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Alternatives to Adobe XD (2026): UI/UX Tools with Collaboration Features

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Choosing an alternative to Adobe XD is less about “which tool is better” and more about workflow fit: collaboration style, prototyping depth, platform needs, and how your team manages design systems and handoff. Adobe notes that Adobe XD is in maintenance mode (with ongoing bug, security, and privacy updates rather than new feature development). [Source-1✅]

What You’ll Get From This Comparison

This page focuses on verifiable details you can use to shortlist tools: platform coverage, collaboration approach, typical use-cases (UI design, wireframing, advanced prototyping), and published pricing/limits where available. Prices and quotas can change, so treat them as a decision input, not a guarantee.


Alternatives Compared: Where Each Tool Commonly Fits

The table below is designed for fast shortlisting. Tool names link to their sections (internal links), so you can jump directly to details.

Adobe XD Alternatives — Snapshot by Use-Case and Workflow
Tool (Jump Link) Common Use-Case Match Platform Profile Collaboration Profile Published Numbers You Can Check
Figma Real-time co-editing with UI design, prototyping, and handoff in one workspace Browser-first, with desktop apps available Multi-player editing; role-based seats Seat pricing by plan and seat type
Sketch Mac-centered product design with prototyping and handoff, plus optional cloud collaboration Native macOS focus; web app for viewing/handoff Editors + free viewers; team plans and private cloud option Subscription tiers and a one-time macOS-only license
Penpot Open-source design + prototyping with a developer-friendly workflow Web-based; commonly used cross-platform Team collaboration with an emphasis on data control Per-user pricing, storage quotas, enterprise monthly price
Axure RP Complex prototypes (states, conditions, annotations) and detailed specifications Desktop-oriented, enterprise-friendly Team plan options for shared work Per-user monthly pricing (annual vs monthly)
UXPin Prototyping for product teams that want structured flows and handoff-ready detail Web-centric workflow Team plans and enterprise options Starter/Pro/Company price points and promo terms
Balsamiq Low-fidelity wireframing and rapid iteration before high-fidelity UI Cloud and desktop licensing Sharing and feedback for early-stage concepts Cloud plan pricing and lifetime desktop license pricing
ProtoPie High-fidelity interactive prototypes with richer device-like behavior Prototyping-centric toolset Team plans for shared prototyping workflows Free plan limits and paid plan prices
Framer Interactive prototypes that can extend toward publishing and web delivery Web publishing orientation Team collaboration varies by plan level Pages/visitors/bandwidth quotas by plan
Lunacy Desktop design workflows with built-in assets and optional cloud docs Windows/Mac/Linux desktop orientation Cloud docs and version history limits by tier Monthly price, cloud doc limits, and version-history quotas
Marvel Prototyping + testing + handoff for teams that want an approachable flow Web-based tooling and sharing Team members vs contributors model Education/non-profit discount percentages; free plan time limits

Comparison Criteria That Usually Matter in XD Replacements

If you’re moving away from XD, the practical questions tend to cluster into a few categories. This list stays tool-agnostic so you can apply it to any shortlist.

  • Collaboration mode: real-time co-editing vs async reviews, plus role types (editors, viewers, dev seats).
  • Design system mechanics: components, libraries, variants, tokens, and cross-file reuse.
  • Prototype fidelity: transitions, overlays, conditional logic, and device-like inputs.
  • Developer handoff: inspect panels, asset exports, versioning, and permission controls.
  • Platform and hosting: browser-first vs native desktop, and whether a self-host path exists.
  • Pricing structure: per editor vs per seat types, annual vs monthly, and quota-based limits (storage, pages, visitors).

When Real-Time Co-Editing Is the Priority

Look for multi-player editing, granular roles, and libraries designed for many contributors. This tends to reduce “merge pain” when teams scale.

When Offline Work and Local Files Are the Priority

Prioritize native apps, local save options, and clear rules for how collaboration features behave when connectivity changes. Offline-first can be a strong fit for certain environments.

Editor / Seat
A paid role that can modify design files (definitions vary by vendor; always verify on the vendor’s pricing page).
Viewer / Commenter
A role focused on review, commenting, and inspection, often included at no cost or with fewer limits.
Handoff
Tools that help engineering teams inspect UI specs, export assets, and track versions with minimal friction.

