Sketch vs Figma

Why Switch from Figma to Sketch?

Figma has become the dominant UI design tool largely through its browser-based collaboration model. But Figma is a US company — your design files, prototypes, and design systems are stored on American servers under US jurisdiction. Adobe’s attempted $20 billion acquisition of Figma (blocked by regulators in 2024) exposed the risk of depending on a platform that could be absorbed by even larger US corporate interests at any time.

Sketch, founded and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is the tool that started the modern UI design revolution. Before Figma existed, Sketch redefined how designers work — replacing Adobe’s bloated tools with a focused, lightning-fast macOS application. Sketch B.V. remains an independent, European company with no plans to sell to a US corporation. Your design data stays under EU jurisdiction, and the one-time license option means you can own your tools rather than renting them.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Sketch	Figma
Platform	macOS native	Browser + desktop app
Price	$10/editor/mo or $120 one-time	Free tier / $12-$75/editor/mo
Native performance	✅ Excellent (Metal/GPU)	⚠️ Browser-dependent
Real-time collaboration	✅ Via web workspace	✅ Native, browser-based
Components & symbols	✅ Mature system	✅ Advanced variants
Prototyping	✅ Built-in	✅ Advanced
Developer handoff	✅ Via web workspace	✅ Dev Mode
Plugin ecosystem	✅ Extensive	✅ Extensive
One-time license	✅ $120/year of updates	❌ Subscription only
Cross-platform	❌ macOS only	✅ Any browser
Data location	Netherlands/EU 🇪🇺	United States 🇺🇸
GDPR compliant	✅ Full	⚠️ Partial (US entity)

Pricing

Sketch offers flexibility that Figma’s subscription-only model cannot match:

• Sketch Standard (subscription): $10/editor/month — Mac app, web workspace, collaboration, unlimited viewers
• Sketch Mac-only license: $120 one-time — includes one year of updates, keep the app forever
• Sketch for Students/Educators: Free
• Figma Free: 3 files, limited collaboration
• Figma Professional: $12/editor/month
• Figma Organization: $45/editor/month
• Figma Enterprise: $75/editor/month

For an independent designer, Sketch’s one-time license of $120 beats Figma Professional’s $144/year — and you keep the software even if you stop paying. For teams, Sketch’s $10/editor/month undercuts Figma’s Professional tier, and the unlimited free viewer seats mean stakeholders can review work without adding cost.

Privacy & Data Sovereignty

Sketch’s European roots provide meaningful privacy advantages:

• Sketch B.V. is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands — fully under EU jurisdiction and GDPR
• Design files stored in the cloud are hosted on EU infrastructure
• The company has no US parent company and no obligation to comply with US data access laws
• Sketch does not use your designs to train AI models
• Clear, transparent privacy policies in compliance with Dutch and EU data protection law
• No investor pressure from US venture capital to monetize user data
• Independent company — no risk of acquisition by Adobe, Microsoft, or other US corporations

Migration Guide

Switching from Figma to Sketch can be done gradually, project by project:

1. Download Sketch — Install Sketch from sketch.com. Start with a free 30-day trial or activate your license. (5 minutes)
2. Set up your workspace — Create a Sketch workspace for your team. Invite team members and configure permissions. Upload your brand fonts and shared assets. (30 minutes)
3. Export from Figma — Export your Figma designs as SVG files or use third-party conversion tools. For design systems, export components individually and rebuild them as Sketch symbols for the cleanest result. (1-4 hours per project depending on complexity)
4. Rebuild design systems — Recreate your component libraries as Sketch libraries. Sketch’s symbol system is mature and powerful, though it works differently from Figma’s component variants. Take time to set up overrides and naming conventions. (2-8 hours depending on system complexity)
5. Install essential plugins — Browse Sketch’s plugin directory for tools you need. Popular plugins include Stark (accessibility), Content Generator, Sketch Runner, and various export/handoff plugins. (30 minutes)
6. Share via web workspace — Use Sketch’s web workspace to share designs with stakeholders and developers. They can view, comment, and inspect designs in the browser without a Sketch license. (15 minutes)

Estimated time: 1-3 days for full migration Difficulty: Moderate — rebuilding design systems takes the most effort

Company Background

Sketch was founded in 2010 by Emanuel Sa in The Hague, Netherlands. Sa, a Portuguese-born designer and developer, created Sketch out of frustration with the existing design tools available at the time — primarily Adobe’s Photoshop and Illustrator, which were general-purpose tools poorly suited for user interface design. Sketch launched on the Mac App Store and quickly became a sensation, essentially creating the dedicated UI design tool category that Figma, Adobe XD, and others later entered.

