Figma vs Sketch - Detailed Comparison 2026
Figma is rated slightly higher on SAASAF.AI (4.7/5 vs 4.3/5). Figma starts at $12/month and has a free tier. Sketch starts at $10/month with no free tier.
Which Is Better, Figma or Sketch?
Figma holds a slight edge in user satisfaction with a rating of 4.7/5 compared to Sketch's 4.3/5. When it comes to features, Figma offers 7 capabilities while Sketch provides 6, with both sharing core functionality like Prototyping, Plugins. Figma differentiates with Real Time Collaboration and Design Systems, while Sketch stands out with Vector Editing and Symbols. On pricing, Sketch is the more budget-friendly option at $10/month compared to Figma at $12/month, and Figma also offers a free tier. Figma brings AI-powered capabilities to the table, which Sketch does not offer natively. Figma has broader platform support (3 platforms vs. 2), which may matter for teams with diverse device needs.
At a Glance
Full Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $[object Object] | $[object Object] |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| AI-Powered | Yes | No |
| AI Model | proprietary | N/A |
| Platforms | web, mac, windows | mac, web |
| Founded | 2012 | 2010 |
| Company Size | 1000+ | 51-200 |
| Integrations | 5+ | 3+ |
| Affiliate Program | No | No |
| Ai | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Layout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design Systems | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design Tokens | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dev Mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prototyping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real Time Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Symbols | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
How Much Do Figma and Sketch Cost?
Figma Pricing
Freemium
$[object Object]
Free tier available
Billed monthly
Figma offers a freemium pricing model starting at $12/month. A free tier is available with limited features.
Sketch Pricing
Subscription
$[object Object]
Billed monthly
Sketch uses a subscription pricing model starting at $10/month. No free tier is offered.
Pros and Cons
Figma Pros
- Real-time multiplayer editing is unmatched
- Components, Variants, and Variables enable real design systems
- Free tier supports unlimited individual files
- Dev Mode bridges design-to-code handoff
- Massive community and plugin ecosystem
Figma Cons
- Browser-based performance suffers on huge files
- Pricing per-editor adds up at scale
- Recent pricing changes confused existing customers
- AI features have been paused or rolled back amid IP concerns
Sketch Pros
- Native macOS performance is faster than browser tools
- Flexible pricing - one-time or subscription options
- Strong Symbol-based design system support
- Designer-first culture and clean UI
- Massive plugin library extends functionality
Sketch Cons
- Mac-only excludes Windows and Linux teammates
- Real-time collaboration trails Figma significantly
- Lost most enterprise market share to Figma
- Smaller community and learning resources today
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Figma if...
Best for: Figma is best for product teams, design systems leads, and agencies who need real-time collaborative design. Engineering teams benefit from Dev Mode for inspection and handoff.
- You need Design Prototyping
- You need Design Systems
Ideal for: individual, smb, enterprise
Industries: technology, design
Choose Sketch if...
Best for: Sketch is best for solo designers and small Mac-based teams who value native performance and one-time licensing. Teams with mixed-OS stakeholders should choose Figma instead.
- You need Design Prototyping
- You need Graphic Creation
- You need Design Systems
Ideal for: individual, smb
Industries: design, technology
Platform Availability
Figma
Available on Web, Mac, and Windows. Desktop apps are offered but no dedicated mobile apps are currently available.
Sketch
Available on Mac and Web. Desktop apps are offered but no dedicated mobile apps are currently available.
Explore More
Figma vs Sketch: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Figma or Sketch better?
Figma is rated slightly higher on SAASAF.AI, at 4.7/5 versus 4.3/5 for Sketch, but the better pick depends on your use case. Figma is best for product teams, design systems leads, and agencies who need real-time collaborative design. Sketch is best for solo designers and small Mac-based teams who value native performance and one-time licensing.
How does Figma pricing compare to Sketch?
Sketch is cheaper to start, at $10/month versus $12/month for Figma. Figma uses a freemium model and Sketch uses a subscription model. Only Figma offers a free tier. Listed figures are starting prices; seats, usage and add-ons can change the final bill.
What is the difference between Figma and Sketch?
Figma is a browser-based design and prototyping tool for UI/UX design. Sketch is a vector design tool for macOS focused on interface design. Figma lists features such as Real Time Collaboration, Design Systems and Dev Mode. Sketch lists Vector Editing, Symbols and Collaboration. Both cover Prototyping and Plugins.
What are alternatives to both Figma and Sketch?
Figma and Sketch share the same top alternatives on SAASAF.AI: Framer (4.5/5) and Adobe XD (4.1/5). Framer starts at $5/month and has a free tier. Adobe XD starts at $9.99/month with no free tier. Framer has a free tier.
What platforms do Figma and Sketch support?
Figma is available on Web, Mac and Windows. Sketch is available on Mac and Web. Figma integrations listed on SAASAF.AI include Slack, Jira and Notion. Sketch integrations include Zeplin, Abstract and Invision. Figma lists 5 integrations and Sketch lists 3 in the SAASAF.AI directory.