Sketch is a dedicated design tool with superior vector editing and design system capabilities, while InVision is a broader prototyping and collaboration platform that excels at interactive mockups and design handoff workflows.
Sketch vs InVision — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Professional desktop design application built specifically for UI/UX design with advanced vector tools and design system management.
Cloud-based prototyping and collaboration platform for design teams and stakeholders.
Primary Purpose. Monthly Subscription Cost. Interactive Prototyping Built-In. Design System Management. Learning Curve for Beginners. Developer Handoff Features. Cross-Platform Availability
Choose Sketch if you prioritize design quality, cost efficiency, and managing complex design systems with a smaller team on Mac. Choose InVision if you need robust prototyping, stakeholder feedback loops, developer handoff automation, and cross-platform accessibility for larger, distributed teams.
Sketch: macOS, Windows (beta) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 3 (Mac, Windows, Web) | InVision: 4 (Web, Desktop, iOS, Android)
Sketch: Basic (plugin-dependent) | InVision: Advanced with interactions
Sketch: Limited (requires Cloud plugin, up to 5 free) | InVision: Unlimited users
Sketch: 1 (Email only) | InVision: 3 (Email, Phone, Tickets)
Sketch: Excellent - minimal lag | InVision: Good - occasional lag
Sketch: Native support with libraries | InVision: Supported via DSM add-on
Sketch: 1000+ third-party plugins | InVision: 500+ plugins and apps
Sketch: No (third-party workarounds) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Advanced Auto Layout (2021+) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 5-6 basic interactions (tap, click, scroll) | InVision: N/A
Cloud Storage Included (Free Plan/Trial)
Market Share Among UI/UX Designers (2024)
Sketch: Full interactive prototyping with animations and states | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Mac desktop, Web (limited features) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 14-day free trial only; no free plan | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Partner integrations (photos/icons sold separately) | InVision: N/A
Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
Sketch: $8.25/user (yearly: $99) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Shared libraries, comments, version history (async) | InVision: Comments, design voting, stakeholder reviews, inspect mode
Sketch: 1,200+ plugins | InVision: 200+ integrations
Sketch: Not included; requires third-party services | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Requires third-party plugins (e.g., Figma-to-React) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Symbols, shared styles, nested components (established) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: macOS, Windows, Web (recently improved) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Cloud sync, file-based handoff | InVision: Asynchronous feedback and comments
Sketch: Advanced (interactions, animations, states) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: No (proprietary) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: $144 (Sketch Standard annual) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: macOS only (with web viewing limitations) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Optimized for 100+ artboards without lag | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 0 (native); available via plugins | InVision: N/A
Sketch: ~1,200+ plugins | InVision: 300+ integrations
Market Share Among Professional Designers
Sketch: ~70% (industry standard for UI/UX teams) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Basic (clickable prototypes only) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 4,000 x 4,000 pixels | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Manual management (requires Sketch 90+) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Full support with readable output | InVision: N/A
Sketch: $12 | InVision: Free (limited) or $99+
Sketch: $144 (subscription) or $99 (one-time) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Requires workarounds | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 800+ without degradation | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Shared symbols with nesting | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Advanced with animations | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 15 concurrent users | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 8+ years of resources | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Proprietary/Closed | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Advanced (Symbols, Shared Styles, Tokens) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Basic (transitions, drag triggers) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Yes (Slack integration only) | InVision: N/A
Performance on Large Files (100+ Artboards)
Sketch: Excellent (instant load) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: None (third-party workarounds) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: No (30-day trial only) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Mac (Web beta) | InVision: Any browser (cross-platform)
Sketch: Limited via plugins (~5) | InVision: Native support (15+)
Sketch: Advanced with nested symbols | InVision: Basic component system
Sketch: Available in beta/plugins | InVision: Native Liveshare feature
Sketch: Requires integration (Zeplin, Abstract) | InVision: Native Inspect with code generation
Sketch: macOS only + Web viewer | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 6-8 basic interactions | InVision: 25+ interactions (links, hotspots, gestures)
Sketch: Limited free tier (projects only) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 22% of design tools market (2024) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: 15-20 min (macOS native install) | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Advanced design tokens with shared libraries | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Limited; community-contributed | InVision: N/A
Sketch: Via plugins; file-based | InVision: N/A
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Comment-based feedback only
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Manual responsive workflow
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Requires external integration
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Specialized interactive prototypes
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Advanced (micro-interactions, animations)
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Limited (view-only)
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Comment-based workflow
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Advanced Smart Animate with frame-by-frame timeline
Sketch: N/A | InVision: 21 days (3 weeks)
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Unlimited on paid plans
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Inspect mode with code export and specifications
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Native versioning in InVision DSM (separate product)
Sketch: N/A | InVision: $25 per month (flat rate)
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Limited to commenter model
Sketch: N/A | InVision: 35+ gesture and animation controls
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Optimal up to 3,000 artboards
Sketch: N/A | InVision: 8-12% declining adoption
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Desktop app supports offline work
Sketch: N/A | InVision: 100 screens per prototype (practical limit)
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Basic: shapes, text, limited path editing
Sketch: N/A | InVision: Browser-based, internet required
Sketch: N/A | InVision: 5-10 hours for proficiency
Sketch: N/A | InVision: 50+ integrations and API
How to choose between Sketch and InVision
Sketch vs InVision — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Sketch vs InVision. Contains 125 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Sketch vs InVision — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Sketch vs InVision.
Native Sketch is Mac-only. However, Sketch launched a web version in beta (2024) that works in browsers on any platform. For full features, Windows users typically use Figma or InVision instead.
Which is better for prototyping and user testing?
InVision excels at prototyping with 15+ native interaction types and built-in feedback/comment features. Sketch requires third-party tools like Marvel, Figma, or plugins for interactive prototyping.
Can developers access specs and CSS code directly?
InVision Inspect automatically generates specs, measurements, and CSS code for developers. Sketch requires integrations with tools like Zeplin, Abstract, or Sympli to achieve similar handoff automation.
Which tool is cheaper for a team of 5-10 designers?
Sketch at $12/month per designer costs $60-120/month for a team. InVision's standard plan ($25/month) with shared team access is $25-75/month depending on plan tier, making InVision potentially cheaper for larger teams.
Is Sketch or InVision better for design systems?
Sketch has more mature design system capabilities with nested symbols, shared libraries, and component management. InVision is better for documenting and presenting design systems but less powerful for maintaining components.
How to Choose Between Sketch and InVision
Primary Purpose: Sketch has Vector design and UI design tool, while InVision has Prototyping and design collaboration platform.
Monthly Subscription Cost: Sketch has $12/month (annual billing), while InVision has $25/month (standard plan, annual billing).
Consider: Interactive Prototyping Built-In
Interactive Prototyping Built-In: Sketch has Limited (requires plugins or exports), while InVision has Native with drag-and-drop interactions.
Design System Management: Sketch has Robust with symbols and shared libraries, while InVision has Basic component management.
Learning Curve for Beginners: Sketch has Moderate (6-10 hours to proficiency), while InVision has Steep (10-15 hours to proficiency).
Developer Handoff Features: Sketch has Good with plugins; requires integration, while InVision has Excellent with Inspect, specs automation.
Cross-Platform Availability: Sketch has Mac only (web app in beta), while InVision has Browser-based, works on any platform.