Sketch B.V. has remained an independent, bootstrapped company throughout its history. Unlike many tech companies, Sketch did not pursue aggressive venture capital funding, preferring to grow sustainably on product revenue. The company employs approximately 250 people distributed across Europe, with its legal headquarters in The Hague. At its peak, Sketch was the dominant UI design tool used by design teams at companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and thousands of startups.

While Figma’s browser-based approach has captured significant market share since 2019, Sketch remains a profitable, independent European company serving hundreds of thousands of designers. The company has continued to innovate, adding real-time collaboration through its web workspace, enhancing its prototyping capabilities, and maintaining its position as the fastest, most lightweight design tool on macOS. Sketch’s story is one of European product excellence — a small Dutch company that changed how the entire tech industry designs digital products.

Security & Compliance

Sketch implements robust security measures for a design collaboration platform:

• GDPR compliant as a Dutch company headquartered in The Hague, with data processing agreements available for enterprise customers
• EU data hosting — design files uploaded to Sketch’s cloud are stored on European infrastructure
• SOC 2 Type 2 certified for its cloud collaboration services
• Encryption with TLS 1.2+ for all data in transit and AES-256 encryption for data at rest
• Two-factor authentication supported for account security
• Single Sign-On (SSO) available for enterprise customers via SAML
• Access controls with granular permissions for workspace members, including editor, viewer, and admin roles
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments conducted by independent third parties

Integration Ecosystem

Sketch’s integration ecosystem has matured over more than a decade of development:

• Extensive plugin directory with hundreds of community-built plugins for prototyping, accessibility testing, content generation, icon management, and more
• Sketch Cloud and web workspace for browser-based design review, commenting, developer handoff with CSS/Swift/Android code snippets, and version history
• Assistants — Sketch’s rule-based automation system for enforcing design system standards, naming conventions, and accessibility requirements
• Third-party design handoff compatibility with Zeplin, Avocode, and other developer handoff tools
• Data integration with plugins like Sketch Data Populator for filling designs with real or realistic content
• Version control with Sketch’s built-in cloud versioning and compatibility with Abstract and other design version control tools
• Figma/Adobe import — import SVG, PDF, EPS, and other standard formats; third-party converters available for Figma files
• Export options — export to PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF, WebP, and TIFF with configurable presets for different platforms and resolutions

Who Should Switch?

Sketch is ideal for:

• macOS-based design teams who value native app performance over browser-based tools
• Independent designers who prefer a one-time license over never-ending subscriptions
• European companies that need their design files under EU jurisdiction
• Teams concerned about vendor lock-in after Figma’s near-acquisition by Adobe
• Designers who want to support an independent European design tool company

The Bottom Line

Sketch’s biggest limitation is clear: it is macOS only, and its collaboration features trail Figma’s browser-native approach. If your team is cross-platform or relies heavily on real-time browser collaboration, Figma is more practical.

But Sketch offers something Figma cannot: independence, European data sovereignty, and the option to own your tools. Its native Mac performance is unmatched, its one-time license respects designers’ budgets, and its Dutch headquarters means your design data stays under EU law. For macOS-based design teams that value sovereignty, performance, and independence, Sketch remains an excellent choice — and a reminder that Europe’s design tool ecosystem does not have to depend on Silicon Valley.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sketch still relevant compared to Figma?

Yes. Sketch pioneered the modern UI design workflow and continues to offer a powerful, fast design experience on macOS. While Figma has gained market share with its browser-based approach, Sketch's native Mac app offers superior performance, and its one-time license option makes it more cost-effective for independent designers. Sketch has also added real-time collaboration through its web workspace.

Can I collaborate with my team using Sketch?

Yes. Sketch offers real-time collaboration through its web-based workspace, where team members can view, comment on, and inspect designs. The Mac app remains the primary editing tool, while the web workspace handles sharing, feedback, and developer handoff. It is a hybrid model that differs from Figma's fully browser-based approach.

Does Sketch offer a one-time purchase option?

Yes. Sketch offers a Mac-only license for a one-time payment of $120, which includes one year of updates. After the year, you keep the app and can continue using it — you just stop receiving new features. This is a significant advantage over Figma's subscription-only model where you lose access entirely if you stop paying.

Can I import Figma files into Sketch?

Sketch supports importing SVG, PDF, and other standard design formats. For direct Figma-to-Sketch migration, third-party tools and plugins can help convert Figma files. The process is not seamless for complex files, but straightforward designs transfer well through SVG or other intermediary formats.

Is Sketch a European company?

Yes. Sketch B.V. is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The company was founded in 2010 by Emanuel Sa and has remained independent and European throughout its history. Your design data is handled under EU jurisdiction and GDPR, unlike Figma which is a US company.