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Figma vs Adobe XD: What Changed After Adobe Stepped Back

Adobe discontinued active XD development - so how does it compare to Figma on collaboration, prototyping, and the plugin ecosystem?

Figma is the undisputed leader in UI/UX design in 2026 and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Its real-time collaboration, extensive plugin ecosystem, browser-based accessibility, and powerful prototyping capabilities make it the best choice for virtually every design team. Adobe XD was a solid competitor during its active years, but since Adobe discontinued development, it is no longer a future-proof option for any new project. Teams still using Adobe XD should create a migration plan to Figma sooner rather than later, as community support and plugin availability continue to decline. For new projects, Figma is the clear winner on every comparison point, offering superior collaboration, prototyping, developer handoff, and design system management. The gap between the two tools only widens with each Figma release.

Figma and Adobe XD design tools compared

Background

The design tool landscape has consolidated dramatically since Adobe's failed acquisition of Figma in 2023. Figma dominates the collaborative design space with over 80% market share among product teams, while Adobe XD has shifted permanently to maintenance mode with no roadmap for new features. New teams almost universally choose Figma, making it the industry standard for modern UI and UX design workflows. The shift has been so decisive that many design education programs and bootcamps have dropped Adobe XD from their curriculum entirely. For development agencies like MG Software, this consolidation simplifies our toolchain: one design tool, one set of integrations, and one workflow for all client projects regardless of their size or industry.

Figma

A browser-based design tool with real-time collaboration, powerful prototyping, and an extensive plugin ecosystem that has become the undisputed industry standard for UI/UX design. Figma runs entirely in the browser, eliminating installation barriers and enabling seamless cross-platform access. The multiplayer editing experience allows multiple designers to work simultaneously in the same file with live cursors and comments. With Figma Variables, Dev Mode, and the Figma API, the platform bridges the gap between design and development. Over 80% of product teams worldwide now use Figma as their primary design tool.

Adobe XD

A desktop-based UI/UX design tool from Adobe that offered integration into the Creative Cloud ecosystem alongside Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. Adobe XD provided a streamlined workflow for prototyping and design with features like auto-animate and repeat grid. However, Adobe officially discontinued active development in late 2023 after the failed Figma acquisition attempt. While existing Creative Cloud subscribers can still download and use XD, no new features are being developed and the plugin ecosystem has stagnated. Adobe now directs users toward Figma for collaborative design work.

What are the key differences between Figma and Adobe XD?

FeatureFigmaAdobe XD
CollaborationReal-time multiplayer with live cursors, inline comments, and simultaneous editing by the entire team.Limited to shared links and coediting with restrictions. No true real-time multiplayer collaboration experience.
PlatformBrowser-based, running on any OS without installation. Desktop app also available for offline access when needed.Desktop application only, requiring installation on Windows or macOS. No browser-based option available.
Plugin ecosystemExtensive marketplace with thousands of community plugins for accessibility, icons, content generation, and more.Stagnant ecosystem with limited plugins due to discontinued development and declining third-party investment.
PrototypingAdvanced interactive prototypes with variables, conditional logic, expressions, and multi-state component interactions.Good baseline with auto-animate and voice triggers, but significantly less advanced than Figma's current capabilities.
Developer handoffBuilt-in Dev Mode with CSS, iOS, and Android code export, plus design token inspection and component specs.Design Specs with basic code generation. More limited inspection tools and no design token support.
PricingFree Starter plan for individuals. Professional from $15 per editor per month with unlimited projects.Bundled with Creative Cloud subscription. No standalone purchase option available for new users.
Design systemsRobust component library with variants, auto-layout, design tokens, and team library sharing across files.Basic component support with limited variant capabilities and no design token management functionality.
Future developmentActively developed with regular feature releases, AI features, and a growing roadmap for 2026 and beyond.No active development. Adobe has stopped feature updates and community investment has significantly declined.

When to choose which?

Choose Figma when...

Choose Figma for any new design project in 2026. It is the industry standard with the largest community, best plugin ecosystem, and most active development. Figma is particularly strong when real-time collaboration between designers and developers is essential, when you need Dev Mode for code export and component inspection, or when you are building a scalable design system with tokens. The free Starter plan makes it accessible for individuals and small teams, while Organization plans offer governance features for enterprises.

Choose Adobe XD when...

Choose Adobe XD only when you have an existing investment in Adobe XD files and design libraries that are actively used and not yet ready for migration. XD may also be relevant for teams that require strict offline access without any internet dependency, or for organizations locked into Adobe Creative Cloud contracts where switching tools would create additional licensing complexity. In all cases, plan a migration to Figma within the next 12 months.

What is the verdict on Figma vs Adobe XD?

