In today’s fast-paced, remote-first world, creative teams need more than talent—they need the right tools to stay aligned, iterate rapidly, and deliver polished designs. Whether you're working on a complex product UI or a quick marketing asset, the right design application can turn fragmented workflows into fluid collaboration.
Here are eight of the best design tools that not only streamline visual workflows but also power real-time collaboration and efficient project management.
Figma
Best for: Real-time UI/UX collaboration
Figma has revolutionized how design teams work together. As a browser-based interface design tool, it supports real-time multi-user editing, making it ideal for remote or hybrid teams. Developers and designers can co-design, leave comments, and hand off projects without the friction of versioning issues. With an ever-growing plugin ecosystem and seamless integration with tools like Jira, Slack, and Zeplin, Figma is the go-to platform for modern product teams.
Canva
Best for: Quick visual content creation
Canva makes design accessible to everyone. With a vast collection of templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and brand kits, it's perfect for marketing, social media, and internal communications. Its real-time collaboration lets team members comment, co-edit, and track changes in one place, ensuring consistent branding across teams.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Best for: Professional-grade design workflows
The Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and more) remains the industry standard for high-end design. Adobe’s cloud-based environment enables asset sharing, version history, and collaborative libraries across teams. For professionals who need pixel-level control and access to advanced editing tools, Adobe Creative Cloud offers unmatched power—especially when paired with tools like Frame.io for video collaboration or Adobe Express for quick tasks.
Sketch
Best for: UI/UX design for Mac users
Sketch pioneered vector-based UI design, and it’s still a favorite among macOS users. While it originally lacked real-time collaboration, its new cloud workspace offers shared libraries, commenting, and team management. It's particularly popular for smaller teams that rely on macOS ecosystems and appreciate its speed and simplicity.
InVision
Best for: Prototyping and feedback workflows
InVision’s strength lies in its ability to turn static designs into clickable prototypes, complete with comment threads and design specs. It’s ideal for teams who need to gather stakeholder feedback quickly and iterate fast. Combined with integrations like Slack, Trello, and Jira, InVision makes it easy to close the gap between design and development.
VistaCreate
Best for: Branded content and marketing teams
VistaCreate is a powerful alternative to Canva, offering thousands of pre-designed templates for ads, social media, and print. What sets it apart is its intuitive team collaboration feature that lets users edit, resize, and approve assets in one centralized hub. It’s especially useful for startups or content teams with tight deadlines.
Vectr
Best for: Simple vector editing on a budget
Vectr is a free, browser-based vector design app with real-time collaboration baked in. It’s great for beginner designers or teams working on simpler illustrations, logos, or diagrams. It’s not meant to replace high-end tools like Illustrator or Figma but can serve as a lightweight solution for quick tasks.
Microsoft Designer
Best for: AI-powered design assistance
Microsoft Designer taps into generative AI to help users create social media graphics, presentations, and brand visuals with minimal effort. Its integration with Microsoft 365 makes it especially useful for enterprise teams already embedded in the Office ecosystem. Real-time co-editing, AI-generated visuals, and automatic layouts help speed up the creative process.
The design ecosystem is more collaborative and democratized than ever. Whether you're a seasoned product designer, a marketer, or a content creator, there’s a tool on this list tailored to your workflow and team structure. By adopting the right mix of applications, you can dramatically enhance creativity, reduce feedback loops, and build more cohesive digital experiences.
Choose wisely—and design smarter.