Adobe XD Alternatives

Adobe XD is an excellent tool having rich features and capabilities. So it is not easy to find an alternative for it. There may be many reasons you want an alternative for the Adobe XD; maybe you are using the Linux operating system or trying any other similar tool.

However, Adobe XD is available free for use. So, if you want to use it on Windows or Mac OS, we suggest you try Adobe XD. It is an excellent tool for creating mockups, wireframes, mobile application design, and several other designing-related tasks. But, if there is any other reason to switch or use it. In this article, we will explain other tools which are similar to the Adobe XD in terms of functionality.

The designs created in Adobe XD can be converted into interactive functional prototyping, which is a challenging task for other designing tools. However, several other tools are available to support designing and prototyping.

There are lots of tools such as Invision, Figma, Axure, Marvel, etc., that provides Adobe XD like functionality and user interface.

Let's discuss these tools:

1. ProtoPie

Protopie is one of the easiest and finest tools for creating realistic prototypes for mobile, web, and other smart devices. It provides support for the Windows and Mac OS operating systems. We can create interactive and realistic prototypes that work like the actual digital product. It is a useful tool for user testing and stakeholders to experience your designs first-hand.

Concept Model (Trigger + Response + Object)

The concept model of the Protopie is one of its finest features. ProtoPie is developed by considering that there are lots of tools available in the market, so it may overcome the issues faced by designers. Most of the tools support coding-based prototyping, which is not really user-friendly because every designer is not familiar with the coding concepts.

The Prototypes makers research to simplify the prototyping for the designers. They found that interaction is made of a trigger, object, and response. Where trigger is an action which will be tap, hold, or any other event, and objects and responses completed the action. This means by using the trigger, object, and response, we can perform any action.

So, ProtoPie allows Triggers and Responses, which are necessary for mobile interactions in the form of Pieces. We can create a functional component using interactions with the combining Triggers and Responses with the assets (Objects) we have created.

Thus Protopie can be a great alternative to the Adobe XD for creating design prototyping.

Download ProtoPie

2. Figma

If you use a Unix-based operating system, then Figma will be a great alternative for the Adobe XD. Figma is similar to the Adobe XD in terms of functionality and features. Both the tools are vector-based designing tools, so their design looks and feels the same.

Figma is a vector-based graphic editing software used to design and prototype the user interface for different types of devices such as mobile devices, web applications, smartwatches, and smart TVs.

Figma provides support for most of the designing tools required for designing related elements. It also supports vector tools for providing the fully-fledged illustration. Further, it supports prototyping for making the element functional. We can also have the code for different elements and sections.

It is a cloud-based designing tool that is quite similar to sketch in terms of features and functionality. But, the Figma is much better than Sketch in collaboration with the team. Figma simplifies the designing process with its extensive features.

Features of Figma

Figma supports a rich library of features. Some key features of Figma are as follows:

• A sketch-like interface and drawing tools. So, if you are familiar with Sketch, you will learn its functionality and features quickly.
• It supports clickable prototyping just like Adobe XD.
• It provides a built-in commenting feature. Anyone can provide their feedback and comment anywhere on the design using the sharable link.
• It supports the developer handoff feature, which helps the development team analyze the dimensions, styles and even copy the code snippets.
• It provides supports to export the assets in different image formats for the team.
• It is a version control system that works like a time machine for the project. It stores the version history from all the collaborators. We can roll back to any of the versions from previous states.

Download Figma

3. Proto.io

Proto is a web-based application for designing high-fidelity prototypes right into your web browser. It is mainly used to design and prototype mobile applications. It provides easy-to-use draggable UI components.

It was developed in 2011 by PROTOIO Inc. Primarily; it was focused on mobile application design and prototyping, but over time, it has evolved itself and provides several updates. Nowadays, the proto can be used to design anything from mobile applications, smartwatches, digital cameras, web applications to smart TVs.

Its build-in feature for the component library is very useful for designers. It lets designers drag and drops several UI elements to enrich the UI creations. The component library includes search boxes, cards, icons, and several other design elements, which will be very time-savy for the designers.

Additionally, we can also have a realistic prototyping experience to test the application.

The proto provides a robust development and developer handoff because of its handy features. Further, it supports cross-platform collaboration. So, it can also be a great alternative to the Adobe XD.

Features of Proto

UI component Library

Proto supports hundreds of interactive and customizable UI elements such as buttons, menus, sliders, inputs, etc. We can use these elements by drag and drop.

