With the increasing popularity of iPads among creative professionals and the device's capabilities now rivaling many laptops — especially with Apple Pencil support and desktop-class processors — it’s surprising that a leading design platform like Figma hasn't released a fully functional iPad app.
Is this a matter of strategic prioritization, where Figma believes the current user base doesn’t demand it strongly enough to justify development resources? Or is it due to technical limitations, perhaps stemming from the complexities of maintaining feature parity with the desktop/web version on iPadOS?
Alternatively, is Figma's vision more aligned with a cloud-first, desktop-class browser experience, where portability across devices takes a backseat to collaborative infrastructure? If so, does this approach overlook the rising trend of mobile-first or tablet-based design workflows?
It would be insightful to understand if Figma simply hasn't seen enough ROI or user behavior validation to greenlight this move — or if it’s something they are actively working on but facing internal or external roadblocks. Adobe has made strides in this area with apps like Adobe Fresco and Illustrator on iPad — is Figma not interested in competing directly on that front, or are they intentionally waiting for a tipping point?
In short, is the absence of a native Figma iPad app a matter of lack of interest, inability, or deliberate design strategy?