Tool Deep Dives: Alternatives to Adobe XD

Each section below keeps the tone neutral and focuses on how the tool is commonly used, plus a small set of published numbers you can validate quickly.

Figma

Official product page: Explore Figma Design for UI design and prototyping

Figma is often selected when teams want co-editing as a default behavior and a single place to manage files, libraries, and review links. In practice, this can map well to XD-style flows where design, prototype, and handoff sit close together.

  • Typical strength: collaboration-first editing, review links, and library-driven systems.
  • Planning detail that matters: Figma’s pricing is structured around seat types (for example, collaboration, development, and full access).

Published pricing example (USD): Starter is listed as Free, and a Professional plan example lists a Full seat at $16/mo (with other seat types priced separately). [Source-2✅]

Sketch

Official product page: See Sketch’s product overview

Sketch is widely used in workflows that are macOS-centered and value a native desktop experience paired with browser-based viewing and handoff. It can align well with XD-like expectations when you want design and prototyping in a focused environment.

  • Platform profile: native Mac app emphasis, with web features used for sharing, viewing, and handoff.
  • Plan structure: subscriptions for collaboration plus a one-time Mac-only license option.

Published pricing example (USD): Standard is shown as $12 per editor/month (billed yearly), Enterprise as $44 per editor/month (billed yearly), and a Mac-only license is listed at $120 per seat (includes one year of updates). [Source-3✅]

Penpot

Official product page: Visit Penpot’s official homepage

Penpot is positioned as a web-based open-source design tool that emphasizes design-to-development collaboration. It is commonly considered when data ownership and deployment flexibility are part of the decision, without leaving behind core UI design and prototyping needs.

  • Practical differentiator: open-source positioning and a workflow narrative that stays close to implementation realities.
  • Decision point: whether you need cloud SaaS, a controlled environment, or both.

Published pricing example: a Professional tier is shown as $0 per user/month, an Unlimited tier as $7 per user/month, and Enterprise as $950 per month, with storage quotas listed per tier. [Source-4✅]

For teams that want more control over deployment, Penpot also publishes a self-hosting guide aimed at running an instance on infrastructure you control. [Source-5✅]

Axure RP

Official product page: Explore Axure’s official site

Axure RP is commonly chosen when prototypes need structured logic (states, conditions, variables) and when teams want specifications and annotations to travel with the design work. This makes it a frequent candidate in enterprise or documentation-heavy environments.

  • Best-fit scenario: complex interaction models and stakeholder-ready documentation.
  • Migration angle: if XD prototypes were used for more than transitions, Axure can cover deeper behavior modeling.

Published pricing example (USD): Axure RP Pro is listed at $29 per user/month (billed annually) or $39 (billed monthly), with a Team tier listed at $49 (annual) or $59 (monthly). [Source-6✅]

UXPin

Official product page: Review UXPin on the official website

UXPin is often evaluated by teams that want to keep prototyping and handoff aligned with product workflows, especially where permissions, collaboration, and structured review are important. It is commonly compared to XD when teams want a controlled, web-based design system process.

  • Where it tends to fit: product teams that value structured flows and stakeholder visibility.
  • What to verify early: plan differences, because UXPin’s published pricing includes tiering and periodic promotions.

Published pricing example (USD): UXPin lists Starter at $6/month billed yearly (with a “first 3 months free” note), Professional at $10/month billed yearly, and Company at $29/month billed yearly (with an “afterward $35/month” note). [Source-7✅]

Balsamiq Wireframes

Official product page: Explore Balsamiq Wireframes on the official site

Balsamiq is a frequent companion to XD-style workflows when teams want to separate structure from high-fidelity polish. Low-fidelity wireframes reduce time spent debating visuals too early, while still producing shareable artifacts for review.

  • Common use: early-stage flows, IA discussions, and alignment before UI components are finalized.
  • Licensing flexibility: cloud subscriptions and desktop licenses are both part of the model.

Published numbers: Balsamiq’s cloud plans are shown as starting at $12/month (or $120/year), and the pricing page also states the product has been bought over 1.4 million times. [Source-8✅]

ProtoPie

Official product page: Visit ProtoPie’s official homepage

ProtoPie is typically evaluated when “prototype” means more than transitions—teams use it to simulate interaction detail that feels closer to real behavior. It can complement UI design tools by focusing on the interactive layer.