Icon library

Proto supports a vast library of icons. These icons are free to use and can be resized and recolored as required.

Templates

Proto provides several ready-made, customizable templates for creating prototypes and wireframes in a minute. We can easily customize the blocks and interactive prototypes.

Sound Effect Library

Proto also supports a sound effect library to add sounds to interactions of the elements and animations.

Reusable containers

We can also reuse containers in Proto for applying the same contents such as cards, menus to multiple screens. Once we make a change in the main component, it will be reflected in all the components.

Easy drag-and-drop upload

Proto allows easy drag and drops feature to drop files straight from your desktop to image canvas. The assets can be found in the quick assets panel.

Integration

Proto supports easy integration with other tools, e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Google Fonts, etc., which means we can export the XD, Photoshop, and Sketch documents into Proto. We can also open the designs created using other tools using these features.

By considering all of the above-discussed features, the Proto will be a great alternative to the Adobe XD for creating mockups and interactive prototypes.

Start Proto

4. InVision

InVision is also one of the trendy tools for creating designs and interactive prototypes. It is an easy-to-use software that makes the designing process delightfully simple. We can easily create attractive designs and easy prototypes.

Apart from designing and prototyping, the InVision supports a powerful multi-user collaboration, transitions, animations, vector editing features. It also has an extensive assets library to help the designers with their project assets.

It is one of the finest alternatives of Adobe XD which is trusted by more than 500 companies. It supports Windows and Mac OS platform support and offers Android and iOS mirrors that allow the team to review the designs and prototypes. They can also provide their feedback on the designs. Overall, InVision is a fully packaged design software for designing the user interface and prototypes. Thus, it will be the finest alternative of the Adobe XD. let's discuss its key features:

Features of InVision:

Key features of InVision are as follows:

• It supports excellent design tools to design the different design elements.
• It supports superb design sharing features to share the design among the team.
• It supports an interactive prototyping feature to make the design functional in view.
• It supports an easy way to manage the project.
• It supports a vast library of assets for using the different assets such as images and icons for the projects.
• It supports Real-Time Design Meetings and Whiteboarding.
• It provides an excellent way for User Testing and Research.
• It also allows user to leave their feedback on the designs for the design team.
• It allows multi-user collaboration for teamwork.

By considering all of the above features, InVision can also be a great alternative for Adobe XD for creating designs and prototypes. InVision comes with a free plan as well as a pro plan. The pro plan offers more features than the free plan.

Download InVision

5. Axure RP

Axure RP is one of the finest tools for driving an innovative digital experience in user interface design. The Axure RP platform supports designing the user interface and functional prototypes. Also, it empowers to fill the gap between the design and development and client by providing the powerful collaboration feature. It is also one of the finest alternatives to the Adobe XD. Let's discuss the features of the Axure RP:

Features of the Axure RP:

Some key features of the Axure RP are as follows:

Interaction Events

The Axure RP supports several interaction events such as mouse, touch, and keyboard events to create interactive prototypes.

Conditional Logic

It allows us to add conditions and variables to define the prototypes and take the UI to the next level.

Dynamic Content

Axure RP provides several built-in widgets for creating dynamic content such as working forms, sortable grids, and interfaces.

Multi-State Containers

It allows us to use the multi-state dynamic panels to make everything from popups to scrollable, swipeable, mobile screens.

Data-Driven Interfaces

It allows us to create data-driven grids and tables that can be dynamically sorted and filtered.

Adaptive Views

Axure RP allows us to create designs adaptable for different sizes of devices such as desktops, tablets, and cellphones on a single page. It will automatically adapt the shape for the respective device.

By considering the above-discussed features, Axure Rp could be a great alternative to the Adobe XD for creating attractive UI and interactive prototypes. It is available in trial and pro plans.

Download Axure RP

6. Sketch

Sketch is one of the finest tools for the collaborative designing process. It supports pixel-perfect drawing to playable interactive prototypes and developer handoff.

Sketch is one of the most favorable choices of designers to design the UI/UX for web applications and mobile applications. It saves the file in its sketch file format; however, these files can be opened in other programs such as Photoshop, illustrator, etc. we can also save the file in other popular image formats such as jpg, png, SVG, and so on. It is very useful for creating mockups for different applications for different platforms.

