Software · head to head
Adobe XD vs Principle
Adobe XD
Software
Design, prototype, and share user experiences
- From
- $54.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Adobe XD standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan; Principle macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
- They diverge on capability: Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Principle covers Timeline-based animation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe XD and Principle actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2015).
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 Principle
- Timeline-based animation
- Interactive prototypes
- Touch gestures
- Component reuse
- Video export
- Sketch import
- Figma import
- Driver animations
Both cover
- Sketch
- Desktop deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe XD
- Web designnot Principle
- Mobile app designnot Principle
- Design systemsnot Principle
- Interactive prototypesnot Principle
- User testingnot Principle
Principle
- Mobile app prototypesnot Adobe XD
- Micro-interactionsnot Adobe XD
- Animation designnot Adobe XD
- User flow designnot Adobe XD
- Gesture-based interfacesnot 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
Principle
- macOS only with no Windows or Linux editor available
- No vector morphing capability for complex shape transformations
- Limited asset creation tools; cannot create vectors or shapes directly within Principle
- Sketch import flattens certain properties including paths, fills, borders, masks, blur effects, and text layers
- Limited variable support, logical loops, and data input capabilities compared to tools like ProtoPie or Origami
Pricing, plan by plan
Adobe XD
$54.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Adobe XD review.
Principle
$129/one-time- License$129/one-time
- One year of upgrades
- Full access to all features
- Upgrade License$99/year
- Annual renewal for ongoing upgrades
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 Principle if
- You need timeline-based animation.
- You work on macOS.
- You also want interactive prototypes.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe XD or Principle better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe XD starts at $54.99/month and Principle at $129/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe XD or Principle?
- Adobe XD starts at $54.99/month and Principle at $129/one-time.
- Does Adobe XD or Principle run on more platforms?
- Adobe XD runs on Web, macOS, Windows. Principle runs on macOS.
- 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 Principle is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe XD do that Principle cannot?
- Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Responsive resize, Auto-animate, Voice prototyping. Principle covers Timeline-based animation, Interactive prototypes, Touch gestures, Component reuse. Both handle Sketch, Desktop deployment.
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.
SourcePrinciple: Does Principle run on Windows or Linux?
No. Principle is macOS only and runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. There is no Windows or Linux editor available; however, prototypes can be shared and viewed on any platform via web link.
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.
SourcePrinciple: What is the cost of Principle?
Principle costs $129 for a one-time purchase with 1 year of upgrades included. After 1 year, upgrade licenses cost $99/year. A 14-day free trial is available with all features included.
SourcePrinciple: Can I import designs from Figma or Sketch into Principle?
Yes. Principle supports importing designs from Figma and Sketch with intelligent merging of re-imported files. Some Sketch properties such as paths, fills, borders, blur effects, masks, and text layers are flattened upon import.
SourcePrinciple: How do I share Principle prototypes with others?
Prototypes can be shared via web link with one click (File > Export > Share to Web). Recipients can view and interact with prototypes in any browser on any platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. No installation required.
SourcePrinciple: Can I create vector shapes and morphing animations in Principle?
Principle does not support vector morphing, where vector objects transform into other vector shapes. It also has limited asset creation capabilities and editing is restricted to basic operations like scale and rotate.
Source