Figma is a cloud-native collaborative design platform with superior real-time teamwork capabilities and no software installation required, while Adobe XD is a desktop-first tool integrated into Creative Cloud with stronger animation features and lower entry cost for existing Adobe subscribers.
Figma vs Adobe XD — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Figma if your team prioritizes real-time collaboration, works remotely, or needs a platform-agnostic solution with modern design systems—it dominates in teamwork and scalability. Choose Adobe XD if you're already invested in Creative Cloud, need advanced animation prototyping with auto-animate, or prefer a professional desktop application with deep Adobe ecosystem integration.
Cloud-based UI/UX design platform with real-time collaboration and advanced prototyping.
Desktop design and prototyping tool with advanced animation features and Creative Cloud integration.
Structured comparison data for Figma vs Adobe XD with 272 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Single Editor)
Starter Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
Estimated Time to First Design (Beginner)
Team Collaboration - Simultaneous Editors
Professional Design Tool Market Share (2025)
Average Time to Proficiency for New Users
Cloud Storage Included (Free Plan/Trial)
Market Share Among UI/UX Designers (2024)
Total Monthly Cost (with Required Services)
Performance on Large Files (100+ Artboards)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual Plan)
Figma vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Figma vs Adobe XD.
Can multiple people edit the same Figma file simultaneously?
Yes, Figma's core strength is real-time multiplayer collaboration. Unlimited team members can edit the same file at once, seeing live cursors, selections, and comments in real-time. Adobe XD does not support simultaneous editing; only one person can edit a file at a time, though you can share files via cloud for sequential work.
Is Adobe XD worth it if I'm not already on Creative Cloud?
No. At $64.98/month (XD + Creative Cloud), it's significantly more expensive than Figma Professional at $12/month. You'd only justify this cost if you need Photoshop/Illustrator integration or advanced animation features that XD uniquely offers. For teams, Figma is more cost-effective.
Which tool has better animation and prototyping capabilities?
Adobe XD has superior animation features with its auto-animate technology, allowing frame-by-frame animation with easing curves, timing controls, and timeline playback. Figma's animation is more basic (simple interactions and transitions). Choose XD if complex, high-fidelity prototypes are critical.
Figma has limited offline support through browser cache, but you cannot reliably edit offline without internet. Adobe XD offers full offline editing capability with automatic cloud sync when reconnected. If offline access is essential, XD is the better choice.
Which platform is better for design systems and component management?
Figma excels here with component variants, auto-layout, and intelligent library updates that automatically propagate across all files. Adobe XD uses symbols with manual overrides, making it harder to manage large-scale design systems. Figma is the clear winner for design system-heavy workflows.