Figma vs Sketch

Figma logovsSketch logo
Figma runs in the browser on any system with a free starting plan, while Sketch is a Mac-first native app with free viewers and no free plan. Most mixed teams should start with Figma.
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The verdictSide by sidePlans and pricingWho each is forOther options

The verdict

For a small B2B team, I'd pick Figma. It runs in the browser, there is a free Starter plan to try it on a real project, and it is the tool most designers and freelancers already know.

Pick Sketch when every designer is on a Mac and you value a fast native app. Free viewers and free developer handoff on subscriptions are a real saving, because design tool costs usually grow with the number of people who only need to look.

If your team is mixed across operating systems, or stakeholders need to edit in the browser, Figma is simpler. If the company already works in one of them, follow that.

What the data says
  • Both cover 3 of the 3 features we compared.
  • Only Figma has a free plan to start on.
  • Both have an API and an MCP server, so either works with AI employees.
  • In our Build ranking, Figma places 1 and Sketch 2 of 6.

Side by side

Figma and Sketch compared
7 points compared
Figma logoFigma
Sketch logoSketch
Starts at$16/mo€11/mo
Free planYesNo
APIYesYes
MCP serverYesYes
API & automationsYesYes
Developer handoffYesYes
Interactive prototypingYesYes
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Plans and pricing

Figma logo

Figma

  • StarterFree limited access to Figma products with 150 AI credits per day.Free
  • ProfessionalFull seat price shown; Dev seat 12 (annual) and Collab seat 3 (annual) per month.$20/mo/seat
  • OrganizationBilled annually only; full seat 55 per month, Dev 25, Collab 5.$660/yr/seat
  • EnterpriseBilled annually only; full seat 90 per month, Dev 35, Collab 5.$1,080/yr/seat
Sketch logo

Sketch

  • StandardPer editor; real-time collaboration, unlimited documents, free viewers and developer handoff.€13/mo/seat
  • ProfessionalPer editor, billed yearly; adds single sign-on, project archiving and permission groups.€264/yr/seat
  • EnterprisePer editor, billed yearly; adds SCIM, BYOK encryption, dedicated support and custom terms.€528/yr/seat
  • Mac-only licenseOne-time licence per seat with one year of updates; no collaboration features.€108/one_off/seat

Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.

Who each is for

Figma logo

Choose Figma if…

Pick Sketch if your designers are on Macs and you want native speed, shared libraries and a calm tool for interface and design system work. Viewers are free, so three designers can share work with many reviewers without extra seats, and developers get handoff without a seat too.

It also has a JavaScript API, plugins, a command line tool called sketchtool and a documented JSON file format, which helps if you want to script your workflow. A one-time Mac-only licence exists for people who work alone.

There is no free plan, but the trial runs for 30 days without a card.

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Sketch logo

Choose Sketch if…

Pick Figma if design is shared work and people use different computers. Real-time collaboration, comments pinned on the design and shared libraries cut revision rounds, and Dev Mode helps developers take measurements and code.

Budget for the learning time. Components, variables and auto-layout take weeks, and Figma is not a one-click publishing tool, so you still need a way to ship the result.

Pricing is per Full seat, so check who needs edit rights and who only needs to view and comment.

Skip it if you only need quick marketing graphics, where Canva is faster.

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