Sketch

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A Mac-first design tool for interfaces, prototypes and design systems, with real-time collaboration for teams.
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Sketch API

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MCP server

What it is
Official built-in MCP server shipped by Sketch (shipped Oct 2025; requires Sketch 2025.2.4+; NOT available in the Mac App Store version). Local-only web server running on your Mac, off by default, cannot be accessed remotely; started via Cmd+K > 'MCP' > Start MCP Server or Settings > General > MCP Server. Included at no extra cost ('no tokens to buy, no extra tiers, no add-ons'). Works with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP-compatible client. Exposes tools to read/write documents (document overview, layer hierarchy, get_design_assets, get_selection_as_image) and lets AI clients write and execute JavaScript (SketchAPI REPL).

Checked on 2026-10-10 in the developer documentation.

How to automate Sketch

API and webhooks

Sketch documents a JavaScript API for plugins, a command line tool called sketchtool for exporting assets and rendering documents, a JSON file format and a sketch:// URL scheme. These are tools for plugins and local scripts. Check the developer site for cloud-level access before you plan a server-side integration. An example: a build step that exports icons with sketchtool whenever the design library changes.

MCP server

Sketch has an official MCP server that runs inside the Mac app. It works with clients such as Claude Code, Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor and Codex. It exposes tools to read the document, the layer tree, the libraries and the symbol overrides, take screenshots and run code with the Sketch API. Use it to compare a component in code with the Sketch library and fix the differences, or to fill placeholders with realistic data. It needs a recent Sketch version and the app must be running.

Native integrations

The Plugins and Integrations section covers plugins that move designs and data in and out of Sketch. Handoff is built in, so developers do not need a separate tool to inspect designs.