Figma vs Sketch

Figma offers best-in-class, true real-time collaboration where multiple users can edit and comment on the same file simultaneously, with visible cursors. This seamless co-editing extends to prototypes and shared design systems, making it a game-changer for distributed teams and rapid iteration cycles. Changes are saved automatically to the cloud, eliminating version control issues.

Sketch has significantly improved its collaboration through Sketch Cloud and Workspace in 2026, allowing real-time collaboration on cloud documents and unlimited free viewers. While multiple users can now work on the same document, it’s not as fluid as Figma’s simultaneous editing; direct real-time editing often requires syncing or relying on shared libraries, rather than live cursors.

Figma is inherently web-based, making it accessible from any operating system with a modern browser (macOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS). It also offers native desktop apps, but its core functionality remains cloud-first. This cross-platform nature significantly broadens its user base and facilitates collaboration across diverse environments.

Sketch is exclusively a macOS native application. While it offers a web app for viewing, commenting, and developer handoff, full design editing still requires installation on a Mac. This limitation can be a significant hurdle for teams with mixed operating systems.

Figma excels in building and managing scalable design systems with shared components, styles, and variables. Its cloud-based nature ensures all team members work with the most current version, supporting consistent application of brand guidelines. Recent updates in 2026, including native slots and npm package support, further enhance its capabilities for composable, automated design systems.

Sketch offers robust symbol and shared library systems for creating reusable components and maintaining consistency. It provides strong tools for defining styles and text properties. While highly capable for building design systems, its synchronization and real-time updates across a team might require more manual effort or reliance on third-party tools compared to Figma's native cloud approach.

Figma boasts powerful prototyping features, allowing for complex interactive flows and advanced animations directly within the tool. It supports micro-interactions and motion design, enabling designers to visualize dynamic experiences. Prototypes are easily shared via links, and any changes automatically update.

Sketch offers in-app prototyping features for creating interactive flows with basic animations. While functional, its capabilities are generally less advanced than Figma's, especially for complex micro-interactions or motion design. Sharing prototypes often requires uploading to Sketch Cloud, and major changes may necessitate new links.

Figma provides an integrated and superior developer handoff experience through its 'Inspect' mode. Developers can directly access design specifications, measurements, and code snippets (React, Swift, Android) within the browser, often eliminating the need for separate plugins. Its 'Dev Mode' and 'Code Connect' features enhance the design-to-development pipeline in 2026.

Sketch offers free developer handoff tools via its web app, allowing developers to view designs, inspect elements, and export assets. However, for more comprehensive handoff, it often relies on third-party integrations like Zeplin, adding an extra step to the workflow.

Figma boasts a vibrant and rapidly growing plugin ecosystem accessible directly within the application. Its online community frequently contributes new tools and integrations. Figma's AI integrations and plugins in 2026 assist in tasks like layout generation and color scheme creation, enhancing workflow efficiency.

Sketch has a mature and extensive third-party plugin ecosystem, a historical strength that allows for significant customization and extension of its functionality. Many powerful plugins exist for specific tasks, though they integrate with the desktop app and require manual updates.

Figma provides powerful and intuitive vector editing capabilities, well-suited for UI elements and scalable designs for the web. Its tools are robust for creating detailed shapes, icons, and illustrations. While strong, some users might find Sketch offers slightly more precision for highly intricate vector paths.

Sketch excels in precise vector editing, a cornerstone of its desktop-native architecture. It offers a powerful suite of tools for creating scalable designs, from icons to complex illustrations, with a high degree of control and accuracy. This has historically been a significant strength, particularly for Mac users.