Figma vs Sketch

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Figma and Sketch are both popular design tools catering to different needs. Figma excels in real-time collaboration and accessibility, while Sketch offers powerful vector editing and a rich plugin ecosystem. Choose Figma for seamless teamwork and cross-platform compatibility, and Sketch for advanced design features and offline access.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 3766 reviews and 60 websites, saving 21 hours, 25 minutes of reading.

Figma

Website LinkedIn Twitter

Sketch

Website LinkedIn Twitter

About

Figma is an online design platform that helps teams design and build digital products. It allows for real-time collaboration between designers, developers and others, making it easier to create and test designs, gather feedback, and ensure everyone is working from the same information. Figma streamlines the design process, from wireframing and prototyping to handing off designs to developers. It's used by various sizes and types of companies for web design, app design, and more.

Sketch is a digital design platform built for professionals creating websites, apps, and other digital experiences. It provides a suite of tools for designing user interfaces, prototyping interactions, and collaborating with team members. Sketch is known for its user-friendly interface, powerful vector editing capabilities, and streamlined workflow for handing off designs to developers. It's a popular choice for individuals and teams of all sizes.

Summary

Main difference

Figma is a web-based design platform known for its real-time collaboration features and ease of use, making it ideal for teams that prioritize seamless teamwork and accessibility. Sketch, on the other hand, is a desktop-based application available only for macOS, offering powerful vector editing capabilities and a robust plugin ecosystem, making it a strong choice for designers who require advanced design tools and offline access.

Relative strengths of Figma (compared to Sketch)

Real-time collaboration facilitates seamless teamwork and feedback.
Web-based platform offers accessibility from any device with a browser.
User-friendly interface simplifies the design process.

Relative weaknesses of Figma (compared to Sketch)

Limited offline access can disrupt workflow in areas with poor internet connectivity.
Performance issues can occur with complex or large files.
MacOS only limits cross-platform compatibility.

Who is using Figma and Sketch?

Olesia Krilyshyn

Sales Acceleration Specialist at Reply.io

Andrew Charlton

SEO Consultant, Founder of SEO tool companies

No data

Who should use Figma VS. Sketch

Figma is a collaborative design platform ideal for teams of all sizes. Users praise its intuitive interface, real-time collaboration, and powerful prototyping. However, some have noted performance issues with large files and frustration with paid Dev Mode. Figma offers various pricing tiers to suit different needs.

Sketch is a user-friendly design platform ideal for UX/UI designers creating web and mobile applications. Its vector editing, prototyping tools, and streamlined developer handoff are praised by users. However, Mac-only availability and limited prototyping are drawbacks. Best for small to large businesses in E-commerce, IT, Marketing, and Advertising.

Best for small to large teams needing real-time design collaboration.
Ideal for software, IT, professional services, and various other industries.

Ideal for small, medium, and large businesses seeking a user-friendly design platform.
Excellent fit for E-commerce, IT, Marketing, and Advertising.

Figma and Sketch features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Inventory history tracking

Not supported

Figma does not support inventory tracking.

Not supported

Sketch is a design tool and does not support inventory tracking.
Design System Management

Supported

Figma supports design system management with components, styles, and shared libraries.

Supported

Sketch supports design systems with reusable components, styles, and guidelines for design consistency.
Prototyping

Supported

Figma allows designers to create interactive prototypes to test user flows and interactions.

Supported

Sketch allows designers to create interactive prototypes for testing user flows and interactions.
Real-time Co-editing

Supported

Figma allows multiple users to edit designs simultaneously and leave comments.

Supported

Sketch supports real-time co-editing for teams.
Web-based platform

Supported

Figma is a web-based platform that allows users to access and edit designs directly from a web browser.

Not supported

Sketch supports web access for sharing and commenting, but editing requires a macOS app.
Prototyping tools

Supported

Figma offers robust prototyping tools to create interactive prototypes, test and demonstrate UI functionality.

Supported

Sketch supports interactive prototyping with links, overlays, and scroll areas.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

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Customer Service

No data

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Ease of Use

No data

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Reliability and Performance

No data

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Ease of Implementation

No data

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Scalability

No data

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Figma and Sketch Pricing

Figma offers different pricing plans for teams of varying sizes and needs. Viewers are always free. Figma Slides will be generally available and included in the new Full, Dev, and Collab seats starting on March 11, 2025.

Plans

See full Pricing page

Sketch offers flexible subscription options for both individual designers and teams of all sizes. A 30-day free trial is available for the Standard subscription, and educational licenses are also available upon request.

Plans

See full Pricing page

Figma and Sketch review insights

Users love

Real-time collaboration features are praised for their effectiveness.
Figma is widely appreciated for its intuitive and user-friendly interface.
The prototyping features are powerful and easy to use.
The extensive library of plugins and integrations is a major advantage.

