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Napkin AI vs PaperFig

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

Entry price
Napkin AI from $9/seat/mo, PaperFig from $120/yr — different billing units, so no direct winner
Free plan
Both have one
Public API
Napkin AI has one; not confirmed by us for PaperFig
Higher Trust score
Napkin AI — 77 vs 68 for PaperFig
Best fit
Napkin AI: Consultants and managers turning bullet points into slide diagrams · PaperFig: Researchers who need a mechanism diagram or graphical abstract without hand-drawing it

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

Napkin AITurns pasted or imported text into editable diagrams, flowcharts, mind maps, infographics and charts, with no prompt to write.PaperFigTurns a text description, sketch, or PDF into a publication-ready scientific figure across seven research fields.

Side by side

FactNapkin AIPaperFig
CategoryDiagramming & WhiteboardsDiagramming & Whiteboards
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starts at$9/seat/mo$120/yr
Public APIYesNot confirmed
Trust score77 / 10068 / 100
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb
CompanyNapkin AIPaperFig
Launched2024—
Last verifiedOct 29, 2026Oct 15, 2026

What our research says

Napkin AI

Napkin is a quick way for writers, teachers and consultants to add a clear diagram to a slide or post without opening a design tool. Designers who need pixel-level layout control or long, data-heavy charts will outgrow it.

Pros

  • Works from existing text instead of prompts
  • Every generated element stays editable
  • Exports to PPT and SVG on paid plans, PNG and PDF on Free
  • Free weekly credits cover light use

Cons

  • Free visuals carry Napkin branding
  • Credits scale with words selected, so long passages burn through them
  • No student or non-profit discounts

PaperFig

PaperFig turns a description, sketch, or PDF into a publication-style scientific figure with editable labels, covering seven research disciplines and exporting to formats journals actually accept, including SVG and PPTX. The credit system is transparent with clear annual tiers, and 150 free signup credits are enough to test it before paying. It's scoped to diagrams and graphical abstracts, not data plots from a spreadsheet.

Pros

  • Editable text labels via an OCR text editor rather than a flattened image
  • Multiple input paths — text, sketch, photo, or existing PDF
  • Exports to formats journals commonly require, including SVG and PPTX

Cons

  • Credit-based pricing means heavy users need to budget carefully across the year
  • Annual billing only on paid tiers — no monthly option shown

Which one fits

Choose Napkin AI if you need

  • Consultants and managers turning bullet points into slide diagrams
  • Bloggers and teachers adding explanatory visuals to text
  • Products that need visuals generated from text via API

Choose PaperFig if you need

  • Researchers who need a mechanism diagram or graphical abstract without hand-drawing it
  • Labs producing figures across biomedical, materials, or environmental science disciplines

Napkin AI vs PaperFig: the questions people ask

Is Napkin AI cheaper than PaperFig?

They charge in different units, so there is no like-for-like answer: Napkin AI starts at $9/seat/mo, PaperFig at $120/yr. Entry price is the lowest paid plan as we last verified it.

Does Napkin AI or PaperFig have a free tier?

Both: Napkin AI has a free tier, and PaperFig has a free tier.

Which has a public API, Napkin AI or PaperFig?

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

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