Same thing happened to me, I shared a file and all of a sudden I get an email the next day saying that got I charged double!! She already had a license of her own and I received no warning that I was adding her to my team, this is a total dark pattern and it’s abusive!
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Chiming in to mirror the community’s surprise and anger over billing practices. It’s so unclear, and it feels like an intentional “dark pattern”. As a system it just doesn’t make sense that two paid subscribers to a software would have to pay MORE to work together, and that the amount would differ depending on where the files originate. Barring a change there, y’all should at least have a clear warning every time an editor is added that billing will be affected. Insane. This model kind of works for agencies, and totally unfairly penalizes freelancers.
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Also everyone here PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS TOPIC at the top of the page… and maybe post about it on social… that’s the only way it’ll get any real attention
This is total nonsense. As an agency, I have clients who have their own paid licenses, but if we share a file with their designers then those designers are added to my account and I’m paying for them? Also with no warning to accept the additional charges, or add an additional seat. It feels VERY intentionally grey and dishonest to double, triple, quadruple etc. charge for these services and should be called what it is: total bull$hit. Fix it, Figma.
Sharing and Billing on Figma:
Figma has two main billing plans: Professional and Team. Professional is for a single user, while Team allows you to add multiple people.
On the Professional plan, anyone you invite to view or edit your Figma file counts as a paid seat unless they are designated as a viewer with specific limitations set by you. This can lead to surprise charges if you aren’t careful.
Here are some things you can do to avoid future charges:
Switch to the Team plan if you need to collaborate with multiple people. This plan gives you more control over billing and allows you to set viewer permissions.
Be mindful of who you invite to edit your files. If you only need someone to view your work, make sure to set their permissions to viewer and restrict editing capabilities.
Keep track of your team members. Figma allows you to see who has access to your files and their permission levels. This helps you identify if someone has been given editing access unintentionally.
Figma’s billing practices are outlined in their Help Center https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360050602593-Guide-to-billing-at-Figma. It might be worth reviewing this to learn more about how their plans and permissions work.
Alternatives to Figma:
There are several design collaboration tools available, some with different billing models. Here are a few options to explore:
Adobe XD: A popular choice from Adobe with similar functionalities to Figma.
genio: A well-established design tool, particularly popular for Apple users.
InVision: A prototyping tool that also offers design collaboration features.
These tools all have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s worth trying them out to see which one best suits your needs.
Hey @Dakoe, sorry to ask but, are you a Figma employee? Or is it just your personal opinion to recommend different tools?
I’ve been paying $15USD / month on a professional plan, and last month Figma sent me an email saying that I’ve been moved to a team plan… didn’t think much of it until today when I received a charge on my card for $264USD/month. That’s $400 in Australian dollars. No warning, no explanation. And the link to “manage billing” just takes you to the Project Boards. WTF Happened.
The fact that you need a tutorial to explain where the money go (2 years after this thread started) makes it obvious that this is a very shady practice. Hiding the admin tab so well only confirms this is on purpose.
Once I’ve paid for my seat, my collaborators also own their own license, taxing all of us again makes it close to stealing…
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Its just insane that if you invite a user that already has a license that you get charged additionally in your team. Figma please reconsider.
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Evil and disgusting
My case is interesting. I have a yearly plan and I made a mistake of inviting another designer for couple of days and forgot about it. After a week or 10 days, I get locked out due to unpaid due of $15, Though I have removed the extra seat, I am still hostage and tricked. I wonder even if someone uses it for a days, I get charged for a month, sweat. If I pay $ 15, doesn’t that mean I can add add as many people as long as I keep one seat max? this is unclear and most of all, why denying the software I have already paid in full? Overall, very unethical and disappointing approach by Figma.
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Same thing happened to me. I’m fuming about it. The way subscriptions work with Figma are SO complicated.
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Sorry to hear this, @Russell_Phillip!
It looks like you’re already being helped by Lars on ticket #1070119. He’ll review your account and be in touch soon.
I was livid. It was embarrassing to hear what I accidentally cost our company from our IT department, I wasn’t even aware of monetary changes that were happening. It’s dark UX, Figma knows this, and they are just preying on unsuspecting users.
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It’s ridiculous that Figma charges extra if a user with a professional license invites another user (also with a professional license) to collaborate on a project. This goes against one of their core values that the product is supposed to enhance collaboration.
I am actually considering moving over to Sketch because of this awful billing practive.
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I agree! It’s so stupid.
Also very upset about this. I’m a freelancer and suddenly my Figma bill had doubled. Turns out that it was because I had given another freelancer edit access? At no point was it mentioned that this would mean I would pay for an extra seat. What’s even more egregious is that she already pays for her own account? Super shady practice on Figma’s part. Additionally I found it exceptionally counterintuitive to be able to navigate to the billing screen. Like I had to google how to get there— no idea why Figma makes it so insanely difficult?
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I also note that despite having the qty of design seatws as 0 I am going to be invoiced 132GBP.
AND having found this thread realised that my use case for Figma (collaborating with my coachees during our sessions) is goig to cost many X the $5 a month I had thought.
Now looking to get support to cancel upgrade and seek refund
A few years ago we were like 'wow! shut up and take my money Figma!". We wanted to buy our first paid seat, despite the fact that the free seat was great and more than enough. Opposite of what it is today.
I remember looking long and wide, and COULD NOT FIND a way to give Figma some of our hard earned cash.
Quite a change in strategy.
This is the Adobe Figma way.