Figma vs. Sketch: Which UX Design Tool is Better?

When it comes to UX design tools, Figma and Sketch are two of the most popular options. Both are widely used by designers for creating high-quality user interfaces, wireframes, and prototypes. However, the question remains: Which UX design tool is better for your project?

In this detailed comparison of Figma vs. Sketch, we’ll explore the strengths and weaknesses of each tool based on features, collaboration, pricing, ease of use, and more. By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of which tool is the best fit for your design needs.

1. Overview: Figma vs. Sketch

Before diving into the specifics, let’s start with a brief overview of both tools.

• Figma is a cloud-based design tool that allows real-time collaboration, making it ideal for teams working remotely or across different locations. Since its launch, Figma has gained immense popularity for its powerful prototyping capabilities, ease of sharing, and team collaboration features.
• Sketch, launched in 2010, is a vector-based design tool primarily focused on UI/UX design. It is known for its simplicity, extensive plugin ecosystem, and user-friendly interface. However, Sketch is a desktop app designed exclusively for macOS, which limits its usage across different platforms.

2. Key Features Comparison

Both Figma and Sketch offer a wide range of features for UX/UI designers. Here’s a comparison of some key features:

Design Capabilities

• Figma: Offers a range of vector tools, grids, constraints, and auto-layout features to create responsive designs easily. Figma’s component system allows for reusable elements across different projects.
• Sketch: Known for its intuitive vector editing, Sketch is great for creating pixel-perfect designs. It also supports reusable components and libraries for maintaining design consistency.

Plugins and Integrations

• Figma: Figma’s plugin ecosystem is growing, but not as extensive as Sketch. However, it integrates well with other tools such as Slack, JIRA, and Zeplin.
• Sketch: Sketch is renowned for its massive library of plugins that extend its functionality, making it customizable for almost any design task.

3. Collaboration and Teamwork

Collaboration is one of the main differentiators between Figma and Sketch.

• Figma’s real-time collaboration features make it a clear winner for team-based projects. Multiple users can edit a design at the same time, leave comments, and track changes in real time, similar to how Google Docs works. This eliminates the need for back-and-forth file sharing, making Figma a top choice for remote teams.
• Sketch has recently added collaboration features like Sketch for Teams, which allows sharing and feedback. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of seamless real-time collaboration as Figma. You’ll need third-party tools like InVision or Zeplin to handle handoffs and comments, making it slightly less efficient for team-based projects.

4. Prototyping and Interaction Design

Both Figma and Sketch offer prototyping features, but with key differences.

• Figma comes with built-in prototyping features that allow designers to create interactive prototypes with animations, transitions, and overlays. These can be shared with stakeholders easily, and feedback can be gathered directly within the app. Figma’s prototyping capabilities are particularly strong for creating complex, responsive interactions.
• Sketch’s prototyping features are more basic in comparison. You can create clickable prototypes, but it doesn’t offer the same depth of interaction design as Figma. Many designers rely on plugins or third-party tools like InVision or Marvel to enhance Sketch’s prototyping capabilities.

5. Learning Curve and Ease of Use

• Figma is relatively easy to pick up, even for beginners. Its intuitive interface and cloud-based nature allow new users to get started quickly, without needing much setup or configuration.
• Sketch has a simple, clean interface, which makes it user-friendly for designers with experience in vector-based tools. However, beginners might need time to explore the extensive plugin ecosystem and integrations to fully leverage its potential.

6. Platform Availability and Compatibility

One of the key differences between Figma and Sketch lies in platform compatibility.

• Figma: Being cloud-based, Figma is available on any platform, including macOS, Windows, and Linux. This makes it accessible to a wider range of users, regardless of their operating system.
• Sketch: Sketch is limited to macOS users, which can be a drawback for teams that use multiple operating systems. Although Sketch offers a web-based collaboration tool, the core design work must still be done on a Mac.

7. Pricing and Cost Comparison

Cost is an important factor when deciding which design tool to choose.

• Figma offers a free tier with limited features, which is great for individual designers or small projects. For more advanced collaboration features, Figma has professional and organization plans that start at $12 per editor per month.
• Sketch’s pricing starts with a one-time purchase of $99, but there’s also a subscription plan for teams with additional features, starting at $9 per editor per month. Sketch’s pricing model can be more cost-effective for individual designers or those who prefer a one-time payment.

8. Which Tool Is Better for Your Workflow?

The right tool depends on your specific needs:

• If you work with a remote team or need real-time collaboration, Figma is the better choice. Its cloud-based platform, combined with robust prototyping features, makes it ideal for collaborative projects.
• If you are a macOS-only designer who prefers a simpler interface with access to an extensive plugin library, Sketch might be more suitable. Sketch also offers flexibility in terms of cost, especially with its one-time payment option.
• For prototyping and interaction design, Figma leads with its advanced features, but Sketch can still deliver with the right plugins.

Ultimately, the choice between Figma and Sketch depends on your specific project requirements and workflow. If you value cross-platform compatibility, real-time collaboration, and advanced prototyping, Figma is likely the better option. On the other hand, if you’re a macOS user looking for a user-friendly, plugin-rich design tool, Sketch is still a strong contender.

Whether you choose Figma or Sketch, both tools are capable of delivering high-quality UX design. Evaluate your team’s needs, budget, and workflow to make the best decision for your next project.