As the digital landscape evolves, so does the demand for Mac compatible innovative UX/UI design tools.
For Mac users, there’s a huge range of tailor-made software that makes creating user experiences easier than ever.
Whether you’re designing a sleek mobile app or a complex website, the tools we looked at here cater for both beginners and seasoned professionals.
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How We Chose These UX/UI Apps
We kept it very simple when shortlisting these UX apps:
- Ideally it should have a Mac desktop app so that it can be used offline not just in the Cloud
- It has to be capable of professional UX design
- It had to have good user ratings
With this in mind, here’s our look at the best UX/UI software for Macs in 2025.
| App | Best For | Pricing |
|---|
| Sketch | UI/UX design | $120/year or $12/month (subscription) / $120 one-time for individuals |
| Figma | UI/UX design, team collaboration | Free / $12-$45/month (Pro & Org plans) |
| Framer | Interactive prototypes, code-based design | Free / $5-$30/month (Pro & Teams) |
| Affinity Designer | Graphic design | $69.99 one-time |
| Principle | Motion design, UI animations | $129 one-time |
| UXPin | UI/UX design, design-to-code workflows | $6-$119/month (various plans) |
1. Sketch
Why it’s still relevant in 2025: Sketch continues to be the go-to tool for many Mac users, and it’s constantly moving with times.
One of the reasons Sketch remains a favorite is its lightweight performance on macOS and its focus on UI design.
While newer tools have entered the market, Sketch’s superb plugins, compatibility with other design tools, and collaborative features like Sketch Cloud, make it hard to beat.
New in 2025: Sketch has been improved in recent releases to help designers focus on accessibility and user-centric design.
It now provides built-in tools that assist in creating more inclusive designs, with subtle suggestions to help less experienced users.
2. Figma
Why it’s a game-changer: Figma has risen to the top thanks to its excellent real-time collaboration, making it an excellent choice for teams.
Figma runs smoothly in any browser which makes it easy to collaborate across multiple devices. There’s no Mac desktop app unfortunately although Figma is so good at what it does, this isn’t a deal breaker for us.
New in 2025: Figma has introduced new features that make it easier to optimize designs for user engagement.
These include performance insights and design analytics that help guide decisions to make more intuitive, user-friendly interfaces.
3. Framer
Why it’s a must-have for Mac users: Framer has made a name for itself as one of the best tools for prototyping interactive experiences.
Unlike some of the more static design tools, Framer allows you to create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes that feel as close to the real thing as possible.
Framer is especially good at handling advanced animations and interactions without needing to write a single line of code.
New in 2025: Framer now makes animations and transitions easier, with smart tools that anticipate how users interact and help designers visualize how users will navigate through their products.
4. Affinity Designer
Why it’s worth considering: Affinity Designer is often touted as a powerful graphic design software for Macs, and its popularity continues to grow.
While it’s not as feature-packed as some of the more UX/UI-specific tools, Affinity Designer’s vector design capabilities make it an excellent choice for UI designers who need a powerful tool for creating intricate graphics and interfaces.
New in 2025: Affinity Designer now offers expanded collaboration features that allow multiple designers to work on the same project seamlessly.
It also includes enhanced integration with 3D design tools, which is especially useful for those working on futuristic UI elements or immersive experiences.
5. Principle
Why it’s perfect for animation: If you’re looking to create stunning animations for your UI, Principle is the tool to have in your toolkit.
While it might not be the first tool you think of for traditional UX design, Principle excels at adding that extra layer of polish with micro-interactions and complex animations that can bring your designs to life.
New in 2025: Principle has improved its interface to make working with animations smoother and more flexible.
This year’s updates focus on streamlining the process of refining animations, letting designers quickly iterate on different interaction styles without having to jump between tools.
6. UXPin
Why it’s unique: UXPin offers something a little different by focusing heavily on design systems and code-based prototypes.
This means that what you design in UXPin can be translated directly into code, making the handoff between design and development much smoother.
For Mac users who need to collaborate closely with developers, UXPin is an excellent tool to link teams together.
New in 2025: UXPin’s design systems have been expanded to make team collaboration easier, with a focus on unifying branding and user experience across large-scale projects.
It also now offers better tools to go from design to development, letting you export ready-to-use code snippets.
What About Adobe XD?
The standalone version of Adobe XD has been discontinued and can no longer be purchased separately although it can be used as part of Creative Cloud.
Why it remains a top choice: Adobe XD has been further integrated into Adobe Creative Cloud fr closer integration with Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, aiming it at those who want a one-stop shop for design and prototyping.
New in 2025: Adobe XD’s latest updates focus on simplifying complex designs, with features that allow designers to test and refine user journeys more easily.
It also introduces better tools for voice and gesture-based interfaces, ensuring designers can experiment with emerging interaction patterns without sacrificing ease of use.
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