28 Best Design Collaboration Tools Of 2024
Best Design Collaboration Tools Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 28 tools reviewed.
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Choosing the right design collaboration tool can be tough with so many options out there. You want to improve team collaboration and streamline your design process but need to figure out which tool fits best. I've got you! In this post, I draw from my extensive experience managing digital projects and using various design collaboration tools to help you find the best options.
Design collaboration tools allow teams to work together on design projects in real time. They help reduce miscommunication, improve workflow, and ensure everyone is on the same page.
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Best Design Collaboration Tools
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | From $120/user/year | Website |
| FigJam | From $15/full seat/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Invision | From $7.95/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Filestage | From $49/month (unlimited team members, billed annually) | Website |
| Mockplus | From $24.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Balsamiq | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Mural | From $9.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Visma | Pricing upon request | Website |
| GoVisually | From $16/user/month (min. 3 users, billed annually) | Website |
| Visme | From $12.25/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow To Choose Design Collaboration Tools
As you work through your unique software selection process, keep the following points in mind:
- Integration Capabilities: Ensure the tool can seamlessly integrate with other software your team already uses. This is important for teams that rely on various tools to manage different aspects of their projects.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Look for tools that support real-time collaboration, allowing multiple team members to work on the same project simultaneously. The tool should enable designers to co-create and provide real-time feedback, speeding up the design process and improving the quality of the final product.
- User-Friendly Interface: The tool should be easy to use and navigate, even for team members who may not be tech-savvy. A user-friendly interface can reduce the learning curve and increase adoption rates among team members.
- Security Features: Ensure the tool offers robust security features to protect sensitive design files and data. This is especially important for industries that handle confidential information, such as pharmaceuticals or consumer electronics.
- Scalability: Choose a tool to grow with your team and adapt to your changing needs. As your projects become more complex and your team expands, you’ll need a tool to handle increased workloads and offer advanced features.
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ClickUp
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
Wrike
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
Hub Planner
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2
Best Design Collaboration Tools Reviews
This section provides an in-depth analysis and overview of each design collaboration tool. We will walk through the pros and cons, their features, and their best use cases.
Canva easily allows teams to create a wide range of visual content with its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates, images, and fonts. It’s a cloud-based platform where designs are shareable and accessible from any device.
Why I Picked Canva: Canva’s easy drag-and-drop interface allows users to create professional-quality designs without advanced design skills. It has an extensive library of elements, resources, and thousands of professionally designed templates that can be customized to suit any project. Canva’s brand kit feature allows the storing and managing of brand assets, such as logos, colors, and fonts, crucial for maintaining a consistent brand identity.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a drag-and-drop editor, thousands of templates, AI-powered design tools, and real-time collaboration capabilities. Canva also offers brand management features, such as Brand Kits, and the ability to print designs directly from the platform.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Built-in content planning
- Real-time collaboration across devices
- Extensive template variety
Cons:
- Generic template risk which may affect brand uniqueness
- Limited integration with professional design tools
FigJam by Figma is an online whiteboard tool enabling teams to brainstorm, diagram, hold meetings, and facilitate agile workflows. It has an intuitive interface that can sketch ideas, organize tasks, and visualize progress.
Why I Picked FigJam: FigJam provides a shared space where teams can collaboratively brainstorm, sketch, and organize ideas in real-time, making it an effective tool for early-stage design processes where ideas and rapid iteration are key. It supports sprint planning and retrospectives and smoothly integrates with Figma, allowing a quick transition from ideation to detailed design work. Its real-time collaboration features allow teams to interact in ways that mimic physical brainstorming, like dragging and dropping elements, drawing freehand, or voting on ideas with interactive stickers.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include over 300 ready-made templates, AI-powered custom template generation, and tools for automating tasks and keeping everyone on the same page. Users can express themselves with stamps and emotes, invite others to contribute to files for 24 hours, and facilitate dynamic conversations with Spotlight mode.
Integrations include Asana, Jira, Github, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Dropbox, Trello, Zoom, and Notion.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Collaboration without sign-in
- Cross-device synchronization
- Handwriting recognition
Cons:
- Dependent on the Figma ecosystem
- Limited task management features and export options
inVision allows designers to transform static screens into clickable, interactive prototypes that simulate the user experience, making it easier to gather feedback and make changes.
