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Sketchvs.Figma

Sketch is more than just a Mac app

We’re the original design alternative. Yes — we built the best native Mac app for designers. But we didn’t stop there. With web-based tools for sharing work, getting feedback, testing prototypes and handing off to developers in any browser, we’re a platform for the entire design process – and we’re still independent.

Try Sketch today, you’ll feel the difference.

Get started for free!

How does Sketch compare with Figma?

Feature Sketch Figma
Real-time collaboration
Shareable prototype links
Developer handoff
View documents on iPhone and iPad app
Includes a powerful native Mac app
Full offline workflow
User control over who sees your work
Strict override control for Design Systems
Open file format
Advanced color management
Work with local documents
Artboard Templates
No document size limit (via RAM usage limit)
Billing with no surprises
The complete platform for only $12/month
No credit card required for full featured free trial
Independent
briefcase and diamond

Can Sketch do real-time collaboration?

Yes! Figma says it’s not possible. We say that real-time design collaboration is for native apps, too.

Sketch subscriptions come with a shared Workspace, so your team can do everything from designing seamlessly side-by-side in the same space to sharing documents with version histories (with unique links for each and every version).

With Sketch, everyone’s on the same page

Work together, see everyone’s cursors, and break through the finish line with no conflicts along the way.

Native app or web app? How do I choose?

What’s better, a native app or a web app for design work? It’s 2024, so we say why choose? Don’t restrict yourself with a design tool that’s limited to only web tech. With Sketch, you get the best of both worlds.

Truly native

Our native app for designers offers great features that web-based electron apps, like Figma, simply can’t. That means super-fast performance on Apple silicon, native font rendering and P3 color profiles.

With the power of the browser

Share your designs with our powerful web app. Invite collaborators to your documents, then give and get feedback in any browser, on any operating system.

Developers, project managers and other team members get the tools they need. A focussed environment for every stakeholder means Sketch is easier to learn and easier to use, with less distractions. Keep your workflow simple.

On or offline? Either’s fine.

Sketch doesn’t force you to have an internet connection to do your design work.

The freedom to work online and offline in our Mac app is right here. Grab it!

You can create new documents, keep existing projects moving and even access Libraries.

You have the freedom to design at any time. Whether you’re going through a tunnel, a power surge, or a detox from the newsfeed, Sketch still works.

Why does the Sketch UI feel so good?

Our processes just make sense so you can do better work, and do it faster.

The fact is, you won’t find a UI this intuitive to Mac users anywhere else. Apple set the standard for what great creative software should be — and our goal with Sketch was to make a design app as easy to use as Keynote.

You can say goodbye to Figma’s unfamiliar UI and head scratching moments. Like this, this and this.

Our Mac app makes perfect sense, so you can spend more time on Bezier curves, and less time on learning curves.

Daniel Schwarz

“Sketch delivers the smoothest user experience of any UI tool on the market today.”

Daniel Schwarz

Creative Bloq

Control your workflow (and who’s watching)

Trust is an integral part of the design process. You should feel empowered from the start of your project to the final product.

Take control over who can follow you around in a collaborative document, when you share your work, and even whether you’re on or offline to begin with.

Are colors true-to-life in Sketch?

They sure are. Figma forces your assets to be exported using a single color profile, or to go completely unmanaged. If you’re using Figma in the browser, you don’t have the option to change the color profile at all. This means that your end-users might see something different to what you’ve designed.

Whatever you do, don’t let your designs down with a limited and inaccurate color gamut.

With Sketch, you can assign P3 or sRGB color profiles to all of your assets and documents.

Do my clients and developers really need a Mac app to work with Sketch?

No! That’s the power of our web app.

People that aren’t designing simply don’t need to be distracted by design tools.

What they do need, is to inspect designs, give feedback, and be able to test prototypes.

Invite clients, managers and developers to do all of the above on any operating system, in any browser, with our web app. Better still, you can invite them all for free.

Luca Rager

“Sketch’s Libraries, compatibility with industry tools, and community of plugins let our team build and scale a design system across multiple brands and platforms — which gives our users a better, more cohesive experience.”

Luca Rager

Senior Software Engineer & Designer — Xbox R&D

Why are Sketch's Symbols so powerful?

