About 10; min
Sketch costs $10/editor/month. Figma costs $16/editor/month. Both do UI/UX design. But Sketch is Mac-only and Figma runs everywhere. In 2026, does a Mac-exclusive design tool still make sense? We compared pricing, features, and the reason some designers still choose Sketch over Figma despite the industry trend.
All pricing verified March 2026 from sketch.com.
Sketch Pricing
| Plan | Price | Platform | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $10/editor/mo | Mac + Web | Unlimited viewers, real-time collaboration |
| Business | $20/editor/mo | Mac + Web | SSO, invoicing, priority support |
| Mac-only | $120/year (one-time per year) | Mac only | Offline, no cloud features |
Sketch offers something Figma doesn’t: a Mac-only license at $120/year with no per-editor pricing. One designer working offline pays $120/year total. Same designer on Figma: $192/year ($16 × 12).
$120 vs $192 /year
Sketch Mac-only: $120/year (offline, no collaboration)
Sketch Standard: $10 × 12 = $120/year (cloud + collaboration)
Figma Professional: $16 × 12 = $192/year
Sketch is 37% cheaper for solo designers.
Sketch vs Figma: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sketch | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Mac + Web (view/inspect) | Any browser + desktop apps |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes (Standard+) | Best-in-class |
| Prototyping | Basic | Advanced (interactions, animations) |
| Dev handoff | Inspect mode (web) | Dev Mode with code generation |
| Offline mode | Full Mac app offline | Limited |
| Native Mac performance | Optimized for macOS | Electron/browser |
| Symbols/components | Symbols | Components with variants |
| Plugin ecosystem | Good (Mac-based) | 1,800+ (browser-based) |
| Design systems | Libraries | Libraries + design tokens |
| Price (solo) | $120/year | $192/year |
| Price (10-person team) | $1,200/year | $1,920/year |
Where Sketch Still Wins
- Mac-native performance — Sketch runs natively on macOS. No Electron wrapper, no browser tab. Feels faster and smoother on large files than Figma’s web-based engine.
- Offline capability — full design work without internet. Airport, train, rural cabin — Sketch works anywhere. Figma needs connectivity for most features.
- Price — $10/editor vs $16/editor. For a 10-person design team, Sketch saves $720/year. The Mac-only license at $120/year is the cheapest professional design tool available.
- Data privacy — Mac-only license keeps files on your machine. No cloud upload. For teams with strict data policies, local-only design files are a requirement.
Where Sketch Loses
- Mac-only — the single biggest limitation. Windows and Linux designers can’t use Sketch. Cross-platform teams can’t standardize on it. Figma runs in any browser on any OS.
- Collaboration gap — Figma’s real-time collaboration is the industry standard. Multiple designers editing simultaneously feels seamless. Sketch added collaboration but it’s not as fluid.
- Prototyping — Figma’s prototyping engine handles complex interactions, transitions, and smart animations. Sketch’s prototyping is basic — most Sketch users need a separate tool (InVision, ProtoPie).
- Industry momentum — Figma is where the industry moved. Job postings specify Figma. Design courses teach Figma. New designers learn Figma first. Sketch’s market share has been declining since 2020.
- Dev handoff — Figma’s Dev Mode generates CSS, iOS, and Android code. Sketch’s inspect mode shows specs but doesn’t generate production code.
Who Should Pick What
All-Mac team, want cheapest option: Sketch Standard ($10/editor). 37% cheaper than Figma with solid design capabilities.
Solo Mac designer, offline work: Sketch Mac-only ($120/year). Cheapest professional design tool. Full offline capability.
Cross-platform team: Figma. Not negotiable — Sketch doesn’t run on Windows or Linux.
Need advanced prototyping: Figma. Sketch’s prototyping can’t compete with Figma’s interaction design tools.
Hiring new designers: Figma. New designers know Figma. Training someone on Sketch when the industry uses Figma creates unnecessary friction.
Currently on Sketch, team is happy: Stay. If your workflow works and your team is Mac-only, the cost savings justify staying. Don’t switch for trend reasons alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sketch dead?
No, but it’s declining. Sketch still has loyal users, particularly solo designers and small Mac-only teams. But new adoption has slowed significantly as Figma became the industry default.
Can I open Sketch files in Figma?
Yes. Figma imports .sketch files with high compatibility. Layers, symbols, and styles transfer. Complex overrides may need manual adjustment. Migration from Sketch to Figma is straightforward.
Why is Sketch cheaper than Figma?
Smaller market share means competitive pricing. Sketch also has lower infrastructure costs — the Mac-only license requires no cloud servers. Figma’s browser-based architecture costs more to run.
All pricing verified March 2026 from sketch.com.
