Sketch is a Mac-native design tool built specifically for UI and UX design. It replaced Photoshop for interface design by offering vector-based tools, artboards for multiple screens, and symbols for reusable components. The appeal is native Mac performance, precise vector editing, and a plugin ecosystem that extends functionality. Sketch dominated UI design from 2010 to 2020 before Figma’s real-time collaboration shifted the market.

Key Specs

Price	$120/year subscription or $120 one-time license
Platform	Mac only (web viewer for sharing)
Best for	UI/UX design, design systems, icon design
Learning curve	2-4 hours for basics; weeks for components

How Designers Use Sketch

For UI Mockups and Screen Design

Create artboards for each screen size (iPhone, iPad, desktop). Use shapes, text, and imported assets to build interfaces. Sketch’s vector tools feel more precise than Figma’s, especially for icon design or detailed illustrations. The Inspector panel shows exact pixel values, making it easy to match redlines.

For Design Systems with Symbols and Libraries

Build components as symbols with nested overrides. Change text, images, or styles in symbol instances without detaching. Publish symbols to a shared library so your team can use components across files. Sketch’s symbol system is powerful but has a steeper learning curve than Figma’s components.

For Prototyping User Flows

Link artboards with hotspots to create clickable prototypes. Add transitions, overlays, and interactions (hover, press). Sketch’s prototyping isn’t as advanced as Principle or ProtoPie, but it’s enough for user testing and stakeholder demos. The convenience of having it built-in saves time.

For Developer Handoff

Use Sketch’s built-in Inspect mode or export to tools like Zeplin. Developers can view CSS properties, download assets, and measure spacing. Unlike Figma’s Dev Mode (paid), Sketch’s inspect features are free for all users.

Sketch vs. Alternatives

Feature	Sketch	Figma	Adobe XD
Platform	Mac only	Browser, Mac, Win, Linux	Mac, Windows
Price	$120/year or one-time	Free tier; $15/editor/month	Free tier; $10/editor/month
Offline work	✅ Native app	❌ Requires internet	✅ Desktop app
Real-time collaboration	✅ Since 2021	✅ Built-in	⚠️ Limited
Vector editing	✅ Excellent	✅ Good	✅ Good
Plugin ecosystem	✅ Large	✅ Large	⚠️ Small
Design systems	✅ Symbols/Libraries	✅ Components/Variables	⚠️ Basic
Performance	✅ Native speed	⚠️ Browser limits	✅ Native

Choose Sketch if: You’re a Mac user who values native app performance, works offline frequently, or prefers one-time purchase pricing over subscriptions.

Choose Figma if: You work on remote teams, need cross-platform support, or want the most popular tool with the largest job market demand.

Choose Adobe XD if: You’re already paying for Creative Cloud and need tight integration with Photoshop and Illustrator.

Getting Started with Sketch

A 15-minute quick start to creating your first design:

Step 1: Create artboards for your screens

Press A to select the Artboard tool. Choose a preset (iPhone 15, iPad, Desktop) from the Inspector panel on the right, or drag to create a custom size. Artboards are independent canvases within one file.

Step 2: Design with shapes and text

Use R for rectangles, O for circles, T for text. Sketch’s vector tools are precise: you can see exact pixel values in the Inspector. Add fills, borders, and shadows from the right panel. Hold Cmd while resizing to ignore constraints.

Step 3: Create reusable symbols

Select elements you want to reuse (a button, card, or navigation bar). Press Cmd + Option + K to create a symbol. Drag symbol instances from the left sidebar. Edit the master symbol and all instances update automatically.

Sketch in Your Design Workflow

Sketch fits into Mac-centric workflows and integrates with other design tools.

• Before Sketch: Research and wireframes (paper, Whimsical, FigJam)
• During design: Sketch for detailed UI mockups and design systems
• After Sketch: Export to Zeplin or Abstract for handoff, or use Sketch Cloud for sharing

Common tool pairings:

• Sketch + Abstract for version control (like Git for design files)
• Sketch + Zeplin for developer handoff with specs and assets
• Sketch + InVision for interactive prototypes and user testing
• Sketch + Craft (plugin) for pulling real data into mockups

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

“Sketch files are huge and slow”

Large files (100MB+) with many artboards and symbols slow down Sketch. Break projects into multiple files linked via libraries. Delete unused symbols (Edit > Unused Symbols). Flatten complex shapes (Layer > Combine > Union). Use vector shapes sparingly; rasterize complex illustrations.

“Symbols don’t behave like I expect”

Sketch’s symbol overrides can be confusing. Overrides only work on direct children of the symbol, not nested groups. To make text or images swappable, put them directly inside the symbol, not in subgroups. Use symbol instances, not copies (instances have a purple badge).

“Collaboration is clunky compared to Figma”

Sketch’s collaboration (via Workspaces) works but isn’t as smooth as Figma’s. Multiple editors can conflict if editing the same artboard simultaneously. Use Abstract for version control or assign artboards to different team members. For heavy collaboration, Figma is easier.

“Can’t open Sketch files on Windows”

Sketch is Mac-only. Use the web viewer (Sketch Cloud) to share with Windows users. They can view, comment, and inspect, but not edit. For cross-platform teams, migrate to Figma or use a Mac for design work and share exports.

“Should I switch from Sketch to Figma?”

It depends. If you work solo on Mac and value offline work, Sketch is fine. If you collaborate remotely, Figma’s real-time features are worth the switch. Many companies have moved to Figma for hiring (larger talent pool) and collaboration. Sketch still wins for native performance and one-time pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Sketch remains popular among Mac-focused designers who value native app performance and prefer a one-time license option. It’s a cost-effective choice for freelancers and small teams. However, Figma has captured most of the market for remote collaboration and cross-platform teams.

Learn Figma if you’re starting out, working on remote teams, or need cross-platform support. It has more job postings and community resources. Choose Sketch if you’re a Mac user who values native performance, offline work, and prefers desktop software over browser-based tools.

No. Sketch is Mac-only and always has been. For Windows, use Figma, Adobe XD, or Penpot. Sketch does offer a web viewer for sharing designs with Windows users, but you can’t edit on Windows.

Sketch offers two pricing options: Standard subscription at $10/editor/month (billed yearly at $120) with cloud collaboration, or a Mac-only license at $120 one-time with one year of updates. After the year, you can keep using that version or pay for updates.

Yes. Sketch is a native Mac app that works fully offline. Files save locally by default. Cloud features (Workspaces, collaboration) require internet, but you can design without connectivity. This is an advantage over browser-based tools like Figma.

Yes, since 2021. Sketch Workspaces enables real-time collaboration with multiplayer cursors, comments, and version history. However, Figma’s collaboration is more mature and smoother. Sketch’s collaboration works but feels like a feature added later, not built-in from the start.

Yes. Figma can import .sketch files (File > Import). Most elements transfer correctly, but complex symbols, plugins, or Sketch-specific features may not convert perfectly. Expect to fix some things after import. Going from Figma to Sketch is harder.