UXPin vs Figma: Which is Better?
UXPin vs Figma: Which is Better for Design and Prototyping?
Both UXPin and Figma are popular tools in the design and prototyping world, offering unique features that cater to different design needs. While both tools are widely used by UI/UX designers, their focus, capabilities, and workflows differ. In this comparison, we’ll evaluate UXPin and Figma in various aspects, including design features, prototyping capabilities, collaboration tools, and pricing.
1. Overview
UXPin
- Primary Focus: UXPin is geared towards high-fidelity prototyping with advanced interactivity and code-based integration. It focuses on enabling teams to build realistic prototypes with dynamic content, logic, and variables. UXPin is also heavily focused on design systems and collaboration within teams.
- Founded: 2010
- Target Audience: UX/UI designers, developers, and product teams working on complex, high-fidelity interactive prototypes and needing tight integration with design systems and code.
- Key Features: Real-time collaboration, design systems, interactive prototypes with logic and variables, and code-based components.
Figma
- Primary Focus: Figma is a cloud-based design tool that enables collaborative design and vector-based graphics creation. It’s primarily used for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative brainstorming. Figma allows seamless collaboration, making it ideal for remote teams or those who need to collaborate in real-time.
- Founded: 2012
- Target Audience: UI/UX designers, product teams, and developers, particularly those who need a tool for designing, prototyping, and collaborating across teams.
- Key Features: Cloud-based design, real-time collaboration, vector graphics, interactive prototyping, and design systems.
2. Core Features Comparison
| Feature | UXPin | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Designing | ✅ High-fidelity vector design tools, scalable components | ✅ Intuitive design interface, vector-based, auto-layout |
| Prototyping | ✅ Interactive prototypes with logic, variables, and real data | ✅ Interactive prototypes with transitions and gestures |
| Design Systems | ✅ Advanced design systems with reusable components | ✅ Design systems with reusable components |
| Real-Time Collaboration | ✅ Yes, allows multiple users to edit and comment simultaneously | ✅ Yes, real-time collaboration for teams |
| Version Control | ✅ Yes, version history and rollbacks | ✅ Yes, version history and file management |
| Mobile Prototyping | ✅ Yes, mobile-first design tools and features | ✅ Yes, mobile-responsive designs supported |
| Code Integration | ✅ Integrates with real code components (HTML, CSS, JS) | ❌ No native code integration but can export assets for developers |
| Platform | ✅ Web-based and desktop apps | ✅ Web-based and desktop apps |
| User Interface | ✅ Slightly steeper learning curve | ✅ Intuitive, easy to learn for beginners |
| Pricing | Starts at $12/month | Free plan available, Paid plans start at $12/month |
| Plugins and Integrations | ✅ Code, version control, and third-party integrations | ✅ Extensive plugin library, integrations with development tools |
🏆 Winner: Both tools are highly capable, but Figma excels in ease of use and collaboration, while UXPin offers more advanced interactive features and code-based components.
3. Design and Prototyping Capabilities
UXPin
- Design: UXPin allows designers to create high-fidelity designs with vector editing, layout tools, and interactive components. However, it shines with its ability to build interactive prototypes that simulate real-world interactions. You can define complex behaviors such as form validation, dynamic content updates, and logic-based actions within the prototypes.
- Prototyping: UXPin’s prototyping capabilities are more advanced compared to Figma, especially when it comes to conditional logic, states, and variables. You can create interactive flows where the prototype adapts based on user actions or conditions, such as changing text or dynamically altering the UI.
- Code Integration: One of the standout features of UXPin is its ability to integrate real code components (HTML, CSS, JS). This allows designers to build more accurate prototypes that look and function like the final product.
Figma
- Design: Figma offers a clean and user-friendly interface for creating vector-based designs, and it supports auto-layout, which helps speed up the design process for responsive UIs. It’s known for its precision and flexibility in designing interfaces.
- Prototyping: Figma provides an excellent prototyping feature, which is great for creating basic to intermediate-level interactive prototypes. You can link frames, add transitions, define interactions, and create a flow. However, its prototyping features are not as robust as UXPin’s when it comes to complex logic and dynamic content.
- Mobile Prototyping: Figma supports mobile-responsive design, allowing you to create mobile prototypes and preview them on devices using Figma’s Mirror app. You can design and prototype mobile apps easily, but the interactivity is more limited than UXPin.
🏆 Winner: UXPin is better for creating high-fidelity, code-based prototypes with advanced interactions and dynamic content, while Figma is better for simple, intuitive, and quick design-to-prototype workflows.
4. Collaboration and Team Features
UXPin
- Collaboration: UXPin allows for real-time collaboration, letting multiple team members edit and comment simultaneously. It also includes features like live comments on prototypes, design system integration, and task management.
- Version Control: UXPin includes version control, which allows users to track design changes, revert to previous versions, and maintain a clear design history.
Figma
- Collaboration: Figma is particularly strong in real-time collaboration, allowing multiple designers, developers, and stakeholders to work on the same file simultaneously. You can easily comment on designs, leave feedback, and have live discussions within the app. It is widely used by remote teams due to this feature.
- Version Control: Figma also provides version history, so you can see and revert to previous versions of your design files. It’s very effective for collaboration, as every change is tracked.
🏆 Winner: Figma is the winner here for collaboration. It’s known for its real-time collaborative capabilities, allowing teams to design, prototype, and iterate seamlessly in the same workspace.
5. Ease of Use
UXPin
- Learning Curve: UXPin has a moderate learning curve due to its more advanced prototyping features and the ability to integrate real code components. However, it’s relatively user-friendly once you get accustomed to its interface.
- User Interface: The UI is organized but may feel overwhelming for new users due to the complex interactions and features it offers.
Figma
- Learning Curve: Figma is known for its easy-to-learn interface and intuitive design tools. Even beginners can quickly start designing, prototyping, and collaborating. It’s especially popular for users who have worked with other design tools like Sketch.
- User Interface: Figma’s interface is clean, modern, and easy to navigate, making it ideal for new designers or teams looking for a simple, efficient tool for both design and collaboration.
🏆 Winner: Figma – It’s much easier to use, especially for beginners, and its interface is straightforward, making the learning process quicker.
6. Pricing
| Feature | UXPin | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ❌ No free plan for the full features | ✅ Yes, free plan available for individuals |
| Paid Plan | Starts at $12/month | Starts at $12/month |
| Team Plan | Starts at $21/month per user | Starts at $12/month per user |
| Enterprise Plan | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
🏆 Winner: Figma – With a free plan available, it’s more affordable for individual designers or teams just starting out, while UXPin only offers limited features for free.