Adobe XD
PaidUI/UX design and prototyping
About Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a UI/UX design and prototyping tool included in Adobe Creative Cloud ($89.99/mo all apps or $10/mo standalone). Adobe XD launched in 2016 to compete with Sketch and later Figma, but has lost the market decisively. As of 2022, Adobe effectively froze new XD development after its $20B Figma acquisition attempt was blocked by regulators in 2023. No significant new features have shipped since. The tool still works for existing projects — it opens XD files and exports assets correctly — but Adobe is not investing further. Reddit design communities treat XD as effectively discontinued: no serious design team starts new work on it. The historic advantage was tight Creative Cloud integration (Photoshop and Illustrator hand-off), but Figma's design token features and import tools now cover most of those workflows. For teams with existing XD projects, migrating to Figma is the standard path. For anyone starting new design work, Figma is the clear choice. Penpot is the alternative if open-source licensing or self-hosting matters.
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Single App
- XD only
- 100GB storage
All Apps
- Full Creative Cloud
- 100GB storage
Pros
- Adobe ecosystem
- Voice prototyping
- Good performance
Cons
- In maintenance mode
- No new features
- Figma is better choice
- Requires subscription
Best For
- Teams already on Creative Cloud who need to open and edit existing XD files
- Designers who need tight integration with Photoshop and Illustrator for existing workflows
Not Ideal For
- Any team starting new design work -- Figma is the industry standard and actively developed
- Collaborative design teams -- Figma has significantly better real-time multiplayer support
Potential Deal Breakers
- Adobe has stopped new XD development -- it is in maintenance mode with no roadmap
- No serious design team starts new projects on Adobe XD in 2024
- Figma dominates the market, is actively developed, and has a larger plugin and template ecosystem
Data & Privacy
Part of Adobe Creative Cloud. Adobe updated ToS in 2024 to access user content for AI training, causing backlash. Adobe later clarified Creative Cloud files are not used for Firefly training without consent. Adobe analytics collect usage data. Files exportable. SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified.
Who Is This For?
Hands-on tested May 2026
Signup Experience
Adobe account required. XD is included in Creative Cloud subscriptions but Adobe discontinued XD for new standalone users in 2023. Existing subscribers can still access it. The interface and core prototyping features remain functional but development has effectively stopped.
For Home Users
Not recommended for new users given the discontinuation. Adobe has directed users toward Figma following the failed acquisition attempt. Existing XD users who have built workflows around it may continue, but learning XD today has no future-proofing value.
For Business Users
Teams already using XD through Creative Cloud can continue but should plan migration to Figma or Sketch. Adobe conceded the design tool market to Figma when the DOJ blocked the $20B acquisition in 2023. New design tool projects should not start on XD. Creative Cloud subscribers have access at no additional cost which makes it a low-risk exploration tool but not a platform to invest in.
Our Verdict
Adobe XD is effectively discontinued -- no new features have shipped since the failed Figma acquisition was blocked in 2023. The tool still works for existing projects, but there is no reason to start new work on it. Migrate to Figma or Penpot. Adobe has shown no interest in investing in XD's future.