Sketch vs Penpot
type: Article
description: Sketch is a mature, industry-standard design tool optimized for UI/UX work with superior performance and plugin ecosystem, while Penpot is a free, open-source alternative with web-based collaboration and lower cost but less mature tooling and smaller community.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-08T16:23:02.372Z
date created: 2026-07-08T16:23:02.372Z
date modified: 2026-07-08T16:23:02.410Z
content reference time: 2026-07-08T16:23:02.410Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Sketch
about: Penpot
abstract: Sketch is a mature, industry-standard design tool optimized for UI/UX work with superior performance and plugin ecosystem, while Penpot is a free, open-source alternative with web-based collaboration and lower cost but less mature tooling and smaller community.
text: Pricing Model. Platform Type. Open Source. Performance on Large Files (50+ artboards). Plugin Ecosystem. Real-time Collaboration Features. Market Adoption (2024)
conclusion text: Choose Sketch if you're a professional UI/UX designer prioritizing performance, plugin ecosystem maturity, and industry-standard tools that integrate with enterprise workflows. Choose Penpot if you need a cost-free solution with native web-based collaboration, don't mind limitations in large file handling, and prefer supporting open-source infrastructure.
additional property: Active Designers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: ~1M | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS, Windows (beta) | Penpot: Web-based (all OS)
additional property: Pricing (Individual/Starter)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $120/year ($10/month) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Platforms Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 3 (Mac, Windows, Web) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Built-in Prototyping
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Basic (plugin-dependent) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Real-Time Collaboration Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Limited (requires Cloud plugin, up to 5 free) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Customer Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 1 (Email only) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: File Performance with 50+ Artboards
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Excellent - minimal lag | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Design System Components
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Native support with libraries | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Available Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS only | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: ~1,000+ community-built plugins | Penpot: 100+
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Native Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No (third-party workarounds) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Auto Layout / Responsive Design
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Advanced Auto Layout (2021+) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Prototyping Interaction Types
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 5-6 basic interactions (tap, click, scroll) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Cloud Storage Included (Free Plan/Trial)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Paid plans only | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Market Share Among UI/UX Designers (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 38% | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Annual Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $120 | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 8/10 (steep) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Template Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 500+ | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Prototyping Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Full interactive prototyping with animations and states | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Mac desktop, Web (limited features) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 14-day free trial only; no free plan | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Stock Assets Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Partner integrations (photos/icons sold separately) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $8.25/user (yearly: $99) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Team Collaboration Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Shared libraries, comments, version history (async) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Plugin Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 1,200+ plugins | Penpot: Limited ecosystem, community-driven
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Built-in Web Hosting
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Not included; requires third-party services | Penpot: N/A
additional property: React Component Export
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Requires third-party plugins (e.g., Figma-to-React) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Design System Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Symbols, shared styles, nested components (established) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Cross-Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: macOS, Windows, Web (recently improved) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 3,500+ plugins | Penpot: 50+
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Plugin-based, additional cost | Penpot: Yes (built-in multiplayer)
additional property: Prototyping Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Advanced (interactions, animations, states) | Penpot: Basic (standard prototyping)
additional property: Market Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 95% | Penpot: 12%
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No (proprietary) | Penpot: AGPL v3 (fully open)
additional property: Self-Hosting Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: No | Penpot: Yes (open-source)
additional property: Annual Cost (Professional Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $144 (Sketch Standard annual) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Supported Operating Systems
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 1 (Mac only) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Maximum File Size Performance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Optimized for 100+ artboards without lag | Penpot: N/A
additional property: AI-Powered Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 0 (native); available via plugins | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 15,000+ plugins and integrations | Penpot: 200-300 plugins and integrations
  value reference: Sketch
additional property: Market Share Among Professional Designers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: ~70% (industry standard for UI/UX teams) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $14 | Penpot: Free (Premium: $10)
  value reference: Penpot
additional property: Prototype Interactions (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Basic (clickable prototypes only) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Artboard Size Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: 4,000 x 4,000 pixels | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Component Versioning
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Manual management (requires Sketch 90+) | Penpot: N/A
additional property: SVG Export Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: Full support with readable output | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Application Load Time (4GB RAM)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: <1 second | Penpot: N/A
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost (Individual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Sketch: $12 | Penpot: 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/penpot
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/penpot
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/sketch-vs-penpot))
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/sketch-vs-penpot))
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-penpot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-penpot)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/figma-vs-sketch
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/figma-vs-penpot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-invision
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-adobe-xd
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-framer
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-canva
teaches: How to choose between Sketch and Penpot
genre: Software

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

A Versus B
type: Organization

Sketch
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Lightweight vector design tool for UI/UX design with collaborative cloud features.
subject of: Sketch vs Penpot

