About Sketch
Overview
Sketch is a macOS-native design toolkit for UI and UX designers, made by designers and focused on design, prototyping, collaboration, and handoff. Users can design, prototype, and illustrate offline or in real time with a team.
The product includes a native Mac app, a web app that works in any browser, and companion iPhone and iPad apps for viewing designs and playing prototypes. Designers from freelancers to Fortune 500 companies use Sketch.
Key Benefits
- Create a working prototype in under 10 clicks using Smart Animate, Overlays, and hover, press, drag, and swipe interactions.
- Design offline or co-edit in real time; work privately or share a Workspace for team files, libraries, and drafts.
- Share documents and Password-protected Previews to specific pages and prototypes, plus pin, reply to, and resolve comment threads.
- Exports assets, share tokens, and lets developers inspect files for free with handoff tools.
- Start fast with hundreds of free templates, Frame presets, and component Libraries.
- Inviting guest editors who already pay for Sketch costs nothing extra.
How It Works
You create designs in the native Mac app using stack layouts, nestable frames, and a vector editor. Prototypes are built in under ten clicks and can be tested in any web browser, on iPhone, or on iPad.
You can share an entire document or a Preview with password protection, ask developers to inspect files and extract assets, and manage component libraries and permissions from the web app.
Use Cases
- Freelance and independent designers build portfolios and app UI with stacks, frames, and 100s of free templates.
- Product teams co-edit documents in real time in a shared Workspace with version history.
- Design agencies share component libraries across projects and control who can update them.
- Developers use free handoff tools to inspect files, download assets, and export tokens.
- UI/UX teams test prototypes on web browsers, iPhone, and iPad and gather feedback in comment threads.
Sketch Pros & Cons
- Native macOS app works offline or in real time
- Free developer handoff tools for inspecting files and exporting assets
- Unlimited free Viewers on all subscription plans
- Real-time collaboration with co-editing
- Free Workspace for students and teachers with 1 Editor seat
Key Features
Native Mac app
Sketch runs as a native macOS app for designing, prototyping, and illustrating online or offline, with a web app on any browser and iPhone and iPad companion apps.
Stack layouts
Stacks support min/max sizing and negative gaps, and nestable frames build flexible layouts without locking designs down.
Vector editor
A vector editor draws icons to entire apps with boolean operations, pen tool, freehand paths, pixel snapping, and multiple point types.
Real-time collaboration
Real-time co-editing lets users design in private by themselves or collaborate with teammates live.
Prototyping tools
Smart Animate adds movement to UI with control over easing and timings, and Overlays create modals, alerts, panels, and menus.
Prototype preview
Prototypes are created in fewer than 10 clicks and can be tested on any web browser, iPhone, or iPad, including hover, press, drag, and swipe interactions.
Feedback and sharing
Users pin comments on designs, reply in threads, and resolve them when done, while Previews can be shared with password protection.
Developer handoff
Developers inspect files, download assets, and export tokens for free through handoff tools.
Workflow helpers
A Canvas Minimap, Command Bar, and easy multi-layer renaming support the editing workflow.
Templates and libraries
Hundreds of free templates, Frame presets, and component Libraries help users get started quickly.
Sketch Pricing
- Real-time collaboration
- Unlimited documents
- Unlimited free viewers
- Document version history
- Free developer handoff
- Everything in Standard
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Project archiving
- Permissions groups
- Everything in Professional
- SCIM provisioning
- BYOK encryption
- Dedicated support
- Custom reviews and terms
- Everything in Professional
- Private cloud environment
- Choice of hosting locations
- Unlimited Workspaces
- SCIM provisioning
- BYOK encryption
- Native Mac app
- Design, prototype and illustrate
- Work privately, offline
- Save documents locally
- One year of updates
| Feature | Standard $12/yr | Professional $24/yr | Enterprise $44/yr | Private Cloud Custom | Mac-only license $120 one-time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time collaboration | |||||
| Unlimited documents | |||||
| Unlimited free viewers | |||||
| Document version history | |||||
| Free developer handoff | |||||
| Everything in Standard | |||||
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | |||||
| Project archiving | |||||
| Permissions groups | |||||
| Everything in Professional | |||||
| SCIM provisioning | |||||
| BYOK encryption | |||||
| Dedicated support | |||||
| Custom reviews and terms | |||||
| Private cloud environment | |||||
| Choice of hosting locations | |||||
| Unlimited Workspaces | |||||
| Native Mac app | |||||
| Design, prototype and illustrate | |||||
| Work privately, offline | |||||
| Save documents locally | |||||
| One year of updates |
Pricing extracted from the product website and may change. Check the source for current details.
Frequently asked questions about Sketch
Is Sketch free?
With subscription plans, you can invite unlimited free Viewers who can browse and comment on designs in a web browser and inspect files and download assets for developer handoff. Students and teachers can get a free Workspace with 1 Editor seat, and institutions a free Workspace with multiple seats depending on requirements, via the Sketch for Education page. Beyond free Viewers and the education offer, there are no plans for an entirely free plan.
Why is there no free plan?
Sketch pricing is transparent, with two straightforward options: buy a Mac-only license and keep a copy of Sketch forever, or start a subscription if you also want cloud storage and web-based collaboration tools. There is no free plan because the company says it is not sustainable, and it has been profitable since day one.
Does Sketch offer discounts for non-profit organizations (NPOs)?
Yes. Qualified non-profit organizations can enjoy a 50% discount on either a yearly Standard subscription or a Mac-only license purchase. The organization must be officially recognized in its country of residence by an authorized government agency, and must contact Sketch using an official organization email address with the official website and a government-issued NPO certificate.
Can I purchase Sketch directly in India?
From 15 July 2026, Sketch can no longer support direct purchases from customers in India. To purchase or renew, customers in India should reach out to one of Sketch's partners instead.
What do all Sketch subscriptions include?
All Sketch subscriptions include the native Mac app, which supports design and prototyping offline or in real time with a team, plus the web app on any browser, free Viewers, version history, developer handoff, and the iPhone and iPad apps for viewing designs, playing prototypes, and mirroring from the Mac.
How much does Sketch cost?
Sketch offers the following plans: Standard, Professional, Enterprise, Private Cloud, Mac-only license. See the pricing section for what's included in each tier and any per-seat or usage-based costs.
How Sketch compares
SketchThis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/yr | Free | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux | Web | Web | macOS, Windows, Linux |
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| Rating | — | — | — | — |
