Is Figma or Eclipse better?

Neither clearly leads. Figma starts at Free and Eclipse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Figma or Eclipse?

Figma starts at Free and Eclipse at Free.

Does Figma or Eclipse run on more platforms?

Figma runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.

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 Eclipse is typically brought in for.

What can Figma do that Eclipse cannot?

Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants. Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring.

Technology · head to head

Figma vs Eclipse

Figma

Technology

The collaborative interface design tool

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Eclipse

Technology

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: Figma no offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected; Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
They diverge on capability: Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Eclipse covers Java development environment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Figma and Eclipse actually diverge.

Attributes where Figma and Eclipse differ
Attribute	Figma	Eclipse
Platforms	Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux
Founded	2012	2001

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 Eclipse

Java development environment
Extensible plugin architecture
Integrated debugger
Code refactoring
Version control integration
Build automation
Multi-language support
Rich client platform

What people use each for

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

Figma

UI/UX designnot Eclipse
Design systemsnot Eclipse
Prototypingnot Eclipse
Design collaborationnot Eclipse
Developer handoffnot Eclipse

Eclipse

Java application developmentnot Figma
Enterprise software developmentnot Figma
Web application developmentnot Figma
Plugin developmentnot Figma
Educational programmingnot 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

Eclipse

High memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
Slow startup times and performance degradation with large projects or many open editors
Requires configuration of eclipse.ini file to optimize heap sizes for adequate performance
User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives
User base fell from 39% of Java developers in 2024 to 28% in 2025, indicating market decline

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

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse 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.

Figma review

Choose Eclipse if

You need java development environment.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
You also want extensible plugin architecture.

Eclipse review

Questions people ask

Is Figma or Eclipse better?: Neither clearly leads. Figma starts at Free and Eclipse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Figma or Eclipse?: Figma starts at Free and Eclipse at Free.
Does Figma or Eclipse run on more platforms?: Figma runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 Eclipse is typically brought in for.
What can Figma do that Eclipse cannot?: Figma covers Real-time collaboration, Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants. Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring.

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.

Source

Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Source

Figma: 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.

Source

Figma: 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.

Source

Figma: 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.

Source

Figma: 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.

Source

Figma: 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

Figma vs Eclipse

Figma

Eclipse

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Figma

Only in Eclipse

What people use each for

Figma

Eclipse

Where each one falls short

Figma

Eclipse

Pricing, plan by plan

Figma

Eclipse

Which should you pick?

Choose Figma if

Choose Eclipse if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Figma

More on Eclipse

Keep looking

Other head to heads