Figma VS Sketch

It’s no secret that technology and creativity have walked hand in hand, and it has shaped the design industry in many profound ways. Due to which, design tools have emerged as indispensable assets to empower creative professionals in bringing their visions to life.

When it comes to designing tools, Sketch and Figma are two titans that have sparked debates and discussions amongst creative professionals worldwide. Each tool comes with its unique strengths and capabilities - but which one truly cuts sharper?

While both platforms share a common goal of providing powerful design tools and facilitating collaboration, they differ significantly in terms of features, workflows, and the overall user experience. Here, we offer a detailed comparison between these two design solutions to help you get an idea which tool best suits your requirements.

Sketch vs. Figma: Overview

Sketch and Figma are both widely used design tools that enable designers to create high-fidelity interfaces and collaborate seamlessly with their teams.

Sketch is renowned for its focus on macOS which provides a native experience for Mac users. It offers a wide range of design features and plugins, making it a popular choice among individual designers and design teams.

Figma, on the other hand, is a cloud-based design tool that runs directly in the browser, allowing for real-time collaboration and cross-platform accessibility. Figma's collaborative features make it a favorite among remote teams and designers who value collaboration and version control.

Sketch vs. Figma: Pros and Cons

• Sketch is primarily designed for macOS devices, and it is not available for any other devices. Whereas Figma is a web-based platform, and it is accessible from any device with a browser. Moreover, Figma also offers separate apps for different OS (i.e. Windows, macOS, Android and iOS).
• Figma’s color management options are limited compared to Sketch. This can potentially lead to color discrepancies across platforms.
• Figma requires internet access for most features, with some limitations in the desktop app's offline functionality. On the other hand, Sketch’s desktop application offers full functionality offline. You can create, edit, and access your entire library of designs without an internet connection.
• Figma offers excellent collaboration features compared to Sketch. Its built-in real-time collaboration allows multiple users to edit the same file simultaneously.

Sketch vs. Figma: In Terms of Features

Both Figma and Sketch differ from each other when it comes to prototyping, version controls, vector editing, canvas, integrations and more. Here is a comparison of Sketch vs Figma in terms of features:

• Prototyping: Sketch offers basic prototyping functionalities like creating flows and adding interactions. It heavily relies on plugins for more advanced features like micro-animations, design files import, creating overlays, etc. Moreover, it also lacks the advanced prototyping features offered by Figma, such as smart animate and interactive components.

On the other hand, Figma is known for its robust prototyping capabilities. It offers a wide range of interactive features and animations to bring designs to life. Moreover, Figma also offers more UI triggers such as “on click”, “while hovering” and “on drag” for prototyping which makes it easy for designers to create immersive prototypes without the need for external tools.

• Vector Editing: Sketch offers multiple vectors editing capabilities such as create shapes, select points, edit corners, combine shape layers, reverse order paths, and more. Moreover, its intuitive tools and shortcuts make the design process efficient and more seamless.

On the other hand, Figma uses WebGL (Web Graphics Library) to handle rendering and image processing for vector editing. This might be preferable for smoother performance while handling complex vector graphics. Its browser-based interface ensures that designers can access and edit their designs from anywhere, without the need for software installations.

• Color Management: Sketch and a few other Sketch alternatives offer superior color management with the ability to assign specific color profiles (P3, sRGB) to designs. This ensures color accuracy across different devices and platforms. On the surface, Figma has limited color profile options. The web app uses a managed sRGB profile by default, and you cannot change it. The desktop app offers some control over color profiles (managed or unmanaged), but it's not as flexible as Sketch.

• Canvas: Sketch uses Artboards as its canvas, and each document can only have one Artboard, though you can resize and duplicate it. Artboards are simple containers for your design elements. In contrast, Figma’s canvas is called Frames. You can have multiple Frames within a single Figma file, allowing for more flexible organization and nesting of design elements. Frames can also be resized and act as containers for other Frames.

