Choosing between Figma and Shopify? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your design and frontend needs.
Irvin Zhan
•
2025-01-13
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital tools, choosing the right platform can be a game-changer. This article delves into a detailed comparison between Figma and Shopify, examining their features, pricing, and limitations.
Whether you're a designer or an e-commerce entrepreneur, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these platforms can help you make an informed decision. Let's explore what each has to offer.
Overview of Figma and Shopify
What is Figma?
Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that helps design and development teams build products together. It allows for designing, prototyping, and refining products in one shared design file, facilitating seamless collaboration among team members.
Figma's main features include designing and prototyping within a single platform, using a digital whiteboard for team collaboration, and converting designs into code efficiently. It also supports real-time collaboration, is accessible on multiple devices, and integrates with various tools to enhance workflow.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a commerce platform that enables users to start, grow, and manage their businesses. It provides tools to create online stores, manage sales both online and offline, market products, and handle various business operations.
Main features of Shopify include a customizable online store editor, multichannel selling capabilities, and integrated marketing tools. Additionally, it offers comprehensive analytics, inventory management, and 24/7 customer support.
Features of Figma & Shopify
Similarities
Figma and Shopify share several key features that make them valuable tools for their respective audiences.
Collaboration Tools: Both platforms offer robust collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work together in real-time.
AI Integration: Each platform leverages AI to enhance user experience—Figma for design automation and Shopify for business insights.
Customizable Interfaces: Users can customize their workspaces extensively, whether it's designing a prototype in Figma or setting up an online store in Shopify.
Multi-Device Accessibility: Both tools are accessible across various devices, ensuring flexibility and convenience for users on the go.
Extensive Integration Options: They integrate with numerous third-party applications, enhancing their functionality and user experience.
Differences
Here are the biggest differences in features between Figma and Shopify:
Design and Prototyping: Figma focuses on design and prototyping tools, allowing users to create and refine digital interfaces. Shopify does not offer these capabilities.
E-commerce Solutions: Shopify provides comprehensive e-commerce solutions, including online store creation, payment processing, and inventory management. Figma does not support e-commerce functionalities.
Real-Time Collaboration: Figma excels in real-time collaboration for design teams, enabling multiple users to work on the same file simultaneously. Shopify lacks this level of collaborative design features.
Point of Sale (POS) Systems: Shopify offers integrated POS systems for in-person sales, which is not a feature available in Figma.
Marketing and SEO Tools: Shopify includes built-in marketing and SEO tools to help businesses grow their online presence. Figma does not provide marketing or SEO functionalities.
Pricing of Figma & Shopify
Figma Pricing
Figma offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different team needs and sizes.
Starter Team: Free
Figma editor
3 collaborative design files
Unlimited personal drafts
Basic file inspection
Professional Team: $15 per full seat per month (Save 20% when billed annually)
Everything in Starter, plus:
Unlimited Figma files
Team libraries
Advanced prototyping
View annotations
Advanced inspection
VS Code extension
Unlimited version history
Shared and private projects
Organization: $45 per full seat per month (or $25 per month for Dev Mode only, billed annually)
Everything in Professional, plus:
Org-wide libraries
Design system analytics
Branching and merging
Private plugins
Centralized file management
Unified admin and billing
Single sign-on
Enterprise: $75 per full seat per month (or $35 per month for Dev Mode only, billed annually)
Everything in Organization, plus:
Advanced design system theming
Sync variables to code via REST API
Default libraries by workspace
Set default code language
Pin and auto-run plugins
Dedicated workspaces for teams
Guest access controls
Seat management via SCIM
Idle session timeout
Advanced link sharing controls
Shopify Pricing
Shopify offers a variety of pricing plans to cater to different business needs and sizes. Here is a summary of the available plans:
Basic Plan: $39 USD/month (or $29 USD/month when billed annually)
Full-featured online store
Unlimited products
2 staff accounts
24/7 live chat support
10 inventory locations
Up to 77% shipping discount
2.9% + 30¢ online standard card rates
2% third-party transaction fee
Shopify Plan: $105 USD/month (or $79 USD/month when billed annually)
Full-featured online store
Unlimited products
5 staff accounts
24/7 live chat support
10 inventory locations
Up to 88% shipping discount
2.7% + 30¢ online standard card rates
1% third-party transaction fee
Advanced Plan: $399 USD/month (or $299 USD/month when billed annually)
Full-featured online store
Unlimited products
15 staff accounts
Enhanced live chat support
10 inventory locations
Up to 88% shipping discount
2.5% + 30¢ online standard card rates
0.6% third-party transaction fee
Plus Plan: Starting at $2,300 USD/month on a 3-year term
Full-featured online store
Unlimited products
Unlimited staff accounts
Priority support by phone or live chat
200 inventory locations
Up to 88% shipping discount
Most competitive card rates
0.2% third-party transaction fee
Additional exclusive features like checkout extensibility, B2B on Shopify, Shopify Audiences, and more
Starter Plan: $5 USD/month
Sell instantly through social media and messaging apps or a simple online store
Retail Plan: $89 USD/month
In-person selling tools with advanced staff, inventory, and loyalty features
Enterprise Commerce: Custom pricing (available upon request)
Custom pricing and features tailored for enterprise organizations
Reviews of Figma & Shopify
Figma Reviews
Overall, users have given Figma a rating of 4.5 out of 5. While many appreciate its collaborative features, some find the learning curve and occasional performance issues frustrating.
