Figma is the default, which means some teams now need an alternative for policy reasons, pricing reasons, or workflow reasons. The best alternative depends on whether you want native Mac speed, open source control, or an Adobe-centered pipeline.
Sketch remains the strongest direct competitor for screen design on Mac. Penpot is the credible open source option for teams that want self-hosted or open workflows. Adobe XD is largely a legacy lane, but Creative Cloud teams sometimes still route UI work through Illustrator or Photoshop where that already exists.
The short answer
Pick Sketch for Mac-native UI design, Penpot for open source and collaborative UI in the browser, and Adobe tools only when your org already standardizes on Creative Cloud for other reasons.
Top picks
Best best Figma alternatives
Sketch still feels sharp for screen design and plugin workflows tuned to product UI.
Penpot is the most serious open alternative for collaborative UI work in a browser.
Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
Creative Cloud orgs routing certain UI work through existing Adobe muscle memory
Visit Adobe Illustrator or PhotoshopSome teams still ship UI-adjacent assets from Illustrator or Photoshop when brand and illustration dominate.
Know the reason you are switching
Switching tools because of a tweet is expensive. Switching because of procurement, data residency, or a real workflow mismatch can be rational.
Write the reason in one sentence before you evaluate demos.
Sketch as the closest parallel
Sketch targets the same core job as Figma for many product designers: structured UI work with symbols and a strong Mac experience.
If your team is small and Mac-heavy, Sketch can feel calmer than living inside a browser all day.
Open source and Adobe edges
Penpot matters when openness and deployment control are non-negotiable, not when you only want cheaper seats.
Adobe paths matter when the org already pays for Creative Cloud and you can align UI asset production with existing skills.