I really enjoy collaborating with my colleagues using cloud services – Zeplin and Invision. Both of them help share designs, style guides and assets with developers, in a fast end easy way. Designs can be uploaded to these services through plugins for Photoshop or Sketch. Adobe XD also has the plugin option for Zeplin but only for Mac users.
InVision app
I remember the time before applications like these appeared and I really appreciate how they improve the workflow. Nowadays developers don’t have to worry about an object dimension in dp or the hex of the color used in the background and designers don’t have to slice the assets and create huge project documentation.
Below I prepared a comparison of Zeplin and Invision, which I hope, helps you choose the best tool for you.
| InVision | Zeplin | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing design specifications | Yes | Yes |
| Sharing style guides | Yes | Yes |
| Sharing assets with the developers | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes, but only for one project | Yes, but only for one project |
| Desktop app | No | Yes (Mac and Windows) |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
| Adding comments to the project | Yes | Yes |
| Inspect mode | Yes | Yes |
| Version control | Yes | No |
| Creating clickable prototypes | Yes | No, but you can export your artboards with links from Sketch to Zeplin, these links will be clickable in Zeplin as well. |
| Social share | Yes | Yes |
| Workflow dashboard | Yes | No |
| Activity stream (tracking the progress of your projects) | Yes | No |
| Adding to slack | Yes | Yes |
| User workflow | Yes | No |
| User tour mode | Yes | No |
Coming to the difference.
Invision provides a few additional features of creating clickable screens, dashboard with project workflow and activity. They also provide the ability to explore ideas in real time by drawing and typing on a design using Freehand.
Invision allows downloading mobile app and test designed screens with users with Invison mobile app installed on the phone.
Designers who use Zeplin will need the desktop app but developers can access everything they need via the free web app. Invision provides a web app for designers and developers.
Zeplin inspect mode
As you see Zeplin has fewer features than Invision, but I really like this app and if it comes to sharing a design with developers it is pretty easy to explain to someone new how the app works.
InVision offers more features, which are really useful when you want to manage a project in a team. It helps to present design to stakeholders, get feedback quickly and iterate designs. I really like Tour Points, which helps guide through the project and explain some of the design decision.
The Tours feature lets you walk your users through your prototype
