Figma

If you’re looking to simplify your team’s collaborative design process, Figma is the perfect way to get everyone on the same page.

Teams can have multiple designers work on the same project simultaneously, reducing confusion and saving time.

Figma has the same design tools that other major software companies offer, all available in your browser without downloading any apps.

It had gained a reputation for being reliable, effective, and fast.

Figma has exploded in popularity across design teams for its excellent UI and simplicity.  

What Is Figma

Figma is a collaborative design tool created to help teams work on the same piece simultaneously.

It is a cross between file-sharing and design software, sold on a subscription basis.

What is Figma Used For

Figma is used to share files and their real-time edits with a team so that anyone with permission can work collaboratively on a project from separate devices.

Some similar services allow multiple users to collaborate on their preferred software, but Figma is a sharing service and design software, so every part of the process can be done within their program.

Figma is essentially the design software equivalent of GoogleDocs and has both the sharing functionality to work with others and all the tools you would get in other software.

How Figma Works

Anyone with permission for a project can work on it simultaneously and access the file whenever they need it.

This ensures that everyone knows the project’s progress, what has already been done, and what edits have already been made, negating the need to pass files around.

Using Figma allows teams to communicate and collaborate effortlessly on design projects of all kinds.

The service is subscription-based, charged per editor monthly.

Notable Features

Figma has a wide variety of tools, but these are what set them apart from the competition:

• Free version available: Most design products similar to Figma offer a free trial, but Figma has an entirely free version of their product for you to use, even if you decide you never want to pay.
• Works in browsers: One of Figma’s best features is that you won’t need to install any new apps.
  It runs in your regular browser, making it far more accessible than most other collaborative design products.
• Multiplayer: There are other design products that offer collaborative work, but Figma’s multiplayer is smooth and well-liked by most reviewers.
• Slack Integration: If your team is currently using Slack, you won’t have to set up new communication channels to use Figma.
  You can send out notifications and updates through Figma in Slack.
• Mobile App: You can get Figma on your phone or tablet to access your team’s projects anywhere, anytime.

Are There Minimum Requirements Necessary to Use Figma?

No, Figma is available to everybody, no matter their organization’s size or purpose.

How Much Does Figma Cost?

Figma has pricing plans for organizations of every size, including free versions for more casual users.

Figma Prototype and Design Plans

Figma’s prototyping and design plans are for teams working on professional design projects of any kind.

They also have plans for teams just looking to use their whiteboard tool, Figjam.

Figma Free

The free version of Figma has all the design features that the other plans include, and there aren’t annoying paywalls to reach the tools you need.

The only thing that Figma free is missing are some collaboration tools, unlimited project space- the free version only gets you three Figma files- and tool sharing.

Figma Professional

The professional plan has a few extra features that the free version does not.

Most importantly, the professional plan allows users to leave audio comments to other users, access and update a team library, and access unlimited version history.

This subscription tier of Figma also comes with unlimited Figma file space and sharing permissions.

This version is free for educators and students who apply as well.

Figma Professional costs $12 per editor/month.

Figma Organization

Figma Organization offers many additional admin and security features as well as extra design systems.

This plan is for larger organizations, so it has single sign-on and activity logs to simplify managing a team.

Figma organization costs $45 per editor/month.

Figma Enterprise

For large companies, Figma Enterprise offers the kinds of oversight that administrators and managers need.

This includes workspace administration, custom workspaces, and guest access.

The Enterprise version also comes with extra support and a dedicated account manager.

Figma Enterprise costs $75 per editor/month.

Figjam Whiteboarding Plans

In addition to their design software, Figjam provides a whiteboard product that allows team members to draw, write, and map in a collaborative online space.

Starter Figjam

Starter Figjam is free and lets you collaborate with unlimited numbers of users in real-time.

Like the free version of Figma, the free level of Figjam only allows a user to have 3 Figjam files at a time.

The free version offers little administration and security support and is designed chiefly for casual users.

Figjam Professional

Figjam Professional offers audio conversations, open sessions, and password protection.

Aside from these features, it is identical to the free version of Figjam.

Figjam Professional costs $3 per editor/month.

Figjam Organization

Figjam Organization is designed for businesses.

It offers single sign-on, activity logs, and other management and administration tools in addition to everything offered in the professional tier.

This level of Figjam costs $5 per editor/month.

Figjam Enterprise Add-on

Figjam is offered to organizations with Figma Enterprise’s plan for an extra $5 per editor/month.

This version of Figjam is not available to those that don’t have the Enterprise plan already but offers guest access and extra administration controls.

Figma Promotions and Savings

The higher tiers of Figma can get pricey, especially for larger teams, but there are opportunities to reduce costs.

