Adobe agrees to continue offering Figma's free plan if its takeover is approved
In an interview with Bloomberg, Scott Belsky, Adobe's Chief Product Officer, reassured worried Figma users that the acquisition of the online collaborative design platform won't change not its pricing model and ease of use. If you recall, Adobe announced in mid-September that it was buying Figma for around $20 billion in cash and stock. Users have understandably raised concerns about the merger, as Adobe's programs are quite expensive.
Belsky said in the interview that Figma will remain a "freemium" offering with a base tier available for free. Figma co-founder Dylan Field added that Adobe isn't planning any price increases and the platform will remain free for education. Adobe has of course planned changes for the platform, including the integration of features from its software portfolio, as well as its stock font and image library.
According to Belsky, however, any updates Adobe rolls out won't be distracting or difficult to navigate through the platform's interface. Perhaps more importantly for those who use Figma for collaborations, it will continue to allow file sharing at no additional cost - users won't have to sign up for a Creative Cloud subscription to work on the same document.
Adobe's suite of programs will also undergo changes due to the acquisition. The company plans to adopt Figma's collaborative features and may create multi-user web platforms for its programs. Adobe Express and Acrobat can also get their own versions of Figma's whiteboard and presentation features. “We would just amplify and continue and learn from the things that Figma has done to become a viral product in the company and around the world,” Belsky said.
There is one Adobe program that might not survive the acquisition: Adobe XD, Figma's direct competitor. The company has no immediate plans to remove the software, but it will "reevaluate where [it] wants to move [its] resources and focus" once Figma goes live. Both parties expect the deal to close in 2023, so long as it gets approval from regulators and shareholders.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Scott Belsky, Adobe's Chief Product Officer, reassured worried Figma users that the acquisition of the online collaborative design platform won't change not its pricing model and ease of use. If you recall, Adobe announced in mid-September that it was buying Figma for around $20 billion in cash and stock. Users have understandably raised concerns about the merger, as Adobe's programs are quite expensive.
Belsky said in the interview that Figma will remain a "freemium" offering with a base tier available for free. Figma co-founder Dylan Field added that Adobe isn't planning any price increases and the platform will remain free for education. Adobe has of course planned changes for the platform, including the integration of features from its software portfolio, as well as its stock font and image library.
According to Belsky, however, any updates Adobe rolls out won't be distracting or difficult to navigate through the platform's interface. Perhaps more importantly for those who use Figma for collaborations, it will continue to allow file sharing at no additional cost - users won't have to sign up for a Creative Cloud subscription to work on the same document.
Adobe's suite of programs will also undergo changes due to the acquisition. The company plans to adopt Figma's collaborative features and may create multi-user web platforms for its programs. Adobe Express and Acrobat can also get their own versions of Figma's whiteboard and presentation features. “We would just amplify and continue and learn from the things that Figma has done to become a viral product in the company and around the world,” Belsky said.
There is one Adobe program that might not survive the acquisition: Adobe XD, Figma's direct competitor. The company has no immediate plans to remove the software, but it will "reevaluate where [it] wants to move [its] resources and focus" once Figma goes live. Both parties expect the deal to close in 2023, so long as it gets approval from regulators and shareholders.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
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