  • Typical match: richer interaction testing and user testing preparation.
  • Workflow note: it can be paired with a design-system tool when teams split UI creation and interaction simulation.

Published numbers: ProtoPie lists a Free plan with 5 prototypes and 5GB storage, and a Pro plan at $25/month (billed monthly) plus a Team plan at $49/month. [Source-9✅]

Framer

Official product page: See Framer on the official website

Framer is commonly considered when teams want prototypes that can extend toward web delivery and more realistic motion/interaction behavior. In an XD-replacement context, it often enters the conversation where “prototype” and “publish” start to overlap.

  • Typical match: interactive experiences, marketing/product pages, and prototypes with a publication path.
  • Decision lens: quota-based plans (pages, visitors, bandwidth) can matter as much as design features.

Published numbers: Framer’s Free plan is listed with 100 pages, 10k visitors/month, and 1,000MB bandwidth, while a Basic plan is listed at $5/month (billed yearly) with higher quotas. [Source-10✅]

Lunacy

Official product page: Explore Lunacy on the official Icons8 page

Lunacy is often evaluated as an XD alternative when a desktop-first workflow is important and teams still want optional cloud documents and shared access. It can be a practical fit for teams that prefer installed tools across mixed operating systems.

  • Platform coverage: the pricing page positions Lunacy as a desktop tool for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
  • Operational detail: cloud docs and version history limits can influence team workflows.

Published numbers: Lunacy lists a Pro tier at $14.99 per user/month (billed monthly), plus a cloud document limit of 10 and version history of 30 versions per cloud doc; it also states servers are placed across 5 continents. [Source-11✅]

Marvel

Official product page: Visit Marvel’s official homepage

Marvel is often chosen by teams that want an approachable path from prototype to testing and handoff, with clear distinctions between team roles. In an XD-alternative shortlist, it typically appears when teams value simplicity and shareable flows.

  • Role model: Marvel describes Team Members (paid) versus Contributors (included with a plan) for collaboration.
  • Eligibility detail: pricing notes include education and non-profit discount programs.

Published numbers: Marvel states 70% off yearly plans for students and teachers and 50% off yearly plans for registered non-profits; it also states the free plan has no time-limits. [Source-12✅]


Formats, Handoff, and Migration Realities

Most teams migrating from XD end up standardizing on a few interchange formats so design intent survives tool boundaries. A practical baseline is to ensure your target tool supports exporting and reusing vector assets in SVG, which is defined as a W3C specification. [Source-13✅]

What Usually Transfers Cleanly

  • Vector icons and illustrations (commonly exported as SVG)
  • Raster assets (PNG/JPG) used in UI mockups
  • Design tokens when documented (colors, type scales, spacing rules)

What Usually Needs Rework

  • Component structures (variants and nesting rules differ by tool)
  • Prototype interactions when logic or advanced transitions are involved
  • Permission models (roles, seats, and workspace boundaries)

Accessibility Considerations That Fit Most Tool Choices

If your workflow includes accessibility reviews, align your design and prototype outputs to widely used guidance such as WCAG 2.2. This helps keep design decisions (contrast, focus order, states) consistent even when teams change tools or handoff processes. [Source-14✅]


FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adobe XD still usable for existing projects?

Yes. Adobe describes XD as being in maintenance mode, which typically means ongoing support activities such as bug fixes and updates related to security and privacy while new feature development is not the focus.

Which alternatives are most aligned with real-time collaboration?

Tools designed around multi-user editing and role-based access are usually the closest match for teams that used XD with frequent reviews and shared files. In practice, compare how seats/roles work and how libraries are managed across teams.

Which options work well for offline-first workflows?

Offline workflows are typically supported best by tools with strong native desktop apps and local saving options. This can be a good fit when connectivity varies or when teams prefer locally managed files.

Are there alternatives that support self-hosting?

Some tools publish self-hosting guidance aimed at running an instance in infrastructure you control. If self-hosting is a requirement, validate the deployment documentation and your internal capacity to operate it.

What should teams verify before migrating a design system?

Confirm how components, variants, libraries, and naming conventions are handled in the target tool. Also verify how version history is managed and what permissions models exist for shared libraries.

How should pricing be compared across these tools?

Compare the unit that drives cost (editor, seat type, workspace, quota) and the constraints that shape daily work (storage, pages, visitors, version history). Annual vs monthly billing and promotions can materially change the effective cost.

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