About 10; min
Figma dominates UI design. Sketch held the crown before it. In 2026, Figma is browser-based and cross-platform while Sketch remains Mac-only. We compared pricing, features, and collaboration to find out if Sketch still has a place — or if Figma has won completely.
Last updated: March 18, 2026. Prices sourced from figma.com and sketch.com.
Pricing Comparison
| Figma | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 3 files, unlimited viewers | Free viewer, 30-day trial for editing |
| Entry paid | Professional Full: $16/editor/mo | Standard: $10/editor/mo |
| Business | Organization: $55/editor/mo | Business: $20/editor/mo |
| Enterprise | $90/editor/mo | Custom |
| Mac-only license | N/A (browser-based) | $120 one-time perpetual |
| Platform | Browser + desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux) | Mac only |
Sketch is cheaper at every tier. But that $6/editor difference hides a much bigger gap in capabilities.
The Platform Question
This is the elephant in the room. Sketch is Mac-only. If anyone on your team uses Windows or Linux, Sketch isn’t an option. Full stop.
Figma runs in the browser. Any device, any OS. Open a link, start designing. No downloads, no installation, no “can you export that as a PNG because I can’t open Sketch files.”
For teams with mixed OS environments — which is most teams — this alone decides the comparison.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time collaboration | Built-in, simultaneous editing | Added later, less seamless |
| Dev handoff | Dev Mode (dedicated seat type) | Inspector view |
| Prototyping | Built-in, advanced interactions | Basic (relies on third-party) |
| Design systems | Shared libraries, branching | Shared libraries |
| Plugins | 1,000+ (runs in browser) | Community plugins (Mac app) |
| AI features | Emerging (2025-2026) | Limited |
| Offline work | Limited | Full offline (Mac app) |
| Performance (large files) | Can lag on massive files | Faster with native Mac performance |
| Version control | Built-in history | Built-in history + Git integration |
| Free viewers | Unlimited on all plans | Free viewer app |
Cost Comparison: Design Teams
| Team | Figma Professional | Sketch Standard | Savings with Sketch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 designers | $576/yr | $360/yr | $216/yr |
| 5 designers | $960/yr | $600/yr | $360/yr |
| 10 designers | $1,920/yr | $1,200/yr | $720/yr |
$720 saved/year
Figma: $16 × 10 × 12 = $1,920/year
Sketch: $10 × 10 × 12 = $1,200/year
But Figma includes free viewer seats for devs, PMs, and stakeholders. Sketch doesn’t charge for viewers either, but collaboration is less seamless.
Sketch saves money on paper. But when you factor in Figma’s Dev Seats ($12/mo vs giving devs Full access), real-time collaboration, and cross-platform access, the total cost picture shifts. Teams that would need workarounds on Sketch (exporting files, scheduling reviews, managing versions manually) pay in time instead of money.
Who Should Pick What
All-Mac team, budget-conscious: Sketch. $10/editor is hard to beat, and native Mac performance is excellent for large files.
Mixed-platform team: Figma. No discussion. Sketch doesn’t work on Windows/Linux.
Team with non-designer collaborators (devs, PMs): Figma. Browser-based access + free viewer seats + Dev Mode makes cross-team collaboration frictionless.
Solo designer on Mac: Sketch’s $120 perpetual license is the cheapest option long-term. Or Figma Free (3 files) if you work on few projects.
Design system at scale: Figma. Branching, merging, and org-wide libraries (Organization tier) are more mature than Sketch’s equivalents.
Most teams in 2026: Figma. The industry has largely moved to Figma. New designers learn Figma first. The ecosystem, plugin library, and community are bigger. Sketch is still good — but it’s fighting an uphill battle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sketch dead?
No. Sketch still has loyal users, especially solo Mac designers and teams that value offline performance. But its market share has declined significantly since Figma went mainstream. It’s a niche tool now, not the default.
Can I open Sketch files in Figma?
Yes. Figma can import .sketch files. The conversion isn’t always perfect (some effects and overrides may need adjustment), but it works for most files.
Is Sketch really cheaper than Figma?
Per-editor seat, yes ($10 vs $16). But Figma’s seat type system (Full, Dev, Collab, View) means not everyone needs a $16 seat. Figma Dev Seats at $12 are close to Sketch’s price. Real-world team costs are often similar.
Should I learn Figma or Sketch in 2026?
Figma. Job listings overwhelmingly require Figma. Learning Sketch is still valuable if you work in a Sketch-based agency, but Figma is the industry standard.
Pricing data sourced from figma.com/pricing and sketch.com/pricing on March 18, 2026. Verify current pricing before purchasing.
