Softwr

Remote Work · head to head

Mural vs npm

Mural logo

Mural

Remote Work

The digital workspace for visual collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
npm logo

npm

Web Development

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only
  • They diverge on capability: Mural covers Infinite canvas, npm covers Package installation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mural and npm actually diverge.

Attributes where Mural and npm differ
AttributeMuralnpm
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux
CategoryRemote WorkWeb Development
Founded20112014

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 Mural

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

Only in npm

  • Package installation
  • Dependency management
  • Version management
  • Script running
  • Package publishing
  • Security auditing
  • Package discovery
  • CLI interface

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 npm
  • Mapping journeys and diagrams with a distributed teamnot npm

npm

  • Package managementnot Mural
  • Dependency installationnot Mural
  • Project scaffoldingnot Mural
  • Build automationnot Mural
  • Package publishingnot Mural
  • Version controlnot 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

npm

  • Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

Pricing, plan by plan

Mural

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

npm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public packages
    • Package discovery
    • npm CLI
  • Pro$7/month
    • Unlimited private packages
    • Package analytics
    • Support
  • Teams$7/month
    • Team management
    • Organization packages
    • Audit logs

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.
Mural review

Choose npm if

  • You need package installation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want dependency management.
npm review

Questions people ask

Is Mural or npm better?
Neither clearly leads. Mural starts at Free and npm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mural or npm?
Mural starts at Free and npm at Free.
Does Mural or npm run on more platforms?
Mural runs on Web, Ios, Android. npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
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 npm is typically brought in for.
What can Mural do that npm cannot?
Mural covers Infinite canvas, Sticky notes, Shapes & connectors, Image uploads. npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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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