Penpot
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Free, open-source web-based design platform with native real-time collaboration and design-to-code features.
subject of: Sketch vs Penpot

Sketch vs Penpot — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Sketch vs Penpot. Contains 142 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: Compatibility
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: Extensibility
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: Cost
variable measured: Learning Curve (1-10 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Template Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content
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: Team Management
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: Developer Features
variable measured: Design System Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Cross-Platform Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Available Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Real-time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Prototyping Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Market Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Open Source
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development Model
variable measured: Self-Hosting Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
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: Application Load Time (4GB RAM)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
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: Collaboration
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
variable measured: Component Library Functionality
variable measured: Prototype Interactivity Level
variable measured: Global Design Tool Market Share 2026
variable measured: Subscription Cost (Monthly Equivalent)
variable measured: Concurrent Collaboration Users
variable measured: Design Community Size
variable measured: Source Code Access
variable measured: Design System Features
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-penpot))

Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Sketch vs Penpot.
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Collaboration
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Teamwork
has defined term: Design Features
has defined term: Advanced Features
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Content
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Content Library
has defined term: Team Management
has defined term: Publishing
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Development Model
has defined term: Deployment
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: Sharing & Collaboration
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Developer Tools
has defined term: Resources
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Code Philosophy
has defined term: Availability
has defined term: Team Features
has defined term: Platform
has defined term: User Satisfaction
has defined term: AI Capabilities
has defined term: Convenience
has defined term: Workflow
has defined term: Data Control

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

Team Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: team-management
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

Development Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-model
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sharing & Collaboration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sharing-&-collaboration
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resources
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Code Philosophy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: code-philosophy
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Availability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: availability
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Team Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: team-features
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Satisfaction
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-satisfaction
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-capabilities
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Convenience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: convenience
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Data Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-control
in defined term set: Sketch vs Penpot — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-08T16:23:02.410Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: sketch-vs-penpot))
main entity: Is Penpot good enough to replace Sketch professionally?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Penpot is viable for small to mid-sized design projects and teams with simpler workflows, but struggles with large files (50+ artboards) and lacks the mature plugin ecosystem that many professional teams rely on. For enterprise-scale work, teams requiring specific integrations (Jira, Asana, Salesforce), or performance-critical projects, Sketch remains superior. However, Penpot excels for collaborative teams and organizations prioritizing cost savings.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use Penpot offline or do I need internet?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: The cloud version requires internet connectivity. However, Penpot's open-source nature allows self-hosting on your own servers, which provides offline-capable deployments. Self-hosted Penpot eliminates cloud dependency but requires technical setup and server maintenance.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Sketch work on Windows as well as macOS?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Sketch is macOS-primary with Windows support available, but the Windows version frequently lags behind macOS in feature releases by 2-4 months. Critical updates often ship to macOS first. For Windows-primary teams, Penpot's browser-based approach provides better cross-platform parity.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the cost difference over 3 years for a team of 5 designers?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Sketch costs approximately $2,520-3,600 per 5-person team over 3 years ($14-20/month × 5 × 36 months). Penpot Free Plan costs $0, while Penpot Cloud Pro costs $1,800 (5 users × $10/month × 36 months). For budget-constrained teams, Penpot saves $1,720-3,600 over 3 years.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better performance on Macs with M1/M2 chips?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Sketch's native macOS app is highly optimized for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) with excellent performance. Penpot, being web-based, depends on browser optimization and doesn't get the same native chip benefits. Sketch edges out Penpot on Mac performance by 30-50% on large files due to native ARM64 optimization.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Sketch and Penpot
type: HowTo
description: Sketch is a mature, industry-standard design tool optimized for UI/UX work with superior performance and plugin ecosystem, while Penpot is a free, open-source alternative with web-based collaboration and lower cost but less mature tooling and smaller community.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Pricing Model
step: Consider: Platform Type
step: Consider: Open Source
step: Consider: Performance on Large Files (50+ artboards)
step: Consider: Plugin Ecosystem
step: Consider: Real-time Collaboration Features
step: Consider: Market Adoption (2024)
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Sketch if you're a professional UI/UX designer prioritizing performance, plugin ecosystem maturity, and industry-standard tools that integrate with enterprise workflows. Choose Penpot if you need a cost-free solution with native web-based collaboration, don't mind limitations in large file handling, and prefer supporting open-source infrastructure.

Consider: Pricing Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Pricing Model: Sketch has $12-14/month (annual) or $20/month (monthly), while Penpot has Free forever plan + $10/month Cloud Pro.

Consider: Platform Type
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Platform Type: Sketch has Native macOS/Windows desktop application, while Penpot has Web-based, browser-accessible from any device.