Does Figma have a Free Trial?

Figma does not have a free trial, but the free version offers all of the design tools of the paid versions, so using it is an excellent opportunity to see if they have the features that your team needs.

Does Figma Offer Coupon Codes?

No, Figma does not offer coupon codes.

Does Figma Have a Lifetime Deal?

No, Figma does not have a lifetime deal.

Other Discounts and Savings

Figma Professional is available at no cost to educators and students that apply and meet certain criteria.

Figma Alternatives

The real-time collaborative design software market is dense with excellent solutions for every team.

Below are some competitors and how they compare to Figma.

1. Sketch

Sketch is possibly Figma’s fiercest competitor and is widely used across the industry.

Sketch offers many of the same tools as Figma, such as real-time collaborative design software, plugins, and administrative support.

The main differences between Sketch and Figma are price, accessibility, and ubiquity.

Sketch is not available as free software in any form, so at an absolute minimum, the price is $9 per editor/month.

This is lower than Figmas lowest paid tier, so if you know you want some of the paid features of Figma- such as unlimited project space- Sketch might be a better alternative.

However, you can’t beat free if you’re looking for the lowest price point available.

The major drawback with Sketch is that it is an iOS-only software.

Sketch is not available on any device running Windows or Linux.

While iOS may be the industry standard for design teams, Linux has been growing in popularity, and you might not want to lock your team into a software ecosystem you can’t get back out of.

Sketch does outcompete Figma in one major way: plugins and add-ons.

Sketch’s popularity is a positive feedback loop.

Its widespread use means more users create add-ons that the community can use.

Those addons, in turn, bring in more users that create more add-ons, and so on and so forth.

Figma, on the other hand, does not have the extensive addons that Sketch has become known for.

2. Adobe XD

Adobe has its own version of real-time collaborative software in the form of Adobe XD.

Adobe products have been a mainstay for designers for years, and XD is no different.

XD does have some severe drawbacks compared to other competitors, despite its popularity.

Adobe XD’s primary drawback is that it is only really effective for web design.

The Adobe Suite of tools is not available in a collaborative way other than cloud sharing or third-party software, such as InVision.

If you’re comparing Figma and Adobe XD, Figma is far and away the better choice for everything but web design.

3. InVision

InVision works similarly to Figma. It offers real-time collaboration while working on design projects.

InVision offers a free version of their software, and their second tier starts at just $7.95 per editor/month. InVision has pretty positive reviews across the board, too.

Many designers prefer Figma due to its fast and sleek design, as well as its all-in-one nature.

InVision integrates with other software- including Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch- but is reportedly sluggish and buggy.

How is Figma Different From Competitors?

Figma is all-in-one, low cost, and works perfectly in a web browser.

There are no device restrictions as with Sketch, no bugs as with InVision, and no limits like with Adobe XD.

Because of this, Figma has been growing considerably.

Who is Figma Best For?

Figma is designed for teams working on design projects collaboratively and simultaneously.

If you’re looking for software to work with alone, whether that’s animation software or software for web design, Figma probably isn’t the best fit.

But if you’re looking to work with a team on a design project, there is no choice better than Figma.

Why is Figma Best For Collaborative Design?

Figma provides a collaborative interface that feels more real-time than others.

The ability to connect Slack communication and send audio clips makes the collaboration seamless.

It has several tools and an easy to use interface that even the most amateur users will grasp in no time.

Is Figma Easy to Use?

The simple fact is that while Figma is designed to be user-friendly and straightforward, there will be a learning curve if you move your team to any new design software.

InVision integrates with your current design tools, so there will be less of a learning curve using their software.

Despite this, most users that have used Figma and gotten used to it are happy with the results.

What Features do Some Users Love?

Figma works in the browser and does not require installing any serious software to view and use.

This accessibility has made sharing files with clients or outside of the design team easy for many users.

Users also report that having Figma and Figjam integrated can be nice, as it negates the need for separate whiteboarding software.

What Features do Some Users Find Frustrating?

Most of the negative reviews with Figma are relatively minor and come down to personal preference.

Some users prefer other UIs, some users have found the workflow slow, and some think the permissions and sharing can be confusing.

Users’ most significant issue with Figma is the lack of plugins and add-ons, though this is quickly changing as Figma takes up a larger market share.

As more companies and teams switch to Figma, more add-ons and plugins have been crafted, mitigating much of this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions regarding Figma.

Wrapping Up

Figma is one of the most popular collaborative design software available on the market for a reason- it’s all-in-one, reasonably priced, and works well.

Have you used Figma? Let us know what you think and leave a review below.