Overall, Figma offers a more versatile canvas with its Frames. The ability to have multiple Frames within a file and nest them for creating complex layouts is a clear advantage. This makes Figma better suited for projects with several screens or intricate design systems.

• Handoff: Handoff refers to the process of transferring design assets and specifications to developers for implementation. Figma and a few Figma alternatives have built-in developer handoff features. Developers can access a dedicated "Inspect" view within Figma to see detailed specs like CSS, measurements, and asset codes directly from the design file. This streamlines the process and keeps everything centralized. Whereas Sketch primarily relies on external plugins like Zeplin or Avocode to bridge the gap between design and development. These plugins generate style guides, code snippets, and asset exports for developers.

• Version control: Version control is crucial for tracking design iterations and collaborating effectively. Sketch mostly relies on external version control systems like Git or Abstract for managing design revisions. This requires designers to integrate these tools with their workflow. Alternatively, Figma’s version history and control is built directly into the platform. This allows for easy rollback to previous versions and facilitates collaboration by showing who made what changes and when. Users can get the version history feature even with the free Figma plan.

Figma vs. Sketch: Collaboration

There is no doubt that Figma is one of the best designing tools out there with collaboration features. Figma is built for collaboration from the ground up. Multiple users can edit the same file in real-time, see each other's cursor’s move around the design, and discuss changes as they happen. This fosters a more streamlined and efficient workflow for design teams.

On the other hand, with Sketch, users need to buy a standard plan for real-time collaboration. Otherwise, collaboration is asynchronous through version history and cloud storage. This can be hard for teams who are working on a single design simultaneously.

Sketch vs. Figma: Plugins or Integration

Sketch offers a vast library of third-party plugins. These plugins address various needs, including prototyping (e.g., InVision), developer handoff (e.g., Zeplin), data visualization (e.g., Maniac), and even custom design tools. This extensive ecosystem allows for high customization of the Sketch experience. Sketch has hundreds of plugins and integrations for design and development, including Stark, Chart, Overflow, Slack, Notion, Trello and more.

On the other hand, Figma’s plugin ecosystem is growing, but it's not as extensive as Sketch's yet. Figma recently opened its platform for plugin development, so the ecosystem is likely to expand. However, for now, users might find limitations in finding specific plugins compared to Sketch.

Sketch vs. Figma: User Interface/Ease of use

Sketch has a minimal and focused UI designed specifically for Mac users. This can be very efficient for those familiar with the Mac ecosystem, with keyboard shortcuts and a streamlined layout. However, it might feel less intuitive for users new to design software or those on Windows.

Figma is a web-based interface that is accessible from any device with a browser. This makes it platform-agnostic and easier for new users to jump in. The interface prioritizes clarity and offers helpful tooltips.

Figma vs. Sketch: Pricing

Figma offers both free and paid plans. Figma’s free plan offers three collaborative design files and unlimited personal drafts. Its paid plan starts at $12 per month with unlimited files, team libraries and advanced prototyping. Moreover, Sketch doesn’t provide a free plan and its pricing starts at $10 per month per user and it is billed yearly.

Sketch vs. Figma: Customer Support

Sketch provides customer support through its knowledge base, community forums, and email support. However, some are often disappointed with the lack of live chat or phone support, especially when facing urgent issues.

Figma offers comprehensive customer support, including live chat, email support, and community forums. Its extensive documentation and active community make it easy for users to find answers to their questions and troubleshoot issues.

Conclusion

Both Sketch and Figma are powerful design tools with their strengths and weaknesses. Sketch is well-suited for macOS users who value native design experiences and extensive plugin support. On the other hand, Figma excels in collaboration and real-time teamwork, making it ideal for remote teams and designers who prioritize collaboration.

The choice between Sketch and Figma ultimately depends on individual preferences, team workflows, and project requirements. Designers should evaluate their specific needs and consider factors such as platform compatibility, collaboration features, and pricing before making a decision.