Figma vs. Adobe XD vs. Sketch – Which Design Tool is Right for You?

Figma

Figma’s cloud-based platform ensures uninterrupted collaboration across diverse operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. Its intuitive interface and real-time editing capabilities make it a preferred choice for distributed teams and remote collaborations. This broad compatibility ensures that teams can work together regardless of their preferred operating systems, making it highly adaptable for mixed-environment workplaces.

Adobe XD

Available on both macOS and Windows, Adobe XD integrates effortlessly with Adobe’s ecosystem, facilitating smooth transitions from design to production. Its mobile app extends functionality for previews and feedback, enhancing workflow flexibility. Adobe XD’s cross-platform availability is particularly advantageous for teams that rely heavily on Adobe’s suite of tools, offering a cohesive and unified design environment.

Sketch

As a macOS-exclusive tool, Sketch caters primarily to Apple users, offering robust design functionalities optimized for Mac environments. While limiting in cross-platform compatibility, its native performance remains a hallmark for Mac-centric design teams. This exclusivity means that Sketch leverages macOS’s strengths, providing a highly optimized and efficient design experience for Mac users.

Figma

Renowned for its real-time collaboration features, Figma allows multiple designers to work simultaneously on projects, track changes, and provide instant feedback. The platform’s FIGJAM tool fosters creative brainstorming and user journey mapping, enhancing team dynamics. 

Figma’s collaboration tools are designed to support seamless team interactions, ensuring that all stakeholders can contribute effectively throughout the design process.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD’s co-editing capabilities enable effortless collaboration within Adobe’s cloud environment. Despite occasional sync issues on large-scale projects, its integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams enhances communication and project management. 

Adobe XD’s collaboration features are bolstered by Adobe’s extensive ecosystem, allowing teams to leverage a wide array of tools and resources to streamline their design workflows.

Sketch

Sketch’s collaboration features, while improving with recent updates, remain limited compared to cloud-based solutions. Its iOS app supports live collaboration but lacks the real-time synchronization found in Figma and Adobe XD. Sketch’s approach to collaboration relies heavily on external tools and plugins, which can introduce additional complexity and require more setup compared to its competitors.

Figma

With a robust component system and recent additions like Variants and Interactive Components, Figma empowers designers to create scalable design systems effortlessly. Its extensive plugin library further enhances customization options, catering to diverse design requirements. 

Figma’s design system capabilities are particularly valuable for large teams working on complex projects, allowing for consistent and reusable components across different design stages.

Adobe XD

 Adobe XD simplifies design system management with features like 3D Transforms and Auto-Animate, aimed at creating immersive user experiences. Its integration with external plugins and Adobe’s Creative Cloud ecosystem streamlines design workflows for professionals. 

Adobe XD’s design system tools are designed to support sophisticated and interactive designs, making it a strong contender for projects that require advanced animation and interaction capabilities.

Sketch

Sketch’s approach to design systems includes Smart Layout Controls and improved performance features, making it ideal for pixel-perfect designs. However, reliance on third-party plugins like InVision and Zeplin for complete workflow solutions poses challenges for smooth integration. 

Sketch’s design system tools are tailored to provide high precision and control, making it a preferred choice for designers who prioritize detailed and meticulous design work.

Figma

Figma’s Smart Animate feature enables complex animations and transitions, leveraging its cloud infrastructure for real-time prototype sharing and iteration. Designers can create dynamic interactions without coding, enhancing user engagement and design fidelity. 

Figma’s prototyping capabilities are designed to support a wide range of interactions, from simple transitions to complex animations, making it a versatile tool for creating interactive designs.

Adobe XD

Auto-animate in Adobe XD simplifies micro-interactions and realistic animations across artboards, supported by integration with Adobe’s design tools. While powerful, performance issues on large projects and limited support for vector networks impact its versatility. 

Adobe XD’s animation and prototyping tools are particularly suited for creating detailed and immersive user experiences, offering a range of features to support interactive design elements.

