Figma
Free / from ~$12 per editor/mo
Sketch
From ~$12 per editor/mo or one-time license
Figma is the browser-based, real-time collaborative standard that runs on any OS. Sketch is the Mac-native original with a one-time-license option. Figma wins on collaboration and cross-platform; Sketch appeals to Mac purists who want to own their license.
Pick Figma if you work on a team, need real-time collaboration, and want files that open on any operating system in a browser. It is the modern default.
Pick Sketch if you are a Mac-based designer who values a fast native app and wants the option of a one-time license instead of a subscription.
Figma reshaped UI design by moving it into the browser with multiplayer collaboration, and it has become the default for most product teams. Sketch is the Mac-native tool that defined modern interface design before Figma existed, and it still has devoted users who prefer a fast native app and the option to buy a perpetual license rather than rent.
The core difference is collaboration and platform. Figma is real-time and OS-agnostic, so designers, engineers, and stakeholders can all open the same file in a browser. Sketch is Mac-only and, while it added collaboration features, it is not built around the same multiplayer model.
We compare price and licensing, collaboration, platform support, plugins, and prototyping.
| Quick facts | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Any OS (browser) | macOS only |
| Free plan | Yes | No (trial) |
| Starting paid price | ~$12 per editor/mo | ~$12 per editor/mo or license |
| Real-time collaboration | Best-in-class | Limited |
| One-time license option | No | Yes |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | F Figma | S Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time multiplayer editing | Yes | No |
| Runs on Windows / Linux | Yes | No |
| Prototyping | Yes | Yes |
| Plugin ecosystem | Large | Large |
| Dev handoff / inspect | Yes | Via Cloud / plugins |
| Offline use | Limited | Yes (native app) |
| Perpetual license option | No | Yes |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed 2026-05-30.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
Sketch is Mac-only, which rules it out for any team with Windows or Linux users.
Figma's real-time collaboration is hard to give up once a team relies on it; Sketch's collaboration is more limited.
Sketch's perpetual-license option appeals to people who dislike subscriptions, but you pay for updates after a year.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add Figma, Sketch, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.
See how the price has moved