Sketch vs Adobe XD
type: Article
description: Sketch dominates macOS design workflows with superior performance and a mature plugin ecosystem, while Adobe XD offers cross-platform access (Windows/Mac), better prototyping tools, and integration with the Adobe Creative Suite for teams already invested in that ecosystem.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-06T14:41:58.988Z
date created: 2026-07-06T14:41:58.988Z
date modified: 2026-07-06T14:41:59.040Z
content reference time: 2026-07-06T14:41:59.040Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Sketch
about: Adobe XD
abstract: Sketch dominates macOS design workflows with superior performance and a mature plugin ecosystem, while Adobe XD offers cross-platform access (Windows/Mac), better prototyping tools, and integration with the Adobe Creative Suite for teams already invested in that ecosystem.
text: Platform Availability. Monthly Subscription Cost. Plugin Ecosystem. Prototyping Capabilities. Creative Cloud Integration. Real-time Collaboration. Performance on Large Files (100+ artboards)
conclusion text: Choose Sketch if you're a Mac-exclusive design team that values performance, extensive plugins, and cost savings with a mature feature set. Choose Adobe XD if you need cross-platform access, advanced prototyping with auto-animate, seamless Creative Cloud integration, or are building a design system across Windows and Mac teams.
additional property: Active Designers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: ~1M | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS only | Adobe XD: macOS, Windows, Web
additional property: Pricing (Individual/Starter)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $120/year ($10/month) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Platforms Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 3 (Mac, Windows, Web) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Built-in Prototyping
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Basic (plugin-dependent) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Real-Time Collaboration Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Limited (requires Cloud plugin, up to 5 free) | Adobe XD: Unlimited native support
additional property: Customer Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 1 (Email only) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: File Performance with 50+ Artboards
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Excellent - minimal lag | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Design System & Components
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Native support with libraries | Adobe XD: Shared symbols, component variants, design libraries
additional property: Available Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS only | Adobe XD: Windows and macOS
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 2,500+ | Adobe XD: ~400
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Native Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No (third-party workarounds) | Adobe XD: Yes (cloud-native)
additional property: Auto Layout / Responsive Design
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Advanced Auto Layout (2021+) | Adobe XD: Repeat Grid with constraints
additional property: Prototyping Interaction Types
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 5-6 basic interactions (tap, click, scroll) | Adobe XD: 12+ (including voice, drag, animation)
  value reference: Adobe XD
additional property: Cloud Storage Included (Free Plan/Trial)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Paid plans only | Adobe XD: 2 GB with free Creative Cloud account
  value reference: Adobe XD
additional property: Market Share Among UI/UX Designers (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 38% | Adobe XD: 31%
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $120 | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 8/10 (steep) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Template Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 500+ | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Prototyping Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Full interactive prototyping with animations and states | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Mac desktop, Web (limited features) | Adobe XD: Desktop primary (Windows, Mac)
additional property: Free Tier Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 14-day free trial only; no free plan | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Stock Assets Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Partner integrations (photos/icons sold separately) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $8.25/user (yearly: $99) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Shared libraries, comments, version history (async) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 1,200+ plugins | Adobe XD: 400+ plugins
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Built-in Web Hosting
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Not included; requires third-party services | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: React Component Export
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Requires third-party plugins (e.g., Figma-to-React) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Design System Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Symbols, shared styles, nested components (established) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Cross-Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS, Windows, Web (recently improved) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 2,000+ | Adobe XD: 500+
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No (third-party workarounds) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Prototyping Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Advanced (interactions, animations, states) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Market Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 95% | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No (proprietary) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Self-Hosting Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost (Professional Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $144 (Sketch Standard annual) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Supported Operating Systems
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS only (with web viewing limitations) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Maximum File Size Performance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Optimized for 100+ artboards without lag | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: AI-Powered Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: None (requires third-party plugin integrations) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins & Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Extensive plugin ecosystem with 500+ integrations | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Market Share Among Professional Designers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: ~70% (industry standard for UI/UX teams) | Adobe XD: N/A
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $12-14/month | Adobe XD: $14.99/month (Creative Cloud single app)
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Prototype Interactions (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Basic (clickable prototypes only) | Adobe XD: Advanced (35+ triggers, animations, voice)
  value reference: Adobe XD
additional property: Artboard Size Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 4,000 x 4,000 pixels | Adobe XD: 32,000 x 32,000 pixels
  value reference: Adobe XD
additional property: Component Versioning
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Manual management (requires Sketch 90+) | Adobe XD: Native with library sync
additional property: SVG Export Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Full support with readable output | Adobe XD: Full support with clean code
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $12 | Adobe XD: $9.99 standalone or $54.99 (Creative Cloud)
  value reference: Adobe XD
additional property: Annual Cost per Editor
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $144 (subscription) or $99 (one-time) | Adobe XD: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/sketch
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/sketch
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/adobe-xd
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/adobe-xd
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/sketch-vs-adobe-xd)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/sketch-vs-adobe-xd)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-adobe-xd
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/adobe-xd-vs-sketch
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/figma-vs-sketch-vs-adobe-xd
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/figma-vs-sketch-vs-adobe-xd)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/figma-vs-sketch
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/adobe-xd-vs-invision
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-invision
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-framer
teaches: How to choose between Sketch and Adobe XD
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Sketch
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: macOS-native vector design tool built for rapid UI/UX prototyping with extensive plugin support.
subject of: Sketch vs Adobe XD

