Adobe Xd
2 comparisons available
About Adobe Xd
Adobe XD (Experience Design) is a vector-based UI/UX design and prototyping tool developed by Adobe, launched in 2016. It competes with Figma, Sketch, and InVision in the UI design space. Adobe XD is included in the Creative Cloud All Apps plan and individual plan ($54.99/month or $9.99/month standalone). Adobe XD's strengths include deep integration with other Adobe apps (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) and support for responsive resize, auto-animate, voice prototyping, and component states. However, Adobe XD's development slowed significantly after Adobe announced plans to acquire Figma in 2022 for $20 billion — the regulatory review led many designers to abandon XD for Figma. When the acquisition was blocked by EU and UK regulators in 2023, Adobe officially discontinued new feature development for XD, instead pivoting to integrating design tools into Figma (following a new partnership). Adobe XD remains available and functional but is no longer actively developed, making it a poor choice for new projects. The design industry has largely consolidated around Figma as the primary UI design tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I still use Adobe XD in 2024?
No — Adobe officially stopped active development of XD after the failed Figma acquisition fell through in late 2023. The product remains functional but receives no new features. For new design work, Figma is the industry standard with the best collaboration tools, largest plugin library, and active development. If you're a Creative Cloud subscriber, you still have access to XD for legacy projects, but all new projects should be started in Figma.
Adobe XD vs Figma: which is better?
Figma is significantly better for active UI/UX design work: real-time multi-user collaboration (like Google Docs for design), a vastly larger plugin ecosystem, browser-based access (no install required), active development with regular feature updates, and the industry-standard used by most design teams. Adobe XD's only remaining advantage is for users deeply embedded in the Adobe Creative Cloud workflow — but even that use case is better served by Figma's Adobe plugin integrations now.
What happened to Adobe XD?
Adobe attempted to acquire Figma for $20 billion in September 2022, effectively pausing XD's development as Adobe expected to merge the two products. However, EU and UK competition regulators blocked the acquisition in December 2023, forcing Adobe to abandon the deal (paying Figma a $1 billion breakup fee). Adobe then announced it would partner with Figma rather than compete — and XD was left in maintenance mode with no new features planned, essentially ending its development roadmap.
Top Alternatives to Adobe Xd
Figma
Industry standard, best collaboration, most plugins, actively developed
Sketch
Mac-only, excellent plugin ecosystem, subscription model
Framer
Best for interactive prototyping and no-code website publishing
InVision
Prototyping and handoff tool, enterprise design system features
Penpot
Open-source Figma alternative, web-based, free self-hosting