Napkin AI turns text you paste or import into a diagram, flowchart, mind map, infographic or chart, without needing a written prompt. Whether it suits you depends on whether that text-first workflow matches how you work, since Napkin has no whiteboard canvas and its free plan carries its own branding on every visual.
What is Napkin AI?
Napkin AI (napkin.ai), legal entity Second Layer, Inc., is based in the United States. It runs as a web app; on a phone you can view and edit existing work, and create or edit presentations, but generating a new visual isn't available on mobile yet. The interface is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Korean and Portuguese.
What Napkin AI can draw
Pasted or imported text turns directly into flowcharts, mind maps, infographics and data charts, no prompt required.
Napkin has no infinite-canvas whiteboard; it works by generating discrete visuals from the text you give it rather than offering a freeform shared canvas.
Working with other people
Team members can be invited to a shared Teamspace to edit Napkins together in real time, with built-in commenting and highlighting for feedback on visuals. A Brand Studio lets you add your own colors and fonts; Plus opens 3 Brand Styles, and Pro adds unlimited custom branding with your own font uploads.
A dedicated API automates visual generation at scale, outputting SVG, PNG or PPT.
Napkin AI pricing: what each plan gives
The Free plan gives 500 AI credits a week, unlimited visual editing, unlimited file import in PPT, DOC, PDF, HTML or Markdown, and unlimited PNG and PDF export, though every visual carries Napkin's own branding. There is no time-limited trial; the Free plan takes its place.
Plus costs $12 a month per person, or $9 a month billed annually, and includes 10,000 AI credits a month, unlimited PPT and SVG export, 3 Brand Styles, and removes the branding. Pro costs $30 a month per person, or $22 a month billed annually, and adds unlimited custom branding with your own fonts.
Privacy and support
Napkin will not use your data to train its models if you opt out of data sharing, and it has contractual agreements with its AI subprocessors that prohibit them from training their own models on customer data. No SOC 2 or similar certification is named, and its privacy policy does not name the GDPR. Single sign-on is available through the Enterprise tier.
Support runs through email and a help center.
Who Napkin AI suits
Napkin AI suits people who already write things down, reports, notes or articles, and want a diagram or infographic pulled directly from that text rather than starting from a blank canvas or a prompt. Its six interface languages and real-time Teamspace editing suit consultants and agencies handling more than one account, especially once Brand Studio is unlocked on a paid plan.
It suits less well anyone who wants a whiteboard-style freeform canvas, since Napkin generates discrete visuals rather than offering one, and anyone who needs SOC 2 assurance or a stated GDPR commitment before signing up.
How Napkin AI compares
Napkin AI scores 4.1 out of 10 among the AI diagram tools we rate. These two do the same job and are the closest to it, compared on what each vendor publishes.
Whimsical
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 Whimsical if you need a shared whiteboard, more diagram types, or stronger privacy guarantees.
Pick Napkin AI if you want diagrams in your own brand colours and fonts.
MockFlow
MockFlow connects to 15 apps and runs on 3 platforms, against Napkin's 0 integrations and single platform. Its boards also embed directly in 9 places, something Napkin does not offer. Beyond the numbers, MockFlow's AI adds image generation, and its workspace includes a shared whiteboard and separate documents alongside diagrams. MockFlow supports GDPR; neither tool holds SOC 2 certification. Napkin's own advantage is a built-in brand kit for custom colors and fonts.
Pick MockFlow if you want built-in image generation and a shared whiteboard alongside your diagrams.
Pick Napkin AI if you want diagrams in your own brand colours and fonts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Napkin AI have a free plan?
Yes. It gives 500 AI credits a week, unlimited visual editing, unlimited file import, and unlimited PNG and PDF export, with Napkin's own branding on every visual. There is no time-limited trial; the Free plan serves that role instead.
What does Napkin AI cost?
Plus costs $12 a month per person, or $9 a month billed annually, with 10,000 AI credits a month. Pro costs $30 a month per person, or $22 a month billed annually, with unlimited custom branding.
Does Napkin AI work from a prompt?
Not in the usual sense. You paste or import text, such as a PPT, DOC, PDF, HTML or Markdown file, and Napkin turns that text directly into a diagram, flowchart, mind map, infographic or chart.
Does Napkin AI train on what I write?
It will not, if you opt out of data sharing. Napkin also states it has contractual agreements with its AI subprocessors that prohibit them from training their own models on customer data.
