Adobe XD
Sketch
| Feature | Adobe XD | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $54.99/mo | From $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | adobe-users, ui-designers, teams-already-in-creative-cloud, rapid-prototyping | ui-designers, mac-users, design-agencies, icon-designers |
| Founded | 2016 | 2010 |
| Vector Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Prototyping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Animate | ✓ | ✗ |
| Repeat Grid | ✓ | ✗ |
| Components | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design Specs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Prototyping | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Symbols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shared Libraries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Developer Handoff | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud Workspace | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Adobe XD Pros
- Tight integration with Adobe Creative Cloud suite
- Smooth prototyping with auto-animate transitions
- Repeat grid for efficient design patterns
- Included in Creative Cloud subscription
✗ Adobe XD Cons
- In maintenance mode (Adobe investing in Figma instead)
- No longer receiving major feature updates
- Community and plugin ecosystem declining
✓ Sketch Pros
- Lightweight and fast native macOS performance
- Mature plugin ecosystem with thousands of extensions
- Excellent symbol and library system
- One-time license option for Mac app
✗ Sketch Cons
- Mac-only (no Windows or Linux support)
- Collaboration features lag behind Figma
- Market share declining as teams move to Figma
The Verdict
Adobe XD is built for adobe users and ui designers, with a focus on vector-design and prototyping. Sketch targets ui designers and mac users and leads with vector-editing and symbols.
On pricing, Sketch is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $12/mo compared to $54.99/mo for Adobe XD. That $42.99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Both tools are a solid fit for ui designers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.
