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Design · head to head

Adobe Illustrator vs Figma

Adobe Illustrator logo

Adobe Illustrator

Design

Professional vector graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Free plan
No
Visit Adobe IllustratorFull review
Figma logo

Figma

Design

The collaborative interface design tool

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit FigmaFull review

The short version

  • Figma is a cloud-based design tool.
  • Figma has a free plan, then $12/mo; Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/mo.
  • Only Adobe Illustrator lists bezier tools; only Figma lists real-time collaboration.
  • Where Figma falls short: no offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe Illustrator and Figma actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe Illustrator and Figma differ
AttributeAdobe IllustratorFigma
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOSWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Founded19822012

Identical on both: category (Design).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Figma.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe Illustrator

  • Vector drawing
  • Bezier tools
  • Shape tools
  • Typography
  • Gradients & effects
  • Symbols & instances
  • Artboards
  • 3D capabilities

Only in Figma

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Vector networks
  • Auto-layout
  • Components & variants
  • Prototyping
  • Design systems
  • Developer handoff
  • Version control

Both cover

  • Dropbox
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe Illustrator

  • Logo designnot Figma
  • Vector illustrationnot Figma
  • Icon designnot Figma
  • Print designnot Figma

Figma

  • UI/UX designnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Design systemsnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Prototypingnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Design collaborationnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Developer handoffnot Adobe Illustrator

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe Illustrator

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud (which bundles Illustrator) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey

Figma

  • No offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected
  • Mobile apps are read-only, cannot edit designs on iOS or Android
  • No self-hosted option, requires cloud connectivity and internet access
  • Performance degradation with large files containing thousands of layers
  • Library components and unloaded pages not accessible offline

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe Illustrator

$22.99/month
  • Single App$22.99/mo
    • Illustrator desktop app
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Fonts
  • All Apps$59.99/mo
    • All Creative Cloud apps
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Stock trial

Figma

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Unlimited drafts
    • 3 Figma files
    • 3 FigJam boards
  • Professional$12/mo
    • Unlimited files and folders
    • Team libraries
    • Advanced prototyping
  • Organization$55/mo
    • Unlimited teams
    • Shared libraries
    • Design system theming
  • Enterprise$90/mo
    • Custom workspaces
    • API access
    • SCIM seat management

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe Illustrator if

  • You need vector drawing.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS.
  • You also want bezier tools.
Adobe Illustrator review

Choose Figma if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want vector networks.
Figma review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Illustrator or Figma better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month and Figma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Illustrator or Figma?
Figma has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe Illustrator and Free for Figma.
Does Adobe Illustrator or Figma run on more platforms?
Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows, macOS, iOS. Figma runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
Can I use Figma for free?
Yes. Figma has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/month.
What is Adobe Illustrator best used for?
Adobe Illustrator is most often used for logo design, vector illustration, icon design, print design. Of those, logo design and vector illustration are not what Figma is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Illustrator do that Figma cannot?
Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography. Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants. Both handle Dropbox, SOC2, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Figma: What's included in Figma's free tier?

Figma's Starter plan is free forever and includes unlimited drafts, up to 3 Figma files, 3 FigJam boards, core design features (vector editing, auto layout, components, prototyping), basic developer handoff (inspect), and 150 AI credits per day up to 500 per month. Maximum 2 editors per file.

Source
Figma: Does Figma work offline?

Figma has very limited offline support. You can create one new file and edit currently loaded pages, but cannot open previously created files, access new pages, search for library components, or see real-time collaboration. Changes are cached locally for up to 30 days and sync when you reconnect.

Source
Figma: Can you self-host Figma?

No. Figma is a closed, cloud-only platform with no option to self-host or run on your own servers.

Source
Figma: What export formats does Figma support?

Figma exports to PNG, JPEG, SVG (at 1x scale only), and PDF (at 1x scale only). Export settings allow customization of resolution, quality, and scale.

Source
Figma: What platforms does Figma support?

Figma is available as a web app (all platforms), desktop apps for macOS and Windows, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. Linux users can access Figma through the web browser only.

Source
Figma: What are Figma's integrations?

Figma integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Asana, Linear, Notion, VS Code, Zapier, and hundreds of other tools. Integration categories include collaboration, project management, developer handoff, prototyping, and AI/code generation.

Source
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