Photoshop vs. Figma

What's better Photoshop or Figma? In this article we will analyze their features, utilities and more to help you make the best decision for your projects.

First and foremost, I have to make a confession: I have a love–hate relationship with Photoshop, so if you sense some built up resentment or sneaky favoritism throughout this article... Your senses will probably be on point!

Photoshop vs. Figma

Adobe Photoshop is an image editing and graphic design software that helps businesses streamline their photo editing and composition processes, as well as create digital works and animations. This AI-powered platform (as of recently) allows designers to invite external stakeholders to edit documents and share projects through live streaming functionality. But this are relatively new additions and they might not be as intuitive and immediate as with Figma.

Figma is a cloud-based UI (User Interface) design and prototyping tool that allows multiple teams to collaborate on creating, testing, and deploying interface or product designs. Its features include saving history, project management, comments, user-based permissions, plugin creation, and SSO (or Single sign-on).

Main DIfferences

Functionality: Photoshop is designed specifically for image editing, while Figma focuses more on user interface design and interactive prototyping.

Real-time collaboration: Figma allows multiple users to work simultaneously on the same design, facilitating collaboration and communication between team members. On the other hand Photoshop is for lonely wolves...!

Offline capability: Photoshop allows you to work without an Internet connection once it has been installed on your device. In contrast, Figma requires an internet connection to work as it runs in the browser.

Interactive prototyping: With Figma, it is possible to create interactive web design prototypes and perform usability tests directly in the application. This makes it easier to iterate and improve the design before taking it to the implementation stage. And again Photoshop is far behind on this one too...!

Over all Photoshop is a more powerful software in that it offers more image editing tools than Figma. But the later is perfect for online collaborations and prototyping.

Subscription and Support

Photoshop costs a whopping 20,99 dollars a month whilst Figma offers a free version and the paying option is 12 dollars a month... Now, I've had Photoshop on my computers forever but the subscription bill hasn't come yet... You might be able to figure out why on your own. Don't ask Photoshop about it, though!

What if you needed to fix a problem with either of these softwares? Photoshop's team can help you via E-mail, forums, telephone support and chat 24/7... Try calling them at 4am though, I doubt this is true! You might need to listen to distorted Bossa Nova for 5 hours until someone answers the phone, by then you'll need some "existencial" assistance, too...! Figma doesn't bother, their users don't even use their phones to call phone numbers, anymore...

Photoshop's Layout

Some might feel as though adding the image above might be pandering to Figma... And I have no rebuttal of that statement.

The thing is: Adobe has a monopoly over most editing softwares. That is undeniable! So making a mockery of it and then going back to using it, is all I can really do! Like a jester making fun of the king and then eating from his supper...

Figma Layout

For context, this is how Figma looks like.

It is apparent that it was created in a different era of software development, where it is more important to share emojis with your colleges than being a solitary confinement perfectionist Photoshop user and utilizing the most advanced editing tools available for a moment before your computer crushes...

Look, there is no perfect option! Just choose one already and join the appropriate Domestika course:

- Figma course from A to Z
- More Figma Courses
- Figma Guide
- 709 courses on Photoshop...