Designers worldwide often find themselves debating the same question: Adobe XD vs Figma which is better for UI/UX design? Both tools have shaped the digital design landscape, empowering professionals to create everything from simple wireframes to complex, interactive prototypes.But in 2025, with Figma’s growing dominance and Adobe’s evolution after the failed acquisition attempt, the choice is more complex than ever.
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This article delivers an in-depth, unbiased comparison of Adobe XD and Figma — covering usability, performance, pricing, features, team collaboration, plugins, and future potential — so you can confidently decide which design platform fits your workflow best.
Overview: The Core Purpose of Each Tool
Before comparing features head-to-head, let’s briefly recap what these tools are designed to do.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD (Experience Design) is a vector-based design and prototyping tool built by Adobe, primarily used for UX/UI design, wireframing, and interactive prototypes. It integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it ideal for designers already embedded in Adobe’s ecosystem (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, etc.).
Figma
Figma, on the other hand, is a cloud-based collaborative design platform. It enables multiple users to work simultaneously on the same project, similar to how Google Docs works for text. With real-time collaboration, design systems, and browser-based access, it’s become a favorite among remote teams and product designers.
In essence, Adobe XD focuses on integration, while Figma focuses on collaboration — but there’s much more under the surface.
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Adobe XD vs Figma: Key Comparison Table (2025)
1. Interface and User Experience
Both Adobe XD and Figma prioritize clean, distraction-free interfaces — but they cater to different workflows.
Adobe XD Interface
Adobe XD’s interface feels familiar to those who’ve used Photoshop or Illustrator. Panels, toolbars, and menus follow the traditional Adobe structure.
The learning curve is gentle for existing Adobe users.
It provides powerful vector editing tools and pixel-perfect precision.
However, team collaboration requires extra setup via Creative Cloud links.
Figma Interface
Figma takes a modern, minimalistic approach, optimized for browser use and real-time editing.
Everything is neatly organized into layers, assets, and components.
The real-time collaboration cursors show who’s doing what — a huge plus for teamwork.
It’s platform-independent: Windows, macOS, or even Linux users can work together without software conflicts.
Verdict:
Figma offers a more intuitive and collaborative UX, while Adobe XD’s interface feels more traditional and geared toward individual designers.
2. Collaboration Capabilities
This is where the Adobe XD vs Figma debate becomes one-sided.
Adobe XD Collaboration
Adobe XD supports coediting through Adobe Cloud Documents, but it’s not as seamless. Designers often face:
Sync delays
Versioning conflicts
Need for Creative Cloud accounts for sharing
Still, XD supports shared design systems and commenting, which help in managed team setups.
Figma Collaboration
Figma revolutionized design collaboration with its multi-user editing, similar to Google Docs.
Multiple team members can design simultaneously.
Real-time cursor tracking shows who’s doing what.
Built-in commenting eliminates endless email feedback loops.
Version control happens automatically — no manual saving required.
Verdict:
Figma wins by far. Its cloud-first, real-time collaboration is unmatched, especially for distributed teams and product design agencies.
3. Prototyping and Interaction Design
Both tools let designers move beyond static mockups into interactive prototypes.
Adobe XD
Offers advanced animation capabilities through Auto-Animate.
You can create micro-interactions, gestures, and transitions easily.
Integrates with After Effects for high-end motion design.
Supports voice commands and input testing.
Figma
Provides intuitive prototype linking, overlays, and smart animate transitions.
The prototyping experience is fluid but slightly less advanced than XD’s animation depth.
The addition of FigJam enhances whiteboarding and user journey mapping.
Verdict:
Adobe XD edges out for motion-rich, interactive prototypes, but Figma’s integration with FigJam makes it stronger for collaborative prototyping sessions.
4. Performance and Platform Compatibility
Adobe XD
Being a desktop-based app, Adobe XD excels in speed and offline performance. Large files or high-resolution assets render smoothly, with minimal lag.
However, this performance depends heavily on your system specs and Adobe updates.
Figma
Figma’s browser-based approach initially raised concerns about lag, but modern optimization and WebGL rendering have made it incredibly fast.
It also offers a desktop app that enables partial offline work and improved performance.
Verdict:
Adobe XD remains stronger for offline, resource-heavy work; Figma performs superbly for online collaboration.
5. Pricing and Plans (2025 Update)
Adobe XD Pricing
Adobe XD is available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud:
Single App Plan: Around $9.99/month
All Apps Plan: $59.99/month, includes Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
No true free version (only a limited trial).
Figma Pricing
Figma uses a freemium model:
Free Plan: Up to 3 Figma and FigJam files.
Professional Plan: Around $12/month per editor (annual billing).
Organization Plan: Around $45/month per editor with advanced controls.
Verdict:
Figma’s free plan is generous for freelancers and startups. Adobe XD suits designers already subscribed to Creative Cloud.
6. Plugins and Integrations
Adobe XD
Integrates tightly with other Adobe tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects.
Over 3000+ plugins available through the Adobe XD marketplace.
