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Members vs. buyers

Two very different kinds of people use Katalyz. Understanding the difference makes permissions, sharing, and billing a lot clearer.


Members


A member is someone at your company with an account in your Katalyz workspace. Members:


  • Have a login (via magic link — no password)
  • Appear in Settings → Members
  • Count against your seat quota (billing)
  • Have an org role that dictates what they can do: Admin, Pro, or Basic
  • See a dashboard, can create rooms, manage integrations, etc.


Typical members: you, your teammates, your manager, your admin.


Buyers


A buyer (we also call them guest buyers or visitors) is someone outside your company who receives a link to a room. Buyers:


  • Don't have an account — they never sign up, never create a password
  • Don't count against your seat quota — invite as many as you want
  • Don't have a dashboard — they only ever see the specific room you shared with them
  • Access rooms by entering their email on the room's login page — and, on rooms set to Access code verification, a 6-digit access code emailed to them. A personal invitation link takes them straight in.


Typical buyers: your prospect's champion, their procurement contact, their CFO, their legal counsel.


Why the distinction matters


  • Billing — you pay per member (seat). Buyers are free and unlimited.
  • Permissions — members have org roles; buyers only have room roles (Viewer or Editor inside a specific room).
  • Security — buyers are identified by the email they enter (or the personal link they were sent), so their activity is tracked accurately without any signup friction.


Edge cases


What if someone is technically a buyer at one company and a member at another?
They'd have two different accounts — one magic-link-only (for the room they were invited to), one full member (for their own workspace). Katalyz treats these as separate.


Can a member be invited to a room as a Viewer?
Yes. Org roles and room roles are independent. A member with org role "Pro" can be invited as a Viewer to a specific room, and they'll only be able to comment — not edit. See Room roles vs. org roles.


Updated on: 01/10/2026

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