Technology · head to head
Figma vs Asana
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Figma no offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected; Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- They diverge on capability: Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Asana covers Multiple project views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Figma and Asana actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
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 Figma
- Real-time collaboration
- Vector networks
- Auto-layout
- Components & variants
- Prototyping
- Design systems
- Developer handoff
- Version control
Only in Asana
- Multiple project views
- Task dependencies
- Milestones
- Portfolios
- Goals & OKRs
- Workflow automation
- Resource management
- Reporting dashboards
Both cover
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
- SOC2
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Figma
- UI/UX designnot Asana
- Design systemsnot Asana
- Prototypingnot Asana
- Design collaborationnot Asana
- Developer handoffnot Asana
Asana
- Project planning & trackingnot Figma
- Campaign managementnot Figma
- Product launchesnot Figma
- Event planningnot Figma
- Agile & Scrum managementnot Figma
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Asana
- The free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- Timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards and time tracking all require Starter at $10.99 per user per month
- Portfolios, goals, workload management and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
- Salesforce, Tableau and Power BI integrations are Advanced or above
- Monthly billing costs more, at $13.49 and $30.49 against the annual rates
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Asana
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Asana if
- You need multiple project views.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want task dependencies.
Questions people ask
- Is Figma or Asana better?
- Neither clearly leads. Figma starts at Free and Asana at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Figma or Asana?
- Figma starts at Free and Asana at Free.
- Does Figma or Asana run on more platforms?
- Figma runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Figma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Figma best used for?
- Figma is most often used for ui/ux design, design systems, prototyping, design collaboration. Of those, ui/ux design and design systems are not what Asana is typically brought in for.
- What can Figma do that Asana cannot?
- Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants. Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios. Both handle Slack, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Google Drive.
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.
SourceAsana: Does Asana have a free tier?
Yes. Asana offers a free Personal plan for up to 2 users, plus free trial access to paid plans.
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.
SourceAsana: What is the starting price for Asana paid plans?
Asana Starter plan begins at $10.99 per user per month when billed annually, or $13.49 per user when billed monthly.
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.
SourceAsana: Does Asana integrate with other work tools?
Yes. Asana offers 200+ integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, and Zoom.
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