Figma vs Adobe XD vs Sketch: Design Tool Comparison
Quick Comparison
Adobe XD is discontinued. Adobe stopped selling XD in 2023 and moved it to maintenance mode — it is no longer available to new customers as a standalone purchase or as part of a Creative Cloud plan. It is left in this comparison for readers who still have it installed. Do not buy it. If you are choosing a design tool today, the real choice is Figma or Sketch.
| Figma | Adobe XD | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not yet verified | Discontinued — not for sale | Not yet verified |
| Best For | Collaboration | No longer recommended | Mac designers |
| Ease | Very easy | Easy | Easy |
| Collaboration | Real-time (best) | Good | Limited |
| Platform | Browser | Mac/Windows | Mac only |
Figma and Sketch prices have not been verified against the vendors' own pricing pages. The figures previously shown here have been removed rather than published unchecked.
Figma (The Collaboration Leader)
Pricing
- Free: available, with limits on files and collaborators
- Paid tiers: check figma.com/pricing — not yet verified here
Pros ✅
- Real-time collaboration (best in class)
- Browser-based (works everywhere)
- Free version is genuinely usable
- Fast and responsive
- Large plugin and community ecosystem
- Prototyping built-in
- Design systems support
Cons ❌
- Requires a connection for most workflows
- Heavier files can slow the browser
- Learning curve (different paradigm)
Best For
- Teams collaborating
- Remote design teams
- Startups
- Anyone using browser
Verdict
Figma is best for collaboration.
Adobe XD (Discontinued)
Pricing
Not available for purchase. Adobe discontinued XD in 2023. It is no longer sold standalone or bundled into Creative Cloud plans for new customers, and it is no longer in active development.
If you already have it
- Integrated with Creative Cloud
- Good prototyping
- Works alongside Photoshop/Illustrator
- Responsive design features
Why it is no longer a choice
- Discontinued — cannot be bought
- No longer in active development, so no new features or platform support
- Community and plugin ecosystem has moved to Figma
- Migrating later costs more than starting on a supported tool now
Best For
- Nobody choosing a tool today. Existing XD users planning a migration to Figma or Sketch.
Verdict
Adobe XD is discontinued. Choose Figma or Sketch instead.
Sketch (The Mac Choice)
Pricing
- Check sketch.com/pricing — not yet verified here
Pros ✅
- Powerful Mac app
- Fast performance
- Active community
- Great plugins
- One-off and subscription options historically available
Cons ❌
- Mac only
- Collaboration is limited
- Less ideal for teams
- Web version weak
Best For
- Mac users (solo)
- Experienced designers
- Traditional workflows
Verdict
Sketch is good if you're on Mac and work solo.
Recommendation
Best overall: Figma (collaboration, and the free tier is genuinely usable) Mac solo: Sketch If you still use Adobe XD: plan a migration — it is discontinued and will not be updated