Figma vs Sketch in 2024

Figma and Sketch can both produce good interface designs. The more useful question is where your team works and how often other people need to join the file.

This comparison reflects the products in 2024. Features and prices change, so treat it as a snapshot rather than a permanent scorecard.

Figma makes collaboration the default

Figma runs across platforms and puts the shared file at the centre of the workflow. Designers, developers, writers, and clients can open the same document, comment, and inspect designs without everyone using a Mac.

Its browser-based approach is the strongest argument for distributed teams. FigJam also keeps whiteboarding near the design work, and the plugin and community libraries cover a wide range of jobs.

The trade-off is dependence on Figma’s service and a workflow designed around connectivity. Offline support exists, but it is not the same as owning an ordinary local document from the start.

Sketch still feels at home on the Mac

Sketch is a native macOS application with local documents and familiar Mac behaviour. For an individual designer or a Mac-only team, that can be a feature rather than a limitation.

Sketch added web collaboration, developer handoff, reusable libraries, and prototyping over time. Even so, people editing design files still need to fit into its Apple-centred setup, which can make wider collaboration less convenient.

Which one would I choose?

For a mixed-platform team with frequent reviews and handoff, I would choose Figma. The easier access usually matters more than small differences in drawing tools.

For solo work on a Mac, especially when local files and native software matter, Sketch remains a reasonable choice. Switching tools will not fix a broken design process, though. Pick the one that removes friction for the people who actually need to use it.

← Back to all articles