# Backlight vs Knapsack

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Backlight

| Attribute | Backlight | Knapsack |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 56.5 (37% (low)) | 36.1 (24% (low)) |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true}` |
| description.long | A code-centric platform for designing, collaborating on, and publishing design systems with integrated visual review and Figma plugin support. | A cloud-based platform for enterprise teams to manage design systems, maintain component libraries, and coordinate design and engineering work through a unified interface with automated sync between design tools and production code. |
| features.capabilities | `{"architecture_model":"managed_cloud_saas","w3c_design_token_format_specification_support":true,"markdown_and_mdx_custom_documentation_authoring":true,"visual_regression_testing_and_component_history":true,"design_token_variable_translation_engine_figma_to_code":true}` | `{"pricing_model":"flat_custom_enterprise","architecture_model":"managed_cloud_saas","mit_or_apache_permissive_oss_license":false,"continuous_integration_ci_github_gitlab_token_sync":true,"version_control_and_releaseing_for_brand_guidelines":true,"design_token_variable_translation_engine_figma_to_code":true}` |
| integrations.count | 3 | 3 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"GitHub","native":true,"category":"version_control","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"GitLab","native":true,"category":"version_control","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Figma","native":true,"category":"design","direction":"outbound"}]` | `[{"name":"Figma","native":true,"category":"design","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"GitHub","native":true,"category":"vcs","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"GitLab","native":true,"category":"vcs","direction":"bidirectional"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"hqCountry":"FR","primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Starter","summary":"Free","features":["Unlimited users","Up to 2 design systems","Online IDE and Command-line","Instant share","GitHub & GitLab integrations","Visual review of Pull Requests","100 Visual regression reports","Publish on scope @backlight-dev","Markdown, MDJS, MDX2, MDVue, MDsveX and Nunjucks support","Real-time editing","Auto-versioning","Community support on Discord"],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Pro","summary":"$149/mo (billed annually) or $186/mo (monthly)","features":["All Starter features","Up to 5 design systems","1000 Visual regression reports","Publish to any registry","Publish to any scope","Publish private packages","Export documentation static site","Email support"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":149,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"Custom pricing (contact sales)","features":["All Pro features","Unlimited design systems","Unlimited Visual regression reports","Email support with SLA","story.to.design (automatically generate and maintain Figma UI Kits)"],"contactSales":true}],"summary":"Free starter plan. Pro from $149/mo (billed annually) or $186/mo (monthly). Enterprise custom pricing.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://backlight.dev/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T16:10:31.708Z","startingPrice":{"amount":149,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Basic","features":["End-to-end digital production platform","1 code framework renderer","Dynamic documentation site with hosting","Design token manager","Real-time code rendering and playgrounds","Figma integration for tokens and embeds","Git-backed version control","CI/CD integration","User management and permissions","Dedicated implementation resources","Professional services access"],"minSeats":5,"commitment":"annual","description":"Foundation tier for design system teams","contactSales":true,"includedLimits":{"viewers":"50"}},{"free":false,"name":"Core","features":["All Basic features","Multiple code frameworks","Custom domain configuration","SSO with SAML and OIDC support","Standard and Premium SLA support options","Workspace analytics","Advanced theming capabilities"],"commitment":"annual","description":"Advanced tier for teams requiring enhanced security and support","contactSales":true},{"free":false,"name":"Pro","features":["All Core features","Multiple workspaces","3 code frameworks included","Up to 3 SSO provider connections","Premium SLA support","Unlimited viewers","Workspace analytics"],"commitment":"annual","description":"Enterprise tier for large-scale digital production operations","contactSales":true}],"summary":"Annual subscription with custom enterprise pricing. Minimum 5 seats required. Contact sales for quote.","freeTier":false,"sourceUrl":"https://www.knapsack.cloud/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T14:50:55.619Z","billingPeriods":["year"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | no |
| pricing.model | freemium | quote |
| pricing.price_level | high | unknown |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":149,"currency":"USD"}` | - |
| pricing.transparent | yes | no |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.trust_center | https://backlight.dev/legal/privacy-policy | https://www.knapsack.cloud/legal/security |

## Capabilities (Design Systems)

| Capability | Backlight | Knapsack |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Architecture model | Managed cloud saas | Managed cloud saas |
| Design token variable translation engine figma to code | ✓ | ✓ |
| Interactive storybook react component embedding | - | - |
| Continuous integration ci github gitlab token sync | - | ✓ |
| Visual regression testing and component history | ✓ | - |
| Markdown and mdx custom documentation authoring | ✓ | - |
| Brand asset management hub for logos and fonts | - | - |
| Version control and releaseing for brand guidelines | - | ✓ |
| W3c design token format specification support | ✓ | - |
| Multi tenant theme support for white labeling | - | - |
| SOC2 type ii | - | - |
| Mit or apache permissive oss license | - | ✗ |
| Pricing model | - | Flat custom enterprise |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:46:12.397Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*