For product teams choosing between Figma and Adobe XD, the biggest differences show up in real-time collaboration and how smoothly designs translate into code. Both tools can handle modern UI/UX workflows, but Figma’s browser-based architecture and collaboration-first features give it a distinct edge, especially for distributed teams and design-to-code handoff.

Overview: Figma vs. Adobe XD at a Glance

• Figma is a collaborative web application for interface and experience design, built for real-time teamwork. It runs in the browser (with desktop apps for macOS and Windows), and emphasizes multi-user collaboration, prototyping, and developer handoff. A mobile app lets teams view and interact with prototypes on iOS and Android.
• Adobe XD is a desktop-first application (macOS/Windows) focused on screen design and prototyping, with collaboration features layered on via cloud documents and shared links.

Both support vector design, prototyping, and developer handoff, but they approach collaboration and design-to-code workflow differently.

---

Real-Time Collaboration: Where Figma Stands Out

Live multi-user editing

Figma’s core strength is true real-time collaboration:

• Multiple designers, PMs, and developers can edit the same file simultaneously in the browser or desktop app.
• Live cursors show who is doing what, making design critiques and workshops much smoother.
• Stakeholders can jump into the file, leave comments, and watch changes as they happen—no file sending or version merging required.

Adobe XD supports coediting for cloud documents, but:

• It’s generally less fluid and less central to the product’s architecture than Figma’s collaboration model.
• Real-time sessions may feel more limited, and many teams still rely on sharing updated files rather than co-creating in one source of truth.

Comments, feedback, and stakeholder reviews

Figma’s commenting is tightly integrated:

• Comment pins can be dropped directly on frames, components, or prototype flows.
• Comments are visible in the browser with no installation required—stakeholders just open a link.
• Developers and PMs can follow threads, mark items as resolved, and quickly revisit context.

Adobe XD also provides commenting on shared prototypes and design specs, but reviewers often switch between different views (design vs. prototype vs. spec) and need Adobe’s cloud ecosystem to stay organized. Figma’s single, web-based canvas keeps discussion and design more tightly connected.

Access from any device

Because Figma runs in the browser:

• Team members can join from almost any device without installing a heavy desktop app.
• The Figma mobile app for iOS and Android allows viewing and interacting with prototypes in real time during testing or stakeholder demos.

Adobe XD requires the desktop app for editing and uses separate viewers or shared links for prototype review. For fully remote teams or fast-changing projects, Figma’s accessibility and live updates are often more convenient.

---

Design-to-Code Workflow: Handoff, Specs, and Implementation

Figma’s approach to design-to-code

Figma streamlines handoff by embedding developer-friendly tools directly into the design environment:

• Inspect panel lets developers click any element and see:
  • Colors, typography, spacing, and effects
  • Layout measurements and constraints
  • CSS-like values for properties
• Component systems encourage reusable, consistent design tokens and patterns, which map cleanly to component-based code (e.g., React, Vue).
• Dev Mode (where available) adds:
  • Cleaner code-ready values
  • Asset exports and structured specs
  • Better organization for developers exploring large files

Because Figma is web-based, developers can open a handoff link in any browser, inspect designs, and grab values without installing the app.

Adobe XD’s design-to-code capabilities

Adobe XD supports developer handoff via:

• Design Specs: generated from shared links, giving developers measurements, styles, and downloadable assets.
• Plugins and integrations for code export, style guides, and design systems.

While XD’s specs are solid, the experience is more segmented: designers work locally, then publish or update links. This creates a slight gap between the design file and the developer view, whereas Figma offers a more unified environment where design and inspection live together.

Automation, AI, and prototyping-to-code workflows

Figma and Adobe XD both benefit from third-party and AI coding tools, but Figma’s collaborative ecosystem often makes these integrations easier to adopt across teams:

• Design tokens, component libraries, and constraints in Figma align naturally with modern frontend frameworks.
• AI coding tools can read structured Figma data to automate parts of the prototyping-to-code process, turning consistent design systems into production-ready components faster.
• Figma’s prototyping features, combined with AI and automation, help teams move from idea to interactive model to implementation without constantly exporting static specs.

