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Web Development · head to head

MUI vs Mural

MUI logo

MUI

Web Development

React component library implementing Material Design

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mural logo

Mural

Remote Work

The digital workspace for visual collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MUI escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect; Mural the free plan allows 3 editable murals at a time, so working on a fourth means archiving one
  • They diverge on capability: MUI covers Large component set, Mural covers Infinite canvas.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MUI and Mural actually diverge.

Attributes where MUI and Mural differ
AttributeMUIMural
Pricing modelOpen-source core with paid tiers for advanced componentssubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryWeb DevelopmentRemote Work
FoundedUnknown2011

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 MUI

  • Large component set
  • Theming system
  • Accessibility
  • TypeScript support

Only in Mural

  • Infinite canvas
  • Sticky notes
  • Shapes & connectors
  • Image uploads
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Templates
  • Voting & feedback
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

MUI

  • Building an admin or internal application quickly with components that already worknot Mural
  • Teams needing accessible complex widgets without building themnot Mural
  • Products where Material Design is an acceptable or desired starting pointnot Mural

Mural

  • Running collaborative workshops and retrospectives on a shared whiteboardnot MUI
  • Mapping journeys and diagrams with a distributed teamnot MUI

Where each one falls short

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

MUI

  • Escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • Bundle size is significant, and careless imports pull in far more than needed
  • Advanced components such as the full data grid require a paid licence
  • Major version upgrades have historically required real migration work

Mural

  • The free plan allows 3 editable murals at a time, so working on a fourth means archiving one
  • Mural AI and the Zoom and Webex integrations require Team+ at $9.99 per member per month billed annually
  • SSO and the Okta, Azure and GitHub integrations are Business only at $17.99 per member per month
  • Multiple workspaces, SCIM, audit logs and enforced 2FA are Enterprise only with no published price

Pricing, plan by plan

MUI

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core component library
    • Theming
    • Community support

Mural

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 mural
    • Basic shapes
    • File uploads
  • Team$16/month
    • Unlimited murals
    • Advanced templates
    • Team collaboration

Which should you pick?

Choose MUI if

  • You need large component set.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want theming system.
MUI review

Choose Mural if

  • You need infinite canvas.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want sticky notes.
Mural review

Questions people ask

Is MUI or Mural better?
Neither clearly leads. MUI starts at Free and Mural at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MUI or Mural?
MUI starts at Free and Mural at Free.
Does MUI or Mural run on more platforms?
MUI runs on Web. Mural runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use MUI for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MUI best used for?
MUI is most often used for building an admin or internal application quickly with components that already work, teams needing accessible complex widgets without building them, products where material design is an acceptable or desired starting point. Of those, building an admin or internal application quickly with components that already work and teams needing accessible complex widgets without building them are not what Mural is typically brought in for.
What can MUI do that Mural cannot?
MUI covers Large component set, Theming system, Accessibility, TypeScript support. Mural covers Infinite canvas, Sticky notes, Shapes & connectors, Image uploads.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MUI: Is MUI free?

The core library is open source and free. Advanced components, including the full-featured data grid, require a paid licence.

Mural: How much does Mural cost?

Mural Team+ is $9.99 per member per month billed annually, or $12 billed monthly. Business is $17.99 per member per month billed annually. Enterprise is quoted by sales.

Source
MUI: Can MUI look non-Material?

Yes, through the theming system, but a substantial departure takes real work. Teams wanting full design control often prefer unstyled primitives instead.

Mural: What does the free Mural plan limit?

The free plan allows unlimited murals in total but only 3 that can be edited at a time, and it is restricted to a single workspace with open rooms only.

Source
MUI: Does MUI handle accessibility?

Components follow WAI-ARIA patterns by default, which is a large part of why teams adopt it.

Mural: Which Mural plan includes single sign-on?

SSO via SAML 2.0 starts on the Business plan at $17.99 per member per month, which also adds unlimited external guests and advanced integrations.

Source
Mural: When do I need Mural Enterprise?

Enterprise adds multiple workspaces, SCIM user and group management and data residency options. Team+ and Business are both limited to a single workspace.

Source
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