26 Tools Designers Use Every Day

Figma

Figma, the first on our list of tools designers rely on, is a cloud-based design tool that works on any operating system with a web browser. It’s one of the most popular tools among product designers today—and for good reason. While it shares some similarities with Sketch in terms of features and functionality, what sets Figma apart is how well it supports real-time collaboration.

Because Figma runs in the browser, teams can co-design and give feedback instantly. You can share any file, page, or frame via a simple link, making the review process smoother and less dependent on third-party tools.

You can use Figma for:

• UI design

• Prototyping (both basic and advanced)

• Design systems

• Hand-off

• Digital whiteboarding

Before tools like Figma, designers had to use quite a mix of apps to exchange mockups and collect feedback. It often meant endless email threads and many file versions. Now, with Figma, everything is in one place and accessible to the entire team in real time.

One standout feature is that developers can inspect any design component directly in the file without needing extra tools. This improves communication and speeds up handoff.

Sure, Figma still has some limitations when it comes to complex interactions or data-driven prototypes. But overall, it offers an excellent balance of accessibility, power, and collaboration, making it a go-to platform for modern design teams.

Want to learn more about Figma? We’ve written quite a few blog articles about it.

Sketch

Sketch is a vector-based design tool which many design teams rely on and it’s primarily used for creating digital products like apps and websites. It is known for its clean interface and intuitive features that help you turn complex ideas into production-ready designs.

Sketch also includes built-in prototyping features, like overlays, hover states, press and toggle triggers, and scrollable areas, so you can show how your designs would work in the real world and on any device.

One of Sketch’s capabilities is its real-time collaboration. You can control what gets shared and when, making it easier to manage feedback and keep stakeholders in the know. Whether you're working with a design team or updating a client, this helps streamline the process.

Another big plus: Sketch offers browser-based handoff tools. Developers can inspect your designs right from their browser—no need for a Mac or the Mac app. That means they can get the information they need at any time. 

But Sketch also comes with limits. Collaboration isn’t as fluid as in cloud-native tools, and its macOS-only setup makes it harder for cross-platform teams to work smoothly. In a world where real-time teamwork and seamless sharing are the norm, that can hold you back.

If you’re already using Sketch and it fits your setup, there’s no reason to switch. But if you're building a new team, working remotely, or need more flexibility across devices, something like Figma may suit your workflow better—even if that means giving up a bit of Sketch’s native power.

As always, it’s about fit. Think about your team, how you work, and what matters most—speed, precision, collaboration, or accessibility. The tool you choose should support that, not get in the way.

ProtoPie

ProtoPie is a powerful cross-platform prototyping tool that lets you create advanced interactions without writing a single line of code. It's a great addition to a designers toolkit, especially for those who want to experiment quickly with advanced interactions using variables, conditions, sensors, and more.

That said, it’s not the right tool for everyone. The learning curve is steeper, the pricing is higher, and collaboration isn’t as seamless as in tools like Figma. If your focus is rapid iteration, simple UI flows, or team-wide access, you might be better off with something lighter. As with any tool, it comes down to the project.

FigJam

FigJam is another tool designers rely on and it’s a whiteboard tool that gets the job done, especially if you're already using Figma. It’s clean, fast, and easy to use, with a great library of templates and just enough features to keep your team moving. The best part? It feels familiar and fits right into your design workflow without a learning curve.

That said, FigJam isn’t the most powerful tool out there. It doesn’t have the depth of more complex platforms, and it can run into some performance hiccups on large boards. Plus, if you’re watching your team’s budget or need offline access, you might want to look around.

For design teams already working in Figma, FigJam is a natural fit. It’s great for quick workshops, mapping sessions, or just visualizing ideas together. But if your team needs more flexibility, there are other tools that might serve you better.

Miro

Miro is a game-changer when it comes to visual collaboration making it a great workflow tool for creative teams. It’s packed with features, built for real-time teamwork, and it integrates with just about everything. If you need a single place to organize ideas, flows, and feedback, Miro will deliver.