Why I Picked inVision: inVision allows designers to create highly detailed, interactive prototypes that closely mimic the final user experience, providing a clear representation of how the product will function. Its prototyping tools support complex interactions, animations, and transitions, enabling designers to convey user flows and get more accurate user feedback. It offers a powerful design system management for creating, maintaining, and sharing consistent design components across projects, making it the best choice for teams wanting to deliver a superior user experience.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include the ability to create interactive prototypes, inspect design files for measurements and colors, and share boards and Freehand documents. These features make it a versatile tool for design teams looking to collaborate on detailed and interactive design projects.
Integrations include Slack, Jira, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Asset management with Inspect feature
- Deep integration with design tools and user testing
- Advanced animation and micro interaction prototyping
Cons:
- Complex version management
- Performance issues with large prototypes
Filestage is an online proofing software for creative teams, streamlining review and approval processes. It allows teams to share, review, and provide feedback within a single platform.
Why I Picked Filestage: Filestage is designed to simplify and streamline the feedback and approval process. It is built to manage the review cycle, allowing teams to centralize all feedback in one place and making it easier to track revisions, implement changes, and ensure stakeholders’ needs are aligned before a project moves forward. Filestage allows users to comment directly on specific parts of a file, making feedback more precise and actionable and includes automated workflow capabilities for predefined approval stages.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include project workflow management, smart annotation tools, and detailed analytics. Filestage allows users to share, review, and approve all file formats in one place, making feedback fast and clear. The tool also provides insights into the review process to maximize efficiency.
Integrations include Google Drive, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Dropbox, Monday.com, Zapier, Integrately, Make (formerly Integromat), and Pabbly.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- No file size limits
- Audit trails for approvals
- Specific feedback marking
Cons:
- Notifications need improvement
- Lack of real-time co-editing
Mockplus streamlines the process of creating, prototyping, testing user interfaces, and developer handoff in one platform. It has an intuitive drag-and-drop layout that requires no coding knowledge.
Why I Picked Mockplus: Mockplus offers comprehensive features that streamline the design process, allowing teams to move from wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping without switching platforms. This is important for teams working in fast-paced environments as it reduces the need for custom coding and allows for quick revisions based on feedback. It supports real-time collaboration where team members can co-design projects, and provide immediate feedback and iteration.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include built-in UI icons, component libraries, templates for various platforms, interactive features for dynamic prototypes, and real-time collaboration tools. These features make it easy to create, share, and refine designs quickly and efficiently.
Integrations include Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, Axure, Slack, Jira, Trello, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Built-in user testing features
- Component-based design system
- No-code interaction design
Cons:
- Limited customization for interaction animations
- Limited high-fidelity design tools
Balsamiq is a wireframing tool designed to help teams quickly and effectively sketch out user interfaces and low-fidelity prototypes, allowing teams to visually communicate ideas and concepts without the details of high-fidelity designs.
Why I Picked Balsamiq: Balsamiq focuses on structure and functionality rather than aesthetics, ensuring teams can concentrate on the core aspects of the user interface without getting distracted by details that can be fine-tuned later. Its function is intentionally limited to wireframing, creating an uncluttered and easy-to-use interface. Balsamiq supports rapid prototyping and smoothly integrates with project management and collaboration tools for sharing and discussing feedback.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a drag-and-drop interface, a wide range of UI components and icons, and the ability to export wireframes to PNG or PDF. Balsamiq also offers interactive prototypes and reusable symbols, making it a versatile tool for various design needs.
Integrations include Atlassian Confluence, Atlassian Jira, Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Trello, Asana, GitHub, and Bitbucket.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Quick creation and modification of wireframes
- Focus on content and layout
- Drag-and-drop components
Cons:
- Lacks detailed documentation features
- Basic collaborative features
Mural is a collaborative whiteboard platform that allows teams to visually organize ideas, create diagrams, and map out complex projects. It is ideal for brainstorming, planning, and design sprints.
Why I Picked Mural: Mural can turn abstract ideas into actionable plans through its versatile online whiteboard. It supports large, complex boards with numerous collaborators, making it a powerful tool for enterprise environments, and large and remote teams. Mural’s flexibility allows it to be used in different scenarios like strategic planning sessions, design thinking workshops, or mapping out a customer journey because it supports various brainstorming techniques such as mind mapping, affinity diagrams, and SWOT analysis.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a variety of templates for brainstorming, project planning, and customer journey mapping, as well as advanced facilitation tools like timers, voting, and private mode to enhance collaboration sessions.
Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Webex, Zoom, Jira Cloud, Google Workspace, Butter, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud Library, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and Okta.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Enterprise-grade integrations
- Visual storytelling capabilities
- Template variety for specialized use cases
Cons:
- Loading issues with mural boards
- Complex initial setup and user interface
Visma is a cloud-based platform that integrates planning, tracking, and executing design projects. It facilitates real-time collaboration, allowing team members to share ideas, provide feedback, and monitor progress from anywhere.
Why I Picked Visma: Visma’s cloud-based architecture ensures that all project data, designs, and collaboration are stored securely online, accessible from anywhere, and without local storage and hardware requirements limitations. It integrates project management with design capabilities, allowing teams to track progress, allocate resources, and manage timelines in one platform. Visma covers design tasks, from basic content creation to more complex, data-driven visuals, and real-time feedback and approval workflows.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include automated invoicing, expense tracking, and real-time financial reporting, which help small businesses manage their finances effortlessly.
Integrations include Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce, QuickBooks, Xero, HubSpot, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable workflow automation
- Version control with detailed auditing
- Comprehensive project management tool integration
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for non-tech teams
- Limited design features as it is primarily accounting-based
GoVisually focuses on streamlining the review and approval process for creative teams, allowing designers and clients to collaborate on visual content by providing a platform where feedback can be given directly to the design files.
Why I Picked GoVisually: GoVisually is an excellent choice for creative teams that frequently work with clients or stakeholders who need to provide input on designs and videos. The platform allows users to leave precise, in-context comments directly on the visual elements, ensuring clear feedback, immediate actions, and a faster revision process. It supports a range of file formats, including video files where clients can annotate frame by frame.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include visual markups, @mentions, revision tracking, and visual notifications. These features help teams align and boost productivity by allowing easy sharing of visual feedback without the need for endless emails and ensuring quick approvals and change requests.
Integrations include Adobe Creative Cloud, Zapier, Trello, ClickUp, Airtable, Asana, Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrated project management features
- Version control with comparison
- Frame-by-frame video annotation
Cons:
- Limited customization in annotation tools
- Limited advanced design features and export options
Visme empowers teams to create, share, and collaborate on visual content like presentations, infographics, reports, and social media graphics. It has an extensive library of customizable templates and AI-powered design tools that streamline the content creation process.
Why I Picked Visme: Visme streamlines creating and sharing various visual content with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, allowing users of all skill levels to produce professional-grade visual content without extensive design experience. Visme offers advanced data visualization and multimedia incorporation like videos and audio into designs. Additionally, it provides branding and customization features where teams can create custom brand kits, ensuring that every piece of content follows brand guidelines, especially across large volumes of content.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include a vast library of customizable templates, AI-powered design tools, and real-time collaboration capabilities. Visme also offers tools for creating interactive content, such as animations and clickable menus, which enhance user engagement.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, YouTube, Vimeo, HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Built-in analytics for presentations
- Brand kit customization
- Advanced data visualization tools
Cons:
- Heavily-dependent on templates
- Limited design flexibility and font customization
Other Design Collaboration Tools
Below is a list of additional design collaboration tools that we shortlisted, but did not make it to the top list. Worth checking them out.
- Adobe InDesign
Best for professional layout and desktop publishing
- Miro
Best for AI-powered visual collaboration
- Lucidchart
Best for creating flowcharts and diagrams
- Piktochart
Best for infographics and presentations
- Crello
Best for social media graphics
- Marvel
Best for rapid prototyping and user testing
- Vectr
Best for free vector graphics editing
- Sketch
Best for vector editing and prototyping
- Proto.io
Best for interactive mobile app prototypes
- CorelDRAW
Best for professional graphic design
- Sympli
Best for design version control and collaboration
- Sketchboard
Best for collaborative whiteboarding
- Gliffy
Best for diagramming and flowcharting
- Venngage
Best for easy-to-create infographics
- Moqups
Best for wireframing and mockups
- Axure RP
Best for complex wireframes and prototypes
- Affinity Designer
Best for precision vector graphics
- Zeplin
Best for design handoff and collaboration
Design Collaboration Tools Selection Criteria
Selecting the best collaboration tools for design involves evaluating functionality and meeting specific use cases that matter most. Criteria relate to software buyer needs, pain points, and the intended use of the software.
