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Figma vs Zeplin: What are the differences?
Introduction
Figma and Zeplin are two popular tools used in the design industry. While both serve the purpose of helping designers and developers collaborate on design projects, they have significant differences in terms of features and functionality. In this article, we will explore and outline the key differences between Figma and Zeplin.
Design Interface: Figma provides a complete design interface, allowing designers to create and edit designs directly within the tool. On the other hand, Zeplin focuses more on the collaboration and handoff aspect, providing tools specifically tailored for developers to inspect and implement designs created in other design tools.
Real-time Collaboration: Figma excels in real-time collaboration, allowing multiple designers to work on the same project simultaneously. It enables seamless collaboration, making it easy for designers to share feedback and iterate quickly. Zeplin, on the other hand, focuses more on providing a platform for designers to hand off designs to developers, with less emphasis on real-time collaboration.
Prototyping and Animation: Figma provides robust prototyping capabilities, allowing designers to create interactive prototypes within the tool itself. It offers a wide range of animation options and interactions, making it a powerful tool for creating dynamic experiences. Zeplin, on the other hand, does not have built-in prototyping capabilities, focusing more on design handoff and implementation.
Design Components: Figma has a strong emphasis on reusable design components. It allows designers to create and manage design components that can be used across different projects, ensuring consistency and efficiency. Zeplin, while it supports design components to some extent, does not have the same level of flexibility and control over design systems as Figma.
Developer Handoff: Zeplin is designed specifically for developer handoff, providing a platform for developers to inspect designs, generate code snippets, and export assets. It offers detailed information on design specs, making it easier for developers to understand and implement designs. Figma also provides developer handoff features, but Zeplin's focus on this aspect makes it a preferred choice for many developers.
Platform and Integration: Figma is a cloud-based tool that can be accessed from any browser, making it highly accessible and platform-agnostic. It also offers integrations with popular design and development tools, expanding its functionality and compatibility. Zeplin, on the other hand, is a desktop application available for macOS and Windows, with limited access compared to Figma. However, Zeplin offers deep integrations with popular design tools, making it a seamless part of the design workflow.
In summary, Figma and Zeplin are both valuable tools in the design industry, but they have distinct differences in terms of design interface, collaboration capabilities, prototyping, design components, developer handoff, and platform integration. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs and preferences of the design team, whether the focus is on real-time collaboration and prototyping (Figma) or seamless design handoff to developers (Zeplin).
Hello, I want to start an unlimited graphic design service. (yes, yet another one, but bear with me)
It’s the second week that I’m working on this project, my goal is to test the market as soon as possible.
One element that is missing is the solution to handle communication between the clients and the designers.
• Mandatory: it needs to communicate instructions, progress/status, and design files (exported from Adobe Illustrator or similar). • Optionally it would also display the design inside the app so the files don’t need to be opened. • Optionally it would let the client easily mark the design where he wants revision.
• Mandatory: it needs to have unlimited clients and unlimited projects (I’ll have hundreds of clients and each will have at least one project) • Optionally it would auto-assign a new project to the first available designer, or let the designers choose themselves which project they want to work on • Optionally it would have groups (corresponding to a subscription plan) with different clients and different designers in each • Optionally it would communicate with other apps so that client and designer management tasks (access, payment, etc) can be automated
I’m open to all suggestions, not just the selection above. Ultimately I guess I’ll have a custom app developed on a no-code platform, but to begin with I need something simple and ready.
Reminder: it is only for graphic design, between my designers and my clients
Zeplin is great for Developer handoff and setting as source of truth for Design and Developemt. InViosion is the standard for communicating/testing design ideas and prototypes with stakeholders. Both applications offer unlimited projects. I use them on a daily basis at big enterprises and for small weekend projects.
I have been using Basecamp since 2008 to handle my client communications. I have gone through all of its three iterations.
I'd recommend Basecamp above the others because:
- It is a communication tool through and through. Looking at your description, that seems to be what you need. Zeplin is a developer handoff tool. It isn't designed to cover a more broad use case as you describe. Invision has some features that you want, but it is primarily a tool for building quick low-fidelity prototypes from website mockups. Figma is a great design tool. For the last two, communication is a secondary feature.
- It was designed by a design agency (37 Signals) for their own needs, which were quite similar to yours. (They later closed the agency to focus on Basecamp as a product full-time)
- It has flat pricing that doesn't count the number of projects, clients or team members you have. You don't have to think twice about opening another project or inviting another user. You always pay the same price.
- It can separate team and client communications. The team can talk about something without the client ever seeing it, in the same context.
- It can keep todo lists, which I think you will need anyway.
- Access control is based on projects. Every team member or client will only see the projects they are invited to. They will not even know the existence of others. (Except admins. They can see and join all projects)
- It is easy to understand and use. The design is free of clutter and easy on the eyes. Your clients (especially the tech-averse ones) will appreciate it.
- It has mobile/desktop apps with the full functionality of the web app. You won't have to wait for someone to sit down to get a quick approval.
The only real downside for me was the lack of language support in the user interface. You will be fine if your users understand some very basic written English. Some of my clients did not, so I had to walk them through it.
Pros of Figma
- Web-based application18
- Intuitive interface and perfect collaboration10
- Free software8
- Works on both Mac and Windows7
- Highly Collaborative7
- Great plugins, easy to extend6
- Works on multiple OS's5
- Imports Sketch files5
- Large community, tutorials, documentation5
- Hands done the best design tool for collaboration!5
- Prototyping, design files and comments all in one place4
- Interactive, event-based prototypes4
- No more syncing between Sketch and InVision3
Pros of Zeplin
- Avoid the insanity of extract this info from Photoshop7
- Free7
- CSS2
- Works with lots of devices2
- HTML2
- SVG2
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Cons of Figma
- Limited Export options6
Cons of Zeplin
- SVG8
