5 Best Adobe XD Alternatives to Use In 2021
Adobe XD has become a popular choice for UI and UX design, but it's not without its flaws. Plus, Adobe's expensive Creative Cloud subscription can be a burden. If you're looking for alternatives to Adobe XD, here are some options to consider.
Sketch
Sketch is the pioneer in the UI design software market. With its dedicated Mac app, Sketch has remained a crowd-favorite since its launch in 2010. Many clients specifically request designers to use Sketch for UI designs.
Sketch offers a wide range of tools and a smooth user experience, thanks to its native integration with the Mac platform. It also has a vast collection of plugins and templates available on the web. Recently, Sketch introduced sharing functionality and is working on bringing the software to the web.
Pros:
- Excellent Mac app
- Extensive plugin store
- Widely accepted in the industry
- Abundance of guides and tutorials
Cons:
- Not available on Windows
- Only one month of a free trial
Price: $99 per year.
Figma
Figma is like the Google Docs of design. It's my personal favorite for a couple of reasons. First, the sharing capabilities are seamless and work flawlessly across all desktop operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, and Linux.
Figma has gained popularity among the design community due to its cross-platform availability. It also recently introduced plugin support, making it feature-rich. However, some users find its UI slightly outdated compared to Sketch.
Pros:
- Best sharing capabilities
- Excellent community support
- Wide variety of templates
- Works on all platforms
Cons:
- PWA is available, but a native app is preferred
- The quality of plugins can be inconsistent
Price: Free version available with limitations. Premium version costs $12 per editor per month.
InVision
InVision is a popular Adobe XD alternative used by many Fortune 500 companies. It offers iOS and Android apps for live feedback on the go. InVision also provides a plugin for video calling software like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, allowing for seamless collaboration.
With InVision, you can style layers to create eye-catching designs and access robust asset libraries. It also offers advanced tools for animations and dynamic effects.
Pros:
- Smooth multi-user collaboration
- Superior vector editing capabilities
- Large community for knowledge sharing
- Advanced animation tools
Cons:
- Limited free version
- Web version requires a constant internet connection
Price: $7.95 per user per month.
UXPin
UXPin is a prototyping tool that takes a unique approach by allowing you to design from the code end. This flexibility enables dynamic prototypes that go beyond simple transitions between screens or artboards.
UXPin is available on both Windows and Mac platforms. It also offers iOS and Android mirror apps for viewing designs and prototypes by scanning a QR code.
Pros:
- Built-in library for material design and iOS components
- Advanced prototyping capabilities
Cons:
- No free plan, only a free trial
- Basic plan lacks features like conditional logic
- No web app available
Price: $19 per editor per month.
Draftium
Draftium is an excellent Adobe XD alternative that covers a wide range of functions and design capabilities. It comes with over 300 prototype templates and around 200 blocks. The software also offers real-time cloud collaboration.
Draftium is beginner-friendly, thanks to its easy-to-use interface. You can quickly pick a template, add content and elements, and collaborate with team members.
Pros:
- Built-in template library
- Interactive prototypes
- Enhanced design-developer coordination with annotations and comments
Cons:
- Free version includes Draftium branding
- No native desktop apps available
Price: $99 per year.
While Adobe XD is an excellent UI/UX software, it ties you to the Adobe ecosystem and requires a Creative Cloud subscription. Explore the alternative software listed above and find the perfect Adobe XD alternative for your next design project.

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