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Sketch

Website

Native macOS design app with a web app for sharing, inspecting and prototype viewing, plus an iOS viewer. It is the main Mac-native alternative to Figma and still sells a one-off Mac-only license alongside subscriptions. The August 2026 'Florence' release extended stack layouts (min/max sizing, negative gaps), and Sketch now ships a free local MCP server for AI clients rather than built-in generation.

Information

Type
Design app
Usage
0.9%
Platform
MacWebiOS
Cost
$ 120
Pricing
Mac-only license $120/seat incl. one year of updates; Standard subscription $12/editor/month billed yearly ($144/yr)

Features

No
FreeNo free plan
Partly
AIFree local MCP server for external AI clients
Yes
OfflineNative Mac app works offline
Yes
Pen ToolVector pen tool
Yes
CollaborationReal-time collaboration on Mac
Yes
CommentsFree viewers can browse and comment
Yes
HandoffDeveloper handoff in the web app
Yes
ArtboardsMultiple artboards per page
Yes
SymbolsSymbols with overrides
No
3D TransformNo 3D transforms
Yes
ResponsiveStack layouts, min/max sizing
Yes
PrototypingBuilt-in prototyping, web preview

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 UI Design tool for Mac, Web and iOS. A paid plan costs about $120 a year, with no free plan. In our comparison it supports offline, pen Tool, collaboration, comments, handoff, artboards, symbols, responsive and prototyping. AI is only partly supported. It does not offer 3D Transform.

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