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FigCanvas vs SciFig

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Cheaper paid plan
SciFig — $8.33/mo vs $12.50/mo for FigCanvas
Free plan
Both have one
Public API
SciFig has one; not confirmed by us for FigCanvas
Higher Trust score
FigCanvas — 80 vs 64 for SciFig
Best fit
FigCanvas: Graduate students and researchers preparing figures for publication · SciFig: Researchers who need a journal-style diagram without illustration skills

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

Side by side

FactFigCanvasSciFig
CategoryData Visualization & ChartsDiagramming & Whiteboards
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$12.50/mo$8.33/mo
Public APINot confirmedYes
Trust score80 / 10064 / 100
PlatformsWebWeb, API
CompanyFigCanvas—
Last verifiedOct 15, 2026Oct 15, 2026

What our research says

FigCanvas

FigCanvas targets a specific, recurring researcher task, turning a description, dataset or methods section into a figure that looks like it belongs in a journal, rather than being a general design tool. The free plan is enough to try it and even publish with a credit line, but anything commercial, or anything needing SVG or PDF, needs Pro at $12.50 a month billed yearly.

Pros

  • Covers three distinct research-figure needs (illustrations, data charts, flowcharts) in one tool
  • Can generate a flowchart directly from pasted methods-section text
  • Paid exports include editable SVG and 300 DPI PDF, with commercial rights that stay after cancelling
  • Free exports may be published in papers and posters with a credit line

Cons

  • No operating company or country named in the terms or on the site
  • Free plan exports are watermarked, non-commercial and limited to 10 daily credits
  • AI-generated scientific figures still need expert review before submission, which the tool doesn't replace

SciFig

Handy for researchers who need a clean mechanism or pathway diagram fast and would otherwise fight with a general vector editor. The credit system rewards light, occasional use; anyone producing figures constantly for a lab will burn through the free tier quickly and need to budget for a subscription.

Pros

  • Six input modes and six publication styles to match journal conventions
  • Every element stays editable after generation, not a flat image
  • Exports to PPTX, layered SVG, and 8K PNG/JPG
  • Public API and MCP server for generating figures from code or an AI assistant

Cons

  • Credit-based pricing makes heavy use expensive to predict
  • Company behind the product is not disclosed on the site
  • Best experience requires a desktop browser, not mobile

Which one fits

Choose FigCanvas if you need

  • Graduate students and researchers preparing figures for publication
  • Labs wanting a flowchart generated directly from a methods draft
  • Teams needing pathway or mechanism illustrations without design software

Choose SciFig if you need

  • Researchers who need a journal-style diagram without illustration skills
  • Turning a described process into an editable figure for a slide deck or paper

FigCanvas vs SciFig: the questions people ask

Is FigCanvas cheaper than SciFig?

On published entry prices, SciFig starts lower — $8.33/mo against $12.50/mo for FigCanvas. Entry price is the lowest paid plan as we last verified it; what each plan includes differs.

Does FigCanvas or SciFig have a free tier?

Both: FigCanvas has a free tier, and SciFig has a free tier.

Which has a public API, FigCanvas or SciFig?

SciFig ships a public API, as of our last verification. A public API for FigCanvas is not confirmed by us — check its developer docs before you plan an integration.

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