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Developer Tools · head to head

Namespace vs Principle

Namespace logo

Namespace

Developer Tools

The dev platform for the next 100 billion commits

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit NamespaceFull review
P

Principle

Design

Animate your ideas, design better apps

From
$129/one-time
Free plan
No
Visit PrincipleFull review

The short version

  • Namespace is a developer infrastructure platform.
  • Namespace has a free plan, then $100/mo; Principle starts at $129 one-off.
  • Only Namespace lists GitHub Actions runners; only Principle lists timeline-based animation.
  • Where Namespace falls short: developer plan is pay-as-you-go only; minimum usage unclear.
  • Where Principle falls short: macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Namespace and Principle actually diverge.

Attributes where Namespace and Principle differ
AttributeNamespacePrinciple
Starting priceFree$129/one-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxmacOS
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Not yet recorded: founded for Namespace.

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 Namespace

  • Devboxes
  • GitHub Actions runners
  • Docker builds
  • Cross-invocation caching
  • NVMe storage
  • High-speed networking
  • Multiple OS support
  • Bazel and Turborepo support

Only in Principle

  • Timeline-based animation
  • Interactive prototypes
  • Touch gestures
  • Component reuse
  • Video export
  • Sketch import
  • Figma import
  • Driver animations

What people use each for

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

Namespace

  • Providing AI coding agents with cloud-based development environmentsnot Principle
  • Accelerating CI builds with faster GitHub Actions runnersnot Principle
  • Distributing builds across teams with managed infrastructurenot Principle
  • Scaling development velocity for monorepo organizationsnot Principle

Principle

  • Mobile app prototypesnot Namespace
  • Micro-interactionsnot Namespace
  • Animation designnot Namespace
  • User flow designnot Namespace
  • Gesture-based interfacesnot Namespace

Where each one falls short

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

Namespace

  • Developer plan is pay-as-you-go only; minimum usage unclear
  • Team plan $100/mo is competitive but usage limits may be tight
  • Devbox pricing separate at $0.004/minute could add up quickly
  • Enterprise plan requires custom sales conversation

Principle

  • macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
  • No vector morphing capability for complex shape transformations
  • Limited asset creation tools; cannot create vectors or shapes directly within Principle
  • Sketch import flattens certain properties including paths, fills, borders, masks, blur effects, and text layers
  • Limited variable support, logical loops, and data input capabilities compared to tools like ProtoPie or Origami

Pricing, plan by plan

Namespace

Free
  • DeveloperFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • On-demand compute
    • Docker builds
  • Team$100/mo
    • 100,000 unit minutes
    • 1,000 Docker builds
    • Everything in Developer
  • Business$250/mo
    • 250,000 unit minutes
    • 2,500 Docker builds
    • Everything in Team
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Custom compute/Docker build limits
    • Audit log export
    • Enterprise SSO

Principle

$129/one-time
  • License$129 one-off
    • One year of upgrades
    • Full access to all features
  • Upgrade License$99/yr
    • Annual renewal for ongoing upgrades

Which should you pick?

Choose Namespace if

  • You need devboxes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want github actions runners.
Namespace review

Choose Principle if

  • You need timeline-based animation.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want interactive prototypes.
Principle review

Questions people ask

Is Namespace or Principle better?
Neither clearly leads. Namespace starts at Free and Principle at $129/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Namespace or Principle?
Namespace has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Namespace and $129/one-time for Principle.
Does Namespace or Principle run on more platforms?
Namespace runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. Principle runs on macOS.
Can I use Namespace for free?
Yes. Namespace has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Principle starts at $129/one-time.
What is Namespace best used for?
Namespace is most often used for providing ai coding agents with cloud-based development environments, accelerating ci builds with faster github actions runners, distributing builds across teams with managed infrastructure, scaling development velocity for monorepo organizations. Of those, providing ai coding agents with cloud-based development environments and accelerating ci builds with faster github actions runners are not what Principle is typically brought in for.
What can Namespace do that Principle cannot?
Namespace covers Devboxes, GitHub Actions runners, Docker builds, Cross-invocation caching. Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Interactive prototypes, Touch gestures, Component reuse.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namespace: How is compute usage metered on the Developer plan?

Developer plan uses pay-as-you-go billing. Devboxes bill at $0.004 per minute. Storage and caching services have separate usage-based fees. A 30-day free trial is available to test usage patterns.

Source
Principle: Does Principle run on Windows or Linux?

No. Principle is macOS only and runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. There is no Windows or Linux editor available; however, prototypes can be shared and viewed on any platform via web link.

Source
Namespace: What is the difference between Team and Business plans?

Team ($100/mo) includes 100,000 unit minutes and 1,000 Docker builds with email support. Business ($250/mo) includes 250,000 unit minutes, 2,500 Docker builds, and high concurrency with a dedicated Slack channel.

Source
Principle: What is the cost of Principle?

Principle costs $129 for a one-time purchase with 1 year of upgrades included. After 1 year, upgrade licenses cost $99/year. A 14-day free trial is available with all features included.

Source
Namespace: Can Namespace support AI coding agents?

Yes, Namespace Devboxes are specifically designed as feature-rich development environments for AI coding agents, with full tooling and performance optimization.

Source
Principle: Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch into Principle?

Yes. Principle supports importing designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging of re-imported files. Some Sketch properties such as paths, fills, borders, blur effects, masks, and text layers are flattened upon import.

Source
Principle: How do I share Principle prototypes with others?

Prototypes can be shared via web link with one click (File > Export > Share to Web). Recipients can view and interact with prototypes in any browser on any platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. No installation required.

Source
Principle: Can I create vector shapes and morphing animations in Principle?

Principle does not support vector morphing, where vector objects transform into other vector shapes. It also has limited asset creation capabilities and editing is restricted to basic operations like scale and rotate.

Source
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