Best Design Tools for Agencies (2026)
We compared 10 leading design tools for agencies. Compare UI/UX design, collaboration, prototyping, asset management, and client review features.
Design agencies need tools that support UI/UX work, team collaboration, prototyping, and client feedback. This guide compares the leading design platforms across collaboration, prototyping, asset management, and client review to help you build the right design stack.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Key Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Figma Editor's Pick | UI/UX & collaboration | Free | Real-time collaborative design | 4.8/5 |
2Adobe Creative Cloud | Full creative suite | $54.99/month | Industry-standard creative tools | 4.6/5 |
3Canva | Non-designers & quick work | Free | Templates & ease of use | 4.7/5 |
4Sketch | Mac UI design | $10/editor/month | Native Mac design app | 4.5/5 |
5InVision | Prototyping & feedback | Free | Prototyping & design handoff | 4.3/5 |
6Miro | Visual collaboration | Free | Infinite whiteboard | 4.6/5 |
7Webflow | No-code web design | $14/month | Design-to-code web builder | 4.7/5 |
8Framer | Interactive prototyping | Free | Code-based design & sites | 4.6/5 |
9Affinity | One-time purchase alternative | $69.99 one-time | No subscription creative apps | 4.6/5 |
10Procreate | Illustration & tablet | $12.99 one-time | Pro iPad illustration | 4.9/5 |
Feature Comparison
| Tool | UI/UX Design | Collaboration | Prototyping | Asset Management | Client Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Figma | |||||
| Adobe Creative Cloud | |||||
| Canva | |||||
| Sketch | |||||
| InVision | |||||
| Miro | |||||
| Webflow | |||||
| Framer | |||||
| Affinity | |||||
| Procreate |
Detailed Reviews
FigmaVisit website →
Best for UI/UX design and real-time collaboration
Figma has become the default for UI/UX design at agencies. Its browser-based, real-time collaboration means multiple designers (and stakeholders) can work in the same file simultaneously. No version conflicts, no file handoffs. Prototyping is built in, and the plugin ecosystem extends functionality significantly.
Figma excels at design systems, component libraries, and developer handoff. Auto Layout and variables support responsive design. Client review is simple via share links and commenting. Professional plans run $15/editor/month; Organization plans add advanced security and SSO. Free tier is generous for small teams.
For design agencies, Figma is the starting point. Pair it with Adobe Creative Cloud for photo, video, and print work, and with project management (like AgencyPro) for deliverables, timelines, and client approval workflows.
Pros
- • Real-time multiplayer collaboration
- • Strong prototyping and dev handoff
- • Huge plugin ecosystem
- • Free tier for small teams
Cons
- • Not for photo/video/print
- • Requires internet for full features
Adobe Creative CloudVisit website →
Best for Full creative suite
Adobe CC includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects, and more. Industry standard for photo, video, print, and illustration. XD has been deprecated; use Figma for UI. Essential for agencies doing full-service creative work.
CanvaVisit website →
Best for Non-designers & quick work
Canva offers templates, drag-and-drop design, and collaboration. Great for social graphics, presentations, and internal assets. Canva Pro adds brand kits, magic resize, and team features. Not a replacement for custom UI/UX work.
SketchVisit website →
Best for Mac UI design
Sketch is a native Mac design app with robust symbols and plugins. Lost market share to Figma but remains popular with Mac-only teams. Good for UI design and prototyping. No Windows version.
InVisionVisit website →
Best for Prototyping & feedback
InVision pioneered design collaboration and prototyping. Free tier available. Useful for stakeholder feedback and design handoff. Figma has eclipsed it for many workflows, but InVision still has loyal users.
MiroVisit website →
Best for Visual collaboration
Miro is an infinite whiteboard for workshops, brainstorming, and diagrams. Excellent for discovery, user journey mapping, and client workshops. Complements design tools rather than replacing them.
WebflowVisit website →
Best for No-code web design
Webflow lets designers build production-ready sites visually, without code. Design-to-website workflow. Good for marketing sites and landing pages. Hosting and CMS included. Steeper learning curve than typical page builders.
FramerVisit website →
Best for Interactive prototyping
Framer bridges design and code for interactive prototypes and published sites. Strong for high-fidelity prototypes and simple marketing sites. Code-based flexibility for advanced animations.
AffinityVisit website →
Best for One-time purchase alternative
Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher offer Adobe alternatives without subscription. Capable apps for photo editing, vector design, and layout. No cloud collaboration. Best for cost-conscious agencies.
ProcreateVisit website →
Best for Illustration & tablet
Procreate is the leading illustration app for iPad. One-time purchase, exceptional brushes and performance. Ideal for illustrators and concept artists. iPad only; no desktop version.
How We Evaluated These Tools
Our evaluation process considered multiple factors critical to agency design tools:
- Asset Management: How well does the tool organize design files, components, and brand assets? Efficient asset management prevents duplicate work and ensures teams use the latest versions.
- Collaboration Features: Does the platform support real-time co-editing, commenting, and multiplayer workflows? Collaboration reduces handoff delays and keeps designers aligned.
