# Sketch vs Adobe XD Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Sketch is the top pick for most Mac users looking at UI design. It has a free tier and installs in one Homebrew command. Adobe XD is the stronger choice if you want ui design. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask sketch and brew install --cask adobe-xd. For most Mac users in 2026, Sketch is the better choice for UI design because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#82). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Adobe XD instead if you want ui design. ## Head to head | Factor | Sketch | Adobe XD | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Paid | Paid | | Open Source | No | No | | Replaces | — | — | | Best for | design, ui, vector | ui design, ux, prototyping | | Install | brew install --cask sketch | brew install --cask adobe-xd | | Category | Design & Creative | Design & Creative | ## Sketch Digital design toolkit for UI/UX Install: `brew install --cask sketch` [Sketch on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/sketch) ## Adobe XD UI/UX design and prototyping tool for designing web and mobile experiences. Install: `brew install --cask adobe-xd` [Adobe XD on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/adobe-xd) ## Features - **Development Status.** Sketch wins. XD is effectively end-of-life for new work. - **Platform and Performance on Mac.** Sketch is faster and more at home on Tahoe. - **Prototyping and Collaboration.** Sketch still ships collaboration updates; XD has been frozen since 2023. - **Plugin Ecosystem.** Sketch plugins still ship; XD plugins are mostly archival. - **Pricing.** Sketch is the transparent paid choice; XD has no meaningful standalone price for new buyers. - **File Compatibility and Migration.** Both handle migration files; Sketch is the destination, XD the archive. - **Design System Support.** Sketch is the stronger design-system host in 2026. ## FAQ ### Is Adobe XD still available in 2026? For existing Creative Cloud subscribers, yes in maintenance mode (XD 57.x) for bugs and security only. There are no new features and no standalone XD sales to new customers since June 2023. ### Is XD the same as Figma? No. Adobe acknowledged XD would not receive new features after acquiring an interest in Figma; for new browser-based multiplayer design, teams now choose Figma. Sketch is the Mac-native alternative. ### How much does Sketch cost? Sketch Workspace Standard is $12 per editor per month billed annually, plus $9 per viewer per month. A free trial is available on sketch.com. ### Can Sketch open XD files? Yes via its importer and community Figma intermediates. Rebuild Components as Sketch Symbols/Libraries and re-link prototype flows. Verify fonts and auto-animate transitions after import. ### Which runs better on Tahoe and M3/M4? Sketch. It is a native Apple Silicon macOS app with ongoing performance work for Tahoe. XD runs but without Tahoe-era optimisation. ### Should I start a new project in XD? No. Start new UI work in Sketch or Figma. Use XD only to open and export legacy .xd files while you migrate. ### Is Sketch Mac only? The editor is Mac only; stakeholders view and comment via Workspace in any browser. Windows/Linux collaborators use the browser handoff, not the native editor. ### Is Affinity Designer a better XD replacement than Sketch? Affinity can open design files and suits illustration-heavy work, but for UI systems, shared Libraries, and developer handoff on Mac, Sketch remains the closer day-to-day replacement for teams leaving XD. Some teams also evaluate Figma when browser multiplayer matters more than native Mac performance. ## Sources - [Sketch official site](https://www.sketch.com/) - [Sketch releases](https://www.sketch.com/updates/) - [Sketch pricing](https://www.sketch.com/pricing/) - [Adobe XD help and support](https://helpx.adobe.com/support/xd.html) - [Adobe XD discontinued](https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/22/23769586/adobe-xd-discontinued-shutting-down-figma-design-app) - [Adobe XD maintenance mode overview](https://mapsoft.com/posts/adobe-xd-end-of-life.html) - [macOS Tahoe](https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-tahoe/) ## Related - [Figma vs Sketch](https://bundl.run/compare/figma-vs-sketch) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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