May 14, 2021 by Guest Author
Figma Vs Adobe XD - which is the better solution? It’s important to remember that not all clouds are created equal. While there are plenty of cloud-based design solutions for both beginners and professionals to choose from, few are able to effectively meet the needs of designers across the globe. This is where Figma and Adobe XD come in.
So, which one is better?
In this guide, we are going to be breaking down the key differences between Figma and Adobe XD. As these two solutions continue to grow in popularity, there has never been a better time to familiarize yourself with the defining features of each.
If you can find the best solution for your workflow, this is only going to be beneficial to you in the long run. When it comes to choosing between Adobe XD and Figma, it’s vital that you do some research to understand the core differences between these two cloud solutions.
This short guide will be exploring the following questions:
Without wasting any time, let’s dive straight into answering the core question on our list.
Like many in design communities across the globe, some believe that Figma is a better solution than Adobe XD. The reasoning for this opinion can be broken down into three main points:
So, let’s discuss these three points in a little more detail.
Figma operates fast and is in the cloud, making it easy for anyone to make changes quickly without having to send files back and forth. Rather than having to sync your files to the cloud, they simply live on there.
This means you don’t have to worry about transferring files between your personal and work computers. With Figma, dealing with version mixups is a thing of the past as your files just live on the web.
Every designer knows that speed is everything. If you’re able to operate at a faster speed, you will have an incremental advantage over the competition - it’s really that simple.
It should also be noted that Adobe XD comes with sharing and cloud storage limits. These can prove to be particularly restrictive to those working on larger projects as part of a team.
Figma recognizes the importance of being able to collaborate with other team members. This is one of the major advantages associated with using Figma over Adobe XD.
If you’re working as part of a team, you need to be able to send and receive feedback instantly. Fortunately, with Figma’s in-built collaboration tools, this is easier than ever.
We all know that exceptional designs come from cross-team collaboration. With the support of Figma’s collaboration features, you will be able to share files with other team members and receive contextual feedback in return.
When it comes to meeting client needs, I know that Figma will enable me to pay attention to the smallest of details in a product design. The difference is always in the details.
Figma understands that no detail is too small. When you’re working with a complex brief, it’s vital to have the tools and resources to deliver.
No - Adobe XD cannot directly open Figma files at this time. While there are some tools that may allow you to convert the format of Figma files, it would be much easier to just pick a single design solution.
Rather than jumping between Adobe XD and Figma, you should aim to use one per project. This will ensure you never end up in a situation where you need to convert files and move between multiple applications (which can be extremely tedious!).
Figma has been regarded as a dangerous tool for designers to use. Why? Because it’s shaking up the industry.
It’s now never been easier to access cutting-edge design features. The free plan + affordable pricing makes this solution accessible to all designers.
As Figma is based in the cloud, it’s remarkably easy to design on the go and move from one device to another. Here’s one of my favorite quotes on the power of Figma:
“Figma is dangerous because it gives designers access, not only in terms of reasonable pricing and cutting edge features but in terms of practical execution.”
A tool is dangerous because it is highly capable. Figma blows the competition out of the water.
In the right hands, this application has tremendous potential. User interfaces of the future are currently being designed on Figma.
This has become the go-to tool for designers that wish to prioritize creative freedom and flexibility. The accessibility of Figma means you no longer have to be tied to a single machine to access all of your files.
In this new era of cloud computing, these days are all but over.
When it comes to proficiency, Figma is an absolute dream. Inside this application, once you get your hands on specific features, they are easy to use.
Figma and Adobe Photoshop are practically incomparable. Photoshop is awesome when it comes to editing photos, but may not be the top choice when it comes to UI design. If you’re working on serious UI or UX design projects for clients, the last thing you want to do is open a Photoshop file.
Adobe Photoshop is not going to help you overcome complex UI or UX-specific design problems, due to its nature. As said, it’s better for editing photography.
If you had to choose between the use of Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma for your design projects, you should pick Figma. This web-based application will elevate your design skills.
It is certainly true that a reliable, user-friendly application can take your design skills to another level. At the same time, if you pick the wrong application, this could prevent you from meeting client needs on-time. If the user experience is not a good one, it’ll take you longer to complete your projects.
Figma is a huge improvement and exceedingly more accessible than others on the market at the moment. With practically no learning curve to speak of, Figma allows you to hit the ground running!