Make handoff a breeze with Symbols that match the components developers work with. Having a single source of truth for your elements isn’t only great for designing, it makes developers’ lives easier too.

You need to be able to control which parts of a Symbol designers can change, and which parts stay consistent. Only Sketch gives you that level of control.

Make Symbols work for your design system and developers

That means causing less feedback and fewer questions, resulting in more time saved for everybody.

What makes Sketch’s Design System control so robust?

Some rules are made to be broken, but which rules everyone follows should be in your control. Symbol override controls make Sketch stand out with full control over when designers can (and can’t) deviate from your established Design Systems.

Manage overrides

Always maintain consistent styles across your designs by deciding which aspects of your Symbols can be overridden by you and your collaborators, and which ones can’t.

If you want to allow free rein to change everything, that’s an option too. The choice is yours!

Do I need plugins for prototyping or developer handoff in Sketch?

No, you don’t need plugins. Sketch comes with design, collaboration, prototyping and developer handoff straight out of the box. It’s like getting InVision, Zeplin and Abstract bundled into one tool — with all the powerful editing functionality you know and love.

It’s time to wake up from platform fatigue, all the tools are here.

Built-in prototyping

Create prototypes right inside the Mac app and share a link for anyone to test them out, in any web browser, without plugins.

Easy developer handoff

Developers can inspect your designs and download ready-to-go assets from any browser — for free. All you need to do is share.

Futureproof your design process

Sketch was once a humble vector drawing application. Now, it’s the all-in-one platform for design, collaboration, prototyping and developer handoff.

As you can see, constant improvement is in our DNA, and we’re just getting started.

Figma

“Sketch shined a light on UX design.”

Figma

What people are saying

Some of the most successful product teams in the world use Sketch every day. It’s also used by hundreds of thousands of talented individuals, like you. Here’s what people have to say:

Gary
Gary
@garyj_co

After trialing figma for a while I have concluded it is a collaboration tool with design built in and sketch is a design tool first, with collaboration built in.

Figma allows admin to “spy” on designers time. 🙅

Sketch conscious chose to omit this “feature” 🧘

Abdul-Rahman
Abdul-Rahman
@asabbas98

So people hate me for saying this but sketch »» Figma. Although they both do v similar things. Yup wire framing, designing and prototyping.

For me I find Sketch more intuitive to use. I also think there are small features that help me build faster.

Gavin Nelson
Gavin Nelson
@Gavmn

I like Sketch a lot better for icon design currently.

a few reasons:

  • better vector editing
  • much better inspector for layer styles
  • color management
Aaron Benjamin
Aaron Benjamin
@perfectKeming

The number of plugins @figmadesign needs to match the most basic capabilities of @sketch is just silly.

I just want to draw/color nice looking rectangles ya’ll. Why’s it so hard?

7 🇺🇲🇺🇦🌻 #Disable🇷🇺ICBMs!
7 🇺🇲🇺🇦🌻 #Disable🇷🇺ICBMs!
@SE_7777777_EN

Oooh

Looks like @figma didn’t fix how adding fonts to your file works vs @sketch in years

BUT NOW THEY HAVE DARK MODE!

Surely with dark mode I won’t have to fix font boxes all the time

@figmadesign I recommend you look at how Sketch does txt boxes without readjustments guys

Carlos Andrés Orozco
Carlos Andrés Orozco
@soykallo

It’s true, @sketch was and is my first love tool.

Richard Oliver Bray
Richard Oliver Bray
@Ceiga

Really like what @sketch are doing with colour tokens. Don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before. Thanks for showing it off @emilyvc_ #AllDayHey

Erik Ingvoldstad
Erik Ingvoldstad
@ingvoldSTAR

If you’re ever looking for a company that does @Twitter right, look to @sketch. Their social media team knows what’s what 🔥 #twitter #marketing #engagement

Michal Malewicz
Michal Malewicz
@michalmalewicz

That moment when your beloved app account follows you - precious ❤️

Thank you @sketch - there are so many usecases beyond UI we’ve been using you for it’s mindblowing.

We’ll share the fashion brand designed in Sketch soon too - real clothes with initial drafts done 💎

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Whether you’re new to Sketch or back to see what’s new, we’ll have you set up and ready to do your best work in minutes.