Sketch

Sketch relies on plugins like Timeline for animation and interaction design, offering precise control over keyframe-based animations. Its export capabilities support various formats, though dependence on third-party plugins for advanced animations limits flexibility. 

Sketch’s animation tools are designed to provide high precision and control, allowing designers to create detailed and nuanced animations for their projects.

Figma

Boasting a thriving community of developers, Figma offers a wide array of plugins and widgets through its platform. From design utilities to workflow enhancements, users can customize their Figma experience to suit specific project requirements. 

Figma’s plugin ecosystem is designed to support a wide range of use cases, allowing designers to extend the functionality of the platform and streamline their workflows.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD features a growing library of native and third-party plugins, integrating with tools like Stark and Yotako for accessibility and code generation. However, compared to Figma, plugin diversity and community support are still expanding. 

Adobe XD’s plugin ecosystem is designed to support a wide range of design and development tasks, offering tools and resources to enhance the platform’s capabilities.

Sketch

Sketch’s extensive plugin directory supports diverse functionalities, including automation, symbol management, and design asset generation. While comprehensive, managing plugin updates and compatibility remains a consideration for users. 

Sketch’s plugin ecosystem is designed to provide a wide range of tools and resources, allowing designers to customize their workflows and enhance their productivity.

Figma

Figma’s vibrant community drives innovation through collaborative projects and resource sharing. Events like Config 2021 foster knowledge exchange among designers, supported by comprehensive online documentation and active user forums.

Figma’s community and support resources are designed to provide extensive guidance and assistance, ensuring that users can get the most out of the platform.

Adobe XD

Backed by Adobe’s extensive user base, Adobe XD offers robust support through live streams, tutorials, and industry events like Adobe MAX. Its integration with Adobe Creative Cloud enhances accessibility for users familiar with Adobe’s ecosystem. 

Adobe XD’s community and support resources are designed to provide extensive guidance and assistance, ensuring that users can get the most out of the platform.

Sketch

Sketch maintains a dedicated community of users and developers, facilitating peer support and resource sharing. Events like Sketch Together 2021 promote community engagement, though fewer in number compared to Figma and Adobe XD. 

Sketch’s community and support resources are designed to provide extensive guidance and assistance, ensuring that users can get the most out of the platform.

Figma

Figma’s pricing tiers include a free Starter plan with essential features, ideal for individual designers and small teams. Professional and Organization plans offer advanced collaboration and design system tools, accommodating larger teams and enterprise needs. 

Figma’s pricing plans are designed to provide flexibility and scalability, ensuring that users can find a plan that suits their specific needs and budget.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is available through Adobe Creative Cloud, offering a subscription model with bundled access to Adobe’s suite of creative tools. Pricing plans cater to individual designers and organizations, providing flexibility in software licensing and updates. 

Adobe XD’s pricing plans are designed to provide value and flexibility, ensuring that users can find a plan that suits their specific needs and budget.

Sketch

Sketch offers both subscription and perpetual licensing options, with a free trial available for new users. Standard and Enterprise plans cater to varying team sizes and project requirements, emphasizing Mac-native performance and design fidelity. 

Sketch’s pricing plans are designed to provide value and flexibility, ensuring that users can find a plan that suits their specific needs and budget.

It’s clear that each tool caters to different needs within the UI/UX design community. Figma stands out for its real-time collaboration features, making it the ideal choice for teams that thrive on instant feedback and fluid communication. Its cross-platform capabilities ensure that team members can work together effortlessly, regardless of their operating system.

Adobe XD shines with its deep integration with Creative Cloud, providing a smooth workflow for designers already entrenched in Adobe’s suite. This integration makes it perfect for those who value a unified design environment where assets and tools are easily accessible, simplifying the design process.

Sketch, on the other hand, offers an extensive array of plugins, which is highly beneficial for designers who require customized functionalities and enhancements. Its rich plugin support allows for tailored solutions that can adapt to the specific needs of a project, giving designers the flexibility to optimize their workflow.

At UXShift, we recognize that the best tool is the one that fits into your workflow and meets your team’s specific needs. Explore these options, test their capabilities, and choose the one that empowers you to create exceptional designs.