Software · head to head
Adobe XD vs Figma
Adobe XD
Software
Design, prototype, and share user experiences
- From
- $54.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Figma has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Adobe XD standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan; Figma no offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected
- They diverge on capability: Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Figma covers Real-time collaboration.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe XD and Figma actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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
- Component states
- Coediting
- Creative Cloud
Only in Figma
- Real-time collaboration
- Vector networks
- Auto-layout
- Components & variants
- Prototyping
- Developer handoff
- Version control
- GitHub
Both cover
- Design systems
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Jira
- SSO
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe XD
- Web designnot Figma
- Mobile app designnot Figma
- Design systems
- Interactive prototypesnot Figma
- User testingnot Figma
Figma
- UI/UX designnot Adobe XD
- Design systems
- Prototypingnot Adobe XD
- Design collaborationnot Adobe XD
- Developer handoffnot Adobe XD
Both are used for design systems, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
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
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 XD
$54.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Adobe XD review.
Figma
Free- StarterFree
- Unlimited drafts
- 3 Figma files
- 3 FigJam boards
- Professional$12/month
- Unlimited files and folders
- Team libraries
- Advanced prototyping
- Organization$55/month
- Unlimited teams
- Shared libraries
- Design system theming
- Enterprise$90/month
- Custom workspaces
- API access
- SCIM seat management
Which should you pick?
Choose Adobe XD if
- You need vector design tools.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
- You also want responsive resize.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe XD or Figma better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe XD starts at $54.99/month and Figma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe XD or Figma?
- Figma has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $54.99/month for Adobe XD and Free for Figma.
- Does Adobe XD or Figma run on more platforms?
- Adobe XD runs on Web, macOS, Windows. 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 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 Figma is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe XD do that Figma cannot?
- Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Responsive resize, Auto-animate, Voice prototyping. Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants. Both handle Design systems, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira.
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.
SourceFigma: 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.
SourceAdobe 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.
SourceFigma: 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.
SourceFigma: 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.
SourceFigma: 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.
SourceFigma: 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.
SourceFigma: 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