Style guide software to create online toolboxes.
Still, we haven’t been able to find the perfect one. But.. here are the research for the ones we’ve tried so far.
Summary:
Three alternatives with different pros and cons.
• Lingo app is awesome to use internally as it has a good sketch plugin and some other nice features. The big downsides is the hierarchy and file format accept. For a client looking at the guideline in a browser and not the app, it has hierarchy as a tumblr blog. There is a lot of file formats it doesn’t except, as font files and more. What it can do, is add text styles from Sketch. Then a little“hack” could be to add a link to the dropbox folder where the font files are. Other neat features is copy paste from adobe and sketch automatically creating image files, autogenerating file formats(if you add a svg, you can choose to download as svg, png, pdf or eps), etc. I’m not experienced in using Craft libraries, but as I understand, it wasn’t perfect. Lingo might also be a good tool for replacing that, but someone more experienced with working like that should have an opinion there. For most projects(limited to 250 assets) it is free of charge. One step up(1 user, 100GB) is $6, a pretty manageable price.
• Brand.ai is in this document because it for a long time seemed to be a good alternative. That was until I discovered you can’t change or create new headlines, which makes the tool incredibly un-adaptable. Otherwise, it’s somewhere between the two others. They have more hierarchy, but still too simple if it’s a complex project. They have a lot of integrations; sketch(not as good as Lingos), Illustrator, Slack, Microsoft office, ++) Also autogenerating file formats and sizes which would be pretty awesome for us.
• Frontify is best for complex guides because you have great control over hierarchy and organising. The downside is the price and that it’s not at all as user friendly(for us) as the others as it lacks the autogenerating tool, communicating with our other tools etc. The price starts at $29 a month, which I would think is too much for most projects.
Yes, but not equally good at updating etc as Lingos. Also have integration for Illustrator, Slack, Word and more.
No
Auto generating file formats
Yes
Yes, both file format and size.
No
Layout/Hierarchy
Bad almost non-existing hierarchy like a tumblr blog on the browers(which the clients will use). Only headlines and notes. A bit better in the app, where you have chapters to the left.
Ok. Spacious layout with anchor points with chapters and subchapters.
Good. Chapters, subchapters, H1, H2 and rich text. Can also highlight important text with four different customized colors.
Copy/paste Drag/drop
Yes, both. From Sketch, Photoshop and Illustrator. Will be added as pdf og png depending on your preferences.
No, only upload files.
No, only upload files.
File types
In the app, you can only add image files and colors. Through sketch you can add symbols, text styles, layer styles, artboards, groups and layers. Does not let you add zip, psd, ai etc.
Supports: svg, eps, ai, png, all font files.
Does not support: ico, gif, more?
All?
File sensivity
All files look pretty similar.
Yes. Fonts, typography styles, language, measurements and shadows.
Yes. Can even add icon font, and it will show small icons with code.
Pricing(see more specified further down in doc)
Free with an unlimited number of users, up to 250 assets.
Free for 2 users. For 5 users and unlimited viewers $19 a month.
Starts at $29 a month.
Other
The only one adapted to show language, measurements and shadows.
Good support on chat app.
Pricing plans
(all prices based on a yearly subscription)
Lingo:
Free
$70/y, $6/mo
$290/y, $25/mo
$490/y, $40/mo
$990/y, $80/mo
$1490/y, $125/mo
Enterprise, get in touch
250 assets
100GB storage
100GB storage
100GB storage
100GB storage
100GB storage
100GB storage
unlimited users
1 user
5 users
10 users
25 users
50 users
50+ users
Brand.ai:
Individual, $0/mo
Lite, $19/mo
Standard, $49/mo
Premium, $99/mo
Enterprise, contact for price
• Create a versioned design library in Sketch
• Sync text styles and symbols across files
• Version control for Artboards
Share your design library website with unlimited viewers
Priority support
Create multiple design libraries
• Linked Libraries
• Library-level permissions
• Custom features
2 users
5 users
10 users
10 users
10+ users
Frontify:
+ three different add-ons for an extra $5 a month: workspace, media library and ux pattern library. Read more about them here.
Plus, $29/mo
Pro, $49/mo
Business, $199/mo
One online Style Guide for freelancers and startups
One online Style Guide for small businesses
Multiple online Style Guides for mid-size businesses
Style guide software to create online toolboxes.
Pricing plans