Building a website or web application follows a series of processes and the first process is to design the website so that it can be built easily. Earlier designs were made manually which was time-consuming and does not show the process flow so new software was launched which is used for designing prototypes of websites and web applications. Two commonly used prototyping software are Figma and InVision so we will compare them to find the right one.
What is Figma?
Figma can be defined as a collaborative web application used for user interface designing of web and mobile platforms. It was launched by Figma Incorporation in 2016 and can be used on several operating systems like MacOS, Windows, Linux, etc. It is a prototyping software that is used for creating, illustrations, icons, logos, symbols, UX designs, etc.
Advantages of Figma
- It can easily convert designs into code for making websites and web applications.
- It is a cloud-based web application hence no need to save work on the local machine.
- It comes with Figma mirror functionality for self-evaluation of designs.
- It supports a number of plugins which makes it more robust.
Limitations/Disadvantages of Figma
- It cannot be used without an internet connection.
- It does not provide global colors.
What is InVision?
InVision is a computer application that is used to manage and create prototypes. It was developed for user interface designing websites, web applications, apps, etc. It is a cloud-based software that supports different platforms like Windows, Mac OS, Android, etc. Initially, it was launched in 2011 and its stable version was released in 2018 with the name InVision studio. This software was by Clark Valberg and Ben Nadal.
Advantages of InVision
- It provides advanced features to control the design.
- It provides real-time sharing functionality.
- Installation and configuration is easy.
- It supports a large number of file formats like PNG, SVG, JPEG, etc.
Disadvantages of InVision
- It does not have rotate functionality.
- Only 10 MB of files can be uploaded.
Following is a table of differences between Figma and InVision:
Category |
Figma |
InVision |
---|---|---|
Definition | It is defined as UI/UX designing software that helps in prototyping and graphic designing work. | It can be understood as a cloud-based user interface designing software that helps in editing vector graphics and prototyping. |
Developer(s) | It was developed by Figma Incorporation. | It was developed by InVision Incorporation. |
Supported Platforms | It is available for Windows as well as for Linux and Mac operating systems. | It is available for Windows and Mac but does not support Linux operating systems. |
Pricing | Figma professional charges $15 per month but the starter version is free. | It charges $9.95 per month after 30 days trial period. |
Type | Figma is a browser-based application. | It is a desktop application that can be used online as well as offline. |
Sync | It does not support syncing with other software like Sketch. | It supports syncing with Zeplin and Sketch. |
Plugins | Blobs maker, Content Reel, Iconify, etc. are some good plugins for Figma. | Droplr, Slack, Asana, etc. are some good plugins for InVision. |
Features | Performance Testing, Project Management, Software Prototyping, etc. are some good features of Figma. | Screen capture, Configurable Workflow, version control, Prototype creation, etc. are some cool features of InVision |
Conclusion/Summary
It can be concluded that Figma is a better choice when compared with InVision because it has a free version for beginners and has a large customer base due to its easy interface. It is also easy to learn. On the other side, InVision is good due to affordability as it is cheaper than Figma when compared with paid version and supports sync with other prototyping software.