PS: Still want a hand with Figma? Check out our beginner course on the subject!
Both Figma and Adobe XD are popular tools for wireframing. The question is, which one is the better choice?
All websites and applications start with a basic wireframe. This should be a simple blueprint that lays the foundations for what is to come.
Some designers prefer high-fidelity over low-fidelity wireframes because they explore visual concepts in greater detail. Ultimately, it all comes down to the preferences of the designer.
Either way you look at it, both Figma and Adobe XD are tools that can support you in producing wireframes. From starting with basic shapes and using these as image placeholders to arranging artboard and designing in grids, Adobe XD is a highly capable wireframing tool.
Adobe XD gives you the functionality to animate your wireframes and add another dimension to your client presentations. Linking together a series of artboards to illustrate the user journey can be a powerful tool in a designer’s arsenal.
On the other hand, when it comes to sharing your designs and allowing collaborators to provide you with feedback, Figma is far better suited for wireframing projects than Adobe XD. Utilizing the power of the cloud, Figma projects can be seamlessly shared with collaborators.
If you work as part of a larger team, like most designers, Figma’s collaboration features are going to be invaluable to your workflow. When it comes to communicating ideas and getting feedback in return, an easy-to-navigate solution will make sure everyone’s on the same page.
One of the most remarkable things about Figma is the simplicity of the user interface. You would definitely expect an application of Figma’s sophistication to have a complex user interface that is rather tricky to navigate - but in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
I’m consistently surprised by just how easy it is to navigate around Figma. In terms of practical execution, Figma provides designers at every level with the ability to move quickly.
You can begin a design on your personal laptop and finish it on your workplace desktop. You can send a file to colleagues and they can check out your latest version of the file in real-time, without having to send back and forth repeatedly. This kind of flexibility is made possible through the sheer power of cloud computing.
Figma has successfully leveraged the cloud to deliver a game-changing experience for designers. Unlike Adobe Creative Cloud, as you jump from device to device, you won’t run into any licensing issues with Figma.
The combination of prioritizing collaboration and leveraging the power of cloud computing has turned Figma into a winning application. The live collaboration tool ensures you will never lose or overwrite another designer’s work because you both have the same file open at the same time.
The observation element is a favorite among design teams, particularly project managers. This gives them the ability to click on one of their designers, follow along and engage in what they are working on.
If you’re fast approaching a deadline and need to keep track of another designer’s progress in real-time, you can make use of Figma’s collaboration tools to stay up-to-date. Real-time collaboration has changed the speed at which teams can work together on design projects.
While it may seem as though I lack enthusiasm for Adobe XD, this isn’t entirely the case. There are many elements to Adobe XD’s functionality that effectively meet the needs of designers.
However, when compared to another design tool like Figma, some prefer Figma when it comes to collaboration and cloud management for UI design. It all comes down to the flexibility around usage and the in-built collaboration tools that place an emphasis on cross-team communication.
Let’s get back to talking about Adobe XD.
Adobe XD excels in many different areas and there’s certainly a lot to like. The application is constantly evolving and improving over time - with each update adding new features to grow the functionality of Adobe XD.
As other design platforms continue to embrace the tremendous potential of the cloud, Adobe XD will undoubtedly lean into this further. It’s possible that Adobe XD will take steps to develop their offering to resemble Figma in the near future.
Adobe XD can help you to create interactive prototypes. Illustrating the user journey through animations and other interactive elements will likely impress your clients.
If you want to impress clients by illustrating the user journey, this application can provide you with the right tools to bring your designs to life.
Help! From independent freelancers to designers working as part of a team at a large organization, this application is successfully meeting the needs of designers at every level. Even though the initial tutorials in the onboarding are fairly brief, the learning curve is so small it doesn’t matter.
You don’t need to be a professional designer to make use of Figma. This is why I am always encouraging no-code entrepreneurs to use Figma templates to flesh out their design ideas.
Figma is perfect for no-code entrepreneurs that have very limited design skills. If you are trying to bring a design idea to life but don’t have experience with Figma, you can utilize our UI kit.
Looking for a way to speed up your workflow in Figma? You can check out free templates to speed up your workflow. Using our kit, you can build websites and applications that meet the Material Design guidelines.
With the support of a design system kit, Figma beginners can quickly utilize a full range of components to bring their designs to life.
Are you ready to get started? Check out the free templates for Figma today!