5 best design handoff tools for simple design-to-code

Design handoff is the critical process of transferring designs to developers for implementation, requiring an effective tool to ensure seamless collaboration between the two parties. In 2023, several design handoff tools are prominent, including Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP, and Zeplin, each with unique features catering to different needs. Figma is praised for its integrated handoff capabilities within the app, allowing smooth UX design workflows and facilitating developer communication with built-in features like comments and live collaboration. Sketch and Adobe XD offer web-based handoff tools that translate designs primarily into CSS but lack the seamless integration found in Figma. Axure RP, although less commonly used, provides extensive prototyping features but is similar to Sketch and Adobe XD in handoff functionality. Zeplin stands out as a third-party tool supporting a wide range of coding languages beyond CSS and offers detailed annotations and user flow documentation, making it an excellent choice when additional translation support is needed. Ultimately, Figma is recommended for most scenarios due to its comprehensive features, while Zeplin serves as a valuable complementary tool for specific coding requirements.