In the wild world of UI/UX design, choosing the right tool is key to efficiency and creativity, especially as we navigate 2025. The current version of Framer is a highly collaborative design tool that allows multiple users to work on the same project at the same time, allowing designers with different skill sets to contribute effectively. Framer and Figma are two of the most popular design tools, each serving different parts of the Design workflow. This comparison breaks down their features, strengths and use cases to help you make an informed decision based on your project needs.
What is Figma?
Figma is a browser-based design platform that allows teams to design, prototype and collaborate in real time. As a professional design tool, Figma has advanced design capabilities that empower designers in their work. Its user friendly interface and accessibility makes it a top choice for both beginners and pros. Plus you can import a design created in Figma into other tools, which is made easy by dedicated plugins that simplify the process.
Figma Features:
- Real-time collaboration with multiple users
- Cloud-based design system for Windows and macOS
- Beginner friendly interface
- Built-in prototyping tools like frame-to-frame transitions
- Visual design without coding knowledge
- Commenting system for in-context feedback
- Design-to-developer handoff
- Components and templates
- Vector networks for complex designs
- Design assets to speed up the design process
- Instant arc designs to speed up the design process
- Intuitive interface for organizing design components
What is Framer?
Framer is a design and prototyping tool that combines visual design with real code. It’s for users with coding skills and creates realistic prototypes with intricate animations and micro interactions. It’s built for users who want to go beyond static designs and create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes. A framer overview shows its capabilities as a no-code website builder with drag-and-drop interface, CMS integration, SEO tools and analytics.
Framer Features:
- Code-based design with live editing
- Animation and interaction tools
- Microinteractions
- Smart components for reusable logic and design
- Vast library of pre-made components, sections, and templates
- Publish to website from the platform
- Design and development alignment
- Collaborate on canvas in real-time
- Better code generation for web dev and design systems
- Framer’s UI is similar to other design tools, easy to use with pro-level features
Framer vs Figma: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Figma | Framer |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | Figma provides best-in-class real-time collaboration for seamless collaboration among design teams. | Framer supports real-time collaboration, but it is less robust. |
| Ease of Use | Figma is beginner-friendly, requiring no coding. | Framer requires coding knowledge for advanced use. |
| Prototyping | Figma offers standard frame-based prototyping with essential prototyping features. | Framer provides advanced, high-fidelity prototyping with code and extensive prototyping features. |
| Customization | Figma limits customization to design features. | Framer allows high customization through code. |
| Animation | Figma provides basic transitions and effects. | Framer offers intricate animation control and editor. |
| Platform Support | Figma works on any browser, Windows, and macOS. | Framer is desktop-based but now includes browser support. |
| Ideal For | Figma is ideal for teams, startups, and product designers. | Framer is ideal for developers, advanced designers, and UX teams. |
| Learning Curve | Figma is easy to learn. | Framer has a moderate to high learning curve due to code integration. |
| Complex Projects | Figma meets the needs of users working on intricate tasks. | Framer meets the needs of users working on intricate tasks. |
| UI Screens | Figma supports creating UI screens with design features.. | Framer facilitates creating UI screens while integrating code into the design process. |
Ultimately, the choice between Figma and Framer depends on your specific project requirements, ensuring the selected tool aligns with your unique needs and goals for optimal design outcomes.
Figma Benefits
- Teamwork made easy with live design collaboration
- No coding required for non-designers
- Cloud access and sharing for more productivity
- Comments inside the project for feedback loops
- Great for collaborative design projects
- All-in-one platform for design and prototyping
- Team collaboration made easy
- Cloud-based features for efficient collaboration
Framer Benefits
- Designers have full control over animations and microinteractions
- Bridges the gap between design and code
- Realistic, interactive prototypes for building
- Code integration for component customization
- Publish to website directly from the tool
- Create interactive prototypes with pro-level features
- Live websites for dynamic web experiences
- Intricate animations for better user experience
- User-friendly aspects of Framer’s interface for experienced designers
Framer: Prototyping and Beyond
Framer has moved from a niche prototyping tool to a full-fledged platform for web pages, prototypes, marketing sites and landing pages. It’s all about the transition from design to production, so designers can build fully functional websites without coding. Framer’s focus on interactivity, animations and code integration makes it perfect for designers who want to bridge the gap between design and development.