Adobe XD
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: AX
alternate name: Adobe Xd
language: en-US
description: Cross-platform design and prototyping software with advanced interactive animations and Creative Cloud integration.
subject of: Sketch vs Adobe XD

Sketch vs Adobe XD — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Sketch vs Adobe XD. Contains 129 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Active Designers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Pricing (Individual/Starter)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Platforms Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Built-in Prototyping
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Real-Time Collaboration Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: Customer Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: File Performance with 50+ Artboards
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Design System & Components
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Available Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Native Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Teamwork
variable measured: Auto Layout / Responsive Design
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design Features
variable measured: Prototyping Interaction Types
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Advanced Features
variable measured: Cloud Storage Included (Free Plan/Trial)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Storage
variable measured: Market Share Among UI/UX Designers (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Template Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Prototyping Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Advanced Features
variable measured: Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Free Tier Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Stock Assets Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Library
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Built-in Web Hosting
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Publishing
variable measured: React Component Export
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Design System Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Cross-Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Available Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration Features
variable measured: Prototyping Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Market Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Industry
variable measured: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Licensing
variable measured: Self-Hosting Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Cost (Professional Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Supported Operating Systems
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Maximum File Size Performance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: AI-Powered Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Available Plugins & Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Market Share Among Professional Designers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Prototype Interactions (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Prototyping
variable measured: Artboard Size Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Component Versioning
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design System
variable measured: SVG Export Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Export
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost per Editor
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Operating System Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Real-time Collaboration Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Offline Editing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Version History Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Management
variable measured: Market Share (2025)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Free Plan Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Individual Editor)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Cost (Single License)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Concurrent Real-time Collaborators
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Collaboration
variable measured: File Performance Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Component Library Functionality
variable measured: Prototype Interactivity Level
variable measured: Global Design Tool Market Share 2026
variable measured: Concurrent Collaboration Users
variable measured: Design Community Size
variable measured: Source Code Access
variable measured: Design System Features
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)
variable measured: Prototyping Interaction Depth
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-adobe-xd)

Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Sketch vs Adobe XD.
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Collaboration
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Teamwork
has defined term: Design Features
has defined term: Advanced Features
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Content Library
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Publishing
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Collaboration Features
has defined term: Industry
has defined term: Licensing
has defined term: Prototyping
has defined term: Design System
has defined term: Export
has defined term: Data Management
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Transparency
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Overall Quality
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Developer Tools
has defined term: Setup
has defined term: Workflow
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Learning Curve
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Infrastructure

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Teamwork
type: DefinedTerm
term code: teamwork
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design-features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Advanced Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: advanced-features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Library
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-library
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Publishing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: publishing
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration-features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Industry
type: DefinedTerm
term code: industry
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Licensing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: licensing
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Prototyping
type: DefinedTerm
term code: prototyping
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design System
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design-system
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Export
type: DefinedTerm
term code: export
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-management
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Transparency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: transparency
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Overall Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: overall-quality
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-adoption
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-tools
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Workflow
type: DefinedTerm
term code: workflow
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning Curve
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning-curve
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Sketch vs Adobe XD — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-06T14:41:59.040Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: sketch-vs-adobe-xd)
main entity: Can I use Sketch on Windows?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: No, Sketch is exclusive to macOS. There is no native Windows version or web version. If you need cross-platform support, Adobe XD is the better choice as it runs on Windows, macOS, and web browsers.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which tool has better prototyping capabilities?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Adobe XD has significantly more advanced prototyping features, including auto-animate (automatically transitions between states), voice triggers, and speech recognition. Sketch's prototyping is more basic, limited to simple transitions and drag triggers. For interactive prototypes, XD is superior.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Sketch or Adobe XD cheaper?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Sketch is cheaper at $12/month (annual plan) or $20/month (monthly). Adobe XD standalone costs $9.99/month, but most users need Creative Cloud integration, which costs $54.99/month. If you're already paying for Creative Cloud, XD is effectively free to add.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has a better plugin ecosystem?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Sketch has a significantly larger plugin ecosystem with 2,000+ plugins available through the Sketch Runner community marketplace. Adobe XD has around 500 plugins. If plugin extensibility is critical to your workflow, Sketch offers more options.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Adobe XD work well with Photoshop and Illustrator?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, Adobe XD has native integration with the Creative Cloud suite. You can import Photoshop and Illustrator files directly, share libraries, and maintain design consistency across tools. Sketch has no native Creative Cloud integration, though third-party tools like Figma Bridge offer workarounds.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Sketch and Adobe XD
type: HowTo
description: Sketch dominates macOS design workflows with superior performance and a mature plugin ecosystem, while Adobe XD offers cross-platform access (Windows/Mac), better prototyping tools, and integration with the Adobe Creative Suite for teams already invested in that ecosystem.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Platform Availability
step: Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost
step: Consider: Plugin Ecosystem
step: Consider: Prototyping Capabilities
step: Consider: Creative Cloud Integration
step: Consider: Real-time Collaboration
step: Consider: Performance on Large Files (100+ artboards)
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Sketch if you're a Mac-exclusive design team that values performance, extensive plugins, and cost savings with a mature feature set. Choose Adobe XD if you need cross-platform access, advanced prototyping with auto-animate, seamless Creative Cloud integration, or are building a design system across Windows and Mac teams.

