The design tool landscape has consolidated. Figma won. But understanding why, and where alternatives still make sense, helps you make the right choice.
Market State in 2026
- Figma: Dominant. Used by ~80% of product design teams.
- Sketch: Still relevant for Mac-exclusive teams. Strong plugin ecosystem.
- Adobe XD: Effectively sunset. Adobe acquired Figma (deal completed), and XD is in maintenance mode. Not recommended for new projects.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Figma | Sketch | Adobe XD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Browser + desktop (Mac/Win/Linux) | Mac only | Mac + Windows |
| Real-time collaboration | Native (multiplayer) | Cloud-based (not real-time native) | Basic |
| Components/symbols | Auto Layout, Variants, Sections | Symbols, Smart Layout | Components |
| Prototyping | Good (built-in) | Good (with plugins) | Good (built-in) |
| Design tokens | Variables (native) | Plugin-based | Limited |
| Dev handoff | Built-in (Dev Mode) | Inspector (built-in) | Inspect mode |
| Plugin ecosystem | Large and growing | Mature and extensive | Small |
| Version control | Built-in branching | Cloud versioning | Basic |
| Offline support | Limited (desktop app) | Full (native app) | Full |
| Performance (large files) | Good (degrades at scale) | Excellent (native) | Moderate |
Pricing
| Plan | Figma | Sketch | Adobe XD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes (3 projects) | No | No (sunset) |
| Individual/Starter | $15/editor/month | $12/editor/month | Part of CC ($55/mo) |
| Professional/Team | $45/editor/month | $25/editor/month | N/A |
| Organization | $75/editor/month | $34/editor/month | N/A |
Cost for a Team of 5 Designers
| Tool | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Figma (Professional) | $225 | $2,700 |
| Sketch (Business) | $125 | $1,500 |
| Adobe XD (CC) | $275 | $3,300 |
Sketch is the cheapest. Figma costs more but provides collaboration features that can replace additional tools.
Collaboration
This is Figma's decisive advantage.
Figma Collaboration
- Multiple designers edit the same file simultaneously
- Non-designers (PMs, developers, marketers) view and comment for free
- Design reviews happen in the file (comment threads)
- Branching for large design changes
- Real-time cursor visibility
- Presentation mode for stakeholder reviews
Sketch Collaboration
- Cloud inspector for viewing designs
- No real-time co-editing
- Comments on cloud-shared files
- Libraries shared via workspace
- Requires Mac for editing
Adobe XD Collaboration
- Co-editing (limited)
- Share for review links
- Basic commenting
- Creative Cloud integration
For distributed teams (which is most teams), Figma's collaboration model removes friction from the design process.
Developer Handoff
Figma Dev Mode
- Inspect any element's CSS properties
- Copy code snippets (CSS, iOS, Android)
- View spacing, dimensions, colors
- Design tokens as variables
- Plugin integration (Storybook, GitHub)
- Free for viewers
Sketch Inspector
- CSS, Swift, Android code generation
- Measure tool
- Export assets
- Requires Sketch Cloud or third-party tool
Developer Preference
Developers overwhelmingly prefer Figma because:
- No software installation required (browser-based)
- Always see the latest version (no "which file is current?")
- Click any element to see its properties
- Direct link to specific frames in Slack/Linear/etc.
Plugin Ecosystem
Figma Plugins (Highlights)
- Content Reel (placeholder content)
- Unsplash (stock photos)
- Iconify (icon libraries)
- Figma to Code (React, Tailwind)
- Contrast checker (accessibility)
- Design Lint (consistency checker)
Sketch Plugins (Highlights)
- Craft by InVision
- Sketch Runner
- Rename It
- Symbol Organizer
- Stark (accessibility)
- Sketch2React
Sketch's plugin ecosystem is mature and powerful. Figma's is growing faster.
When to Choose Figma
- Distributed or hybrid teams (browser-based, cross-platform)
- Cross-functional collaboration (designers + developers + PMs)
- Teams standardizing on one tool
- Companies moving fast (real-time collaboration reduces cycle time)
- Developer handoff is important (Dev Mode)
- New teams starting fresh (industry standard)
When Sketch Still Works
- Mac-only design teams already invested in Sketch
- Large file performance (Sketch handles massive files better)
- Offline-first workflow (fully native, no internet needed)
- Cost-sensitive teams ($12/editor vs $15-45/editor)
- Existing plugin dependencies that have not been ported to Figma
Our Choice
We use Figma for all design work. Browser-based access means developers inspect designs without installing software, clients review and comment without accounts, and the entire team works from a single source of truth.
Contact us for a design project.