As a go-to tool for experienced designers, Framer has modern features and more flexibility. Framer also integrates with other tools so designers can have seamless workflows. Its evolution into a more accessible canvas in 2025 shows it’s adapting to modern design needs, with recent updates like P3 color support and a Scale Tool. Framer’s support has tons of resources and help for users, including Figma integration, coding support and community options.
Figma:
Collaboration is at the Heart. Figma was launched in 2016 and is a web-based design tool that has changed the game for team collaboration in UI/UX design. It has features for website development, prototyping, and design systems with a strong focus on real-time collaboration. Figma allows multiple contributors to work on the Shared project at the same time and integrates feedback, allowing multiple team members to collaborate on the same canvas in real-time.
It’s cloud-based, so it’s accessible anywhere and on any device and is loved by design teams worldwide. Figma also integrates with other tools better than other design tools. In 2025, Figma is still leading the way for teamwork and consistency with features like Observation mode and Multiplayer mode, and recent updates like Figma Slides and pricing changes on March 11, 2025. A Figma file is a deliverable for developers after the design process to make collaboration and organization easy.
Framer vs Figma: Feature Comparison
Framer and Figma are both design tools but for different needs. Here’s a feature comparison:
Framer vs Figma : Feature Comparison
To give a better understanding, let’s compare Framer and Figma across several dimensions using data from recent studies and official sources. Both tools have design workflows that make things more efficient and collaborative, with user controls, plugins and coding capabilities to streamline various parts of the design process.
| Feature | Framer | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Intuitive interface, but may require some learning for advanced features | User-friendly, suitable for beginners and advanced users alike |
| Design Workflow | Integrates coding capabilities for deeper customization | No-code environment, promoting accessibility for all users |
| Coding Skills | Best suited for users with coding skills seeking advanced functionality | Accommodates users with varying levels of coding skills |
| Collaboration | Real-time collaboration with team members | Excellent real-time collaboration features |
| Prototyping | Advanced prototyping with interactive components | Strong prototyping capabilities with easy-to-use tools |
| Plugins and Integrations | Extensive library of plugins and integrations | Wide range of plugins and third-party integrations |
| Responsive Design | Equipped to handle responsive design, critical for modern projects | Equipped to handle responsive design, critical for modern projects |
Design and Prototyping Capabilities
Framer: Great for high-fidelity prototypes with advanced animations and interactions. The canvas is fully interactive so you can build and publish real websites directly. Framer is perfect for projects that require complex interactions, microanimations and prototypes that are very close to the final product. The importance of UI design is highlighted by Framer’s advanced animation and prototyping features that enhance user interactions. Framer’s ability to create prototypes with pro-level features is super useful for adhering to platform guidelines like iOS or Android. For example, Framer’s ability to handle detailed user experiences is shown in its comparison page, where it says it’s best for high-fidelity prototyping, with the Scale Tool in February 2025 making layer manipulation even better.
Figma: For static mockups and clickable prototypes. It has robust prototyping tools but lacks Framer’s advanced interactivity and animation. Figma’s strength is in design system support, shared styles and components so you can have consistency across projects, as mentioned in its documentation. It supports various design elements so it’s easier to maintain uniformity and collaborate.
| Aspect | Framer | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Prototyping Focus | High-fidelity, interactive, advanced animations, recent Scale Tool (Feb 2025) | Static mockups, clickable prototypes, less emphasis on complex animations |
| Website Publishing | Direct publishing of functional websites, P3 color support (Mar 2025) | Requires third-party tools for publishing, no native CMS |
This table underscores Framer’s edge in interactivity, while Figma remains strong for initial design stages, with updates like Figma Slides in early 2025 adding presentation capabilities.
Collaboration Features: Multiple Team Members
Figma: Famous for its real-time collaboration features, Multiple collaborators can work on the same project simultaneously. Features like Observation mode, Multiplayer mode, and Version history make it easy for teams to collaborate. A number of team members can contribute to the same canvas in real time. Its cloud-based nature makes it accessible as highlighted in 2025 comparison, perfect for large teams, with recent pricing changes in March 2025 including access to FigJam and Figma Slides. Figma also provides an easy-to-use interface and seamless collaboration, making the workflow and efficiency for design teams better.
