What it does
Pantone supplies physical colour guides and digital tools for specifying and sharing colour. Pantone Connect brings graphics and textile libraries into palette, image-extraction and conversion workflows, with paid Adobe integration.
Keep the system identifier with the colour number: PMS refers to the graphics system, while TCX identifies textile colours in Fashion, Home + Interiors. In Connect, select a colour directly or extract one from an image, then store and share the palette. Convert finds nearby RGB, CMYK, Hex and Lab equivalents; Cross Reference compares colours across Pantone libraries. These are nearest matches rather than identical values across every medium.
Pantone Connect plans
| Plan | Price per seat | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer | USD 30/month for a single seat, or USD 95/year | Core colour tools and Adobe integration |
| Designer | USD 195/year | Brand colours and pre-production colour visualization |
| Insider | USD 295/year | Colour trends, analysis and statistics |
Free Basic access covers searching, picking and identifying colours. Using Pantone libraries in Illustrator, InDesign or Photoshop requires paid access. Buying a physical guide does not include that digital subscription.
Pantone does not supply printable PDF or EPS versions of its guides. Its digital libraries are a separate way to select and incorporate colours into design files.
Strengths
- Physical references and digital palettes support colour communication between designers and suppliers.
- Cross Reference and nearest-value conversion connect several colour libraries and formats.
Watch out for
- Digital conversions provide nearest equivalents, not identical cross-medium matches.
- Physical guides do not include a Connect subscription.
- Printable PDF or EPS copies of the colour guides are not provided.
Best for
- Designers specifying and sharing colour for graphics, packaging and textiles.
Sources
- What is Pantone Connect Premium? (Oct 28, 2026)
- What can I do with Pantone Connect? (Oct 28, 2026)
- Can I convert HEX, RGB, CMYK, and L*a*b* values to and from Pantone Colors? (Oct 28, 2026)
- What is the price of Pantone Connect software tiers? (Oct 28, 2026)
- What happened to Pantone Color Finder? (Oct 28, 2026)
- Is Pantone Connect Premium included with purchase of physical Pantone guides? (Oct 28, 2026)
- Are Printable Files of Pantone Guides Available? (Oct 28, 2026)