Great for enterprise workflows using Creative Cloud Libraries.
Figma
Figma’s plugin ecosystem exploded in recent years, featuring community-built plugins for everything — icons, color palettes, accessibility checks, and AI integrations.
Integrates well with tools like Slack, Jira, Zeplin, and Notion.
The Figma Community enables designers to share templates, UI kits, and components freely.
Verdict:
Figma takes the crown for community-driven plugins and flexibility, while XD suits those deep in Adobe’s creative workflow.
7. Design Systems and Reusability
Adobe XD
Supports Component States and Design Systems.
Integration with Creative Cloud Libraries allows asset sharing across teams.
However, updating and syncing design systems across large teams can get tricky.
Figma
Introduces Shared Libraries and Variants for design systems.
Teams can easily create and manage reusable UI kits.
The component inheritance and auto layout features make scaling effortless.
🏁 Verdict:
Figma wins again for real-time, scalable design system management — ideal for big design teams.
8. Platform and Device Support
Verdict:
Figma offers universal accessibility, while XD caters better to offline, desktop-heavy users.
9. Security and Version Control
Adobe XD
Adobe leverages Creative Cloud security, ensuring file encryption and access control. However, versioning and rollback features are less seamless.
Figma
Figma’s cloud-first versioning automatically saves file histories and allows easy rollback. Team permissions and SSO (single sign-on) are available in enterprise tiers.
Verdict:
Figma’s version history and permission controls offer smoother, safer collaboration.
10. Learning Curve and Community Support
Adobe XD
Familiar for designers with Adobe experience.
Extensive official documentation and Adobe tutorials.
Fewer open community templates compared to Figma.
Figma
Easy to learn, intuitive, and beginner-friendly.
Massive community with free templates, UI kits, and tutorial videos.
Frequent updates and a thriving ecosystem.
Verdict:
Figma’s community-driven learning makes it accessible and fast to master, while XD appeals to Adobe veterans.
11. Future Outlook: What’s Next for Adobe XD and Figma?
After Adobe’s unsuccessful $20 billion acquisition attempt of Figma in 2024, the design community speculated about both tools’ futures.
Adobe XD: Slowed development and fewer major updates. Adobe is gradually pivoting towards integrating XD-like features into Creative Cloud Express and Firefly AI tools.
Figma: Continues to innovate rapidly — with AI-assisted design, Dev Mode, and design-to-code workflows emerging in 2025.
Verdict:
Figma’s future looks far brighter. With strong independence and innovation momentum, it’s shaping the next decade of collaborative design.
12. Pros and Cons Summary
Adobe XD Pros
Excellent offline performance
Tight Adobe ecosystem integration
Strong prototyping animations
Familiar UI for Adobe users
Adobe XD Cons
Weak real-time collaboration
Limited free plan
Slower update cycle
Figma Pros
Browser-based, real-time collaboration
Strong design system management
Massive plugin and template community
Cross-platform compatibility
Generous free plan
Figma Cons
Requires internet for full functionality
Limited advanced animations
Large files may lag in browser
Which Should You Choose: Adobe XD or Figma?
The choice depends on your workflow, team size, and ecosystem:
For most 2025 workflows — especially product teams and agencies — Figma emerges as the superior, future-proof option.
Conclusion: Adobe XD vs Figma — The Final Verdict
The Adobe XD vs Figma battle has shaped the design industry for years. Yet, as we step into 2025, the decision is clearer than ever:
Adobe XD remains reliable for offline, motion-rich design workflows.
Figma dominates for collaboration, scalability, and innovation.
In a connected, cloud-first world, Figma leads the future of UI/UX design — offering unmatched accessibility, community support, and rapid feature evolution.
For most designers, developers, and teams, the answer is simple: Figma wins the design tool war of 2025.
FAQs
1. Which is better, Adobe XD or Figma, for beginners?
Figma is more beginner-friendly with an intuitive interface and rich community resources. Adobe XD may suit users already familiar with Adobe products.
2. Can I use Adobe XD for free like Figma?
Adobe XD no longer offers a full free plan — only a trial. Figma’s free tier allows up to 3 projects, making it more accessible for new designers.
3. Does Figma have better collaboration tools than Adobe XD?
Yes. Figma’s real-time collaboration allows multiple designers to work simultaneously, with instant updates and commenting — something XD still struggles with.
4. Which tool offers better prototyping features: Adobe XD or Figma?
Adobe XD offers slightly more advanced animation and prototyping tools, but Figma’s simplicity and integration with FigJam make it better for collaborative prototyping.
5. Can I use Figma offline like Adobe XD?
Figma’s desktop app supports limited offline editing, but Adobe XD is stronger for full offline workflows.
6. Which design tool is better for teams in 2025?
Figma. Its cloud-first platform, scalability, and integrated Dev Mode make it ideal for modern, remote-first design teams.
7. What’s the future of Adobe XD after Figma’s dominance?
Adobe XD may see slower development, as Adobe focuses on integrating design capabilities into its broader ecosystem. Figma is expected to remain the market leader.
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