"Figma is powerful but can be overwhelming for new users. The interface isn't always intuitive, which can slow down the design process." - Alex, 3.5/5
"Performance can lag with complex projects, making it difficult to work efficiently. It needs better optimization for large files." - Jamie, 3/5
Shopify Reviews
Overall, users have given Shopify a rating of 3.8 out of 5. While many appreciate its comprehensive e-commerce tools, some find the platform's pricing and customization options frustrating.
"The pricing structure is confusing and can get expensive quickly, especially with add-ons." - Jordan, 3/5
"Customization is limited unless you know how to code, which can be a barrier for small business owners." - Taylor, 2.5/5
Subframe, a Better Alternative to Figma and Shopify
Subframe is a code-first design tool that enables users to build user interfaces quickly and efficiently using a drag-and-drop visual editor. It generates high-quality front-end code in React and Tailwind CSS, making it a favorite among both designers and developers for its intuitive, responsive canvas and seamless real-time collaboration capabilities.
Pros of Subframe
Subframe stands out as a unique design tool that combines the best of both worlds for designers and developers.
Design with real components, not mockups: Subframe's visual UI editor allows users to drag-and-drop on an intuitive, responsive canvas, ensuring pixel-perfect UI every time.
Stunning UI templates, personalized to you: With templates inspired by world-class products and built with reusable components, Subframe ensures you never start from scratch again.
Skip handoff, get high-quality code: Subframe generates high-quality front-end code in React and Tailwind CSS, allowing you to copy and paste directly into your codebase and focus on adding business logic.
Start building UI visually for free: Subframe offers a free plan with no credit card required, making it accessible for anyone to start designing immediately.
Real-time collaboration: Subframe supports seamless real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work together on the same project simultaneously.
Subframe's Pricing
At Subframe, we offer a range of pricing options to suit different needs:
Free Plan: $0 per user/month
1 project
Up to 3 page designs
Up to 3 team members
200+ UI templates & snippets
Pro Plan: $29 per user/month
Up to 3 projects
Unlimited page designs
Unlimited team members
Custom components
200+ UI templates & snippets
Custom Plan: Price is negotiable ("Let's talk")
Unlimited projects
Unlimited page designs
Custom fonts
Integrate your own components
Dedicated Slack support
Figma plugin
For more details, visit our Subframe Pricing page. Ready to take the next step? Book a demo with us today!
What Are Others Saying?
Users have given Subframe an overall rating of 5 out of 5. They particularly appreciate its ease of use, time-saving features, and the ability to quickly build and ship quality UI.
"I love how easy this is to get started, especially with templates." - Dakota
"Turning ideas into code is one of the most critical tasks I've ever had. Subframe is super useful and user-friendly." - Germán Merlo
"Finally something that's not just a mockup. Would give you 5 upvotes, if I could!" - Aris Nakos
Why Choose Figma, Shopify or Subframe?
If you're a designer or part of a design team, you might prefer Figma over Shopify. Figma's robust design and prototyping tools, along with its real-time collaboration features, make it ideal for creating and refining digital interfaces.
On the other hand, if you're an entrepreneur or a business owner looking to start or grow an online store, Shopify is the better choice. Its comprehensive suite of e-commerce tools, including inventory management, marketing, and sales solutions, provides everything you need to manage your business effectively.
As part of Subframe, we believe you might want to choose Subframe over Shopify and Figma if you're looking for a code-first design tool that generates high-quality front-end code. Subframe is perfect for developers and design teams who need to build and ship quality UI quickly, with the added benefit of real-time collaboration and a drag-and-drop visual editor.
Figma, Shopify, or Subframe: Which is The Best Tool For You?
Choosing between Figma, Shopify, and Subframe ultimately depends on your specific needs. Figma excels in design and prototyping, making it a go-to for design teams. Shopify offers a comprehensive suite of e-commerce tools, perfect for entrepreneurs looking to manage and grow their online stores.
However, if you're looking for a code-first design tool that bridges the gap between design and development, Subframe is an excellent choice. With its intuitive drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and high-quality front-end code generation, Subframe stands out as a versatile and efficient tool for both designers and developers. We recommend giving Subframe a try to experience its unique benefits firsthand.
Join thousands of happy builders.
Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.
