchers, conservation organisations and government agencies use eBird data to study migration and population trends.

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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