Figma vs Adobe XD: What Designers Actually Prefer

How do designers pick the tool that suits their everyday work process the best? Most of the time, the choice of a design tool comes from the experience and actual use of it.  The more time designers work on real projects, their preferences are shaped by comfort, speed, and how smoothly a tool fits into their daily routine. Both Figma and Adobe XD have been the popular choices for UI/UX design these days, yet the way designers experience each tool can feel very different once real work begins.

When conversations come up around Figma vs Adobe XD, what designers actually prefer, designers usually aren’t debating tools in isolation. They discuss the simplicity of collaboration, the speed at which ideas arrive on screens, and how effortless the process feels during long design sessions. These practical details often matter far more than surface-level impressions.

Looking closely at how designers compare Figma and Adobe XD in real workflows helps explain why opinions vary so much. Some designers value shared spaces and fluid teamwork, while others prioritize familiarity and control. Usually, the preference simply originates from the designer’s working style, team structure, and daily habits, not the tools themselves.

What is Figma?

Figma is a browser-based design and prototyping tool used mainly for UI and UX work. It also provides both Windows and macOS desktop applications, which allows designers to work across devices without altering their workflow. Figma is a tool that has gained popularity over the years among many designers due to the fact that it is fast, flexible, and easy to work in.

Why designers use Figma:

• Edits and works directly in the browser with no heavy installation.

• Real-time collaboration with teams.

• Easy-to-use interface that is flexible to various workflows.

• Free plan that suits individuals and small teams.

• Design systems and common components are well supported.

What is Adobe XD?

Adobe XD is a vector-based prototyping and UI designing tool designed to design websites and mobile applications. It operates as a desktop application on Windows and macOS and is intended to remain lightweight in comparison to other Adobe applications. This is appropriate to designers who prefer rapid transition between layouts and interactive prototyping.

Why designers use Adobe XD:

• Simple and lightweight desktop experience.

• Smooth prototyping and animation features.

• Familiar environment for Adobe users.

• Integrates with other Creative Cloud products.

• Built for quick design and iteration cycles.

Figma vs Adobe XD: What Designers Actually Prefer for Modern Workflows

Figma and Adobe XD share many core functions for UI and UX design, but their differences in collaboration, workflow, and prototyping can influence which one fits your style. Let’s take a look at the features that set them apart and how they impact daily design work.

Supported Platforms and How Designers Access the Tools

One of the first differences designers notice between Figma and Adobe XD is how each tool is accessed. Figma is primarily a web-based application, which means designers can open it directly in a browser without installing anything. Such flexibility is easy to jump into a project regardless of the system, be it windows, macOS, or even Linux. For teams offering web design services, this accessibility can be a big advantage.

Adobe XD takes a more traditional approach. It is a local desktop app that runs on Windows and macOS. When the collaboration is required, files are stored at Creative Cloud, yet the experience remains similar to working at a local machine. Designers who are used to desktop-first workflows often find this familiar, while others see it as one extra step compared to Figma’s browser-based access.

In day-to-day use, most designers like the fact that Figma eliminates platform barriers completely, particularly in teams with remote workers. At the same time, some designers prefer Adobe XD’s local performance and the feeling of having full control over files on their system.

Collaboration and Working With Teams

Collaboration plays a huge role in how designers evaluate tools today. Figma was designed to be collaborative, with multiple individuals working on the same file simultaneously. Designers are able to view the cursors of one another, comment, and make live edits without having to concern themselves with file versions or sending them back and forth.

Adobe XD also supports collaboration, but it works differently. Designers usually post files with the help of Creative Cloud links, where the stakeholders and team members may view prototypes or provide feedback. Although it is effective in terms of reviews, the collaboration feels more structured and less immediate compared to Figma’s real-time editing environment.

Because of this difference, designers working in fast-moving teams often feel more comfortable in Figma. In the meantime, designers who work in smaller collaboration groups or want more controlled handoffs are likely to find the Adobe XD approach sufficient and sometimes even cleaner.

Design Interface and Everyday Workflow

The design experience itself is where personal preference really starts to show. Figma incorporates frames and flexible layouts that force designers to think in systems rather than isolated screens. Features like  auto layout enable designers to create responsive elements that can be altered in response to content, a feature that many designers continue to heavily depend on to create modern UI work. Many designers who focus on design websites for different generations find Figma’s approach especially adaptable.

Adobe XD’s workflow is closer to traditional Adobe tools. It operates on artboards and common controls that are easy to use to designers who have a background in Photoshop or Illustrator. The Repeat Grid feature allows a designer to rapidly repeat content such as lists or galleries, which saves time in the initial stages of layout.