Consider: Platform Availability
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Platform Availability: Sketch has macOS only, while Adobe XD has macOS + Windows + Web.

Consider: Monthly Subscription Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Monthly Subscription Cost: Sketch has $12/month (annual) or $20/month, while Adobe XD has $9.99/month (Creative Cloud) or free limited version.

Consider: Plugin Ecosystem
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Plugin Ecosystem: Sketch has 2,000+ plugins (Sketch Runner ecosystem), while Adobe XD has 500+ plugins.

Consider: Prototyping Capabilities
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Prototyping Capabilities: Sketch has Basic interactions & transitions, while Adobe XD has Advanced auto-animate, voice triggers, advanced transitions.

Consider: Creative Cloud Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Creative Cloud Integration: Sketch has Limited (no native integration), while Adobe XD has Native integration with Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere.

Consider: Real-time Collaboration
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Real-time Collaboration: Sketch has Yes (via Slack, limited features), while Adobe XD has Yes (full-featured, built-in, voice/video).

Consider: Performance on Large Files (100+ artboards)
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Performance on Large Files (100+ artboards): Sketch has Excellent stability, while Adobe XD has Occasional lag reported.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Sketch vs Adobe XD
review body: Sketch dominates macOS design workflows with superior performance and a mature plugin ecosystem, while Adobe XD offers cross-platform access (Windows/Mac), better prototyping tools, and integration with the Adobe Creative Suite for teams already invested in that ecosystem.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Sketch vs Adobe XD

Available Plugins/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 2,000+ | Adobe XD: 500+
value reference: Sketch

Operating System Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: macOS only | Adobe XD: N/A

Real-time Collaboration Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Not supported | Adobe XD: N/A

Offline Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Full support | Adobe XD: N/A

Version History Retention
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 30 days (local) | Adobe XD: N/A

Market Share (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: ~18% | Adobe XD: N/A

Free Plan Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: No free tier | Adobe XD: Yes, limited to 1 shared prototype

Monthly Cost (Individual Editor)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $11.99 | Adobe XD: $9.99
value reference: Adobe XD

Annual Cost (Single License)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $99 | Adobe XD: $99.99
value reference: Sketch

Concurrent Real-time Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Requires workarounds | Adobe XD: Limited to Creative Cloud team

File Performance Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 800+ without degradation | Adobe XD: 400-500 before slowdown
value reference: Sketch

Component Library Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Shared symbols with nesting | Adobe XD: Shared components with variants

Prototype Interactivity Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Advanced with animations | Adobe XD: Advanced with voice/gesture

Global Design Tool Market Share 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 22% | Adobe XD: 15%
value reference: Sketch

Concurrent Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 15 concurrent users | Adobe XD: N/A

Design Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 8+ years of resources | Adobe XD: N/A

Source Code Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Proprietary/Closed | Adobe XD: N/A

Design System Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Advanced (Symbols, Shared Styles, Tokens) | Adobe XD: N/A

Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $12 | Adobe XD: $9.99 (standalone) or $54.99 (full Creative Cloud)
value reference: Adobe XD

Prototyping Interaction Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Basic (transitions, drag triggers) | Adobe XD: Advanced (auto-animate, voice, speech recognition)

Real-time Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Yes (Slack integration only) | Adobe XD: Yes (built-in, voice/video chat)

Performance on Large Files (100+ Artboards)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Excellent (instant load) | Adobe XD: Good (occasional lag reported)

Creative Cloud Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: None (third-party workarounds) | Adobe XD: Native (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere)

Free Version Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: No (30-day trial only) | Adobe XD: Yes (limited free tier)

