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Figma logo

Figma

The collaborative interface design tool

Overview

What Figma does

Figma is a cloud-based design tool that is similar in functionality to Sketch, Adobe XD, and InVision Studio. What makes Figma different is that it works entirely in your browser, making it easier for teams to collaborate on design projects in real-time.

What people use it for

  • UI/UX design
  • Design systems
  • Prototyping
  • Design collaboration
  • Developer handoff

The honest half

Where it falls short

Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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

Cross-shopped

What people choose instead of Figma

Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.

  • Figma logo
    Figma
    vs
    Sketch logo
    Sketch

    Sketch: Native Mac design tool with lower pricing than Figma Professional, focused on simplicity and performance on macOS.

  • Figma logo
    Figma
    vs
    Penpot logo
    Penpot

    Penpot: Free, open-source, browser-based alternative with real-time collaboration and SVG-native design, available for self-hosting.

  • Figma logo
    Figma
    vs
    Framer logo
    Framer

    Framer: Browser-based design and prototyping tool with integrated code editor for interactive component creation.

  • Figma logo
    Figma
    vs
    InVision logo
    InVision

    InVision: Collaboration and prototyping platform with design specs and handoff features similar to Figma.

Pricing

What Figma costs

Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.

Starter

Free

  • Unlimited drafts
  • 3 Figma files
  • 3 FigJam boards
  • Core design features
  • Basic developer handoff
  • 150 AI credits per day

Professional

$12 /mo

  • Unlimited files and folders
  • Team libraries
  • Advanced prototyping
  • 3000 AI credits per month

Organization

$55 /mo

  • Unlimited teams
  • Shared libraries
  • Design system theming
  • 3500 AI credits per month

Enterprise

$90 /mo

  • Custom workspaces
  • API access
  • SCIM seat management
  • 4250 AI credits per month

Capabilities

Features

  • Real-time collaboration

    Real-time collaboration capability

  • Vector networks

    Vector networks capability

  • Auto-layout

    Auto-layout capability

  • Components & variants

    Components & variants capability

  • Prototyping

    Prototyping capability

  • Design systems

    Design systems capability

  • Developer handoff

    Developer handoff capability

  • Version control

    Version control capability

  • Slack

    Integration with Slack

  • Microsoft Teams

    Integration with Microsoft Teams

  • Jira

    Integration with Jira

  • GitHub

    Integration with GitHub

Answered, with sources

Questions people ask

Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.

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
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
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
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
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
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

Behind it

Who makes Figma

Company
Figma Inc
Based in
San Francisco, CA
Founders
Dylan Field, Evan Wallace

Timeline

Figma over time

  1. Launch2015-01-01

    Figma beta release

    Source
  2. Founded2012-01-01

    Figma founded by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace

    Source
  3. Funding2012-01-01$100,000

    Dylan Field receives Thiel Fellowship

    Source

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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Figma, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.

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