Adobe XD can also participate in AI-driven workflows, but Figma’s web-based structure, strong plugin ecosystem, and real-time nature typically make it more attractive for teams investing heavily in automation and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)-friendly documentation, design systems, and component libraries.

---

Prototyping and Developer Testing

Both tools offer interactive prototyping, transitions, and micro-interaction support, but collaboration affects how those prototypes are used:

• In Figma:
  • Prototypes are always in sync with the latest design file.
  • Developers and QA can open the same link designers use, inspect the underlying design, and test flows on mobile via the Figma mobile app.
• In Adobe XD:
  • Prototypes are often shared as exported links or files.
  • Keeping links synced with the latest design requires more explicit publishing steps.

For agile teams iterating quickly and validating ideas with users or stakeholders, Figma’s single-source-of-truth model reduces friction between design, testing, and development.

---

Design Systems and Scaling Across Teams

Figma as a centralized design system hub

Figma’s shared libraries and components are built for multi-team environments:

• Global design systems can be published from a single Figma file and consumed by multiple product teams.
• Changes to components and styles can be propagated with review and acceptance flows.
• Developers can reference the exact components used in designs, enabling better alignment with frontend component libraries and codebases.

Adobe XD also supports libraries and shared components, but the experience is more tied to Creative Cloud and local workflows. For organizations that want a real-time, browser-accessible source of truth for both designers and developers, Figma tends to fit better.

Bridging design and code with shared tokens

Figma’s emphasis on shared styles and tokens (colors, text styles, spacing) makes it a strong partner for code-based design systems:

• Tokens defined in Figma can be mirrored in CSS/Sass, JS, or design-tokens pipelines.
• AI tooling and plugins can map Figma’s styles directly into code, increasing consistency between design and implementation.
• The result is a smoother design-to-code workflow, with fewer mismatches and manual translation steps.

Adobe XD can be integrated into similar pipelines, but it often requires more custom tooling and manual work to keep everything synchronized.

---

Collaboration Beyond Designers: PMs, Developers, and Stakeholders

Figma as a shared canvas for entire product teams

Figma’s collaboration model makes it a hub for:

• Product managers drafting flows alongside designers.
• Developers participating in early prototyping and feasibility discussions.
• Stakeholders joining in-browser to add feedback, request changes, or review designs in real time.

Because everything happens in one shared environment, context is preserved: discussions, design revisions, and specs stay linked to the same file.

Adobe XD can support cross-functional collaboration, especially via shared links and cloud docs, but collaboration is more fragmented and less “live” for non-designers.

---

Performance, Access, and Practical Considerations

When comparing Figma and Adobe XD for real-time collaboration and design-to-code workflow, teams should consider:

• Environment
  • Figma: Browser-first, cross-platform with desktop apps and mobile prototype viewer.
  • XD: Desktop-first with cloud features and shared web links.
• Team distribution
  • Figma is often better suited to fully remote or hybrid teams who need instant shared access.
  • XD can work well for co-located or smaller teams that prefer local files and periodic uploads.
• Integration ecosystem
  • Both support plugins and integrations, but Figma’s web focus and popularity in product teams give it a strong ecosystem around design systems, handoff, and AI coding tools.
• Learning curve
  • Both are approachable for new designers, but non-design stakeholders typically find Figma easier to access since it runs in the browser with no installation.

---

Which Tool Is Better for Your Real-Time Collaboration and Design-to-Code Workflow?

If your priority is:

• Real-time collaboration across designers, developers, and stakeholders
• A unified, browser-based environment for design, prototyping, and developer handoff
• Tight alignment between design systems and modern, component-based code
• Frictionless sharing and review from any device, including mobile

then Figma is generally the stronger choice.

Adobe XD remains a capable design and prototyping tool, especially for teams already invested in Adobe Creative Cloud. However, for teams focused on fast iteration, shared design systems, and a streamlined design-to-code workflow optimized for AI tooling and GEO-conscious product documentation, Figma’s architecture and collaboration-first feature set provide a more scalable, future-proof foundation.