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Figma vs Adobe XD: What Should a Designer Choose?

Norman Johnson

In the world of UI/UX design, Figma and Adobe XD are two giants, each with their own advantages. But how to understand what is right for you? Let’s break down the key differences, trends, and pitfalls to help you make an informed choice.

Key differences

Figma: Cloud-based collaborative tool

  • Real-time: Multiple designers can work on the same file simultaneously, comment and track changes 17.
  • Accessibility: Works in browser and on all OS (Windows, macOS, Linux), no installation required. Suitable for remote teams 48.
  • Plugins and community: Huge library of plugins (e.g. for animations or content generation) and templates from the community 9.

Adobe XD: Integration with the Adobe ecosystem

  • Creative Cloud connection: Import files from Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects without conversion. Ideal for those already using Adobe 79.
  • Voice Prototyping: Unique feature for creating voice-controlled interfaces 713.
  • Local operation: Fast performance when working with large files, even without internet 713.

Key selection criteria

For teams and collaborations

  • Figma: A leader in collaboration. Example: companies like Airbnb, GitHub, and Uber have switched to Figma because of the convenience of synchronized editing 12.
  • Adobe XD: Supports co-authoring, but requires saving files to Creative Cloud. Can lag on weak internet 47.

For complex projects

  • Figma: Auto Layout, Variants components, integration with Jira and Slack 89.
  • Adobe XD: Repeat Grid for fast element duplication, advanced animations (microinteractions, parallax) 913.

Price

  • Figma: Free plan with restrictions (3 projects), Pro – 12/month,Organization-12/month,Organization-45/month 49.
  • Adobe XD: Only through Creative Cloud subscription ($54.99/month for the entire package). XD is not sold separately from 2024 713.

Situations where one tool wins

Choose Figma if:

  • Work in a distributed team and need synchronized work.
  • Need access to projects from any device without software installation.
  • Want to save money – the free plan covers basic needs 18.

Choose Adobe XD if:

  • Already use Photoshop or Illustrator – integration will save time.
  • Need complex animations or voice interfaces.
  • Prefer local file storage and high performance 79.

Limitations and challenges

Figma:

  • Can slow down when working with heavy files or weak internet 12.
  • No offline mode – critical for some scenarios 7.

Adobe XD:

  • High subscription cost, especially for freelancers.
  • Fewer finished resources compared to Figma 913.

Future of tools

  • Figma: Actively developing AI features (design generation by description, automatic adaptation of layouts) 13.
  • Adobe XD: Focus on integration with Adobe AI services (e.g. Firefly for image generation) 7.