Figma
Sketch
| Feature | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $15/mo | From $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | designers, design-teams, product-teams, developers | ui-designers, mac-users, design-agencies, icon-designers |
| Founded | 2012 | 2010 |
| Vector Editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prototyping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dev Mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✓ |
| Components | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Layout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Symbols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shared Libraries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Developer Handoff | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud Workspace | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Figma Pros
- Real-time collaboration
- Free for students
- Huge plugin ecosystem
- Dev handoff
✗ Figma Cons
- Needs internet
- Can be slow with large files
- Learning curve
✓ 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
Figma is built for designers and design teams, with a focus on vector-editing and prototyping. Sketch targets ui designers and mac users and leads with vector-editing and symbols.
Pricing is close: Sketch starts at $12/mo versus $15/mo for Figma — not a deciding factor on its own.
Figma has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Sketch requires a paid subscription from day one.
Figma edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Sketch offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Figma takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Figma has a slight overall edge — but if lightweight and fast native macos performance matters most to you, Sketch may still be the right call.
