There are multiple UI design tools and Figma & Sketch are one of the best tools. They have similar purposes regarding visual design, information architecture, and branding but they are very different from each other. web design agencies and Web designers now want to know which one is better for UX/UI design, team collaboration, prototyping, and more. It is essential for designers to count on the right set of tools to develop and deliver a high-quality product.

What is Sketch?

Sketch is a vector graphics application and the popular all-in-one platform for digital design — with collaborative design tools, and prototyping. It’s incredibly popular among UI and UX designers and they used it for creating concept pages, icons, and other web elements. You can save your files in formats like PNG, JPG, WebP, TIFF, and more. If you want greater functionality and flexibility, you can go with Sketch because it is reliable, stable, and continually updated with new features.

What is Figma?

Figma is a great design tool that helps you to build anything websites, applications, logos, and much more. If you want to design interfaces, Figma is a web-based UI and UX design application, with excellent design, prototyping, and code-generation tools. With Figma, designers can easily share their designs with developers who can then collaborate on them and provide feedback without having to switch tools or wait for files to export.

Sketch vs Figma: Key Differences

Let’s have a look at the key differences between Sketch and Figma to help you make an informed decision on where to invest your time and money.

Platform and Compatibility

Sketch is exclusive to macOS. To design and create files in Sketch, an Apple computer running macOS is required. You can also work locally. With Sketch compatibility, you can only create your designs on the Mac app and it allows users to view, share, and comment on the browser. Sketch offers effortless cross-platform compatibility with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and works seamlessly with a wide range of file formats.

On the other hand, Figma’s platform is cloud-based and is highly compatible with most major operating systems including Windows, iOS, and Android. Figma is a versatile design tool and can easily integrate with Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub. This is an ideal tool for design teams who want to collaborate effectively and efficiently because it is compatible with a wide range of software and file formats.

Performance

Sketch is very fast in terms of performance on Apple Silicon. If you are already familiar with working on apps on Mac, The platform will give you a good user experience.

In the Figma infrastructure, there is speed as well as stability. Even though it is a web-based application, it is just as fast as a desktop one and is fully responsible for the ultimate performance, scale, and availability of the collaborative design tool.

Pricing

Sketch does not have a free version; however, you pay $99 for a license version and you’ll get all the features and a year’s worth of updates. You can also now pay $9 per editor monthly for Sketch Standard access, with other deals for businesses.

Figma offers a free version and allows two people to edit a document at once and has an unlimited number of viewers. The professional version of Figma costs $12/month per editor. It can handle unlimited projects and provides custom file/user permissions and shareable team libraries. Also, It offers an organization version and costs $45/month which includes many benefits and features like plugins, SSO + advanced security, design system analytics, and more.

Both Sketch and Figma offer a free trial, so you can see which tool you prefer before making a financial commitment!

Features & Functionality

Sketch has powerful elements that have made it a mainstay of the industry for years. Sketch offers a wider range of tools and plug-ins that may be redundant and overly complicated earlier in the design process.

Figma also has many features that make it a popular service throughout the UI design industry.  Flexible vector manipulation is one of the hugely beneficial features of Figma. Vector editor is called vector networks and you can use this vector to connect multiple lines to one singular point.

There is no right or wrong choice in Sketch and Figma. Sketch and Figma are both amazing apps regarding usability, performance, functionality, and the provided features.  Both programs are capable of creating stunning interfaces and graphics. If you’re having trouble deciding which option is the best fit, contact Swayam Infotech and schedule a meeting for a detailed discussion.