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Miro vs Mural

Miro and Mural lead the visual whiteboarding space, yet they pull teams in different directions. Miro emphasizes extensive features, while Mural offers streamlined simplicity. Your choice depends on whether you value depth or ease of use in collaborative environments.

Miro and Mural address how teams can engage in real-time brainstorming and visual project management. Miro emphasizes flexibility and integration with a wide range of tools. Mural focuses on structured workshops and design thinking processes. The choice between them depends on whether your team prioritizes adaptability or guided collaboration.

In 2024, Miro launched AI-driven features aimed at automating routine tasks. It also introduced a competitive pricing structure that undercuts key rivals, becoming a budget-friendly option. Mural enhanced its facilitation capabilities and introduced tiered pricing, targeting enterprise clients with added security features. Both platforms are carving out distinct niches in remote collaboration.

This article evaluates Miro and Mural across eight SaaS dimensions, providing a clear score without bias. We analyze each product’s strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your team’s collaboration strategy.

vs

Miro

Online Whiteboard
OVERALL WINNER

The collaborative whiteboard that turns chaos into clarity—if you can handle its quirks.

SCORE
88/100
PRICE
$0
REVIEWS
6.1k

Mural

Visual Collaboration

Mural is the canvas where remote teams sketch ideas but struggle with lag and clunky features.

SCORE
82/100
PRICE
$0
REVIEWS
5.7k
Scorecard · 8 dimensions

Where each wins, in numbers.

Winner Runner-up
90
Feature depth
84
91
UX & onboarding
85
80
Pricing value
74
89
Integrations
83
86
Security & compliance
80
85
Support
79
88
Trust & uptime
82
90
Ecosystem
84

Miro

Online Whiteboard
WHAT WE LOVED
  • Miro’s infinite canvas allows teams to brainstorm without the constraints of traditional whiteboard sizes.
  • Integration with tools like Slack and Jira streamlines workflows, reducing the need to switch between apps frequently.
  • Real-time collaboration features let multiple users edit simultaneously, making brainstorming sessions feel alive and dynamic.
  • Customizable templates for various use cases save time and encourage structured thinking during creative sessions.
  • Miro's extensive library of widgets and shapes enhances visual communication, making complex ideas easier to grasp.
WHERE IT FALLS SHORT
  • The pricing model can become steep for larger teams, especially with the per-seat structure on premium features.
  • Exporting boards often strips formatting, complicating the transition to presentation tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
  • Limited offline functionality means losing access to boards during unstable internet connections, which can disrupt workflow.
  • Miro's performance can lag with overly large boards, leading to frustrating delays during critical brainstorming sessions.
  • The steep learning curve for new users may deter participation, impacting overall team engagement during collaborative efforts.

Mural

Visual Collaboration
WHAT WE LOVED
  • Mural's infinite canvas allows for unrestricted brainstorming, unlike competitors that limit you to fixed-sized boards.
  • Integration with tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack makes collaboration seamless, enhancing workflow with minimal friction.
  • Mural's diverse templates cater to various use cases, saving time and effort in setting up workshops and brainstorming sessions.
  • Real-time collaboration is smooth; the cursor tracking feature provides a sense of presence that many alternatives lack.
  • The voting feature enables quick consensus-building during meetings, streamlining decision-making processes.
WHERE IT FALLS SHORT
  • Mural's pricing can escalate quickly with increased team sizes, making it costly for larger organizations.
  • Limited offline functionality can hinder teams working in areas with unreliable internet connections, causing productivity issues.
  • The lack of advanced data visualization tools means teams may need additional software for complex analytics.
  • Exporting boards can strip formatting, leading to extra work when transferring content to presentation tools.
  • Search functionality is clunky, making it difficult to locate specific content in larger boards or projects.
DIMENSION-BY-DIMENSION

Where the scores come from, explained.

Feature depth

→ Miro

Miro: 92/100. Mural: 85/100. Miro offers a broader range of features, including advanced templates, integrations with Zoom and Slack, and a library of icons and stickers. Its focus on collaboration is evident with features like video chat and real-time cursors. Mural, while strong in templates and sticky notes, lacks the same depth in interactive tools, limiting its versatility in complex projects.

UX + day-2 ergonomics

→ Mural

Miro: 88/100. Mural: 90/100. Mural’s interface is more intuitive for new users, with streamlined tool access and an easier structure. The layout minimizes clutter, enabling quicker onboarding and smoother daily use. Miro’s wealth of features can overwhelm users, requiring more time to adapt. Mural's focus on user experience makes it better for teams that value seamless collaboration without a steep learning curve.

