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Software · head to head

Adobe XD vs ProtoPie

Adobe XD logo

Adobe XD

Software

Design, prototype, and share user experiences

From
$54.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProtoPie logo

ProtoPie

Software

Create advanced interactive prototypes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ProtoPie 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; ProtoPie the free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe XD and ProtoPie differ
AttributeAdobe XDProtoPie
Starting price$54.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, macOS, WindowsWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android
Founded20152013

Identical on both: 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
  • Design systems
  • Component states
  • Coediting

Only in ProtoPie

  • Interactive prototyping
  • Data binding
  • Advanced interactions
  • Animation
  • Collaboration
  • Cloud sharing
  • Device testing
  • Code export

Both cover

  • Sketch
  • Slack
  • Jira
  • Desktop deployment

What people use each for

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

Adobe XD

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

ProtoPie

  • Building high fidelity interactive prototypes without codenot Adobe XD
  • Prototyping multi device and hardware interactionsnot Adobe XD
  • Sharing prototypes with stakeholders for testingnot 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

ProtoPie

  • The free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • Free prototypes carry a watermark and shareable links require the Basic plan
  • Saving prototypes locally requires the Pro plan
  • Team libraries and handoff recordings require the Pro plan
  • Basic caps storage at 500MB and prototypes at 20
  • Single sign on, private servers, custom fonts and custom hardware integrations are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise requires a minimum of 3 seats and is priced by quote
  • Connect Core is a paid add on at $20 per user per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe XD

$54.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Adobe XD review.

ProtoPie

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited prototypes
    • Cloud storage
    • Basic sharing
  • Professional$25/month
    • Unlimited prototypes
    • Advanced interactions
    • Collaboration
  • Enterprise$75/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Team features
    • Advanced security

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 ProtoPie if

  • You need interactive prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want data binding.
ProtoPie review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe XD or ProtoPie better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe XD starts at $54.99/month and ProtoPie at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe XD or ProtoPie?
ProtoPie has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $54.99/month for Adobe XD and Free for ProtoPie.
Does Adobe XD or ProtoPie run on more platforms?
Adobe XD runs on Web, macOS, Windows. ProtoPie runs on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use ProtoPie for free?
Yes. ProtoPie 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 ProtoPie is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe XD do that ProtoPie cannot?
Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Responsive resize, Auto-animate, Voice prototyping. ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping, Data binding, Advanced interactions, Animation. Both handle Sketch, Slack, Jira, 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.

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
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Related pages

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