It provides support for Mac OS platforms. However, it also has a web platform to operate it from any platform. It primarily focused on designing the UI for the application, but it recently added a prototyping feature for creating interactive prototypes. Let's have a look at its extensive features:

Features of Sketch

Some key features of Sketch are as follows:

Excellent Tools and Easy User Interface

Its excellent features allow us to use flexible vector editing and pixel-perfect designing. Also, it has an easy-to-use interface that helps beginners easily understand and use it.

Infinite Canvas

It provides infinite canvas with flexible artboards that helps us to keep the content organized across the design and let us design whatever we imagine. Additionally, it provides customizable grids and straightforward resizing options to scale the work to any screen size.

Math Operators Support

It supports shorthand properties and math operators to create the design speedily. For example, if we want to double the width of a container, we can do so by adding *2 to its width. By pressing the enter key, it will automatically double the width of the selected container.

Variable and OpenType fonts

It provides support for the variable fonts that allow us to control the typography in our designs.

Collaborate, sync and share

It supports a real-time collaboration feature for teamwork. The work in Sketch can be shared among the team, which will be accessible across different platforms. The team can leave their feedback right from their device.

Native to Mac OS

The UI of Sketch is designed to feel like a native application for the Mac OS operating system.

Sketch App supports several other useful features. So, it will be a great alternative to the Adobe XD.

Download Sketch

7. UXPin

The UXPin is one of the finest tools for creating UI design and prototypes. It is an interesting tool for developers because it allows code-based designing. In simple words, we can create and customize the design using the code. It provides support for Windows and Mac OS operating systems. Further, it also provides a mirror app to review the design from Android and iOS devices by scanning a QR code.

It supports several features for advanced prototyping and interactive elements. Thus, it delivers an amazing design experience.

Features of the UXPin:

Some key features of the UXPin are as follows:

Revolutionary Merge Technology

It speeds ups the development process with its revolutionary merge technology. It provides building blocks to create a consistent interface from designers to developers.

Perfect prototypes

It allows us to build interactive prototypes from the beginning that feel like the exact user experience. Further, it supports hundreds of built-in UI elements. We can integrate the code using the GIT repository straight from the design system.

Consistency with Design System

Its UI component features let us keep the consistency through the design. The created design can be easily shared with the team.

Remote Collaboration

It allows remote coloration to the designs, allowing the team to collaborate from different locations. It makes the communication process seamless to save time by reducing the handoff process for the assets.

Apart from discussed features, UXPin supports several other features that make it a great alternative to Adobe XD.

Download UXPin

8. Mockplus

Mockplus is a cloud-based tool used for designing the user interface for the different types of applications and prototyping. It supports several built-in UI components and icons. It supports drag and drops feature for the UI components that reduce the designer's effort.

Features of Mockplus

Some key features of Mockplus are as follows:

• Collaborative prototyping
• Automated handoff
• Manage design system
• All-in-one libraries
• Advanced designing tools
• Share and sync the designs
• Smart plug-ins for designs

Download Mockplus

9. Marvel

The Marvel is a super simple design, prototyping, collaboration tool. We can create anything we imagine using Marvel. It supports all the core functionalities to build digital products, wireframes, prototypes, and other designs. Further, it supports integration with other tools to power up the workflow.

It also allows syncing the designs from other tools such as Sketch. Also, it provides support for millions of assets to assist the designers in their project-related assets.

Features of Marvel

• Design and wireframes
• Prototypes
• Handoff
• User testing
• Collaboration

Download Marvel

10. fluid

fluid is an online tool for designing and prototyping mobile applications. It is mainly used to design the mobile application's touch interfaces. It allows us to design and test the application. Further, it shared the work among the team so that the team could provide their feedback on the UI of the application.

If you are focused on the mobile application design, the FluidUI tool will be a great alternative to the Adobe XD. Currently, FluidUI is not charging its users, so it is a free tool for now.

Features of FluidUI:

• Rapid Prototyping.
• Build-in libraries for the components and wireframes.
• Upload existing assets
• Mouse and touch events
• Beautiful animations
• Real-time collaboration

Try FluidUI

Conclusion:

We have discussed many tools that are much similar to the Adobe XD in terms of functionality. However, the reason for switching can be any for you. These tools are very advanced for designing the user interface and creating interactive prototypes. All tools are similar in UI, so you will not face any difficulty while migrating to any discussed tools.

There is no priority in the order of the explanation. They are just arranged in numbers. So you can choose any of the tools as per your requirement and comfort.

The Adobe XD is undoubtedly a leading tool for UI/UX designing, which is being used by millions of professionals over the Globe.