Top 10 UX Tools We Use and Recommend (From Real Project Experience)

Let’s be honest — the world of UX tools can feel overwhelming.Every week there’s a new “must-have” tool promising to make your designs faster, smarter, better.

But here’s the truth:It’s not about how many tools you use — it’s about using the right ones well.

As a team that lives and breathes design (sometimes even dreams about wireframes — yes, seriously), we’ve narrowed down the top 10 UX tools that we actually use — not just tools that sound cool on LinkedIn posts.

These have made our design process smoother, clearer, and more enjoyable.So if you’re wondering what to keep in your UX toolbox — here’s what we genuinely recommend.

1. Figma — Our Design HQ

If you’re not using Figma yet... why?This is where 90% of our design magic happens — from wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes.

• Real-time collaboration

• Tons of plugins

• Works perfectly in the browser

It’s like Google Docs, but for design — and we’re obsessed.

2. FigJam — For Messy Brainstorms

Before anything pretty happens in Figma, things get chaotic in FigJam.Mind maps, crazy flows, early-stage sketches — this is where ideas flow freely.

It feels like a whiteboard with sticky notes, but without the awkward markers running out of ink.

3. Notion — Keeping Our Sanity Intact

Notion isn’t a design tool, but it’s a design process tool.

We use it for:

• User research docs

• UX copy drafts

• Design guidelines

• Feedback tracking

  
  

It's simple, clean, and keeps our design team (mostly) organised.

4. Loom — For Quick Walkthroughs

Explaining a design is often easier when you just... talk and show.Loom lets us record short videos where we walk through prototypes and explain design decisions — perfect for async teams or clients who are tired of long PDFs.

5. Miro — For Collaborative Workshops

User journey mapping? Team brainstorming? Design sprints?

Miro is our go-to for everything that feels like a workshop.The best part? Clients can jump in and add their thoughts in real-time.

6. Maze — For User Testing

What good is a design if it’s not tested by real users?

We run quick usability tests and surveys using Maze — no need for complex setup or heavy tools.Just share a link and get insights. Fast.

7. Adobe Illustrator — For The Extra Polish

Yes, Figma does a lot. But when we want to craft those perfect icons or custom illustrations, Illustrator is still our friend.(Old habits die hard — and for vector perfection, it’s unbeatable.)

8. Stark — For Accessibility Checks

Designing pretty stuff is great. Designing inclusive, usable stuff is better.

Stark (a Figma plugin) helps us check contrast ratios, simulate color blindness, and make sure our designs work for everyone.

9. Zeplin — For Developer Handoffs

While Figma is improving handoffs, Zeplin still saves the day when things get detailed and dev teams need clean specs.It reduces the endless “Can you send me the padding details again?” messages.

10. Google Forms — For Quick User Surveys

Simple. Old-school. Still works.

When we need fast feedback from users — especially during the discovery phase — Google Forms gets the job done without fuss.

A Few Honorable Mentions

• Overflow (for flow diagrams)

• UXtweak (for usability studies)

• Whimsical (for fast wireframing)

  
  

We don’t use these every day — but they pop up when needed.

Final Thoughts: Less Tool-Hopping, More Designing

Here’s the thing: No tool replaces thinking deeply about the user. No shiny plugin solves bad UX.

These tools help us work better — but they don’t do the work for us.That’s still about empathy, creativity, and curiosity.

So choose tools that fit your flow, not because they’re trending.

And if you’re starting out? Figma + Notion + Maze = a great foundation.