Consider: Open Source
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Open Source: Sketch has Proprietary closed-source, while Penpot has 100% open-source (GNU Affero v3).

Consider: Performance on Large Files (50+ artboards)
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Performance on Large Files (50+ artboards): Sketch has Excellent responsiveness, <100ms interaction latency, while Penpot has Moderate performance, 200-400ms interaction latency.

Consider: Plugin Ecosystem
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Plugin Ecosystem: Sketch has 15,000+ plugins and integrations available, while Penpot has 200-300 plugins and integrations.

Consider: Real-time Collaboration Features
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Real-time Collaboration Features: Sketch has Basic comments and version history, while Penpot has Native real-time multiplayer editing + comments.

Consider: Market Adoption (2024)
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Market Adoption (2024): Sketch has 62% of design professionals use Sketch, while Penpot has 8-12% of design professionals use Penpot.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Sketch vs Penpot
review body: Sketch is a mature, industry-standard design tool optimized for UI/UX work with superior performance and plugin ecosystem, while Penpot is a free, open-source alternative with web-based collaboration and lower cost but less mature tooling and smaller community.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Sketch vs Penpot

Annual Cost per Editor
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $299 | Penpot: $0 (free forever)
value reference: Penpot

Available Plugins/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 9,000+ | Penpot: N/A

Operating System Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: macOS 10.13+ only | Penpot: N/A

Real-Time Collaboration Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Limited (file sharing only) | Penpot: N/A

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

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

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

Free Plan Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: No free tier | Penpot: N/A

Monthly Cost (Individual Editor)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $11.99 | Penpot: N/A

Annual Cost (Single License)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $99 | Penpot: N/A

Concurrent Real-time Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Requires workarounds | Penpot: N/A

File Performance Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 800+ without degradation | Penpot: N/A

Component Library Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Shared symbols with nesting | Penpot: N/A

Prototype Interactivity Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Advanced with animations | Penpot: N/A

Global Design Tool Market Share 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 22% | Penpot: N/A

Subscription Cost (Monthly Equivalent)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $12/month (or $129 one-time) | Penpot: N/A

Concurrent Collaboration Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 15 concurrent users | Penpot: Unlimited

Design Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 8+ years of resources | Penpot: 4+ years of resources
value reference: Sketch

Source Code Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Proprietary/Closed | Penpot: 100% Open Source (GitHub)

Design System Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Advanced (Symbols, Shared Styles, Tokens) | Penpot: Good (Components, Shared Libraries)

Monthly Subscription Cost (Annual Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $12 | Penpot: N/A

Prototyping Interaction Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Basic (transitions, drag triggers) | Penpot: N/A

Real-time Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Yes (Slack integration only) | Penpot: N/A

Performance on Large Files (100+ Artboards)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Excellent (instant load) | Penpot: N/A

Creative Cloud Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: None (third-party workarounds) | Penpot: N/A

Free Version Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: No (30-day trial only) | Penpot: N/A

Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $12/month | Penpot: N/A

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 30 days | Penpot: N/A

Native Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Mac (Web beta) | Penpot: N/A

Built-In Prototyping Interactions
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Limited via plugins (~5) | Penpot: N/A

Design System Symbol Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Advanced with nested symbols | Penpot: N/A

Collaborative Real-Time Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Available in beta/plugins | Penpot: N/A

Automated Developer Handoff
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Requires integration (Zeplin, Abstract) | Penpot: N/A

Platform Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: macOS only + Web viewer | Penpot: N/A

Prototype Interaction Types
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 6-8 basic interactions | Penpot: N/A

Free Cloud Storage
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Limited free tier (projects only) | Penpot: N/A

Market Share Among UX Designers
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 22% of design tools market (2024) | Penpot: N/A

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 15-20 min (macOS native install) | Penpot: N/A

Annual Subscription Cost (Individual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $168 | Penpot: N/A

Onboarding Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 20+ hours | Penpot: N/A

Design System Token Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Advanced design tokens with shared libraries | Penpot: N/A

Pre-Built Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Limited; community-contributed | Penpot: N/A

Real-Time Multiplayer Collaboration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Via plugins; file-based | Penpot: N/A

Professional Designer Adoption (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 18% | Penpot: N/A

Maximum Recommended File Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 1,000+ MB | Penpot: N/A

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Full design support | Penpot: N/A

Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 6-10 hours | Penpot: N/A

Real-Time Co-Editing Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Third-party plugins only | Penpot: N/A

Prototyping Animation Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Basic: 4-5 transition types (fade, slide, push, pop) | Penpot: 8-10 (basic transitions)
value reference: Penpot

Average File Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 2-5 MB per project | Penpot: N/A