Core Functionality (25% of total score):
- Allows multiple users to work on the same project or document simultaneously
- Records changes to a file or a set of files over time and ensures previous versions can be accessed
- Organizes, stores, and retrieves digital assets like images, videos, and documents
- Integrates with other design tools for easy import, export, and file manipulation
- Allows users to leave comments, suggestions, and annotations on specific parts of the document
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score):
- Unique features and functionality not offered by the competition
- Tools leveraging new and innovative features that boost efficiency, creativity, and productivity
- Exploring and testing for functionality that goes beyond generic online collaboration tools
Usability (10% of total score):
- The balance between the software’s capabilities and how easily users can utilize these
- A visually appealing interface that makes software more usable, reducing user fatigue
- A user-friendly and intuitive layout for easy navigation and more productive experience
Onboarding (10% of total score):
- Quick, simple, and easy onboarding with clear instructions and helpful guides
- Availability of training videos, templates, interactive product tours, chatbots, webinars
- Assessing how well the tool meets the user expectations, the data transfer, and the value and benefits of the tool like increased efficiency or ROI
Customer Support (10% of total score):
- Responsiveness and availability of support channels to respond to user inquiries and issues
- Comprehensive and accuracy of support documentation to help users troubleshoot issues and learn how to use the tool
- Availability of live chat, email, and phone support to ensure users can get help in the way that suits their situation and preferences
Value for Price (10% of total score):
- The software’s cost and features compared to similar products
- The features and capabilities of the product and the justification of the price
- Offers flexible pricing plans that accommodate different budget levels and user needs
Customer Reviews (10% of total score):
- High satisfaction ratings from users regarding their experience with the software
- Commonly reported pros and cons of the software serving as reviews or feedback
- The frequency of software updates and the enhancements and user-requested changes made
Trends For Design Collaboration Tools
Design collaboration tools are evolving rapidly. Here are some key trends to watch.
- Real-time Co-editing: Real-time co-editing allows multiple users to work on the same design simultaneously. This trend reduces the need for back-and-forth communication and speeds up the design process.
- AI-Powered Design Suggestions: AI-powered design suggestions offer automated recommendations based on user behavior and design patterns. This trend helps designers make informed decisions quickly and leverages machine learning to enhance creativity.
- Cross-Platform Integration: Cross-platform integration enables seamless collaboration across devices and operating systems. This trend ensures team members can work together regardless of their preferred tools, maintaining workflow consistency.
- Version Control: Version control tracks changes and maintains a history of design iterations. This trend is crucial for managing complex projects with multiple contributors, providing a clear audit trail.
- Cloud-Based Storage: Cloud-based storage allows for easy access and sharing of design files from anywhere. This trend supports remote work and collaboration, ensuring data is always available and secure.
These trends are shaping the future of design collaboration tools.
What Are Design Collaboration Tools?
Design collaboration tools are software applications that enable teams to work together on design projects in real-time. These tools are commonly used by designers, developers, project managers, and other stakeholders to share ideas, provide feedback, and make decisions collaboratively.
Components of design collaboration tools include real-time editing, version control, feedback and annotation features, and integration with other design and project management software. These elements help teams maintain a unified workflow, track changes, and ensure everyone is on the same page throughout the design process.
Features Of Design Collaboration Tools
When choosing design collaboration tools, it's important to consider features that will help your team work together effectively. Here are some key features to look for:
- Real-time Collaboration: Allows multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
- Version Control: This keeps track of changes and allows you to revert to previous versions, which is crucial for managing revisions.
- Messaging and Feedback: Enables team members to leave comments and feedback directly on the design, facilitating clear communication.
- File Sharing: Simplifies the process of sharing design files with team members, making collaboration easy.
- Integration with Other Tools: Connects with other software your team uses, like Google docs, Kanban boards, to-do lists, and video conferencing.
- User Permissions: Controls who views, edits, or comments on the designs, ensuring security and proper access.
- Prototyping: This allows you to create interactive prototypes, which help visualize the final product and UX design.
- Task Management: Helps in assigning and tracking tasks, keeping the project frameworks organized and facilitating teamwork.
- Cloud Storage: Provides a central place to store all design files, making them accessible from anywhere.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensures the tool works on various devices and operating systems, allowing flexibility in how and where you work.
Choosing the right design collaboration tool with these features will help your team work more efficiently and produce better results.
Benefits Of Design Collaboration Tools
Design collaboration tools have become essential in modern workplaces, enabling teams to work together seamlessly, regardless of physical location. Below are some benefits of using design collaboration tools for both users and organizations.
