Sketch
A vector-based design tool for digital design and UI/UX.
Price
$99/year (Standard License)
What is Sketch?
Sketch has long been a favorite among digital designers, especially those in the Apple ecosystem, for its intuitive interface and focus on high-quality UI/UX and web design. As a vector-based design tool, Sketch enables designers to create everything from mobile app interfaces to detailed website mockups with precision and speed.
One of Sketch’s biggest strengths is its robust plugin ecosystem, allowing users to extend its capabilities with tools for animation, collaboration, and design handoff. Shared Libraries and Symbols make it easy to maintain design consistency across projects, while real-time collaboration (added in recent versions) lets teams co-edit documents and gather feedback directly within the app.
Although Sketch is only available for macOS, it offers cloud collaboration features so that designers, stakeholders, and developers can view, comment, and inspect designs from any browser.
With its affordable pricing model and a vibrant community offering countless resources, Sketch remains a powerful solution for professional designers seeking a streamlined, Mac-centric workflow.
Best For
UX/UI designers, web designers, product teams, agencies, and creative professionals using macOS who need precise control over interface design and prototyping.
Key Features
Vector Editing: Create scalable, pixel-perfect UI/UX and web designs
Symbols & Shared Libraries: Reusable components and design systems for consistency
Plugins & Integrations: Large library for animation, prototyping, developer handoff, and more
Prototyping: Build interactive prototypes directly within design files
Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple team members can co-edit files and leave comments
Cloud Workspace: Share files, gather feedback, and inspect design specs in the browser
Export & Handoff: One-click asset export and developer handoff tools
Pricing
Plan | Price (Annually) | Key Features | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard | $120/user/year | All design features, real-time collaboration, cloud workspace | Unlimited |
Business | Custom | Advanced security, priority support, SSO | Unlimited |
Free 30-day trial available
Volume discounts for large teams
Perpetual license available (one-time payment, limited updates)
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Intuitive, Mac-native design experience
Robust plugin ecosystem
Great for building design systems and reusable UI components
Cloud collaboration and feedback tools
Affordable annual pricing
Cons:
macOS-only for editing (viewing and feedback available on web)
Some features require plugins
Less suitable for non-designers or cross-platform teams
Sketch Alternatives
Tool | Starting Price | Key Strengths | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
$0 | Browser-based, real-time collaboration | Yes | |
Adobe XD | $9.99/mo | Prototyping, integration | Limited |
InVision | $15/user/mo | Feedback, prototyping | Yes |
$12.99/mo | Easy design, templates | Yes |
Example Use Case
A UI designer uses Sketch to build a design system for a mobile app, creating reusable symbols and shared styles. The team collaborates in real time and hands off specs to developers using Sketch’s cloud workspace.
Final Verdict
Sketch remains a premier choice for Mac-based UI and web designers, delivering a clean interface, powerful design tools, and an active plugin community. While limited to macOS for editing, its combination of precision, collaboration, and affordability makes it an enduring favorite in the design industry.