Figma is the undisputed leader in UI/UX design in 2026 and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Its real-time collaboration, extensive plugin ecosystem, browser-based accessibility, and powerful prototyping capabilities make it the best choice for virtually every design team. Adobe XD was a solid competitor during its active years, but since Adobe discontinued development, it is no longer a future-proof option for any new project. Teams still using Adobe XD should create a migration plan to Figma sooner rather than later, as community support and plugin availability continue to decline. For new projects, Figma is the clear winner on every comparison point, offering superior collaboration, prototyping, developer handoff, and design system management. The gap between the two tools only widens with each Figma release.

Which option does MG Software recommend?

At MG Software, all our designers and developers work with Figma as our single source of truth for design. The Dev Mode enables seamless handoff from design to code, significantly accelerating our development workflow and reducing miscommunication between teams. We use Figma Variables for design tokens that translate directly to our Tailwind CSS configuration, ensuring pixel-perfect implementation. Our component library in Figma mirrors our shadcn/ui components in code, creating a unified design-to-development pipeline. For clients still working with Adobe XD, we provide hands-on migration support to Figma and help set up a scalable design system that integrates with their development process, component library, and brand guidelines.

Migrating: what to consider?

Migrating from Adobe XD to Figma is straightforward using Figma's built-in XD file importer. Most design elements, including artboards, shapes, text, and images, transfer correctly. However, prototyping interactions, certain blend modes, Adobe Fonts, and some vector effects require manual recreation after import. Plan 1 to 2 weeks for a complete design system migration including component restructuring, style updates, and variant configuration. Prioritize migrating your component library first, then update individual project files. Take the opportunity to clean up and improve your design system during the migration process.

Further reading

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Frequently asked questions

Adobe XD is still downloadable for existing Creative Cloud subscribers, but Adobe has officially discontinued active development since late 2023. No new features are being added, the plugin ecosystem has stagnated, and community support is declining steadily. Third-party integrations are being deprecated. We strongly recommend transitioning to Figma for any ongoing or new design work to avoid being stuck on an unsupported platform.
Yes, Figma supports importing Adobe XD files (.xd) through its built-in importer. Most design elements including artboards, shapes, text layers, and images are correctly transferred. However, complex prototyping interactions, certain blend modes, and Adobe Fonts may need manual adjustment after import. Vector effects and some gradients might also require recreation. Plan a review pass after each imported file.
Figma offers a generous free Starter plan that includes up to three active projects, unlimited personal draft files, and access to the plugin marketplace. For professional team collaboration, paid plans start at $15 per editor per month (Professional) and include unlimited projects, shared team libraries, branching, and advanced permissions. The Organization plan adds design system analytics and centralized admin controls for larger teams.
Figma Dev Mode provides developers with a dedicated interface for inspecting designs, extracting CSS, iOS, and Android code snippets, and viewing component properties and design tokens. Developers can measure spacing, copy color values, and see auto-layout configurations without needing design skills. Dev Mode integrates with VS Code and other development tools, and supports linking Figma components directly to their code counterparts for seamless navigation between design and implementation.
For UI and UX design, Figma has largely replaced both tools in modern product teams. However, Photoshop remains superior for photo editing, retouching, and complex image manipulation. Illustrator is still the standard for detailed vector illustration, print design, and logo creation. Most design teams use Figma as their primary tool for interface design and use Creative Cloud apps for specialized asset creation that gets imported into Figma.
Figma Variables allow you to define reusable values for colors, spacing, typography, and other properties that can be referenced across your entire design system. Design tokens are the implementation of these variables in code, typically as CSS custom properties or Tailwind configuration values. By aligning Figma Variables with your code tokens, you create a single source of truth that ensures design and development stay synchronized throughout the product lifecycle.
Start by creating a dedicated Figma library file for your design system. Define your foundational tokens (colors, typography, spacing, border radius) as Variables. Build atomic components like buttons, inputs, and badges with variants for different states and sizes. Use auto-layout for responsive behavior. Publish the library so all team projects can reference it. Document usage guidelines alongside components. At MG Software, we mirror our Figma components with shadcn/ui implementations for a seamless design-to-code workflow.

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MG Software
MG Software.

MG Software builds custom software, websites and AI solutions that help businesses grow.

© 2026 MG Software B.V. All rights reserved.

NavigationServicesPortfolioAbout UsContactBlogCalculatorCareersTech stackFAQ
ServicesCustom developmentSoftware integrationsSoftware redevelopmentApp developmentIntegrationsSEO & discoverability
Knowledge BaseKnowledge BaseComparisonsExamplesAlternativesTemplatesToolsSolutionsAPI integrations
LocationsHaarlemAmsterdamThe HagueEindhovenBredaAmersfoortAll locations
IndustriesLegalHealthcareE-commerceLogisticsFinanceAll industries
PopularBest code editorsFrontend frameworksVite alternativesWordPress alternativesOpenAI vs Anthropic APIRust vs Node.jsAWS vs Google CloudWhat is technical debt?