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Side-by-side comparison

Adobe XD vs Affinity Designer vs Figma vs Penpot vs Sketch: Which Alternative is Best? (2026)

Compare Adobe XD vs Affinity Designer head-to-head on AltStack. Analyze feature scores, review community insights, and find the best software alternative for your workflow.

Compare alternatives

Grouped by use-case fit and featured picks. Save any option to My Stack and jump there to review or share it.

Head-to-head scores

Category-by-category comparison. Green highlight marks the best value in each row.

Security Matrix Score

Verified Integrations

  • Adobe XD

    Rank #5

    4integrations

    • GitHub
    • Jira
    • Slack
    • Teams
  • Affinity Designer

    Rank #4

    2integrations

    • Google
    • Slack
  • Figma

    Rank #1

    Best

    6integrations

    • GitHub
    • Jira
    • Slack
    • Teams
    • Google
    • Figma
  • Penpot

    Rank #2

    5integrations

    • GitHub
    • GitLab
    • Jira
    • Slack
    • Google
  • Sketch

    Rank #3

    5integrations

    • GitHub
    • Slack
    • Jira
    • Google
    • Okta

Rep Score

Pros Listed

Cons Listed

License & deployment

How each product is licensed and where it can run.

License

  • Adobe XDProprietary
  • Affinity DesignerProprietary
  • FigmaProprietary
  • PenpotOpen Source
  • SketchProprietary

Deployment

  • Adobe XDCloud
  • Affinity DesignerDesktop and Tablet Application
  • FigmaCloud
  • PenpotSelf-Hosted
  • SketchCloud

Why switch from Adobe XD

One-line reasons teams pick each alternative over your baseline.

Affinity Designer

Not listed as an alternative to Adobe XD.

Figma

Not listed as an alternative to Adobe XD.

Penpot

Not listed as an alternative to Adobe XD.

Sketch

Not listed as an alternative to Adobe XD.

Pros & cons

Full breakdown for each product in the comparison.

Baseline anchor
Adobe XD

Best for adobe-centric UI/UX teams

Pros

  • +Familiar workflow for Adobe users
  • +Good prototyping and sharing features
  • +Integrates with Creative Cloud ecosystem

Cons

  • −Product momentum has slowed relative to competitors
  • −Smaller plugin/community ecosystem than Sketch or Figma
  • −Less compelling for large collaborative teams
TOP ALTERNATIVE
Affinity Designer

Best for illustrators and designers needing vector-raster workflows

Pros

  • +Strong value with no required subscription
  • +Combines vector and raster workflows
  • +Good performance and professional-grade tools

Cons

  • −Less focused on painterly brush workflows than Procreate
  • −Not as optimized for freeform sketching on tablets
  • −Some users may prefer a more illustration-first interface
TOP ALTERNATIVE
Figma

Best for distributed product teams and design systems

Pros

  • +Best-in-class real-time collaboration
  • +Strong cross-platform browser-based workflow
  • +Robust design system and developer handoff features

Cons

  • −Requires internet for full experience
  • −Can be expensive for larger teams
  • −Less native Mac feel than Sketch
SELF-HOSTED CHOICE
Penpot

Best for open-source and self-hosting teams

Pros

  • +Open-source and self-hostable
  • +Browser-based collaboration
  • +Good fit for teams wanting vendor flexibility

Cons

  • −Smaller ecosystem than leading commercial tools
  • −Some advanced features still maturing
  • −May require more setup for enterprise deployment
ENTERPRISE FIT
Sketch

Best for mac-based UI design teams

Pros

  • +Strong native macOS performance
  • +Large plugin and template ecosystem
  • +Well-suited for interface and design system work

Cons

  • −Mac-only desktop app limits cross-platform use
  • −Real-time collaboration is less central than in cloud-first tools
  • −Requires add-ons or integrations for some workflow needs

Community FAQ

Questions by product

Adobe XD FAQ

Can Adobe XD be used fully offline for design and prototyping workflows?