Pricing value

→ Miro

Miro: 90/100. Mural: 82/100. Miro’s pricing structure is more favorable for larger teams, offering a free tier that supports unlimited team members but limits features. Mural charges for essential features even in its free version, making it less attractive for budget-conscious users. Miro provides a better return on investment, particularly for organizations scaling their collaborative efforts.

Integrations + ecosystem

→ Miro

Miro: 91/100. Mural: 80/100. Miro supports over 100 integrations, including major platforms like Asana, Jira, and Microsoft Teams. This ecosystem allows for seamless workflows across various tools. Mural, while it has integrations, offers fewer options, which can restrict its usability within diverse tech stacks. The breadth of Miro’s integrations makes it a better choice for tech-savvy teams.

Scale + limits

→ Miro

Miro: 94/100. Mural: 82/100. Miro can handle up to 1,000 collaborators on a single board, making it ideal for large-scale workshops and brainstorming sessions. Mural caps its boards at 50 collaborators, which could hinder extensive team collaboration. For organizations needing to engage large groups, Miro's capacity is a clear advantage.

Support + docs

→ Miro

Miro: 89/100. Mural: 84/100. Miro provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and a responsive support team available 24/7. The community forums are also active, offering peer-to-peer assistance. Mural's support resources are adequate but less comprehensive, with slower response times. For teams that anticipate needing assistance, Miro’s superior support structure adds significant value.

Trust + reliability

→ Miro

Miro: 93/100. Mural: 88/100. Miro boasts a 99.9% uptime record, ensuring that teams can rely on it for real-time collaboration without interruptions. Mural’s reliability, while solid, falls short at about 99.5%. For mission-critical projects where downtime can be costly, Miro’s track record provides peace of mind that Mural cannot match.

Lock-in + portability

→ Mural

Miro: 83/100. Mural: 87/100. Mural allows for easy export of boards to various formats, including PDFs and images, making it easier to migrate data if needed. Miro, while offering exports, has a more complex process for moving boards, which can create lock-in. For teams focused on flexibility and the ability to switch tools, Mural's export options provide a notable advantage.

OUR PICK · BY USE CASE

You probably want Miro. But here's when Mural is the right call.

IF YOU ARE…
Remote design team
→ Miro

Miro's extensive template library and intuitive interface make it ideal for creative collaboration and rapid brainstorming sessions.

IF YOU ARE…
Agile project manager
→ Mural

Mural's focus on structured workshops and facilitation tools enhances team alignment and productivity during sprint planning and retrospectives.

IF YOU ARE…
Corporate training facilitator
→ Miro

Miro offers versatile integration options and user-friendly features that streamline training sessions and engage participants.

IF YOU ARE…
Non-profit organization
→ Mural

Mural's visual collaboration tools support diverse stakeholder involvement, making it easier to gather feedback and build consensus on community projects.

THE FINAL VERDICT

Miro vs Mural — what we'd actually pick.

Both Miro and Mural excel in collaborative visual workspaces. Miro's extensive template library and integrations make it the default choice for most teams. Miro's versatility in handling diverse use cases—from brainstorming to agile workflows—outshines Mural’s more focused approach. If you're looking for a more adaptable solution, choose Miro.

FAQ

Questions buyers actually ask.

Can I migrate from Miro to Mural? (or reverse)

Yes, you can export boards from Miro as image files or PDFs, which can be imported into Mural, though some formatting may be lost. Mural allows similar exports, making movement between platforms feasible but not seamless.

Which is cheaper at <scale>?

At scale, Mural's pricing can be more competitive, especially for larger teams. Miro's enterprise plans can become expensive, while Mural offers volume discounts that could keep costs lower as team size increases.

What about <specific feature> — who does it better?

For real-time collaboration, Miro is superior, providing smoother performance and more tools for simultaneous editing. Mural shines in structured collaborative sessions with features like voting and timer functionalities, making it better for focused workshops.

When should I NOT pick either, and use <competitor> instead?

If your team prioritizes advanced project management features alongside whiteboarding, consider tools like FigJam or Notion. Both integrate project tracking and documentation in ways Miro and Mural do not.

How do they compare on AI features? / on mobile? / on security?

Miro offers more AI-driven automation features, like smart templates. On mobile, both have functional apps, but Miro’s offers a more user-friendly experience. In terms of security, both have strong protocols, but Mural's compliance with GDPR might appeal to European users.

What's the lock-in cost of leaving each?

Miro's lock-in cost includes time spent transferring templates and training new software. Mural's costs are similar, but its more limited export options could lead to additional friction when switching away from the platform.