Figma
Figma is the industry-standard collaborative design tool for UI/UX designers and product teams, used at Google, Microsoft, Airbnb, and thousands of startups. It runs entirely in the browser with real-time multiplayer collaboration, component libraries, and prototyping built in. Figma's dev mode bridges design and engineering by generating code snippets directly from design files.
Pros
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration — industry-defining
- Powerful component and design system management
- Prototyping and interactive flows built in
- Dev Mode generates code snippets for developers
- Figma Community with thousands of free templates and plugins
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Canva for non-designers
- Heavy on memory — can slow older computers
- Offline mode limited compared to desktop-native tools
- FigJam whiteboard sold separately from design files