User-friendly interface and intuitive design tools.
Powerful vector editing capabilities.
Streamlined workflow for handing off designs to developers.
Robust plugin ecosystem extends functionality.
Symbols feature allows for reusable components.

Users dislike

Performance can suffer with large files, leading to lag and slow loading times.
Paying for Dev Mode access is frustrating for many users.
Offline access is very limited.
Advanced features can have a steep learning curve.

Sketch is only available on MacOS.
Prototyping functionality is limited.
Performance can be slow with large files.
Frequent updates can be disruptive, breaking plugins or changing UI.
Reliance on plugins for advanced features.

Figma and Sketch Ratings

G2

4.7/5

(1122)
Capterra

4.7/5

(661)

G2

4.5/5

(1207)
Capterra

4.6/5

(785)
Glassdoor

4.7/5

(20)

Company health

Employee growth

28% increase in the last year

2% increase in the last year

Web traffic

6% increase in the last quarter

No change in the last quarter

Financing

April 2024 - $749M

November 2018 - $20M

How important is cross-platform compatibility for your design team?

Cross-platform compatibility is very important for a design team. Figma is web-based and accessible on any operating system, while Sketch is macOS only. This limitation could significantly impact collaboration if team members use different operating systems or need to access designs from various devices. Therefore, Figma's cross-platform availability is a significant advantage for teams prioritizing accessibility and flexible workflows.

Which product’s collaboration features better suit your team’s workflow?

Figma's real-time collaboration features, praised for their effectiveness, better suit a team's workflow needing simultaneous editing and feedback. While Sketch offers real-time co-editing, Figma's broader collaborative features, including commenting and design system management with shared libraries, make it more suitable for teams prioritizing streamlined communication and version control during the design process.

What are the advantages of Figma?

Figma's key advantages are its real-time collaboration features, web-based accessibility, and robust prototyping tools. The real-time collaboration allows multiple users to work simultaneously, streamlining workflows and feedback. Being web-based eliminates the need for software downloads and facilitates access from any device. The strong prototyping tools enable interactive testing and demonstration of UI functionality, crucial for user-centered design. Furthermore, Figma offers a free starter plan, making it accessible to smaller teams or individuals.

What are the disadvantages of Figma?

Figma's performance can suffer with large files, leading to lag and slowdowns. Some users find paying for Dev Mode frustrating. Offline access is very limited, hindering work in areas with poor internet connectivity. Finally, while Figma is generally user-friendly, some advanced features have a steep learning curve.

Is Figma cheaper than Sketch?

Figma's pricing starts with a free plan, while Sketch's cheapest paid plan is $10/month. Therefore, Figma offers a free option making it cheaper than Sketch for users who can work within the limitations of the free plan. However, for teams requiring the features offered in paid plans, a direct price comparison depends on the specific plan chosen for each product and the number of users. Figma's per-seat pricing might make it more or less expensive than Sketch's flat rate and custom business pricing, depending on the team size and needs.

Alternatives to Figma and Sketch

Marvel

Marvel is a design platform that helps teams create digital products. It offers tools for wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and handoff to developers, all without needing coding skills. Marvel integrates with other popular tools and is used by companies of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a design platform for creating interactive prototypes of websites and mobile apps. It allows you to visually design screens, connect them to simulate user flow, and then share those prototypes for feedback or testing. You can create designs from scratch or bring in assets from other Adobe applications like Photoshop or Illustrator. Adobe XD integrates with other work tools and offers collaborative features.

Whimsical

Whimsical is a visual collaboration tool that helps teams think and work together. It offers a suite of tools including mind maps, flowcharts, wireframes, and documents, all designed to improve clarity and communication. Whimsical enables users to brainstorm ideas, plan projects, and create presentations in a collaborative and visual way. Its drag-and-drop interface and pre-built templates make it easy to use, even for non-technical users.

Framer

Framer is a website builder that helps teams design and launch professional websites. Its drag-and-drop interface and pre-designed templates make it easy to create visually appealing sites without coding. Framer includes features like responsive design tools, built-in SEO optimization, and a content management system for managing website content. It's suitable for individuals and businesses looking for an all-in-one solution for building and managing websites.

Onshape

Onshape is a cloud-based design platform for creating and managing product designs. It combines powerful 3D modeling tools with built-in collaboration and version control features. This means your design team can work together in real-time, from any location, without worrying about file compatibility or data loss. Onshape aims to speed up the design process, improve collaboration, and eliminate the headaches of traditional design software.

DesignFiles

DesignFiles is a cloud-based software designed for interior design businesses. It provides tools to manage projects, create 2D and 3D design boards, generate quotes, and process payments. The platform allows users to build a library of products, including their own, and share designs with clients. DesignFiles aims to increase productivity and profitability for interior design professionals.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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