Invision vs Adobe XD : Which is Better?
Both InVision and Adobe XD are popular design tools used by UI/UX designers, but they differ in their features, workflows, and intended use. Here’s a detailed comparison between InVision and Adobe XD to help you choose the right one for your needs.
1. Overview
🔴 InVision
- Primary Focus: Prototyping, collaboration, and design handoff.
- Founded: 2011
- Target Audience: Designers, product teams, and developers who need to collaborate on designs and prototypes.
- Platform: Web-based (with desktop and mobile apps).
- Key Features: Interactive prototyping, collaboration tools, design handoff for developers, real-time feedback.
🔵 Adobe XD
- Primary Focus: UX/UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration.
- Founded: 2016 (part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite).
- Target Audience: UI/UX designers, web designers, and product designers.
- Platform: Available on Windows and macOS (with mobile app for previewing designs).
- Key Features: Vector-based design tools, prototyping, repeat grid, voice integration, and real-time collaboration.
2. Core Features Comparison
| Feature | InVision | Adobe XD |
|---|---|---|
| Prototyping | ✅ Interactive prototypes, transitions, and animations | ✅ Fully interactive prototypes, voice triggers, and animations |
| Design Handoff | ✅ Detailed design specs for developers | ✅ Design specs (via design system and assets) |
| Vector Editing | ❌ Limited vector editing capabilities | ✅ Full vector-based editing, similar to Illustrator |
| Collaboration | ✅ Real-time collaboration, comments, and feedback | ✅ Real-time collaboration (coediting) and comments |
| Wireframing | ✅ Basic wireframing features | ✅ Full wireframing capabilities |
| Design Systems | ✅ InVision DSM (Design System Manager) | ✅ Fully integrated design systems |
| Mobile Preview | ✅ Mobile app for previewing prototypes | ✅ Mobile app for previewing prototypes |
| Cloud Storage | ✅ Cloud-based for easy access and sharing | ✅ Cloud-based integration with Adobe Creative Cloud |
| Plugins/Extensions | ✅ Limited plugin options | ✅ Extensive plugin library and integrations |
| User Testing | ✅ Integrated with InVision Studio for testing | ✅ Integrated with Adobe XD for testing and sharing |
| Platform | ✅ Web-based with cross-platform support | ✅ Available on both Windows and macOS |
🏆 Winner: Adobe XD – Adobe XD offers a more robust set of features for vector editing, prototyping, and design systems, while InVision excels in collaboration and handoff.
3. Prototyping and Interaction
InVision
- Prototyping: InVision allows you to create fully interactive prototypes with transitions, animations, and gestures. You can link screens, add hotspots, and define interactions.
- User Testing: InVision also includes features for user testing, where you can share prototypes with real users and gather feedback.
Adobe XD
- Prototyping: Adobe XD allows you to create interactive prototypes with artboards, links, and animations. It also includes voice triggers and auto-animate features, making it ideal for creating complex interactions.
- User Testing: Adobe XD integrates with Adobe XD Cloud and Adobe Target for user testing and feedback collection.
🏆 Winner: Adobe XD – Adobe XD has a more comprehensive prototyping toolkit, including voice triggers and advanced animation features.
4. Collaboration and Sharing
InVision
- Real-Time Collaboration: InVision excels in collaboration. It allows multiple team members to leave comments, review designs, and offer feedback directly on the prototype or design. InVision’s cloud-based platform enables real-time collaboration, making it easy for teams to work together.
- Design Handoff: InVision provides an excellent handoff feature where developers can access specs, assets, and code snippets to implement designs.
Adobe XD
- Real-Time Collaboration: Adobe XD offers real-time collaboration and coediting features, which allow multiple designers to work on the same project simultaneously. Feedback can be added via comments directly on the design.
- Design Handoff: Adobe XD also provides design specs to developers, offering a smooth design-to-development transition.
🏆 Winner: InVision – InVision has a more advanced collaboration suite, especially for feedback and developer handoff, while Adobe XD’s real-time collaboration is useful for design teams working together.
5. Platform Availability
InVision
- Platform: InVision is web-based, making it accessible from any device with an internet connection. It also offers desktop and mobile apps, which is beneficial for teams with diverse operating systems.
- Cross-Platform: InVision works seamlessly across platforms, including macOS, Windows, and mobile.
Adobe XD
- Platform: Adobe XD is available for both Windows and macOS users. However, it’s not web-based, and you need to download the software for both platforms.
- Cross-Platform: Adobe XD supports both macOS and Windows, but there is no web-based version.
🏆 Winner: InVision – InVision is more accessible because it is web-based, allowing cross-platform usage. Adobe XD is limited to downloaded apps for macOS and Windows.
6. Plugins and Integrations
InVision
- Plugins: InVision offers a limited selection of plugins compared to Adobe XD, but it integrates well with other design tools like Sketch, Slack, and Jira.
- Integrations: InVision integrates with tools such as Slack, Trello, Jira, and Google Drive, making it easy for teams to collaborate and manage tasks.
Adobe XD
- Plugins: Adobe XD has a vast library of plugins, from design tools to usability testing and development integrations. It integrates with Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, making it ideal for designers who already use Adobe’s Creative Cloud tools.
- Integrations: Adobe XD integrates with Adobe Cloud, making it easy to access design assets and collaborate with other Adobe apps.
🏆 Winner: Adobe XD – Adobe XD’s extensive plugin ecosystem and Creative Cloud integration offer more flexibility for design teams.
7. Pricing
| Feature | InVision | Adobe XD |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes, with limited prototypes | ✅ Yes, free with limited features |
| Paid Plan | Starts at $7.95/month | Starts at $9.99/month (individual) |
| Team Plan | Starts at $15/month per user | Starts at $19.99/month per user (for teams) |
🏆 Winner: InVision – InVision offers a more affordable and flexible pricing model for teams, but Adobe XD’s Creative Cloud pricing might be a good value for users who already use Adobe products.
8. Final Verdict: InVision vs Adobe XD
When to Choose InVision?
- If you are focused on collaboration and need a tool for design handoff to developers.
- If your team works in a highly collaborative environment and needs real-time feedback on designs.
- If you need advanced prototyping and integration with other design tools like Sketch.
When to Choose Adobe XD?
- If you need a vector-based design tool for creating detailed UI/UX designs.
- If you want to create interactive prototypes with advanced animations, voice triggers, and auto-animate features.
- If you already use Adobe Creative Cloud and want seamless integration with other Adobe tools like Photoshop and Illustrator.
- If you’re looking for a tool with a vast plugin library and integrations.
TL;DR:
- InVision is ideal for prototyping, collaboration, and design handoff with real-time feedback, especially in team environments.
- Adobe XD excels in vector design, advanced prototyping, and integration with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it perfect for detailed design work.
🖌 Winner: Adobe XD for design-heavy tasks, InVision for collaborative teams and handoff.