The Best Apps to Help You Design in 2026
Taken from a survey of over 45 working designers.
Half the battle of doing good design is having the right tools at hand. Ask ten designers what they use and you will probably get fifteen different answers. Figma vs Penpot. Adobe vs Affinity. v0 vs Lovable. The list never ends.
That is exactly why this article exists.
Based on a survey of over 45 working designers across product, UX, UI, and many other design roles, this is a curated list of the apps designers actually rely on to help them design. Tools that consistently show up in real workflows.
1. Figma
Figma is a browser-based design and prototyping tool built for collaboration. It is most commonly used for designing interfaces for websites and mobile apps, but its real strength lies in how easily teams can work together in real time.
Design, prototype, comment, iterate. All in one place.
My opinion
It is no surprise that Figma sits at number one. Nearly 90 percent of the designers surveyed mentioned it as a core part of their toolkit, myself included.
That said, my relationship with Figma has shifted. I still rely on it heavily, but more for documentation, flows, and alignment rather than designing user interfaces.
With the popularity of rapid prototyping tools and AI-assisted workflows, Figma is less about designing pixel perfect wireframes and more about shared documentation. It will be interesting to see how that balance evolves through the rest of 2026.
Designers that use it
- Pascal Strasché uses Figma to design and create prototypes.
- Elena Molinari from exploring ideas to designing wireframes. Figma is her go-to for all things design.
- Sofia Joelson recommends learning Figma as early as possible.
2. ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI assistant that helps with research, writing, problem solving, and ideation. While not a design tool in the traditional sense, it has become deeply embedded in many designers’ workflows.
My opinion
If you are not incorporating AI into your workflow yet, now is the time.
I rarely use ChatGPT to generate visuals or mockups. Instead, it shines when researching best practices, testing ideas, cleaning up code, and improving copy. It is particularly useful when you need 'someone' to bounce ideas off.
Used thoughtfully, it does not replace design thinking. It accelerates it.
Designers that use it
- Joshua Galinato uses ChatGPT as a thinking partner to refine UX copy, explore ideas, and help with technical or strategic decisions.
- Elisa Paduraru uses AI to help with brainstorming.
- Meghan Martin uses ChatGPT as a thought partner.
3. Notion
Notion is an all-in-one workspace for notes, documentation, planning, and organisation. It is flexible enough to adapt to almost any workflow.
My opinion
Good design is hard without good organisation. This is where Notion earns its place.
I use it for meeting notes, project tracking, and documenting decisions. Others use it as a CRM, a sprint planner, or even a lightweight CMS. There is no single right way to use Notion, which is both its strength and its weakness.
Once you shape it around your needs, it becomes difficult to live without.
Designers that use it
- Amalie Mørch uses Notion to track project progress and keep notes.
- Florian Bölter spends more time in Notion than in Figma.
- Martin Agubata uses Notion to jot down insights and organise thoughts.
4. Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator is a vector-based design tool used for creating logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
My opinion
I use Illustrator far less than I used to. For interface design, most shapes are simple and handled easily in other tools like Figma.
But when it comes to logo design, detailed vector work, or anything that needs precise control, Illustrator is still unmatched. It remains the right tool for the job when complexity increases.
Designers that use it
- Krunal Moliya uses Illustrator to design logos, icons, and illustrations.
- Nizar Frank Talovic relies on Illustrator for specific icon/illustration fixes
- Shannel Wheeler uses Illustrator across all her projects.
5. Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is an image editing and manipulation tool that has been around for decades.
My opinion
Much like Illustrator, Photoshop is no longer central to my daily workflow. Interface design has reduced the need for heavy image manipulation.
That said, many designers work outside of product and UI design. Photography, marketing assets, and compositing are still very much Photoshop territory.
It remains a specialist tool rather than a general one.
Designers that use it
- Igor Dinuzzi uses Photoshop for designing quick layouts.
- Elisa Paduraru uses Photoshop as a complementary tool.
- Krunal Moliya uses Photoshop for image editing and manipulation.
6. Slack
Slack is a communication platform used by teams to collaborate through channels and direct messages.
My opinion
Design does not happen in isolation. Communication is a core part of the job.
Slack is where alignment happens, feedback is shared, and decisions are documented. Love it or hate it, it is where much of the real work takes place.
Clear communication often matters more than perfect visuals.
Designers that use it
7. Adobe After Effects
After Effects is a motion graphics and animation tool used for creating animations, transitions, and visual effects.
My opinion
I do not use After Effects regularly, but when motion is required, it is hard to beat. Animating interfaces, explaining interactions, or creating polished demos all benefit from motion.
There is a steep learning curve, but the payoff is significant once you get comfortable.
Designers that use it
- Xinyue Gu uses After Effects to focus on compositing.
- Craig Hansen uses After Effects for client compatibility.
- Amalie Mørch uses After Effects to create motion graphics and short animations
8. Cursor
Cursor is an AI-powered code editor designed to make working with code faster and more approachable.
My opinion
Tools like Cursor highlight a growing shift. Designers do not need to be developers, but understanding code is becoming increasingly valuable.
I personally rely on ChatGPT to help clean up my code, but Cursor is a compelling option that I will explore.
Designers that use it
- Alex Sviryda uses Cursor to vibe code.
- Raphael Diftopoulos uses Cursor to speed up exploration and automation.
- Laurel Beyers uses Cursor to vibe code prototypes.
9. Claude
Claude is another AI assistant, similar in spirit to ChatGPT, with strengths in reasoning and long-form content.
My opinion
I personally haven't used Claude, mainly because I am already invested in ChatGPT. That said, many designers prefer having multiple AI tools for different types of thinking.
As AI tools continue to evolve, personal preference will play a bigger role.
Designers that use it
- Elisa Paduraru uses Claude for back-and-forth ideation.
- Sofia Mateo Ortega uses Claude as a sparring partner.
- Linus Rogge uses Claude Code in his workflows.
10. Mobbin
Mobbin is a library of real app screens from popular products, organised for easy browsing and reference.
My opinion
Inspiration matters. Mobbin shortens the gap between being stuck and moving forward.
When I am unsure how to approach a specific flow, onboarding, or interaction, Mobbin is often the first place I look. Seeing how real products solve real problems helps ground decisions in reality rather than theory.
Designers that use it
Final thoughts
No single tool will make you a great designer. Tools change. Fundamentals last.
The best designers I know are less focused on what is shiny and more focused on what helps them think clearly, collaborate effectively, and ship meaningful work.
Use this list as a starting point. Experiment. Drop what does not serve you. Keep what does.
And remember, the tool is never the work. It is just there to support it.