Softwr

Design · head to head

Adobe XD vs Depot

Adobe XD logo

Adobe XD

Design

Design, prototype, and share user experiences

From
$54.99/month
Free plan
No
Visit Adobe XDFull review
Depot logo

Depot

Developer Tools

Cloud-based builds and CI runs 55x faster with less cost

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DepotFull review

The short version

  • Depot is a cloud-based CI/CD platform.
  • Depot has a free plan, then $20/mo; Adobe XD starts at $54.99/mo.
  • Only Adobe XD lists vector design tools; only Depot lists Depot CI.
  • Where Adobe XD falls short: standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan.
  • Where Depot falls short: developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe XD and Depot actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe XD and Depot differ
AttributeAdobe XDDepot
Starting price$54.99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, macOS, WindowsWeb, GitHub, API
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools
Founded20152022

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 XD

  • Vector design tools
  • Responsive resize
  • Auto-animate
  • Voice prototyping
  • 3D transforms
  • Design systems
  • Component states
  • Coediting

Only in Depot

  • Depot CI
  • Container builds
  • GitHub Actions runners
  • Distributed caching
  • Build API
  • Depot Registry
  • Cross-platform builds
  • SSH debugging

What people use each for

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

Adobe XD

  • Web designnot Depot
  • Mobile app designnot Depot
  • Design systemsnot Depot
  • Interactive prototypesnot Depot
  • User testingnot Depot

Depot

  • Accelerating Docker builds for container-based developmentnot Adobe XD
  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster infrastructurenot Adobe XD
  • Distributing cache across Monorepo buildsnot Adobe XD
  • Debugging failed CI builds interactively with SSHnot Adobe XD

Where each one falls short

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

Adobe XD

  • Standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan
  • Mac-first design tool with more limited Windows support
  • Collaboration features are less mature compared to Figma
  • Not open source unlike alternatives like Penpot
  • Higher price point than competing standalone design tools

Depot

  • Developer plan minute limits may be insufficient for active development
  • Startup plan at $200/mo is expensive for smaller teams
  • Business plan requires custom pricing consultation
  • macOS M2 runners not available on Developer plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe XD

$54.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Adobe XD review.

Depot

Free
  • Developer$20/mo
    • 1 user
    • 500 Docker build minutes per month
    • 2,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • Startup$200/mo
    • Unlimited users
    • 5,000 Docker build minutes per month
    • 20,000 Depot CI minutes per month
  • BusinessOn request
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited users
    • Custom monthly compute

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe XD if

  • You need vector design tools.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want responsive resize.
Adobe XD review

Choose Depot if

  • You need depot ci.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, GitHub, API.
  • You also want container builds.
Depot review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe XD or Depot better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe XD starts at $54.99/month and Depot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe XD or Depot?
Depot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $54.99/month for Adobe XD and Free for Depot.
Does Adobe XD or Depot run on more platforms?
Adobe XD runs on Web, macOS, Windows. Depot runs on Web, GitHub, API.
Can I use Depot for free?
Yes. Depot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe XD starts at $54.99/month.
What is Adobe XD best used for?
Adobe XD is most often used for web design, mobile app design, design systems, interactive prototypes. Of those, web design and mobile app design are not what Depot is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe XD do that Depot cannot?
Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Responsive resize, Auto-animate, Voice prototyping. Depot covers Depot CI, Container builds, GitHub Actions runners, Distributed caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Adobe XD: Can I use Adobe XD without a full Creative Cloud subscription?

No. Adobe XD is no longer available as a standalone subscription. It is only available as part of Creative Cloud All Apps plan priced from $54.99 to $69.99 per month.

Source
Depot: How much faster are Depot runners compared to GitHub Actions?

Depot runners offer 30% faster CPUs and 10x faster networking than standard GitHub-hosted runners, enabling builds to complete significantly faster.

Source
Adobe XD: What file formats does Adobe XD support?

Adobe XD supports XD format natively, with import/export capabilities for other design formats and vector graphics.

Source
Depot: What is included in the Developer plan?

Developer plan ($20/month) includes 500 Docker build minutes, 2,000 Depot CI minutes, 2,000 GitHub Actions minutes, 25 GB storage, unlimited concurrency, and community support.

Source
Depot: Can I use Depot with my own AWS account?

Yes, Depot Managed allows deployment within customer AWS accounts. This is available to interested customers; contact sales for details.

Source
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