Software · head to head
Mural vs Gather
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Mural the free plan allows 3 editable murals at a time, so working on a fourth means archiving one; Gather no native desktop or mobile app; browser-based only
- They diverge on capability: Mural covers Infinite canvas, Gather covers Proximity video chat.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mural and Gather actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Mural
- Infinite canvas
- Sticky notes
- Shapes & connectors
- Image uploads
- Real-time collaboration
- Templates
- Voting & feedback
- Microsoft Teams
Only in Gather
- Proximity video chat
- Customizable spaces
- Interactive objects
- Screen sharing
- Calendar
- Google Workspace
- Desktop support
Both cover
- Slack
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Mural
- Running collaborative workshops and retrospectives on a shared whiteboardnot Gather
- Mapping journeys and diagrams with a distributed teamnot Gather
Gather
- VR Gamingnot Mural
- AR Marketingnot Mural
- Virtual Trainingnot Mural
- 3D Visualizationnot Mural
- Immersive Experiencesnot Mural
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Gather
- No native desktop or mobile app; browser-based only
- Limited API documentation compared to enterprise competitors
- Scaling large virtual offices can impact performance
Pricing, plan by plan
Mural
Free- FreeFree
- 1 mural
- Basic shapes
- File uploads
- Team$16/month
- Unlimited murals
- Advanced templates
- Team collaboration
Gather
Free- 30-Day TrialFree
- Up to 50 team members
- All features included
- Meetings and chat
- Essential$12/month
- All features
- Meeting recordings starting at 20 hours
- Meeting transcriptions starting at 30 hours
Which should you pick?
Choose Mural if
- You need infinite canvas.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want sticky notes.
Choose Gather if
- You need proximity video chat.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want customizable spaces.
Questions people ask
- Is Mural or Gather better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mural starts at Free and Gather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mural or Gather?
- Mural starts at Free and Gather at Free.
- Does Mural or Gather run on more platforms?
- Mural runs on Web, Ios, Android. Gather runs on Web.
- Can I use Mural for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Mural best used for?
- Mural is most often used for running collaborative workshops and retrospectives on a shared whiteboard, mapping journeys and diagrams with a distributed team. Of those, running collaborative workshops and retrospectives on a shared whiteboard and mapping journeys and diagrams with a distributed team are not what Gather is typically brought in for.
- What can Mural do that Gather cannot?
- Mural covers Infinite canvas, Sticky notes, Shapes & connectors, Image uploads. Gather covers Proximity video chat, Customizable spaces, Interactive objects, Screen sharing. Both handle Slack, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Gather: What is a free trial of Gather like?
Gather offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required that includes up to 50 team members and access to all features including meetings, chat, AI meeting notes, and full office customization.
SourceGather: How does Gather reduce meeting load?
Gather recreates natural office dynamics through spatial audio and proximity-based interactions, allowing colleagues to bump into each other and have quick conversations without scheduled calls. Teams report shorter, more organic conversations that wrap up in under 10 minutes.
SourceGather: What platforms and devices does Gather support?
Gather works on web browsers and integrates with Slack and Google Chat. The platform supports audio/video calls, screen sharing, and custom workspace design.
SourceGather: Does Gather work offline?
Gather is a web-based platform that requires an internet connection to function, though it emphasizes quick connection and low bandwidth requirements compared to traditional video conferencing.
Source