The Short Answer: Yes

Figma does have a version history feature, which allows users to track changes made to their designs over time, with a maximum of 30 days of history for free plans and unlimited history for paid plans. This feature enables designers to easily revert to previous versions of their work, collaborate with team members, and maintain a record of design iterations.

How to Use Version History in Figma

1. Navigate to the “File” menu in the top-left corner of the Figma interface and select “Version History” from the dropdown list.
2. Click on a specific version to view the changes made, and use the “Restore” button to revert to that version.
3. Result: The selected version will be restored, and all subsequent changes will be discarded, allowing designers to start fresh from a previous point in their design process.

Workarounds (Not Necessary)

Since Figma does support version history natively, there is no need for workarounds. However, for users who require more advanced version control features, such as branching and merging, Figma integrates with third-party tools like GitHub and GitLab.

Better Alternatives for Version History

If Version History is a critical feature for your workflow, Figma’s native implementation is robust. However, for comparison:

• Alternative 1: Adobe XD (Native support with a similar 30-day limit for free plans)
• Alternative 2: Sketch (Better implementation with unlimited history for all plans)

FAQ

Q: Is Version History coming in the roadmap? A: According to Figma’s public roadmap, they are continually improving their version history feature, with recent updates including the ability to view and restore previous versions of files.

Q: Is this feature gated to the Enterprise plan? A: No, version history is available on all Figma plans, including the free plan, with a maximum of 30 days of history. Paid plans, including the Professional and Enterprise plans, offer unlimited version history.

📚 Continue Learning

Check out our guides on Figma and Version History.

The Short Answer: Yes

Google Docs does have a version history feature, but it is limited to 30 days on free plans, meaning that users can only recover previous versions of their documents within this timeframe. This limitation can be a significant constraint for users who need to access older versions of their documents, highlighting the importance of regular backups or upgrades to paid plans for extended version history.

How to Use Version History in Google Docs

1. Navigate to the Google Docs document for which you want to access the version history.
2. Click on “File” in the top menu, then select “Version history” and finally “See version history” to open the version history sidebar.
3. Result: The version history sidebar will display a list of all saved versions of your document, allowing you to click on any version to view it and even restore it if needed.

Workarounds

Since the 30-day limit on free plans might not be sufficient for all users, consider the following workarounds:

1. Use an Integration: Connect Google Docs to a backup service like Backup & Sync or third-party tools that offer more comprehensive versioning and backup solutions.
2. Use a 3rd Party Plugin: Install plugins like DocHub or similar tools that can enhance the versioning capabilities within Google Docs.
3. The “Hack”: Manually save different versions of your document by downloading them as separate files (e.g., “Document_v1”, “Document_v2”) to maintain your own version history outside of Google Docs.

Better Alternatives for Version History

If the version history limitations in Google Docs are a significant issue for your document recovery workflow, consider these alternatives:

• Alternative 1: Microsoft Word Online (Native support with longer version history on certain plans)
• Alternative 2: Quip (Better implementation with real-time collaboration and version history)

FAQ

Q: Is Version History coming in the roadmap with extended timeframes? A: As of the last public update, there are no official announcements from Google regarding extending the version history timeframe for free plans, but users can follow Google Workspace updates for any future changes.

Q: Is this feature gated to the Enterprise plan? A: The version history feature itself is not gated to the Enterprise plan, but paid plans (such as Google Workspace plans) may offer longer version histories or more advanced features compared to free plans.

📚 Continue Learning

Check out our guides on Google Docs and Version History.