Photopea
Sketch
| Feature | Photopea | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | From $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | designers, students, photo-editors, budget-conscious-creatives | ui-designers, mac-users, design-agencies, icon-designers |
| Founded | 2013 | 2010 |
| Photo Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Psd Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Layers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Filters | ✓ | ✗ |
| Batch Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Symbols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Prototyping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shared Libraries | ✗ | ✓ |
| Developer Handoff | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cloud Workspace | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Photopea Pros
- Free and browser-based
- Opens PSD files perfectly
- No installation needed
- Full editing capabilities
✗ Photopea Cons
- Ads on free version
- Can be slow with large files
- Limited batch processing
✓ 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
Photopea is built for designers and students, with a focus on photo-editing and psd-support. Sketch targets ui designers and mac users and leads with vector-editing and symbols.
On pricing, Photopea is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $12/mo for Sketch. That $7/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Photopea 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.
Feature-wise, Sketch offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Photopea takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Photopea has a slight overall edge — but if lightweight and fast native macos performance matters most to you, Sketch may still be the right call.
