FigCanvas figure license
Last updated: October 15, 2026
On the free plan, you can publish FigCanvas figures in papers, theses and posters if you credit FigCanvas; free exports are watermarked and not for commercial use. On a paid plan, exports have no watermark, need no attribution and can be used commercially. This page summarizes section 7 of the Terms of Service, which is the binding version.
Free vs paid at a glance
| Free plan | Pro or Credit Pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Export formats | PNG with FigCanvas watermark | Watermark-free PNG, SVG and PDF |
| Journal articles, preprints, theses | Allowed with credit line | Allowed, no credit needed |
| Posters, talks, teaching | Allowed with credit line | Allowed, no credit needed |
| Commercial use | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Attribution | Required in figure legend and acknowledgments | Not required |
| Per-figure license | Not needed | Not needed |
| Removing the watermark | Not allowed | No watermark to remove |
Pro costs $19.90/month or $149.90/year ($12.50/month). Credit Packs cost $9.90 for 200 credits or $19.90 for 600 credits, one-time. See pricing.
How to credit FigCanvas on the free plan
Use this exact text:
Created with FigCanvas (figcanvas.com)
Put it in both places:
- Figure legend, for example: "Figure 2. Overview of the study workflow. Created with FigCanvas (figcanvas.com)."
- Acknowledgments, for example: "Figures 2 and 4 were created with FigCanvas (figcanvas.com)."
For posters and slides without an acknowledgments section, put the credit line next to the figure. Do not remove, crop out or cover the watermark on a free export.
What counts as commercial use
Commercial (paid plan required)
- Company marketing, ads and websites
- Products, books or materials that are sold
- Paid courses and training
- Pharma, biotech and other company materials, including internal decks
Not commercial (free plan is fine)
- Journal articles and preprints
- Theses and dissertations
- Academic posters and talks
- Grant applications and classroom teaching
Cancellations and bonus credits
- Figures exported while your paid plan was active keep their paid-plan rights forever, even after you cancel or your Credit Pack credits expire.
- Figures exported after you cancel follow the free-plan rules.
- Sign-up, daily, referral and other promotional credits do not count as a paid plan. Without an active paid plan, exports made with them follow the free-plan rules.
Journal policies on AI images are separate
This license covers what FigCanvas allows. It does not decide what a journal accepts. Publishers set their own rules for AI-generated images, and some restrict them. Before you submit:
- Data plots are rendered from your uploaded data with Python code, so they can be reproduced and checked.
- Flowcharts and diagrams are structured, editable drawings rather than generated pixels.
- For AI-generated illustrations, read the journal's policy and disclose AI assistance where required.
How this differs from BioRender
BioRender requires a per-figure Publication License and a "Created with BioRender.com" credit even on paid academic plans, and academic plans exclude commercial use. FigCanvas paid exports need neither a credit nor a per-figure license, and commercial use is included. See the FigCanvas vs BioRender comparison for sources.
Frequently asked questions
Can I publish a figure made on the FigCanvas free plan?
Yes. Free exports can be published in journal articles, preprints, theses, conference posters and talks, as long as you credit FigCanvas with "Created with FigCanvas (figcanvas.com)" in the figure legend and in the acknowledgments. Free exports carry a watermark and cannot be used commercially.
Do I need to credit FigCanvas if I pay?
No. Figures exported on Pro or with Credit Pack credits are watermark-free and need no attribution. You also do not need a separate per-figure publication license.
What counts as commercial use?
Company marketing and advertising, products or materials that are sold, paid courses, and materials made for pharmaceutical, biotech or other for-profit companies, including internal decks. Journal articles, theses, academic posters and talks, grant applications and classroom teaching are not commercial use.
What happens to my figures if I cancel my subscription?
Figures you exported while your paid plan was active keep their paid-plan rights permanently. Figures you export after you cancel, or after your Credit Pack credits expire, follow the free-plan rules.
Do sign-up or bonus credits count as a paid plan?
No. Sign-up credits, daily credits and other promotional or gifted credits do not make an account a paid plan. Exports made with them on an account without an active paid plan follow the free-plan rules.
Will a journal accept an AI-generated figure?
That depends on the journal, not on FigCanvas. The FigCanvas license gives you the right to publish; each journal sets its own policy on AI-generated images, and some restrict them. Data plots in FigCanvas are rendered from your data with Python code, so they are reproducible. For AI illustrations, check the journal policy and disclose AI assistance where required.
Questions about a specific use? Email contact@figcanvas.com.