When choosing a UI/UX design tool, the decision often comes down to Figma vs Sketch—two giants in the digital design space. While both offer robust toolsets for interface design, their philosophies and ecosystems differ significantly. Whether you’re a solo designer, freelancer, or part of a design team, picking the right platform can directly impact your speed, collaboration, and overall workflow.
In this guide, we’ll break down how Figma and Sketch compare across the key areas that matter: collaboration, pricing, plugins, prototyping, performance, and platform support.
🔄 1. Collaboration: Real-Time or Versioned?
Figma: Built for Real-Time Collaboration
- Live multiplayer editing in the browser or desktop app
- Stakeholders, developers, and clients can comment directly
- No file conflicts or versioning chaos
- Excellent for remote and cross-functional teams
Sketch: Sync-Based with Cloud Workarounds
- Collaboration via Sketch Cloud or third-party tools
- Requires syncing changes and careful version control
- More friction for real-time teamwork
🥇 Winner: Figma — hands-down the better tool for real-time design collaboration
💻 2. Platform Support: Mac-Only vs Cross-Platform
Figma: Web-Based and Cross-Platform
- Runs in any browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc.)
- Native desktop apps for Mac and Windows
- No installation needed to view or comment
- Works on Chromebooks and Linux (via browser)
Sketch: Mac-Only
- Requires macOS to run
- Collaboration tools work through browser for viewing—but no editing on non-Mac devices
🥇 Winner: Figma — accessible to any device, anywhere
💸 3. Pricing: Subscription vs One-Time
Figma Pricing:
- Free for individuals and small teams
- Professional: ~$12/month per editor (as of 2025)
- Organization/Enterprise tiers with Dev Mode, Variables, Branching, and Admin tools
Sketch Pricing:
- $120/year per editor (or $9/month)
- One-time license also available (no updates after a year)
- Sketch for Teams adds collaboration features for a monthly fee
🏆 Winner: It’s a draw. Sketch is cheaper if you’re on Mac and don’t need real-time collaboration. Figma is better value for cross-platform, team use.
⚙️ 4. Plugins and Ecosystem
Figma:
- Massive plugin ecosystem via browser and desktop
- Dev Mode integrations (Storybook, GitHub, etc.)
- Widgets and Figma Community with UI kits, templates, and educational content
Sketch:
- Large plugin library (many open-source)
- Heavily reliant on plugins for basic features (e.g. auto layout, prototyping)
- Some plugins break with updates or are Mac-specific
🥇 Winner: Figma — more robust and consistent plugin ecosystem
🎛 5. Prototyping & Handoff
Figma:
- Built-in prototyping tools (navigation, overlays, animation)
- Interactive components + variables = advanced UI logic
- Dev Mode for seamless handoff
- Tokens, specs, comments all live in one file
Sketch:
- Prototyping is more limited
- Developer handoff typically requires Zeplin, Abstract, or other tools
🥇 Winner: Figma — all-in-one workflow, no handoff headaches
⚡ 6. Performance & Offline Support
Figma:
- Fast and responsive, but web-based performance may vary on slower internet
- Offline mode available in desktop app
- Cloud autosave ensures nothing is lost
Sketch:
- Native macOS app = snappier on Apple hardware
- Better performance for large files on MacBook Pros
- Fully offline by default
🏆 Winner: Sketch — for offline-first workflows and performance on Mac, Sketch wins
🧑🎨 7. Design Experience and UI
Figma:
- Clean, minimal interface
- Learning curve for variables and advanced features
- Frequent updates and new releases
Sketch:
- Familiar for long-time Mac users
- More static toolset with occasional big releases
- UI can feel dated compared to Figma’s real-time context panels
🥇 Winner: Figma — modern, intuitive, and evolving faster
📊 Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Collaboration | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cross-Platform | ✅ | ❌ (Mac only) |
| Prototyping | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Basic |
| Developer Handoff | ✅ Built-In | ❌ External |
| Plugin Ecosystem | ✅ Robust | ✅ Limited |
| Pricing Flexibility | ✅ | ✅ |
| Performance (Offline) | ❌ Variable | ✅ Strong |
🧠 Final Verdict: Who Should Use What?
✅ Use Figma if you:
- Work in a team or collaborate remotely
- Want seamless prototyping + handoff
- Need cross-platform access
- Care about future-proof features (like Variables, Dev Mode, and AI tools)
✅ Use Sketch if you:
- Work solo on a Mac
- Prefer a native desktop experience
- Need tight control over offline performance
📝 Final Tip: Many designers now learn both tools, but Figma is becoming the industry standard—especially for team-based workflows and design systems.
➡️ Next up: “Building Figma Workflows for Cross-Functional Teams“
Designilo 