Framer: Supports real-time collaboration but is less intuitive for large team workflow. It has better prototype viewing features, including a dedicated preview panel and QR codes for sharing, which makes the user experience during presentations better. But collaboration is more suitable for one-to-one interaction, with collaborative features for prototype sharing that facilitate feedback and iteration. As mentioned in the same 2025 analysis, the Asset Panel redesign in December 2024 makes it more organized.
| Aspect | Framer | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration Type | Real-time, less intuitive for large teams, strong prototype viewing, Asset Panel redesign (Dec 2024) | Real-time, excels with Observation mode, Multiplayer mode, Version history, FigJam/Slides (Mar 2025) |
| Accessibility | Web-based, responsive across devices | Web-based, supports only full desktop OS (Windows, Mac), excludes mobile OS graphics tablets |
Figma’s collaboration features are particularly noted for their effectiveness in team settings, while Framer’s strengths lie in individual or small-team prototype sharing, with recent updates enhancing usability.
User Interface and Learning Curve
Framer: Beginner friendly with modern interface. 30 minute crash course video to get you started, guides and tours to learn more. But advanced features can be overwhelming for complete beginners, as per 2025 comparison, with recent updates in January 2025 making zooming more natural. Framer’s interface is similar to Figma but may have a steeper learning curve for non-coders, so more suitable for those with some coding skills. An experienced designer may prefer Framer for more flexibility and customization in complex projects. Staying current with tools like Framer and Figma is crucial in the design world to enhance user interface and experience capabilities.
Figma: Friendly for seasoned designers but steeper learning curve for beginners. Task oriented interface with features like frame level color selection and advanced text configuration (e.g. auto width and height). Figma has many vector tools to enhance design capabilities and streamline layer management and styling options. YouTube tutorials as mentioned in the comparison help with the learning process, with UI3 updates in 2025 making it more clear and usable.
| Aspect | Framer | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly, 30-min crash-course sufficient, layout improvements (Jan 2025) | Steeper for beginners, user-friendly for seasoned designers, UI3 updates (2025) |
| Interface | Sleek, modern, guides and tours provided | Task-oriented, features like frame-level color selection, advanced text config, UI3 redesign |
Framer’s ease of use makes it accessible for new designers, while Figma’s interface is more tailored to experienced users, with recent updates enhancing both.
Figma and Framer Integrations and Plugins
Figma and Framer have integrations and plugins to supercharge their design powers, setting them apart from other platforms. Here are some of the best ones:
Figma and Framer Support and Resources
Both Figma and Framer offer easy access to tons of support and resources to get you started and improve your skills. Here are some of the best ones:
Figma and Framer Pricing and Accessibility
Both Figma and Framer have different pricing plans to fit your needs and budget. Here’s a quick summary:
Figma, known for its collaborative features and user-friendly design interface, is often the go-to choice among design teams for various design needs, including websites and mobile applications.
Conclusion
In 2025 both Framer and Figma are must-have tools for UI/UX designers, each with their strengths. Framer is perfect for designers who need advanced prototyping and want to bridge the gap between design and development. With the ability to publish fully functional websites directly from the canvas, and recent updates like P3 color support (Mar 2025) and Scale Tool (Feb 2025), it’s a powerful tool for interactive design especially for projects that require detailed animations and code integration.
Figma is great for collaboration and ease of use, so it’s the choice for teams working on large projects or those who prefer no-code. With the plugin library and cloud accessibility, and recent updates like Figma Slides (early 2025) and pricing changes (Mar 2025), it’s a versatile tool for designers of all levels especially for static mockups and team collaboration. Figma’s features – collaboration, design, prototyping – make it a versatile tool for web design projects especially for digital interfaces, websites and applications.
Both Framer and Figma require a stable internet connection for their cloud features, so make sure you have a reliable one to use their design tools effectively.
So the choice between Framer and Figma is:
- Choose Framer if you want interactivity, animations and development integration as seen in its high-fidelity prototypes and website publishing with recent updates for usability.
- Choose Figma if collaboration, scalability and no-code is your focus, leveraging real-time collaboration and plugin ecosystem with recent updates bridging designer-developer gap.
Now you know the pros and cons of each tool, designers can optimize their workflow and productivity in 2025 and beyond, choosing the right one for their project needs. Both Figma and Framer have a lot of features to plug into your design workflow, to solve the problems and limitations and show off their collaboration and customization powers.