Design System Component Libraries
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Shared symbols with cloud sync via subscription | Penpot: N/A

Annual Subscription Cost (Year 1)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $120 | Penpot: N/A

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $600 | Penpot: N/A

Operating Systems Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 2 (macOS, Web beta) | Penpot: N/A

Cloud Storage Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 0 (third-party integration only) | Penpot: N/A

Prototyping Interaction Triggers
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 6 | Penpot: N/A

Real-Time Collaborative Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Unlimited (2024+) | Penpot: N/A

File Format Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Sketch, SVG, PDF export | Penpot: N/A

Monthly Cost (Individual License)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $14/month (annual billing) or $20/month (monthly) | Penpot: $0-10/month (Free or Cloud Pro)
value reference: Penpot

File Performance (Artboards)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Optimal up to 200+ artboards with <100ms interaction latency | Penpot: Degrades at 50+ artboards with 200-400ms latency
value reference: Sketch

Real-time Multiplayer Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Comments only; async collaboration | Penpot: Native multiplayer with simultaneous cursors

Market Adoption (Design Professionals)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 62% of design professionals (2024) | Penpot: 8-12% of design professionals (2024)
value reference: Sketch

Open Source Status
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Proprietary closed-source | Penpot: Open-source (GNU Affero v3)

Platform Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: macOS and Windows desktop apps | Penpot: Any browser on any OS (web-based)

Design-to-Code Export
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Via third-party plugins (Zeplin, Abstract) | Penpot: Native CSS, HTML, SVG export built-in

Annual Cost per User
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: $99 one-time + $99/year | Penpot: N/A

Maximum Team Size (Optimal)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Up to 5 efficiently | Penpot: N/A

Prototyping Interactivity Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: Basic (5-10 interaction types) | Penpot: N/A

Desktop Application Performance
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 65 MB/s average | Penpot: N/A

Cross-Platform Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: macOS only | Penpot: N/A

Community Plugin Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 800+ plugins | Penpot: N/A

Average Project File Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: 10 MB for complex UI | Penpot: N/A

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: 4.2/5

Professional Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: $89/month

Team Plan Cost (5 users)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: $89/month

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: 250,000+

AI-Assisted Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: No native AI tools (community experiments only)

Base Subscription Cost (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Free (Premium optional €60/year)

File Load Time (50MB)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: 8-12 seconds

Simultaneous Multiplayer Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Full real-time co-editing with 20+ users

Installation Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: No (browser-based only)

Adobe App Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: No direct integration

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Yes (open-source)

Maximum Active Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: 20+

Base Monthly Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: $0 (self-hosted)

Team Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: $192/month unlimited (or free self-hosted)

Prototype Frame Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: 30-45 FPS

Self-Hosting Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Yes (Docker, Kubernetes)

GitHub Stars
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: 30,000+

Annual Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: $0 (Premium: $120)

Real-Time Collaborative Editors
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Unlimited

Cloud Storage (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Unlimited projects

Design System Libraries
type: PropertyValue
value: Sketch: N/A | Penpot: Community plugins; native support developing

SpeakableSpecification
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xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
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Sketch — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Penpot — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Sketch vs Penpot
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/sketch-vs-penpot))
object: Sketch
object: Penpot

File Performance Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

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

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

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: Sharing & Collaboration

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

Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Native Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Built-In Prototyping Interactions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Design System Symbol Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

Automated Developer Handoff
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Tools

Platform Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Prototype Interaction Types
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Prototyping

Free Cloud Storage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Market Share Among UX Designers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

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

Onboarding Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Design System Token Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Pre-Built Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Resources

Real-Time Multiplayer Collaboration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Professional Designer Adoption (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Maximum Recommended File Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Offline Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Real-Time Co-Editing Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Prototyping Animation Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average File Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Design System Component Libraries
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Subscription Cost (Year 1)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Operating Systems Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Cloud Storage Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Prototyping Interaction Triggers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

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

File Format Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Monthly Cost (Individual License)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

File Performance (Artboards)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Real-time Multiplayer Editing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Market Adoption (Design Professionals)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Open Source Status
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Code Philosophy

Platform Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Availability

Design-to-Code Export
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost per User
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Team Size (Optimal)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Team Features

Prototyping Interactivity Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Prototyping

Desktop Application Performance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Cross-Platform Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform

Community Plugin Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Average Project File Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Satisfaction

Professional Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Team Plan Cost (5 users)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

AI-Assisted Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Capabilities

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: Convenience

Adobe App Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Workflow

Self-Hosting Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Active Collaborators
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Base Monthly Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Team Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Prototype Frame Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Self-Hosting Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data Control

GitHub Stars
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Annual Cost (Single User)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

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

Cloud Storage (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Design System Libraries
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design System