That said, it’s not the lightest or cheapest option. It depends on a stable internet connection, can feel heavy on performance with big boards, and takes a bit of time to learn. If you're just getting started or looking for a simple, low-cost solution, it might be more than you need.

Notion

Notion is one of the most flexible tools out there if you're looking to bring together your workflow. It's an all-in-one workspace that adapts to you, whether you're using it for note-taking, knowledge management, task tracking, or more. Everything is customizable, which means you can shape Notion into exactly what you need.

Whether you're documenting your design work, running team meetings, or organizing research, Notion can handle it. The only real limit is how you set it up.

Gmail

Gmail is one of the most widely adopted platforms for professional communication, and for good reason. It finds the right balance between credibility, security, organization, and seamless integration. When used within Google Workspace, Gmail supports custom domains, which instantly build trust and show professionalism.

Slack

Slack offers real-time communication without the formality of email. Messages are short, direct, and immediate, mirroring in-person conversations, and emojis and GIFs help convey tone, mood, and intent. Slack is an app that is on most designers' everyday toolkits list.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome stands out for its speed, security features, robust extension ecosystem, and seamless cross-device sync. It’s no surprise it’s the go-to browser for many users. But it’s not without downsides. Chrome is known for being a RAM-hungry app with a sizable disk footprint. Plus, its data collection practices raise privacy concerns, especially for users mindful of tracking and advertising.

If you value performance, flexibility, and ecosystem support, Chrome delivers. But if privacy or low system impact is your top priority, alternatives like Firefox or Chromium-based browsers with stricter defaults might be a better fit. Like most tools, it comes down to what matters most to you.

AI tools

There are a lot of AI tools out there right now, but we tend to stick with the ones that add real value to our workflow. Each AI tool serves a different purpose, from research to visuals, and when you use them intentionally, they can seriously boost both speed and creativity. Here are a few AI tools designers use every day:

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a powerful and flexible AI tool. It can really boost productivity and optimize workflows across your tasks. Designers use it for summarizing research, ideation, generating content, and speeding up those repetitive tasks. It's also great for image and asset creation, especially with its recent image generation update.

That said, it’s not perfect. Accuracy, privacy, and ethical use still need real attention. The key is to treat ChatGPT as a smart assistant, and not a replacement for your own judgment. Always double-check the outputs and be aware of what data you're sharing. It's important to use your own critical thinking to shape the final result. When you use it with purpose, ChatGPT becomes less of a shortcut and more of a creative partner.

Perplexity AI

If you do a lot of research, Perplexity AI is one of the best tools out there. It’s fast, accurate, and often gives more sourced, real-time answers than ChatGPT. We use it quite often, especially for deep research.

There’s a free version that works well for most use cases. But if you're running advanced queries, analyzing files, or working with images, the Pro plan is worth looking into. For designers who do a lot of desk research or competitive analysis, this one’s a game changer.

Midjourney

Midjourney is a powerful AI image generator, and probably the best choice if you're focused on visual storytelling or experimenting with style.

That said, it comes with some important limitations, especially for commercial use. The platform has ongoing concerns around copyright, ownership, and privacy, which may be deal breakers, depending on your use case.

Midjourney is a good fit if you're:

• A creative looking for high-quality, stylized imagery

• Need quick visual ideas or concept inspiration

• Don’t mind a subscription model

It might not be for you if:

• You need strict legal clarity and privacy for client work

• Have limited budget or only need occasional image generation

As with any AI tool, the key is to know what it's best at and what risks to watch out for. Use Midjourney for what it does well: fast, expressive visual output. Just make sure you're applying it with clear intent and ethical awareness.

If you wish to explore some of the most helpful and efficient AI tools for UI designers and their benefits, we have a blog article you can check out.

Mobbin

Mobbin is the next on the list of tools designers use every day and it’s most useful for design references, especially if you’re exploring user flows, studying real-world patterns, or just trying to avoid reinventing the wheel. It's filled with over 500,000 screens and 1,000 iOS, Android, and web apps (and new ones added weekly); it’s a goldmine for UI/UX inspiration.

