For many years, Adobe XD was my go-to design tool. I’ve been a loyal Adobe user, starting with Photoshop and Illustrator, and eventually settling on Adobe XD for the past several years. It became a reliable tool in my web design process, and like many designers, I was comfortable with it.

Last year, Adobe made some changes, and after using their tools for so long, I had to rethink my setup. While I still use Adobe Photoshop for photo editing, most of my design work was done in Adobe XD up until they changed. The change in pricing and limitations of the software made me explore other options, and that’s how I landed on Figma as my new primary design tool.

Hmmm, before anything else, let’s discuss what is Figma?

Figma is an online tool for designing and creating prototypes, first launched in 2016. It’s loved by designers because they can work together on projects in real-time, plus it’s easy to use and all in the cloud. By 2022, Figma was valued at $10 billion and had millions of users, showing it’s not just a passing trend. They even updated their look, so they’re here to stay! Best of all, Figma offers a free plan with lots of cool features (who doesn’t like free stuff?).

Now you have a little bit introduction what figma is, lets dive in to the reason why I’m moving:

Reason 1: New Adobe Pricing Model

One reason I switched to Figma is because of Adobe’s new pricing model. Adobe XD used to be free, which was perfect for web designers like me who only needed one tool. Now, it’s part of the Creative Cloud, and it’s too expensive for designers like me who only serve a few clients.

For example, the Creative Cloud All Apps plan now costs $52 each month, adding up to $624 a year in the Philippines. Compared to Figma that has a FREE plan that has all the features I need for web design, like working with others in real-time and using Auto Layout. Even if I decide to upgrade to Figma’s paid plan, it only costs $15 per editor each month, which is $180 a year, much cheaper than Adobe!

This huge price difference really helped me decide to use Figma. I don’t need to spend more than $624 a year on Adobe when I can export my designs as PDF files for clients, which works great for me without costing a lot. This change also means I can charge less for my services. For someone like me or a small team, Figma’s low cost and great design features made it an easy choice!

Reason 2: Key Differences Between Adobe XD and Figma

Even though Adobe XD has come a long way since it first launched, it still falls short in some advanced features where Figma really shines, like the following:

• Auto Layout: Figma’s Auto Layout is a game changer for responsive design, allowing elements to automatically resize based on their content and container size. It simplifies creating flexible, responsive designs. Adobe XD has Responsive Resize, but it’s not as intuitive and often requires more manual adjustments.
• Frames & Components: Figma’s use of frames and components streamlines the design process. Frames act as viewports for your designs, and components ensure consistency across projects, with real-time updates when changes are made. Adobe XD’s equivalent features aren’t as flexible or user-friendly.
• Prototyping & Collaboration: Multiple designers can work on the same file at the same time using Figma’s real-time collaboration tools, making it perfect for team-based projects. While Adobe XD has included coediting, Figma’s method is more fluid and does not require file saving to the cloud for collaboration to function properly.

Reason 3: Free Resources and Ease of Use in Figma

Figma gives designers a lot of free options like icons, templates, stock photos, and plugins, and it’s really easy to add them to your projects. These extras help you design faster without needing to buy anything. Figma’s user-friendly approach and easy-to-install resources give designers more flexibility and save time.

Reason 4: Design Flexibility

Figma is really flexible, making it easier to create designs, especially when you’re in a rush. One of the best tools is Auto Layout, which automatically resizes elements to fit the design, saving time. Figma also has strong vector editing, which lets you easily change shapes and designs without too much effort.

Another cool thing is the ability to set variables, manage assets, and use global attributes, which makes handling large projects easier. Compared to Adobe XD, Figma’s tools feel simpler and quicker to use.

The Bottom Line: Why I Prefer Figma Over Adobe XD

In short, Figma not only saves money but also offers more powerful and intuitive design features, making it the better choice for my workflow. If you’re on the fence, consider giving Figma a try – you might be surprised at how much more efficient your design process becomes.

If you haven’t tried Figma yet or feel nervous about switching tools, I totally get it, changing can be scary. But give it a try for just one day. Play around, and I bet you’ll see how simple and fast it is to use. Sometimes, a small change makes a big difference.

Curious about how Figma can streamline your design projects? At AG WebWorx, we specialize in utilizing the best design tools to create visually stunning, responsive web designs. Let’s connect and bring your design ideas to life!