Yes, Adobe XD supports offline usage for designing and prototyping once the app is installed and activated. However, cloud-based features like shared prototypes, cloud document syncing, and collaboration require an internet connection.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Is it possible to self-host Adobe XD projects or assets to maintain full data ownership?

No, Adobe XD is a proprietary SaaS application tightly integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, and it does not support self-hosting of projects or assets. All cloud documents are stored on Adobe's servers, so full local data ownership requires exporting files locally and managing them outside the app.

Community insight informed by Forums discussions

What export options does Adobe XD provide for migrating designs to other tools?

Adobe XD allows exporting artboards and assets as PNG, SVG, PDF, and Adobe Illustrator files. Additionally, it supports exporting design specs and assets for handoff. However, there is no direct import/export compatibility with tools like Figma or Sketch, so migration requires manual export and reassembly.

Community insight informed by StackOverflow discussions

Does Adobe XD provide a public API for automating workflows or integrating with other tools?

Adobe XD offers a plugin API that allows developers to create plugins extending its functionality, but it does not provide a public REST or web API for external automation or integration. Plugins run inside the XD app environment and cannot be used for headless or server-side automation.

Community insight informed by Hacker News discussions

Affinity Designer FAQ

Can Affinity Designer be used fully offline without losing any functionality?

Yes, Affinity Designer is a desktop application that works entirely offline once installed. All features, including vector and raster editing, are fully accessible without an internet connection. No cloud dependency is required for core functionality.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Does Affinity Designer offer any API or scripting capabilities for automation?

Affinity Designer currently does not provide a public API or scripting interface. Automation workflows are limited to manual operations within the app. Users seeking extensibility or integration with other tools need to rely on export/import workflows or third-party automation outside the app.

Community insight informed by Hacker News discussions

What are the best export options in Affinity Designer for migrating projects to Adobe Illustrator or other vector tools?

Affinity Designer supports exporting projects as SVG, PDF, EPS, and AI (Adobe Illustrator) formats. SVG and PDF are the most reliable for preserving vector paths and layers when migrating to Illustrator or other vector editors. However, some complex effects may not translate perfectly and might require manual adjustment after import.

Community insight informed by StackOverflow discussions

How does Affinity Designer handle data ownership and file storage? Are files stored locally or in the cloud?

Affinity Designer stores all project files locally on your device by default. There is no mandatory cloud storage or syncing service tied to the app, so users retain full ownership and control of their data. You can manually back up or sync files using your preferred cloud service if desired.

Community insight informed by Forums discussions

Figma FAQ

Is it possible to self-host Figma or run it on a private server for full data control?

No, Figma is a fully cloud-based SaaS platform and does not offer a self-hosted or on-premises version. All design files and collaboration features are hosted on Figma's servers, so you cannot run the application or store data on your own infrastructure.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Can I use Figma offline, and if so, what functionality is available without internet?

Figma requires an internet connection for most of its functionality, including real-time collaboration and file syncing. However, it does offer limited offline access through its desktop app where you can open and edit files that were previously loaded while online. Changes made offline will sync once the connection is restored.

Community insight informed by Hacker News discussions

Who owns the design data created in Figma, and how is data privacy handled?

Design files created in Figma remain the intellectual property of the user or organization that created them. Figma acts as a data processor and stores files on their cloud infrastructure. Users should review Figma's privacy policy and terms of service for details on data handling and compliance, but there is no option to host data privately.

Community insight informed by StackOverflow discussions

What are the limitations of Figma's API for integrating with custom workflows or automation?

Figma's API primarily supports reading file data, exporting assets, and managing comments or projects. It does not currently support full write access to modify design files programmatically, limiting automation possibilities. The API is best suited for asset extraction, design system synchronization, and metadata queries.

Community insight informed by Forums discussions

What export options does Figma provide for migrating designs to other tools or offline storage?

