Adobe’s presence in the web design and development space is fading. Adobe XD, once positioned as a competitor in the UX/UI design market, is now in maintenance mode with no new feature development planned. Similarly, Dreamweaver—once a staple in web development—is no longer being actively developed, though Adobe continues to offer support.
These tools join a growing list of Adobe products that have been sunset in recent years. While Dreamweaver was once considered a reliable option, and XD had potential, neither tool gained long-term traction in today’s fast-evolving design landscape. Fortunately, the modern market offers a wide range of more powerful and user-friendly alternatives, making it easier than ever to find tools that fit current web design and development needs. Here are three alternatives to Adobe XD Top Shelf Design has worked with as a Creative Agency in Washington DC:
Phoenix Code: The Successor to Brackets
Phoenix Code is the successor to Brackets, an open-source text editor initially developed by Adobe as a community-driven project. As the Brackets project shifted to maintenance mode, Phoenix Code emerged as its replacement, taking on the torch and continuing its legacy.
If you’re seeking a straightforward text editor that makes coding enjoyable and accessible, Phoenix Code is an excellent alternative to Dreamweaver. Designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, it makes coding feel as effortless and fun as playing a video game.
Available across all major operating systems and via web browser, Phoenix Code offers a range of useful features, including live preview, inline editing, preprocessor support, extension management, code completion, and previews for colors, gradients, and images.
Figma
For years, web designers and developers relied on Adobe Photoshop, with Adobe XD and Dreamweaver emerging as solutions to bridge the gap between design and development. However, these tools never fully gained traction among the majority of design-developer teams. Instead, Figma quickly became the go-to solution, eclipsing Adobe’s offerings. Figma, a browser-based design tool that enables real-time collaboration. It’s widely favored for UX/UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. While Adobe attempted to acquire Figma in 2022, the acquisition was abandoned by the end of 2023, leaving Figma as an independent entity.
Figma is widely regarded as the leading UX/UI design tool. It offers both a paid and a free version, with the free version limiting the number of projects and teams but providing full access to the core features.
What sets Figma apart is its user-friendly interface, which is easy to navigate even for those new to UX/UI design. The tool’s design is intuitive, closely resembling Adobe XD without the complexity typically associated with Adobe products. Transitioning from Adobe XD to Figma is seamless, offering a future-proof solution for design teams
PenPot: The Top Open-Source Alternative to Figma
PenPot stands out as the leading open-source alternative to Figma, offering an enhanced handoff process between design and development. Unlike Figma, which primarily serves as a design tool, PenPot is designed to facilitate collaboration between designers and developers within a single platform, combining the functionality of both Adobe XD and Dreamweaver.
PenPot offers excellent open-source tools and flexible hosting options. You can either host it yourself or use PenPot’s cloud hosting services. The platform includes many of the same features as Figma but excels in coding handoff, making it easier to transition a web project from the design phase to development.
PenPot is available for free, and there’s a paid subscription option for additional support, though the paid version does not unlock major new features. It’s a great way to support an open-source project while enjoying powerful design and development capabilities.
At Top Shelf Design, we understand that the digital landscape moves fast—and we move faster. While legacy tools like Adobe XD and Dreamweaver fade into the background, we’re always ahead of the curve, leveraging the most innovative platforms to deliver cutting-edge, customized web solutions. Whether you need a sleek marketing site, a robust e-commerce platform, or an interactive UX/UI experience, our team is equipped to rise to any challenge. With a deep understanding of modern tools like Figma, we bring your vision to life with precision, creativity, and results. If you’re ready to elevate your online presence with a partner who designs with intent and delivers with impact—Top Shelf Design is ready to build something extraordinary, contact us today.
