FigureForge and BioRender solve different problems
If you are choosing between the two, the short answer is that you may want both, for different jobs. BioRender is for drawing biological illustrations and schematics: cells, pathways, mechanisms, and graphical abstracts built from an icon library. FigureForge is for assembling the figure made of your real data: micrographs, blots, gels, and plots arranged into a labelled, journal-spec multi-panel figure. FigureForge is free and runs in your browser.
New to FigureForge? See what it does.
At a glance
| FigureForge | BioRender | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Assembling data panels into a figure | Drawing illustrations and schematics |
| Works with | Your own images and plots | An icon and template library |
| Journal size + format presets | >1,000 built in | Some size options |
| DPI + sRGB metadata for submission | Written automatically | Depends on plan and export |
| Price | Free, no signup to try | Subscription product |
| Runs in | Browser | Browser |
| Your files | Stay on your computer | Stored in your account |
Where FigureForge fits
BioRender and FigureForge sit at different points in the same pipeline, not on opposite sides of a choice. A schematic you draw in BioRender becomes one panel in the figure FigureForge assembles and sizes to the journal.
BioRender
Draw the schematic or pathway.
FigureForge
Assemble it with your data panels at the journal's size and DPI.
Submit
Export a submission-ready figure.
FigureForge complements BioRender rather than competing with it. Keep using BioRender for the drawing, and let FigureForge handle the assembly and the journal spec.
When to use which
Reach for BioRender when the figure is a drawing: a schematic of an experimental setup, a signalling pathway, a model, or a graphical abstract. Reach for FigureForge when the figure is made of results you generated and you need them arranged, labelled, and sized to a journal's spec. A common workflow is to design a schematic panel in BioRender, export it, and drop it into FigureForge as one panel alongside your data.
Common questions
Is FigureForge a BioRender clone?
No. It does not draw illustrations or provide an icon library. It assembles existing panels into a publication figure, which is a different job.
Can FigureForge draw pathways or diagrams?
No. If you need to draw a pathway or mechanism, BioRender or a vector editor is the right tool. FigureForge takes the panels you already have and lays them out.
Can I import a BioRender figure into FigureForge?
Yes. Export your BioRender artwork as PNG or PDF and import it as a panel. PDF stays vector in a FigureForge PDF export.
Is FigureForge really free?
Yes. Guest use is free with no account. An optional free account adds cloud saves.