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Sketch

Website

Information

Usage
Rating
★★★★★(98)
Platform
MacWebiOS
Cost
$ 120

Other Info

No
FreeNo
ProgramsSketch
Individual
Yes
Team
Yes
AutomaticAutomatically generated specs
Yes
AssetsExport through Sketch Cloud Inspector
No
MeasureMeasure through Sketch Cloud Inspector
Yes
VariablesVariables shown in Sketch Cloud Inspector panel
No
Style GuideNo style guides
Yes
GuidesGuides can be viewed in handoff
No
LayersLayer hierarchy not present in handoff
Yes
CommentsReviewers can leave comments
Yes
RevisionsEach version is accessible in the Sketch Cloud Inspector
SharingWebMac

About Sketch

Sketch is a vector design tool built as a native Mac app by Sketch B.V., an independent company. It is used for interface design, design systems, icon work and simple prototyping, with free developer handoff in the browser.

Subscriptions add a web app for real-time collaboration and an iPhone and iPad app for previewing designs. A one-off Mac-only licence is still sold for people who want to work offline with local files.

Sketch now ships named releases on a calendar version scheme. Dublin (April 2026), Edinburgh (June 2026) and Florence (August 2026) added independent borders, Oklab and Oklch gradient interpolation, and more sizing options for Stacks. Its changelog also lists an MCP server and a design-to-code skill for AI agents.

Best for: Mac-based designers and teams who want a native, offline-capable design app with optional cloud collaboration.

Strengths

  • Native Mac app with offline work and local files.
  • One-off Mac-only licence available as an alternative to a subscription.
  • Unlimited free viewers and free developer handoff on subscription plans.
  • Steady release schedule with several updates a year.
  • 30-day free trial with no credit card required.

Limitations

  • The editor runs only on macOS (Sequoia 15.0 or later); Windows users can only view and inspect in the browser.
  • The Mac-only licence excludes collaboration, document sharing and iOS preview.
  • No free plan beyond the trial and education or non-profit offers.

Pricing

Standard is US$12 per editor per month, Professional $24 and Enterprise $44, all billed yearly. The Mac-only licence is $120 per seat, one-off, with one year of updates. There is a 30-day free trial for subscriptions. Checked October 2026.

When to pick something else

  • Figma: pick it if your team uses Windows or works mainly in the browser
  • Lunacy: pick it if you want a free desktop editor that opens .sketch files
  • Penpot: pick it if you want an open-source, self-hostable tool

Checked against Sketch’s own website in October 2026.

Sketch is a handoff tool for Mac, Web and iOS. A paid plan costs about $120 a year, with no free plan. In our comparison it supports team, automatic, assets, variables, guides, comments and revisions. It does not offer measure, style Guide and layers.

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