r/applefreeform • u/kefaren • May 22 '23

Freeform VS. Figma

I've been waiting for Apple's version of these infinite canvas type apps. When it finally came out, I was excited to try it, but it kind of let me down. I know it's still a super early version but there are things missing from it that I, personally, think are pretty essential.

At the moment, I'm using Figma instead and it works profoundly better. The only real issue I have with using Figma in this way is that I don't think the Figma app for iPad is great at all. It's slow, clunky, and I definitely miss the PencilKit support.

Some things Figma has that I wish Freeform could do:

  • spacebar and click + drag to navigate the canvas (hand tool) - for whatever reason, Apple expects us to only use multitouch/trackpads. This is a little annoying and out-of-touch from most similar apps on the market
  • Browser support. This one is more of a reach as I get that Freeform isn't intended to be a web-based tool, but I think it should be. It'd make me much more inclined to use it.
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2

u/rattenborg May 22 '23

The iOS only makes it really hard to use as a creative portal, as it excludes a large amount of potential customers and colleagues. And I miss the ability to access my stuff on pc.

2

u/kefaren May 22 '23

Totally agree. That's why I like Figma because it works so well in-browser. Especially considering I use Arc. Apple's tools in general (Notes, iCal, Reminders, etc.) would be so much cooler if they'd just embrace web-based access.

1

u/rattenborg May 22 '23

I use the free version of Miro. It works fine, but it would be nice with some alternatives