What alternative does Adobe have to XD. (2024)

I am a teacher myself at a digital design school. Up to a few years ago we used Sketch and Adobe XD in our classes. Then we switched to Figma simply because

A) the industry massively moved on from Sketch, XD, and similar tools and converted to Figma

B) students love Figma. A few of our teachers tried to hold on to XD and Sketch, but students preferred Figma. Students were asking why anyone would be teaching XD when everyone else is using Figma. Obviously no rational answer could be given. All instructors dropped Sketch and/or XD.

And on top of that Figma is second in highest rated (behind Protopie).

Surveys only tell part of the story, but still. Figma's position and hold is comparable to Photoshop.

You would do your students a disservice by continuing to teach XD in my opinion. Besides, XD is currently no longer developed and in maintainance mode: based on Adobe's past behaviour we all know where this is headed.

And even IF Adobe decided to pick up XD's development again, allow me to ask you a question:

We have to prepare students to work in the industry. Would you teach them GIMP instead of Photoshop? Would we as teachers feel that is a wise and responsible thing to do?

Simple answer is "No". XD is a dead tool. It has had its chance, and then Figma happened. Adobe as an inflexible and archaic behemoth of a company proved unable to keep up and predictably attempted a buy-out instead. That failed as well (luckily enough because Adobe would have run it aground for the same reasons XD failed to remain competitive).

Switch to Figma in your classes. Join the Empire. 😉