Figma is favored by designers who like to experiment with layout logic and scalable components. Designers who value a clean, predictable workspace with familiar tools frequently feel more at home in Adobe XD.

Prototyping and Interaction Design

Prototyping is another area where the two tools take slightly different paths. Figma enables the designer to create interactivity in the prototype directly within the same design file. Linking screens, adding transitions, and previewing flows occurs without context switching, making the process lightweight and fast.

Adobe XD offers deeper animation and interaction options. Features like auto-animate enable designers to have cleaner transitions between states that represent prototypes more closely to the real applications. This level of control is very attractive to designers with a high interest in micro-interactions or animated flows.

In practice, when designers focus on speed and clarity when receiving feedback, they are likely to choose the basic prototyping offered by Figma. Designers working on interaction-heavy projects may appreciate Adobe XD’s more advanced animation capabilities.

File Management and Version Control

File handling might not seem exciting, but it strongly influences daily workflows. Using Figma, files are stored in the cloud by default. There’s always a single source of truth, and designers don’t have to worry about outdated versions floating around. The updates are automatically saved, and old versions can be recovered whenever necessary.

Adobe XD is more dependent on manual file management. Designers have the choice to store files locally or in the cloud, and switching between the two requires saving separate versions. Although this provides the designer with greater control, it also creates small risks of confusion if files aren’t managed carefully.

Designers who value simplicity and minimal file management usually prefer Figma’s always-online approach. Others appreciate Adobe XD is flexible and allows the user to work fully offline without the need to be connected always.

Developer Handoff and Design Systems

Handing designs over to developers is a critical part of any project. Figma simplifies this through features that enable developers to look directly at designs, copy the value of code and export assets without needing other tools. Design systems, shared components, and libraries stay synced across projects, which helps maintain consistency.

Adobe XD also provides developer handoff via shared links, which contain design specs and downloadable assets. It is compatible with Creative Cloud Libraries, so the assets can be shared with other Adobe applications. This is particularly effective with teams that are already a part of the Adobe ecosystem.

Designers working closely with developers often prefer Figma’s real-time inspection and shared libraries. Designers working in teams centered around Adobe are more likely to like the integration of XD with other Creative Cloud applications.

Plugins, Community, and Learning Resources

Another major factor in designer preference is the surrounding ecosystem. Figma has established a robust community where designers share plugins, templates, UI kits, and resources. This simplifies it to add functionality and find new workflows within the platform.

Adobe XD also offers plugins, but its ecosystem is more tightly connected to Adobe’s overall product lineup. Those designers who already have several Adobe applications also have easy access to the assets and well-known integration patterns.

Designers who are careful about privacy regulations are influencing web design often consider plugin and ecosystem support when choosing tools. Designers who prefer to experiment, learn, and configure their working process are likely to be attracted to Figma. Designers who prefer stability and a unified creative suite tend to stay comfortable with Adobe XD.

Performance and Reliability in Real Projects

Performance is important, particularly on large projects. Figma is compatible with most modern browsers, although large files may seem sluggish on slower internet connections and system resources. So, the ability to access projects instantly often outweighs occasional performance concerns.

Adobe XD runs locally, which can feel faster and more responsive for complex files, particularly on powerful machines. Designers who do animation-intensive prototypes or large artboards may prefer this local performance advantage.

Here again, preference depends on the environment. Cloud-first teams often accept minor performance trade-offs for flexibility, whereas desktop centric designers prefer reliable local speed.

How Designers Actually Choose Between Them

When designers talk honestly about preference, the decision usually comes down to workflow rather than features. Lots of designers refer to both tools when talking about their work history or when they switch between different projects.

Some designers give preference to Figma since it is a great facilitator for teamwork, quicker feedback and adoption of new design systems. Others stick with Adobe XD due to its seamless integration with other Adobe workflows and offers strong control over animations and files.

That’s why the conversation around Figma vs Adobe XD doesn’t end with a single answer. Selection of preference depending on team size, project type, collaboration needs, and personal comfort.

Final Thoughts

Designers choose tools based on what best supports their thinking, speed, and enables their communication. Both Figma and Adobe XD excel in different areas, so there’s no single tool that fits every situation perfectly.

What designers actually prefer depends on how they work, who they collaborate with, and what matters most in their daily design process. Therefore, the choices of designers are influenced by their workflow routines, team dynamics, and the type of projects they tackle, rather than the tools themselves.