// Design Tools · 2026
Adobe stopped selling XD to new customers in 2023 and the product is now in maintenance mode. If you're choosing between these in 2026, the answer is largely clear, but the nuances matter.
Updated: April 2026 · 7 min read
↓ Skip to VerdictAt a Glance
| Category | Figma | Adobe XD |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Figma (Adobe) | Adobe |
| Status in 2026 | Actively developed Win | Maintenance mode, no new sales |
| Platforms | Browser, macOS, Windows, Linux Win | macOS, Windows |
| Free tier | Yes (3 files) Win | Starter plan ended for new users |
| Paid plan | $15/editor/mo | Only via Creative Cloud |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes, multiplayer Win | Coediting, slower performance |
| Prototyping | Variables, conditionals, auto-layout Win | Basic transitions + voice |
| Adobe CC integration | Partial (via plugins) | Deep (Photoshop, Illustrator) Edge |
| Plugin ecosystem | Huge Figma Community Win | Shrinking, limited new plugins |
| Dev handoff | Dev Mode | Design Specs (deprecated) |
| Learning resources | Massive Win | Declining |
Overview: A Tale of Two Trajectories
Adobe XD launched in 2016 as Adobe's answer to Sketch, offering a purpose-built UI design tool for Creative Cloud subscribers. For a few years, it was a credible competitor - fast, lightweight, and deeply integrated with Photoshop and Illustrator. But Figma's browser-based multiplayer model captured the product design market so comprehensively that Adobe tried to buy the company. When regulators blocked, then eventually allowed, that deal, Adobe had already stopped selling XD to new customers in 2023.
In 2026, XD is still available to existing Creative Cloud subscribers and receives security updates, but new feature development has effectively stopped. Figma, meanwhile, ships major updates several times a year and continues to expand into dev handoff, whiteboarding, and slide decks.
Feature Parity and Gaps
For basic UI design work - vector shapes, components, text styles, responsive resize - both tools are capable. Figma pulls ahead on modern workflow features: auto-layout with constraints, variables for design tokens, interactive components, and variants. XD has artboard-based design, repeat grid, and reasonable component states, but hasn't received the workflow upgrades product teams expect in 2026.
Collaboration & Handoff
Figma's multiplayer editing is effectively the industry default. Dev Mode gives engineers a dedicated view with specs, code snippets, and Figma variables exposed as CSS or code tokens. XD's coediting exists but performance has lagged, and its Design Specs handoff feature was deprecated, leaving third-party tools or manual export as the workflow.
Integrations
XD's one remaining advantage is tight Creative Cloud integration. Bringing in Photoshop or Illustrator files, syncing libraries from CC, and working within Adobe's color and font ecosystem is still smoother than in Figma. If your studio lives in Creative Cloud for photo and illustration work, XD has a workflow story that Figma's plugins only partially replicate.
Pricing
Figma Pro is $15 per editor per month, with a free tier covering 3 editable files. Adobe XD is no longer sold as a standalone subscription to new users - access comes only through an existing Creative Cloud All Apps plan (roughly $60/month). For teams primarily using CC already, XD is bundled; for teams buying for design alone, Figma is dramatically cheaper.
Migration Path
Most teams that used XD have migrated to Figma by 2026. Figma supports importing XD files via plugins, though complex prototypes and animations often need rebuilding. If you're starting a new design file today, Figma is the pragmatic choice regardless of your Adobe subscription status.
Which One Should You Use?
Use Figma if you…
- Are starting a new design project in 2026
- Need cross-platform team collaboration
- Want active development and new features
- Share files with non-designer stakeholders
- Need modern prototyping with variables
Use Adobe XD if you…
- Have an existing CC subscription already
- Rely heavily on Photoshop/Illustrator assets
- Have existing XD files in maintenance
- Prefer a local desktop-only workflow
- Don't need ongoing feature updates
Our Verdict
In 2026, Figma is the clear pick for any new design project. Adobe XD still works, and Creative Cloud customers can continue to use it, but Adobe has signaled where its design energy is focused, and it isn't XD. The only reason to choose XD today is if you have deep legacy investment or rely on specific Adobe integrations that Figma hasn't matched. For everything else, Figma wins on collaboration, platform reach, pricing, and momentum.
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