5 Best Adobe XD Alternatives to Use In 2021
After years of relying onAdobePhotoshopfor every design-related requirement, Adobe finally gave in and developed a dedicated tool for UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) design called Adobe XD. But as its case with any Adobe software, the XD the program also has shortcomings. Also, Adobe is hell-bent on selling you their expensive Creative Cloud subscription. If you are looking for Adobe XD alternatives then read along to find the suitable options.
Adobe XD Alternatives
Sketch pioneered the UI design software market with a dedicated Mac app launch in 2010. It remains the crowd-favorite tool to date. I have seen many clients asking designers to create UI designs in Sketch-only.
Sketch offers all the tools that you can ask for in their UI design software. Years of development work are also evident in the final product as the software is natively built for the Mac platform and everything feels smooth and fluid right from the go.
Being the oldest bunch, you get to enjoy hundreds of plugins and a huge number of Sketch-supported templates from the web. Sketch recently added sharing functionality and right now, the team is working to bring the software to the web.
$99 per year.
VisitSketch
Figma is basically Google Docs for design. Figma is my personal favorite due to a couple of reasons. The sharing is seamless and it works as flawlessly as advertised. Secondly, Figma is available on the web. Meaning, you can use it across all desktop OS including Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, and Linux.
Due to its cross-platform availability, Figma is getting traction among the design community. The company recently closed the gap with rivals byintroducing plugin support. The software is feature-rich with all the bells and whistles. The UI feels slightly outdated compared to Sketch though.
Figma allows you to install the software as PWA (Progressive Web App) as well.
The free version allows you to work with up to 2 editors and 3 projects with 30-day version history. After that, it costs $12 per editor per month.
3. InVision
Used by many Fortune 500 companies, InVision is one of the popular Adobe XD alternatives for Windows and Mac. Similar to Figma, it offers iOS and Android apps to mirror designs and prototype for live feedback on the go.
Some unique features include the ability to style layers to create eye-catching designs and access to robust asset libraries to create unique and stand-out UI designs.
InVision also offers an add-on for popular video calling software such as Zoom andMicrosoft Teams. Using that, you can brainstorm ideas with InVision whiteboard and sync them to the main software.
$7.95 per user per month.
VisitInVision
UXPin is yet another robust prototyping Adobe XD rival. It takes the unique approach of designing from the code end. Meaning, you may use code components to build the design the way you want. The flexibility makes prototypes far more dynamic than merely being simple transition links between screens or artboards.
Cross-platform availability isn’t an issue here. UXPin is available on both Windows and Mac. You can also use iOS and Android mirror apps that let you view design and prototypes just by scanning a QR code.
$19 per editor per month.
VisitUXPin
5. Draftium
Draftium is an excellent Adobe XD alternative that covers the majority of functions and design capabilities. By default, it comes with over 300 prototype templates and around 200 blocks. The software also offers real-time cloud collaboration.
Draftium is suitable for beginners. The easy-to-use interface makes it easy for anyone to pick up a template and create a prototype. Add content, elements, and start collaborating with team members.
VisitDraftium
Ditch Adobe XDfor Alternatives
While Adobe XD is an excellent UI/UX software, it forces you to stay in the Adobe ecosystem and deal with Creative Cloud. Go through the software list above and pick up the perfect Adobe XD alternative for your next design project.
Parth Shah
Parth previously worked at EOTO.tech covering tech news. He is currently freelancing at TechWiser, Android Police, and GuidingTech writing about apps comparisons, tutorials, software tips and tricks, and diving deep into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms.
