Napkin AI vs Whimsical
Whimsical scores 7.3 to Napkin AI's 4.1 among the AI diagram tools we rate, and is the better pick for 4 of the 5 kinds of buyer below.
Whimsical wins, 7.3 to 4.1
Whimsical makes 6 kinds of diagrams to Napkin's 4. Its workspace also includes a shared whiteboard, which Napkin does not have, and separate documents alongside diagrams, another feature missing from Napkin. On integrations, Whimsical's boards embed in 18 places and connect to 14 apps; Napkin connects to none and has no embedding destinations. Whimsical further holds SOC 2 certification and GDPR compliance and commits to never training its AI on your uploads, while Napkin trains on uploads unless you opt out.
Pick Napkin AI if you want diagrams in your own brand colours and fonts.
Pick Whimsical if you need a shared whiteboard, more diagram types, or stronger privacy guarantees.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Shared whiteboard: Whimsical yes, Napkin AI no
- Documents alongside diagrams: Whimsical yes, Napkin AI no
- Kinds of diagram it makes: 6 kinds against 4 kinds
- Places diagrams embed: 18 places against 0 places
- Apps it connects to: 14 integrations against 0 integrations
- But Napkin AI leads on file formats it exports: 4 export formats against 0 export formats
- Where it runs: 3 platforms against 1 platform
- SOC 2: Whimsical yes, Napkin AI no
- GDPR: Whimsical yes, Napkin AI no
- Does not train AI on what you upload: Yes against unless you opt out
- But Napkin AI leads on ways to reach support: 2 support channels against 1 support channel
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other AI diagram tools we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Whimsical leads on 4 of 5 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Napkin AI
Whimsical
For everything else about each tool, read the full Napkin AI review and Whimsical review.
Napkin AI vs Whimsical: common questions
Which is better, Napkin AI or Whimsical?
Whimsical scores 7.3 and Napkin AI 4.1 out of 10 among the AI diagram tools we rate. Whimsical is ahead on what you can make, workflow and output, teams and platforms and privacy and trust.
Is Napkin AI or Whimsical cheaper?
Napkin AI's cheapest paid plan is $12/mo (Plus) and Whimsical's is $12/mo (Pro plan). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
What can Whimsical do that Napkin AI cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: shared whiteboard, documents alongside diagrams, sOC 2 and gDPR.
