Figma ($12–$75/editor/mo) vs Sketch ($9–$12/editor/mo, Mac-only) — see which design tool fits your team's budget and workflow.
| Tool | Starting Price | Free Tier | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figma | $12/editor/mo | Yes (3 files, 1 project) | Web + Mac + Windows |
| Sketch | $9/editor/mo (annual) | No (30-day trial) | Mac only |
Pricing current as of April 2026. Both tools price per editor. Sketch is Mac-only — a critical constraint for cross-platform teams.
| Plan | Price | Key Limits | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Starter) | $0 | 3 files, 1 project, 2 editors | Solo designers, students |
| Professional | $12/editor/mo | Unlimited files, unlimited projects | Small design teams |
| Organization | $45/editor/mo | SSO, org-wide design system | Mid-size companies |
| Enterprise | $75/editor/mo | Advanced security, dedicated support | Large enterprises |
Figma prices are annual billing. Monthly billing adds ~20%. Viewer seats are free on all paid plans.
| Plan | Price | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (annual) | $9/editor/mo | Unlimited projects, cloud storage, sharing | Mac-based design teams |
| Standard (monthly) | $12/editor/mo | Same features, no annual commitment | Flexible budget teams |
| Business (annual) | $20/editor/mo | SSO, priority support, admin controls | Larger Mac-only orgs |
Sketch viewers (non-editors) get free access to view and comment. Sketch requires macOS — Windows/Linux users cannot use the desktop app.
| Feature | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Platform support | ✓ Web, Mac, Windows, Linux | ✗ Mac only |
| Real-time collaboration | ✓ (Native, cursor-level) | ~ (Cloud sync, not cursor-level) |
| Free tier | ✓ (3 files, 2 editors) | ✗ (30-day trial only) |
| Prototyping | ✓ (Built-in, advanced) | ✓ (Built-in) |
| Design systems / libraries | ✓ (Team libraries, components) | ✓ (Symbols, shared libraries) |
| Dev handoff | ✓ (Inspect mode built-in) | ~ (Zeplin integration needed) |
| Plugin ecosystem | ✓ (Growing, 1000+ plugins) | ✓ (Mature, 700+ plugins) |
| Offline access | ~ (Desktop app, limited offline) | ✓ (Full offline, native Mac app) |
| FigJam / whiteboard | ✓ (Included in Pro+) | ✗ |
| Variable fonts support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Layout / Smart Layout | ✓ (Auto Layout, advanced) | ✓ (Smart Layout) |
| Guest viewer access | ✓ (Free, unlimited) | ✓ (Free viewers) |
Annual billing: 5 × $12/mo × 12 months
Total: $720/year ($60/month)
Unlimited files, projects, version history. Free viewer seats for all stakeholders. FigJam included. Cross-platform.
Annual billing: 5 × $9/mo × 12 months
Total: $540/year ($45/month)
Savings vs Figma: $180/year. But requires all designers on Mac. No Windows/Linux support. No built-in FigJam equivalent.
Figma Professional: 20 × $12/mo = $2,880/year
Sketch Standard: 20 × $9/mo = $2,160/year
Sketch saves $720/year at 20 editors — but the Mac-only constraint typically costs more in hardware standardization. Figma's TCO is often lower for mixed-OS orgs.
Choose Figma if: Your team uses Windows or Linux. You need real-time multiplayer collaboration. You want the industry standard for handoff to engineers. You need FigJam for ideation and whiteboarding. You want browser-based access without installs. You're in a mixed-device org or hire globally.
Choose Sketch if: Your entire team is on Mac (now and hiring). You need true offline capability (e.g., while traveling). Your plugin workflow is deeply tied to Sketch's ecosystem. You already have an established Sketch component library. You prefer native macOS performance and lower subscription cost.
Market reality in 2026: Figma has become the clear default for most product design teams. Sketch retains loyal users among Mac-only agencies and freelancers who prefer native performance. For new teams, Figma is the safer choice due to broader compatibility, faster collaboration features, and larger community.
Note: Adobe attempted to acquire Figma for $20B in 2022–2023 but the deal was blocked by regulators. Figma remains independent. Some designers moved back to Sketch during acquisition uncertainty — but Figma has since accelerated development significantly.
Design tool pricing changes quarterly. Get instant alerts when Figma or Sketch updates their plans — so you can budget accurately and avoid surprises.
Set up price alerts — free View full pricing trackerSketch is cheaper per editor: $9/mo (annual) vs Figma's $12/mo (annual). For a 5-person team, Sketch saves $180/year. However, Sketch is Mac-only, which can increase hardware costs for teams standardized on other platforms. For mixed-OS teams, Figma is the only option.
Yes. Figma's free plan allows up to 3 Figma files and 3 FigJam files, with up to 2 editors and unlimited viewers. Sketch has no free tier — only a 30-day trial.
No. Sketch is a native Mac application only. It has a web viewer for collaborators, but the design editor requires macOS. If any of your designers use Windows or Linux, Sketch is not an option.
Figma updated pricing in 2024 after the failed Adobe acquisition, introducing the Organization plan at $45/editor/mo and increasing Enterprise pricing. The Professional plan at $12/editor/mo has remained stable. Monitor our pricing tracker for any changes.
For Mac-only design teams with an established Sketch workflow, yes. Sketch remains a polished, native Mac experience with strong plugin support. For new teams or those with mixed OS environments, Figma is typically the better starting point given its broader platform support and real-time collaboration.
Adobe XD was discontinued in 2023. Main alternatives include Penpot (open-source, free), Canva (for simpler designs), and InVision (prototyping focus). For professional product design, Figma and Sketch remain the top two choices.