- Enhanced Communication: These tools facilitate real-time communication among team members, ensuring everyone is on the same page and reducing the chances of misunderstandings.
- Increased Productivity: By streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks, design collaboration tools allow teams to focus on more critical aspects of their projects, thereby boosting overall productivity.
- Improved Creativity: With features like brainstorming boards and collaborative design spaces, these tools foster a creative environment where team members can easily share and develop new ideas.
- Centralized Information: Design collaboration tools provide a single platform where all project-related information is stored, making it easier for team members to access and manage data efficiently.
- Cost Efficiency: By reducing the need for physical meetings and travel, these tools help organizations save on operational costs while still maintaining high levels of collaboration and productivity.
Design collaboration tools are invaluable for any organization looking to improve its design processes and team dynamics. By leveraging these tools, businesses can achieve better outcomes, faster project completion times, and a more engaged workforce.
Costs And Pricing Of Design Collaboration Tools
This section provides an estimate of average design collaboration tools plans and costs. The data is based on various sources and reflects common pricing tiers and features.
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic design tools, limited storage, basic templates, limited collaboration |
| Personal Plan | $5 - $10 per user/month | Additional storage, more templates, basic integrations, limited support |
| Business Plan | $10 - $20 per user/month | Advanced collaboration tools, enhanced storage, premium templates, integrations, priority support |
| Enterprise Plan | $20+ per user/month | All features from lower tiers, advanced security, dedicated support, custom integrations, unlimited storage |
FAQs About Design Collaboration Tools
How can I integrate design collaboration tools with other software in my workflow?
Integrating design collaboration software with other software in your workflow can significantly enhance productivity and streamline processes. Most modern design collaboration tools offer integrations with popular project management, communication, and file storage platforms.
Many tools support plugins and APIs that allow for custom integrations tailored to specific needs. It’s essential to explore the integration options available in the tool’s settings or documentation and leverage them to create a seamless workflow.
What are the best practices for managing version control in design collaboration tools?
Effective version control is crucial with any design collaboration platform, ensuring that all team members work on the design’s latest version and maintain a history of changes. Best practices include:
- Naming Conventions: Use clear and consistent naming conventions for files and versions.
- Regular Check-ins: Encourage team members to regularly check their work and update the main design file.
- Version History: Utilize the version history feature available in most tools to track changes and revert to previous versions if necessary.
- Comments and Annotations: Use comments and annotations to document changes and provide context for updates.
How can I ensure effective communication among team members using design collaboration tools?
Effective communication is key to successful design collaboration. Some strategies include using integrated communication channels within the design tools, scheduling regular check-ins and updates to keep everyone informed about the project’s progress, maintaining clear and detailed documentation of design decisions, feedback, and changes, and establishing clear feedback loops.
What security measures should be considered when using design collaboration tools?
Security is a critical aspect of using design collaboration tools, especially when dealing with sensitive or proprietary information. Implement strict access controls to ensure only authorized personnel can access and edit design files. Ensure the tool uses encryption for data in transit and at rest and enables two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security.
How can I manage feedback and revisions efficiently in design collaboration tools?
Managing feedback and revisions efficiently is essential for maintaining a smooth design process. You can use the tool’s built-in feedback features to centralize all comments and suggestions in one place, provide clear guidelines on how feedback should be given and addressed, and prioritize revisions based on their impact and urgency.
Additionally, you can use version control and change tracking features to record all revisions and ensure feedback is implemented correctly.
What are the key considerations for remote design collaboration?
Remote design collaboration presents unique challenges that require careful consideration including time zones, reliable communication tools, file sharing and accessibility for remote members, and regular check-ins to keep the team aligned.
How can I measure the effectiveness of a design collaboration tool?
Measuring the effectiveness of a design collaboration tool involves evaluating several factors including user adoption and assessing if the tool meets the team’s needs, the impact of the tool on the team’s productivity and efficiency, and the quality of collaboration and communication among members.
What are the common challenges faced when using design collaboration tools and how can they be addressed?
Common challenges in using design collaboration tools include the learning curve of new tools, compatibility with other software and platforms used by the team, and performance issues. These can be addressed by providing adequate training and resources, and ensuring that the tool integrates and can handle the team’s specific needs.
By addressing these challenges proactively, teams can maximize the benefits of design collaboration tools and enhance their overall workflow.
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