- Template Libraries: Does the tool offer pre-built templates for common deliverables? Templates accelerate production and ensure consistency across client work.
- Brand Kit Management: Can you store and enforce client brand guidelines (colors, fonts, logos) within the tool? Brand kit features prevent off-brand deliverables and speed up new projects.
- Export Format Flexibility: Does the tool support exporting in multiple formats (PNG, SVG, PDF, CSS)? Flexible exports ensure deliverables meet developer, print, and client needs.
- Version Control: Does the platform track design iterations and allow rollback? Version history protects against accidental changes and supports client revision workflows.
- Client Review Workflows: Can clients comment, annotate, and approve designs directly in the tool? Streamlined review reduces email back-and-forth and speeds approvals.
- Integration with Agency Tools: Does the design tool connect with project management, file storage, and communication platforms? Integration keeps design work linked to project timelines and client deliverables.
We also considered real user reviews, case studies, and industry reputation. Tools that demonstrated strong adoption among design and creative agencies were weighted more heavily than general-purpose alternatives.
How to Choose Design Tools for Your Agency
- UI/UX Design: Figma is the standard. Consider Sketch for Mac-only teams. Adobe for broader creative work.
- Collaboration: Real-time co-editing (Figma, Canva) vs. async (Adobe, Affinity). Match to team workflow.
- Prototyping: Figma, Framer, and InVision support interactive prototypes. Evaluate fidelity and sharing needs.
- Asset Management: Design tools include basic asset organization. For large libraries, consider DAM solutions.
- Client Review: Commenting and share links simplify feedback. Formal approval may live in your project management tool.
Integrate design deliverables with your project management. Tools like AgencyPro let you attach Figma links and track client approval within projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best design tools for agencies?
The best design tools for agencies depend on your focus. Figma leads for UI/UX design with exceptional collaboration and prototyping. Adobe Creative Cloud remains the industry standard for photo, video, and print. Canva excels for quick marketing graphics. Webflow and Framer enable design-to-code for web. Miro supports visual brainstorming. Sketch is strong for Mac-native UI work. Affinity and Procreate offer one-time purchase alternatives to subscriptions.
Is Figma better than Adobe XD for agency work?
Figma has largely won the UI/UX market with superior real-time collaboration, robust prototyping, and a vibrant plugin ecosystem. Adobe has deprecated XD in favor of web-based tools. Most agencies have standardized on Figma for UI design. Adobe Creative Cloud still dominates for photo (Photoshop), video (Premiere), and illustration (Illustrator). Many agencies use both: Figma for UI/UX and Adobe for other creative work.
How much do design tools cost for agencies?
Costs vary: Figma, Canva, InVision, and Framer offer free tiers. Figma Professional is $15/editor/month; Organization plans for teams. Adobe Creative Cloud is $54.99/month for All Apps. Sketch is $10/editor/month. Webflow starts at $14/month. Affinity and Procreate are one-time purchases ($69.99 and $12.99). Team and enterprise plans add up—a 10-person design team might spend $150-600/month on design tools alone.
What design tools support client review and approval?
Figma, Canva, InVision, Miro, and Framer support commenting and review workflows. Figma allows stakeholders to comment directly on frames. InVision built its reputation on design feedback. Canva has simple sharing and comment features. For formal approval workflows, some agencies use project management tools like AgencyPro to collect client sign-off alongside design deliverables shared from these tools.
Should agencies use Canva or professional design tools?
Both have roles. Canva is ideal for non-designers, quick social graphics, presentations, and client self-service templates. Professional tools (Figma, Adobe) are necessary for custom UI/UX, brand systems, print production, and video. Many agencies use Canva for internal and low-stakes client work while reserving Figma/Adobe for high-value deliverables. Canva Pro ($12.99/month) adds brand kits and collaboration.
How do design tools integrate with agency project management?
Design tools typically integrate via: file sharing (Google Drive, Dropbox), links in project management tasks, and sometimes native integrations (e.g., Figma embed in Notion). AgencyPro and similar platforms allow attaching Figma links, Webflow previews, and design files to projects. For handoff, developers use Figma dev mode or Zeplin. The key is establishing a workflow where designs live in the tool and project status lives in your PM system.
What is the difference between UI design and prototyping tools?
UI design tools create static visuals (screens, components). Prototyping tools add interactivity—clickable flows, animations, and user testing. Figma combines both. Adobe XD and Sketch also support prototyping. InVision started as a prototyping and feedback tool. Framer bridges design and code for interactive prototypes. Choose based on whether you need high-fidelity interactive prototypes for user testing and client demos.
Are one-time purchase design tools (Affinity, Procreate) good for agencies?
Affinity (Photo, Designer, Publisher) and Procreate offer one-time purchase alternatives to Adobe subscriptions. They are capable and cost-effective for agencies willing to sacrifice some ecosystem integration. Limitations: no cloud collaboration like Figma, smaller plugin/asset ecosystem, and less industry familiarity. Best for cost-conscious agencies, freelancers, or as supplements. Procreate is iPad-only and excels for illustration.
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