User Rating (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 4.2/5

Monthly Subscription (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $9.99/month

Real-Time Simultaneous Editing Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Up to 5 concurrent editors

Design System Variables
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Design tokens with Creative Cloud sync

AI Design Assistance
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: AI-assisted design with enhanced prototyping

File Performance (Large Projects)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Optimized desktop performance for large files

Active Customers in Industry
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 12,957 customers

Market Share Ratio
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 2.6x larger

Real-Time Collaborative Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Full co-editing support

AI-Assisted Design (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Native AI capabilities included

Base Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $12.99/month

Responsive Design Automation
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Automatic responsive resizing

Design Systems Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Native design systems included

Interactive Prototyping Specialization
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: General prototyping

Monthly Subscription Cost (Single Editor)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $9.99 standalone

Market Share Among Design Professionals
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 25%

Real-Time Simultaneous Editors
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Up to 5

Available Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Windows, macOS, iPad

Plugin Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: ~700 plugins

File Size Handling
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Performance issues above 500MB

Offline Mode Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Full offline support

Design Handoff Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: CSS/SVG export, design specs

Base Subscription Cost (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $119.88/year standalone

File Load Time (50MB)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 2-3 seconds

Simultaneous Multiplayer Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Limited (comments only, not full co-editing)

Installation Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Yes (Windows/Mac application)

Adobe App Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Native with Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Not available

Maximum Active Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 3-5 (comments)

Monthly Subscription Cost (Standalone)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $12.99/month

Total Monthly Cost (with Required Services)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $54.49 (Creative Cloud)

Animation Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Native timeline animations with easing, delays, triggers

Real-time Collaborative Editors Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 5+ simultaneous users

Adobe Ecosystem Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Native Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects integration

Code Export / Developer Handoff
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: CSS measurements and specs panel

Minimum Coding Knowledge Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: None required

Simultaneous Editors
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 2-3 concurrent editors before slowdown

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: No free tier; 7-day free trial only

Design System Component Variants
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Limited variant support (main + 1-2 states)

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 19% among design teams

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Full offline mode; all features available

Prototype Animation Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Basic transitions and timing; 8 interaction types

File History Retention (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Not applicable (no free tier)

Monthly Subscription Cost (Solo)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $9.99

Real-Time Collaborators per File
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Limited to shared link viewers

Adobe Creative Cloud Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Native with Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects

Onboarding Time for New Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 4-6 hours (steeper curve)

Maximum Cloud Documents
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 100 documents

Platform Accessibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Windows, macOS desktop only

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $9.99 (Single App)

Cost for 5 Team Members
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: $299.99 (5 × $9.99 × 2.5x for teams)

Maximum Concurrent Editors Per File
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Limited to license holders

Animation Timeline System
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Full frame-based timeline with easing curves

Supported Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 2 (Mac, Windows only)

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: 2+ million

Prototype Link Sharing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Adobe XD: Shareable links with basic feedback

SpeakableSpecification
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Sketch — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Adobe XD — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Sketch vs Adobe XD
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-adobe-xd)
object: Sketch
object: Adobe XD

Component Library Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Prototype Interactivity Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Global Design Tool Market Share 2026
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Concurrent Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Design Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Source Code Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Transparency

Design System Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Prototyping Interaction Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Real-time Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Performance on Large Files (100+ Artboards)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Creative Cloud Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Free Version Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

User Rating (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Overall Quality

Monthly Subscription (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Real-Time Simultaneous Editing Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Design System Variables
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

AI Design Assistance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Features

File Performance (Large Projects)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Active Customers in Industry
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Market Share Ratio
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Real-Time Collaborative Editing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

AI-Assisted Design (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Base Monthly Subscription Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Responsive Design Automation
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Design Systems Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Interactive Prototyping Specialization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Subscription Cost (Single Editor)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Market Share Among Design Professionals
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Real-Time Simultaneous Editors
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Available Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Plugin Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

File Size Handling
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Offline Mode Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Design Handoff Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Tools

Base Subscription Cost (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

File Load Time (50MB)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Simultaneous Multiplayer Editing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Installation Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Setup

Adobe App Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Workflow

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Maximum Active Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Monthly Subscription Cost (Standalone)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Total Monthly Cost (with Required Services)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Animation Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Real-time Collaborative Editors Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Adobe Ecosystem Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Code Export / Developer Handoff
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Features

Minimum Coding Knowledge Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Learning Curve

Simultaneous Editors
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Design System Component Variants
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Prototype Animation Depth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

File History Retention (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Subscription Cost (Solo)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Real-Time Collaborators per File
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Adobe Creative Cloud Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Onboarding Time for New Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Maximum Cloud Documents
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Platform Accessibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Cost for 5 Team Members
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Concurrent Editors Per File
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Animation Timeline System
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Supported Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Prototype Link Sharing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration