Figma vs InVision: Key Differences and When to Use Each

Both Figma and InVision are popular design and prototyping tools, but Figma excels in real-time collaboration and all-in-one design, while InVision focuses on prototyping and workflow integration. Choose Figma for cloud-based design and teamwork, and InVision for advanced prototyping with existing design files.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of Figma and InVision based on key factors important for design and prototyping workflows.

Feature	Figma	InVision
Primary Use	UI/UX design and prototyping	Prototyping and design collaboration
Collaboration	Real-time multi-user editing	Commenting and feedback, no real-time editing
Platform	Cloud-based, browser and desktop apps	Cloud-based, desktop app for Studio (legacy)
Prototyping	Built-in interactive prototyping	Advanced prototyping with animations
Design Tools	Vector editing, components, design system support	No native design tools, imports from Sketch/Photoshop
Integrations	Slack, Jira, GitHub, plugins	Slack, Jira, Trello, integrations with design tools

Key Differences

Figma is an all-in-one design platform that combines vector editing, prototyping, and real-time collaboration in a single cloud-based tool. It allows multiple users to work on the same file simultaneously, making teamwork seamless and efficient. Its design system support and reusable components help maintain consistency across projects.

In contrast, InVision focuses primarily on prototyping and workflow management. It does not have native design tools but instead imports designs from other tools like Sketch or Photoshop. InVision excels in creating advanced interactive prototypes with animations and transitions, and it provides strong feedback and commenting features for stakeholders.

While Figma is ideal for teams needing an integrated design and prototyping environment with live collaboration, InVision suits teams that want to enhance their existing design files with powerful prototyping and stakeholder communication.

Code Comparison

Here is how you create a simple clickable prototype link in Figma using its prototyping interface with no code but a clear setup.

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1. Select the object (e.g., a button).
2. Click the Prototype tab.
3. Drag the node to the target frame.
4. Set interaction to "On Click" and action to "Navigate To" the target frame.
5. Preview the prototype to test the link.

Output

Clicking the button navigates to the linked frame in the prototype preview.

InVision Equivalent

In InVision, you create a clickable hotspot to link screens in a prototype as follows:

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1. Upload your design screens to InVision.
2. Open the prototype editor.
3. Use the Hotspot tool to draw a clickable area over the button.
4. Link the hotspot to the target screen.
5. Set the transition animation if desired.
6. Preview the prototype to test the interaction.

Output

Clicking the hotspot navigates to the linked screen with the chosen animation.

When to Use Which

Choose Figma when you want an all-in-one design and prototyping tool that supports real-time collaboration and cloud access. It is perfect for teams designing interfaces from scratch and needing to work together live.

Choose InVision when your team already uses other design tools like Sketch or Photoshop and needs a powerful prototyping and feedback platform to enhance those designs. It is ideal for advanced prototyping animations and stakeholder communication.

Key Takeaways

Figma offers integrated design, prototyping, and real-time collaboration in one cloud tool.

InVision specializes in prototyping and feedback but relies on external design tools.

Use Figma for live teamwork and building designs from scratch.

Use InVision to add advanced prototyping to existing design files.

Both tools support cloud workflows but serve different stages of the design process.