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Design · head to head

Subframe vs Whimsical

Subframe logo

Subframe

Design

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit SubframeFull review
Whimsical logo

Whimsical

Design

Where great ideas take shape

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit WhimsicalFull review

The short version

  • Whimsical is a unified workspace for thinking and collaboration.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $29/mo and $10/mo.
  • Where Subframe falls short: free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages.
  • Where Whimsical falls short: the free plan is capped at 3 team boards, 3 teams and 10 guest seats.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Subframe and Whimsical actually diverge.

Attributes where Subframe and Whimsical differ
AttributeSubframeWhimsical
Pricing modelFreemiumSubscription

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), category (Design).

Not yet recorded: founded for Subframe.

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 Subframe

Nothing recorded that Whimsical does not also cover.

Only in Whimsical

  • Flowcharts
  • Wireframes
  • Mind maps
  • Sticky notes
  • Docs
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Templates
  • Keyboard shortcuts

What people use each for

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

Subframe

  • Creating production-ready interfaces without static mockupsnot Whimsical
  • Syncing design components with code as single source of truthnot Whimsical
  • Building responsive designs with auto layoutnot Whimsical
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commentingnot Whimsical
  • Exporting Radix UI and Tailwind CSS code via CLInot Whimsical

Whimsical

  • Product planningnot Subframe
  • UI/UX designnot Subframe
  • Brainstormingnot Subframe
  • Process documentationnot Subframe
  • Project visualizationnot Subframe

Where each one falls short

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

Subframe

  • Free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Free plan includes limited AI features compared to Pro
  • Pro plan billed per editor, not per team

Whimsical

  • The free plan is capped at 3 team boards, 3 teams and 10 guest seats
  • File uploads are limited to 5MB per file and 1GB in total on the free plan
  • Version history on the free plan goes back 7 days
  • Voting, the timer, private teams, the GitHub integration, password-protected files and watermark removal all need Pro at $10 per editor per month
  • SSO and SAML are Business tier only at $20 per editor per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Subframe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • Up to 10 pages
    • 2 prototypes
  • Pro$29/mo
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited pages
    • Unlimited prototypes

Whimsical

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Up to 4 boards
    • Unlimited viewers
    • 7-day version history
  • Pro$10/mo
    • Unlimited boards
    • Unlimited version history
    • Advanced permissions
  • Org$20/mo
    • Everything in Pro
    • SSO
    • User management

Which should you pick?

Choose Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Choose Whimsical if

  • You need flowcharts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want wireframes.
Whimsical review

Questions people ask

Is Subframe or Whimsical better?
Neither clearly leads. Subframe starts at Free and Whimsical at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Subframe or Whimsical?
Subframe starts at Free and Whimsical at Free.
Does Subframe or Whimsical run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Subframe for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Subframe best used for?
Subframe is most often used for creating production-ready interfaces without static mockups, syncing design components with code as single source of truth, building responsive designs with auto layout, real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commenting. Of those, creating production-ready interfaces without static mockups and syncing design components with code as single source of truth are not what Whimsical is typically brought in for.
What can Subframe do that Whimsical cannot?
Whimsical covers Flowcharts, Wireframes, Mind maps, Sticky notes.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Subframe: Is there a free version of Subframe?

Yes, Subframe offers a free plan with 1 project, up to 10 pages, 2 prototypes, unlimited team members, and limited AI features.

Source
Whimsical: What are Whimsical's pricing tiers?

Whimsical offers three plans: Free at 0 dollars per month per editor, Pro at 10 dollars per month per editor, and Business at 20 dollars per month per editor.

Source
Subframe: How is the Pro plan priced?

Subframe Pro costs $29 per editor per month, with unlimited projects, pages, prototypes, and AI usage.

Source
Whimsical: What is included in the Free plan?

The Free plan allows creation of up to 50 board objects and 50 doc blocks per month, includes watermarked exports, and provides 7-day version history. Storage is limited to 1GB.

Source
Subframe: Are viewer seats free?

Yes, Subframe offers free viewer seats across all pricing plans, allowing team members to view without an editor license.

Source
Whimsical: What features unlock in the Pro plan?

The Pro plan removes the object creation limits, provides unlimited board objects and doc blocks, removes watermarks from exports, extends version history to 90 days, and offers 100GB of storage.

Source
Whimsical: What security and team features come with Business?

The Business plan adds private teams, SAML single sign-on, SCIM and advanced security controls, unlimited version history, priority support, and a dedicated success manager. Storage starts at 2TB.

Source
Whimsical: Do discounts apply for annual billing?

Yes, annual billing offers a 17 percent discount compared to monthly rates. Additionally, nonprofits receive a 20 percent discount and students and teachers get full access.

Source
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