Sketch

Design, prototype, collaborate and handoff, all in one place

From $10/mo

About Sketch

Sketch pioneered the modern UI design tool category when it launched in 2010, introducing symbols, artboards, and vector tools optimized for interface design. While Figma has captured much of the market, Sketch remains a powerful choice for Mac-focused design teams. The app runs natively on macOS with excellent performance, and the 2023-2024 updates added real-time collaboration (Sketch for Teams), web-based viewing, and improved prototyping. Sketch's symbol system and shared libraries enable design systems at scale. The workspace browser lets collaborators view, inspect, and comment without the Mac app. Pricing changed to subscription: $10/editor/month includes Mac app, cloud workspace, and unlimited viewers. Free tier allows viewing and commenting only. Sketch's plugin ecosystem, while smaller than Figma's, includes essential tools. The decision between Sketch and Figma often comes down to Mac-native performance vs. browser-based collaboration. Best for Mac-centric design teams, organizations already invested in Sketch, and designers who prefer native app performance.

Key Features

Vector design tools optimized for UI/UX

Symbols and shared libraries for design systems

Real-time collaboration in workspace

Prototyping with interactions and transitions

Web-based viewing for non-Mac users

Developer handoff with inspect mode

Native macOS app with excellent performance

Plugin ecosystem for extended functionality

Version history and cloud backup

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Native Mac app with superior performance
• Pioneered modern UI design workflows
• Symbols and libraries excellent for design systems
• Unlimited free viewers on any platform
• More affordable than Figma for small teams
• Less resource-intensive than browser-based tools

Cons

• Mac-only app (web view is read-only)
• Lost significant market share to Figma
• Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma
• Real-time collaboration added later, less mature
• Harder to collaborate with non-Mac users
• Industry momentum has shifted away

Best For

Mac-centric design teams valuing native performance Organizations with existing Sketch investments Design teams who don't need cross-platform editing Solo designers working primarily offline Teams building design systems with symbols