IndesignPerfect

The release of real-time collaboration features in Adobe InDesign (Beta) has sparked a big question in the design world:

Can InDesign finally match the live, multiplayer experience that tools like Figma have dominated for years?

Let’s compare how the two platforms handle collaboration, and what InDesign still needs to do to become a serious player in this space.

🟦 Figma Set the Bar

Figma was built from the ground up for cloud-based, collaborative design:

• Multiple users can design at once—with live cursors.
• Edits sync instantly, with no need to save or export.
• Built-in commenting, versioning, and dev handoff.
• Platform-independent (works in any browser).

Figma’s secret weapon? No install, no save button, no friction.

🟥 InDesign’s Traditional Workflow

Until recently, Adobe InDesign was deeply rooted in a desktop-based workflow:

• Files saved locally or via shared drives.
• Only one person could realistically work at a time.
• Collaboration happened through exported PDFs, not live files.
• Commenting required Acrobat or third-party tools.

The lack of real-time teamwork slowed down editorial and marketing teams using InDesign.

🔄 What the New InDesign Beta Offers

Adobe’s Beta collaboration features now let multiple users:

• Open and co-edit the same cloud-based .indd file.
• See live changes in layout, text, and styles.
• Identify who is in the file via avatar indicators.
• Use locking mechanisms to avoid conflicts.

It’s the first serious step toward a cloud-first InDesign.

⚖️ Feature Comparison: Figma vs InDesign Beta

Feature	Figma	InDesign (Beta)
Browser-based access	✅ Yes	❌ No (desktop app only)
Real-time co-editing	✅ Full	⚠️ Beta (limited)
Live cursors	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Version history	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Comments & replies	✅ Native	❌ Not built-in
Developer handoff tools	✅ Built-in	❌ External only
Team libraries & tokens	✅ Yes	⚠️ Limited (via CC Libraries)
Plugin ecosystem	✅ Huge	✅ Growing
Offline fallback	⚠️ Limited	✅ Yes (once synced)

🧠 Where InDesign Still Falls Behind

While the beta features are promising, InDesign has some catching up to do:

• Requires desktop install — no browser access.
• No built-in comment system — reviewers still need PDFs.
• No shared whiteboarding or layout exploration.
• Not yet ideal for rapid iteration across teams.

✅ Where InDesign Still Wins

Despite Figma’s dominance in UI and product design, InDesign excels in:

• Print and long-form layout (magazines, books).
• Typography and typesetting.
• Complex multi-page projects.
• PDF publishing workflows.

For professional publishers, InDesign is still the gold standard.

🛠️ What Adobe Needs to Do Next

To compete with Figma in the collaboration space, Adobe should:

1. Launch a browser-based InDesign (like Photoshop Web).
2. Add in-app commenting and suggestions.
3. Create real-time preview mode for stakeholders.
4. Improve sync speed and reliability for cloud documents.
5. Integrate Firefly AI tools for co-creation workflows.

💡 Conclusion

InDesign’s real-time collaboration beta is a huge step forward—but it’s only the beginning.

Figma still leads in speed, simplicity, and teamwork. But Adobe is finally moving in the right direction. The next few updates will determine whether InDesign can truly become a multiplayer platform—or whether it stays a solo tool in a collaborative world.