When designers think about tools to design and develop UI/UX, the two most popular tools appearing in their minds are Figma and Adobe XD. Both programs boast powerful capabilities to design, prototype, and collaborate in building digital products. However, each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, making it imperative to choose the one compatible with your workflow.
The comparison of Figma and Adobe XD will be done based on the various features, pricing, usability, collaboration opportunities, and user experience so that you can decide which tool suits best with your requirements.
Key Differences Between Figma and Adobe XD
The Characteristic Figma Adobe XD
Platform Web-based (works on any OS) Desktop app (Windows & Mac)
Collaboration Real-time collaboration Cloud-based sharing but limited real-time collaboration
Pricing Free plan available, paid plans for teams Require Adobe subscription after free trial
Plugins & Integrations Large variety of plugins & integrations Limited compared to Figma
Offline Work Requires internet but has offline mode Fully functional offline
- Key Features and Functionalities
Figma:
Completely cloud-based with real-time collaboration.
Runs on any platform: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Endless plugins and integrations.
Auto layout for responsive web design.
Adobe XD:
Works seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud.
Superb prototyping with animations and transitions.
Offline capabilities with storing locally.
State changes for components having interactivity.
- Collaboration & Teamwork
Figma:
Figma stands out for collaboration. Being entirely cloud-based allows multiple users to work on the same design at once, which is ideal for remote teams and agencies. Comments, version history, and team libraries all sort of work seamlessly in the design.
Adobe XD:
Adobe XD is collaborative in that any file can be shared through Creative Cloud, which allows for comments by others, but there is no real-time collaborative editing of files with multiple people where both can see the changes together. While users can collaborate, it doesn’t provide the smoothness that co-editing provides on Figma.
- Pricing
Figma: Free plan available, paid plans start at $12 per editor/month.
Adobe XD: Free trial available, but requires an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription ($9.99/month for Adobe XD alone, or bundled with Adobe Suite at a higher cost).
- User Friendliness
Both tools have intuitive interfaces, however, Figma has a slightly easier learning curve due to its web-based format and no-frills UI. Adobe XD may feel more natural to those well-versed with the Adobe products.
- Performance & Speed
Figma: Good internet is needed but beautiful experience on browser.
Adobe XD: Using it offline lends to additional speed, sometimes.
The Final Verdict: Which One Should You Go For?
Pick Figma if: There is real-time collaboration, cross-platform accessibility, and a free plan for individuals.
Pick Adobe XD if: You want to work offline, need to tie into Adobe products, and are already an Adobe Creative Cloud user.
Conclusion
Figma and Adobe XD are both powerful UI/UX design tools that serve the needs of different user bases. Figma is recommended if your priority is on collaboration and accessibility. On the contrary, if you operate mostly in the Adobe ecosystem and value offline functions, Adobe XD is your solution.
FAQs
- Is Figma better than Adobe XD?
Figma is better when it comes to collaboration and cloud-based, while Adobe XD is good for offline work and integration with Adobe.
- Can I really use Figma for free?
Yes. Figma has a free plan, but there are some advanced features that are only available under a paid plan. Paid plans provide additional tools for team collaboration.
- Adobe XD needs an internet connection?
No, it works offline while Figma is a cloud-based design tool.
- Which tool is better for prototyping?
They both have great prototyping features, but Adobe XD has more advanced options for animations and transitions.