Figma is a browser-based design tool that has largely replaced Sketch with real-time collaboration. Sketch is a Mac-only native app. Figma has 4M+ users and has become the industry standard for UI/UX design teams. Sketch is still loved by solo Mac designers.
Figma vs Sketch — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Figma has won the UI design market. Sketch remains viable for Mac-only designers but lacks Figma's collaboration and cross-platform access.
Cloud-based collaborative design platform with real-time editing and cross-platform accessibility.
Native macOS design application optimized for UI/UX with local file control and plugin ecosystem.
Structured comparison data for Figma vs Sketch with 288 attributes.
Monthly Subscription Cost (Single Editor)
Starter Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
Monthly Subscription Cost (Professional Plan)
Estimated Time to First Design (Beginner)
Team Collaboration - Simultaneous Editors
Professional Design Tool Market Share (2025)
Average Time to Proficiency for New Users
Cloud Storage Included (Free Plan/Trial)
Market Share Among UI/UX Designers (2024)
Market Share Among Professional Designers
Performance on Large Files (100+ Artboards)
Figma vs Sketch — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Figma vs Sketch.
For most product design teams, yes — Figma is the better choice. It runs cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux), has superior real-time collaboration built in from the start, has a larger plugin ecosystem (1,500+ vs 400+), and is the dominant tool at tech companies. Figma's Dev Mode simplifies developer handoff significantly. Sketch remains excellent for Mac-only studios, designers who prefer offline desktop tools, and teams that value Sketch AI's OpenAI-powered generative features. If your team has any Windows users, Sketch is not an option (Mac-only).
Figma has a free plan that includes unlimited editors, 3 projects, and unlimited personal files. The free plan is fully functional for individual designers and small personal projects. Professional teams typically need the Professional plan ($12/editor/month) for unlimited projects, version history, and team sharing features. The Organization tier ($45/editor/month) adds design tokens (Variables), branching, and advanced admin features useful for larger design systems. Enterprise ($75/editor/month) adds SSO, advanced security, and dedicated support.
No — Sketch is Mac-only. It runs exclusively on macOS and requires an Apple device (Mac, MacBook). There is no Windows or browser version. This is Sketch's most significant competitive disadvantage in cross-functional teams that include Windows users (common in enterprise environments). If your team has any Windows or Linux users, Figma (browser-based) or Adobe XD are the primary alternatives. For Mac-only teams, this limitation is irrelevant.
What happened to Adobe's Figma acquisition?
Adobe announced an acquisition of Figma for $20 billion in September 2022. The deal was blocked by both the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and European Union regulators, who concluded the acquisition would reduce competition in the design software market. Adobe and Figma mutually terminated the merger agreement in December 2023, with Adobe paying Figma a $1 billion termination fee. Figma remains independent and has continued developing its platform. This outcome is broadly considered positive for the design software market, as it preserved Figma as an independent competitor to Adobe's Creative Cloud tools.