Figma vs Sketch — Which One Wins?
Pick Figma if: Design teams that need real-time collaboration and seamless developer handoff
Pick Sketch if: Mac-only design teams who prefer native app performance over browser-based tools
Our take: Figma for simplicity, Sketch for power users.
| Figma | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free for up to 3 projects | Professional $12/editor/mo | No free plan (30-day trial) | Standard $12/editor/mo |
| Features | Real-time collaboration, Auto Layout, Component variants and variables, Dev mode for handoff, FigJam whiteboard | Vector editing, Symbols and shared styles, Prototyping, Developer handoff, Mac-native performance |
| Best for | Design teams that need real-time collaboration and seamless developer handoff | Mac-only design teams who prefer native app performance over browser-based tools |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Medium |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
Figma stands out with Real-time collaboration and Auto Layout. Sketch counters with Vector editing and Symbols and shared styles.
Figma's Achilles heel: requires internet connection — offline mode is limited and the desktop app is basically a browser wrapper. Sketch's: mac only — no windows, no linux, no web app. lost massive market share to figma. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value real-time collaboration and design teams that need, go with Figma. If mac-only design teams who matters more, Sketch is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.