That said, the subscription cost might be a barrier for casual users. But for teams and professionals who reference design patterns often, the time it saves easily justifies the price. If you often need fast, credible UI/UX inspiration, Mobbin is a solid investment.

Maze

With Maze, you can recruit the right participants, conduct research on your own, and analyze user insights that lead to real decisions. With built-in design tool integrations and AI-powered features, it is a solid option.

That said, Maze isn’t without its downsides. The pricing structure can be limiting for smaller teams, and the lower-tier plans come with real constraints.

Maze is best suited for teams that value speed and ease of use—and are okay working within its limits. If you’re running high-volume research or need deep customization, it may be worth comparing other tools. But if your goal is to quickly test concepts and gather directional feedback, Maze can be a powerful addition to your daily toolkit.

Video calls

Choosing the right video tool should depend on your team’s setup and needs:

• Google Meet: best for lightweight, browser-based meetings, especially if your team already uses Google Workspace. It’s simple, fast, and natively integrated.

• Zoom: ideal for larger-scale conferences or when you need more advanced features like breakout rooms, AI tools, and robust collaboration options.

• Microsoft Teams: best if your workflow lives inside Microsoft 365. It offers an all-in-one workspace with deep integration and enterprise-level security.

Always pick based on what fits your team’s workflow and not just the features list.

Calendar

For most businesses, Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar offer the strongest collaboration foundations, especially if your team already works within Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. They're reliable, well-integrated, and easy to share across time zones and teams making them an everyday tool for designers.

If you need more advanced features, like scheduling analytics, automated reminders, or client-facing booking pages, tools like Calendar or Calendly bring that extra layer of functionality.

The right calendar tool really comes down to what you set as a priority: seamless integration, client scheduling, customization, or UX. Choose the one that fits best with how your team works.

CleanShot X

CleanShot X is a very powerful, macOS-based tool for capturing, annotating, and sharing screenshots or screen recordings. It’s useful for anyone who relies on fast, polished visuals in their day-to-day work. CleanShot X has many benefits, such as seamless workflows, robust features, and a distraction-free interface.

But it’s not for everyone. The licensing model may feel pricey for casual users, and OCR support is missing from the basic plan.

If you’re someone who captures visual content often and values speed and clarity, CleanShot X is worth the investment. Just keep in mind—it’s macOS only. For more occasional use or OCR-heavy workflows, lighter or more specialized tools might be a better fit.

Wise

Wise is a go-to platform for affordable, transparent international money transfers and multi-currency account management. It’s fast, digital-first, and designed to keep fees low and exchange rates fair. All of that makes it especially popular with freelancers, remote workers, and global teams.

Wise is best for people and businesses prioritizing speed, transparency, and global flexibility. But if you need full-service banking or local support, you might want to pair it with a more traditional provider.

Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the most powerful writing assistants available. It's great for anyone who wants to write with more clarity, polish, and confidence. Grammarly Premium goes far beyond spell-check, offering real-time feedback on grammar, tone, engagement, and even full-sentence rewrites when needed.

One of its biggest strengths is cross-platform integration. Whether you're writing in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Outlook, or your browser, Grammarly helps you stay sharp and on-brand. That said, it’s not perfect. The free plan is limited, and the premium subscription can be pricey.

If you write often (emails, proposals, documentation, or even content), Grammarly can be a game changer. But if you’re a light user, it’s worth weighing those trade-offs first.

Music apps

Last but not least—most designers have a go-to music app running in the background while they work. For us, that’s Apple Music these days, although we used Spotify for a long time before making the switch. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key differences:

• Spotify offers a free, ad-supported plan, while Apple Music is entirely subscription-based. Paid plans (individual, student, family) are priced similarly across both platforms.

• Spotify works across just about everything—iOS, Android, web, and smart speakers. Apple Music is tightly integrated into the Apple ecosystem. It plays beautifully with Siri, syncs across your Apple devices, and supports high-quality formats like Lossless and Spatial Audio (especially on AirPods).

Choose Spotify if you want a solid free tier, top-notch personalization, and the best cross-platform support. Choose Apple Music if you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem and care about audio quality, device syncing, and seamless native integration. Either way, pick the one that keeps you in the flow.

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