Monday.com vs. Figma: Proven Steps to Choose the Best Tool for Project Management and Collaboration in 2026
In today’s fast-paced startup ecosystem, effective project management and seamless collaboration are the foundation of success. The market is flooded with tools promising unmatched efficiency, making it a tough choice for business founders, marketing teams, and SMEs in 2026. Among the top contenders have consistently been Monday.com and Figma, two powerhouse platforms with distinctive features.
Are you struggling to identify which tool offers more value for your business needs? This in-depth guide provides a head-to-head comparison of Monday.com and Figma, highlighting their unique strengths and helping you make an informed decision, especially if you’re growing a startup or a small business. Take a deep dive into their features, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for making the best choice for effective collaboration.
Why the Right Tool Matters
In 2026’s startup ecosystem, building your product is no longer the hardest part, it’s marketing and reaching your audience. But here’s the trap: many entrepreneurs jump into execution before validating and organizing their workflow. A solid project management tool helps you focus on priorities, validate faster, and scale efficiently. The choice between Monday.com and Figma is not just about preferences but about aligning with your business goals.
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Monday.com: The Productivity Powerhouse
Key Features
Monday.com is purpose-built for general project management needs and stands out for its flexibility. Designed to cater to companies and agile teams, it earns praise for its:
Colorful and custom dashboards: Visualize task stages, pan-focusing on details like deadlines and progress.
Kanban boards and Gantt charts: Manage timelines and dependencies effortlessly.
Automations: Simplify sending reminders or tracking task completion without manual follow-ups.
Benefits for Startups and SMEs
For startups with small teams and limited bandwidth, Monday.com’s intuitive design makes onboarding quicker. In addition, its scalability makes it a favorite across industries, from tech startups to creative agencies.
Use Case: Marketing Teams
Marketing often comes with sprawling campaigns and multiple dependencies. Monday.com’s workload views can help manage team efforts, ensuring no priority is missed. For example, visual dashboards offer clarity to assign tasks more effectively during cross-team collaboration.
Figma: The Creative Collaboration Hub
Key Features
Figma's standout feature lies in design collaboration. This tool connects creative and marketing teams alike, making it a must-have for product designers and startups with a focus on user interface:
Live collaboration capabilities: Team members can edit designs in real-time. No refresh required.
Vector tools and prototyping: Build intuitive static and animated prototypes efficiently.
Version history and updates: Backtracking is easier when several iterations exist.
Why Choose Figma?
While Figma lacks comprehensive project management capabilities, it dominates for small teams seeking fast and seamless coordination on design projects. Its cloud-based collaboration aligns well with distributed teams, especially for early-stage ventures working remotely.
Use Case: Design Startups
Startups heavily focused on product design can capitalize on Figma’s real-time feedback features. This also applies to collaboration between marketing and UI/UX design teams, who benefit from reducing friction issues present during concept refinements.
Monday.com vs. Figma in Numbers: Which Works Best in 2026?
User Base:
Monday.com serves industries from logistics to marketing agencies, with over 150,000 global customers.
Figma is widely loved by designers, boasting adoption in startups and enterprises like Microsoft, Square, and Spotify.
Pricing:
Monday.com offers a comparable scalable pricing, starting at $12/user, suitable for teams of all sizes.
Figma’s free tier caters to smaller teams but becomes pricier for growing teams needing premium features, starting at $12/editor.
Ease of Set-Up:
Monday.com is beginner-friendly, with templates for various industries.
Figma excels in the design segment specifically but takes time to adapt as project complexity grows.
How Startups and SMEs Can Combine the Two
What if you don’t have to choose? For many startups in 2026, the secret weapon is integrating Monday.com for overall team management and Figma to bring marketing and product visions to life. For example:
Use Monday.com to track progress, assign tasks, and coordinate workflows for marketing or administrative duties.
Switch to Figma for real-time whiteboarding or prototype designs for key feature improvements.
Beginner Mistakes When Testing Tools
Mistake #1: Skipping User Testing
Do not pick tools solely on features. Prioritize usability by running a trial during an active project.
Mistake #2: Ignoring Scalability
Your business will grow. Figma may meet your basic needs now, but plan for future collaborations with extended stakeholders. Similarly, ensure Monday.com workflows stay agile.
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Conclusion: Which Tool Wins?
If you’re a design-first startup, Figma gives you the creative edge to build and perfect visuals your marketing or product teams require.
However, if your workflows go beyond creativity, including logistics, deadline management, or complex dependencies, Monday.com offers unbeatable versatility.
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It’s 2026; the tools are here. Choose wisely, integrate efficiently, and you'll achieve that seamless project management and collaboration you’ve been striving for!
FAQ: Monday.com vs. Figma - Choosing the Best Tool for Project Management and Collaboration in 2026
1. What is the main difference between Monday.com and Figma?
Monday.com is focused on project management with features like task tracking, automations, and customizable dashboards, while Figma excels in real-time design collaboration, prototyping, and creative workflows. Read this detailed comparison.
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3. Which tool is better for startups with remote teams?
Figma’s cloud-based collaboration capabilities make it ideal for design-first startups with remote teams, while Monday.com is better for broader workflow and remote team management. Learn about Figma’s advantages.
4. How do pricing plans compare between Monday.com and Figma?
Monday.com’s plans start at $12/user per month, offering scalability for larger teams, while Figma has a free tier for smaller teams but charges $12/editor for premium features. Compare costs in-depth.
5. Is Monday.com customizable for different industries?
Yes, Monday.com supports various industries such as marketing, logistics, and creative agencies with its powerful templates and flexible workflows. See why it’s an all-rounder tool.
6. Does Figma integrate with other tools?
Figma integrates seamlessly with tools like Slack, Zoom, and Google Drive, enhancing team workflows, especially for design and prototyping tasks. Explore Figma integrations.
7. Can I use AI to write SEO-optimized articles that help my brand grow?
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8. What are the key features of Monday.com for SMEs?
Monday.com provides Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task automations, and visual dashboards, making it ideal for streamlining workflows and project tracking in SMEs. Discover its SME benefits.
9. Is Figma suitable for non-design teams?
Though primarily a design tool, Figma can facilitate brainstorming and collaboration between teams like marketing and product development. Learn more about Figma for teams.
10. Can I use both Monday.com and Figma for my business needs?
Absolutely. Use Monday.com to manage high-level workflows and deadlines, while Figma handles real-time design collaboration and prototyping. Check out how startups integrate both tools.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.