Head-to-head · Graphic Design Software
Adobe InDesign vs Xara Designer Pro+
Adobe InDesign leads on 0 checks, Xara Designer Pro+ on 1, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreAdobe InDesign · 8.1/10
- Free trialboth
Adobe InDesign scores higher on our rubric for graphic design software: 8.1 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #13 and #20.
Xara Designer Pro+ offers illustration tools; Adobe InDesign doesn't.
Adobe InDesign is the better fit for professional page-layout production. Xara Designer Pro+ is the better fit for windows users needing an all-in-one design app.
- Adobe InDesign fits best
Professional page-layout production
- Xara Designer Pro+ fits best
Windows users needing an all-in-one design app
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Side by side
| Feature | Adobe InDesign 8.1/10 Visit ↗ | Xara Designer Pro+ 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #13 in Graphic Design Software | #20 in Graphic Design Software |
| Best for | Professional page-layout production | Windows users needing an all-in-one design app |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | $16/user/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | 14 days |
| Free trial length | 7 days | 14 days |
| Deployment | Desktop, Cloud | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Integrations | 5 integrations | 3 integrations |
| Features Adobe InDesign 4/7 · Xara Designer Pro+ 4/7 | ||
| Template library | ✓ | ✓ |
| Presentation design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Illustration tools | — | ✓ (best) |
| Brand kit | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Real-time collaboration | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Desktop app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | — | — |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Adobe InDesign is a professional page-layout and desktop-publishing application for creating brochures, digital magazines, books, eBooks, posters, presentations, advertisements, and other print or digital materials. It is suited to… Read the review → |
Xara Designer Pro+ is a Windows desktop application for designers, marketers and businesses that need multiple creative tools in one product. It covers vector illustration, desktop publishing, page layout, photo editing, PDF editing, web… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Adobe InDesign — where it wins
- Strong multipage layout and page/spread management
- Print preflight, PDF workflows, and Data Merge
- Deep Adobe Creative Cloud integration
Where it doesn't
- No free plan and a paid-only model
- Available on Windows and macOS only
- Narrower focus than an all-purpose graphic design tool
Xara Designer Pro+ — where it wins
- Combines vector illustration, publishing, photo editing and PDF editing
- Includes a no-code website builder and Adobe-compatible importing
- Provides 3,000+ templates and photo filters through Xara Elements
Where it doesn't
- Available for Windows desktop only
- No free plan; paid access starts at $16 per user per month
- No mobile app or documented real-time collaboration for Designer Pro+
- Adobe InDesign8.1/10 · 7-day trial
A focused choice for multipage layouts, typography, preflight, and PDF workflows.
Visit Adobe InDesignFull verdict → - Xara Designer Pro+7.4/10 · 14-day trial
A broad Windows design suite combining illustration, publishing, photo editing and web tools.
Visit XaraFull verdict →
All graphic design software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update