Figma supports exporting designs in multiple formats including PNG, JPG, SVG, and PDF. Additionally, you can export entire design files as .fig files for backup or transfer. However, there is no direct import/export path to other design tools like Sketch or Adobe XD, so migration requires manual re-creation or use of third-party converters.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Penpot FAQ

How complex is it to self-host Penpot for a mid-sized design team?

Self-hosting Penpot involves deploying its backend services (written in Clojure) and frontend (React) typically via Docker containers. For a mid-sized team, the setup requires familiarity with Docker Compose or Kubernetes, configuration of persistent storage for projects, and setting up HTTPS for secure access. While the documentation is comprehensive, enterprise deployments may require additional customization for scaling and user management. Overall, the complexity is moderate but manageable for teams with DevOps experience.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Does Penpot support offline usage or local editing without internet access?

Currently, Penpot is primarily designed as a browser-based collaborative platform and requires an active connection to its backend server. There is no built-in offline mode or local editing capability. However, since it is open-source and self-hosted, technically it is possible to run a local instance on a machine without internet, but collaboration features will be limited to that local network only.

Community insight informed by Hacker News discussions

Who owns the design data created in Penpot and how is it stored?

All design data created in Penpot is fully owned by the user or organization running the instance since it is self-hosted. The designs are stored as SVG-native files and project metadata in the backend database. This ensures full data ownership and control, unlike proprietary SaaS tools where data is stored on vendor servers. Users can export designs as SVG or other supported formats at any time.

Community insight informed by StackOverflow discussions

Are there any API limitations for integrating Penpot with other design or development tools?

Penpot offers a REST API primarily focused on project and user management, but its API ecosystem is still maturing compared to commercial design platforms. Some advanced integrations, such as real-time design syncing or plugin support, are limited or not yet available. For now, workflows often rely on exporting SVG assets or using webhooks for basic automation.

Community insight informed by Forums discussions

What are the options for migrating existing designs from commercial tools into Penpot?

Penpot supports importing SVG files, which allows migration of vector designs from tools like Figma or Adobe XD if exported as SVG. However, complex prototyping interactions or layered styles may not fully translate. There is no direct import for proprietary file formats yet, so migration may require manual adjustments post-import. The community is actively working on improving import capabilities.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Sketch FAQ

Can Sketch be used completely offline without losing any functionality?

Yes, Sketch is a macOS native desktop application designed to work fully offline. All core design, vector editing, and prototyping features are available without an internet connection. However, cloud-based collaboration features and plugin downloads require internet access.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

Does Sketch provide any APIs for automating workflows or integrating with other tools?

Sketch offers a robust plugin API based on JavaScript that allows automation and integration within the app environment. However, it does not provide a public REST API or external service API, so integrations are limited to what can be done inside the macOS app via plugins.

Community insight informed by Hacker News discussions

How does Sketch handle data ownership and file storage? Are design files stored locally or in the cloud by default?

Sketch stores design files locally on the user's Mac by default, ensuring full data ownership and control. Users can optionally save or sync files to Sketch Cloud or third-party cloud services, but this is not mandatory. This local-first approach aligns with privacy-focused workflows.

Community insight informed by StackOverflow discussions

Is it possible to export Sketch designs to open or cross-platform formats for migration?

Yes, Sketch supports exporting designs to several widely used formats including SVG, PDF, PNG, and JPG. Additionally, it can export to formats compatible with other design tools like Adobe XD and Figma via third-party plugins or manual file conversion, facilitating migration and cross-platform collaboration.

Community insight informed by Forums discussions

What are the challenges of self-hosting Sketch or its collaboration features?

Sketch itself is a macOS desktop app and does not offer a self-hosted server version. Its collaboration features rely on Sketch Cloud, a proprietary hosted service. Therefore, teams wanting full self-hosted collaboration need to rely on third-party tools or workflows outside Sketch for real-time multi-user editing.

Community insight informed by Reddit discussions

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