There are several websites that compare Sketch and Figma side by side, however many of them are outdated or don’t cover the most recent features. Let’s take a closer look at what makes each program different in order to determine which is superior for UI design.
Basics of Figma vs. Sketch
Sketch and Figma share a lot of the same functionality at their core. While there are obviously significant distinctions, the “better” core curriculum comes down to personal opinion.
Interface
Figma, like many other emerging interface design tools, has a UI that is nearly identical to Sketch. The parallels are readily apparent.
Here’s a rough sketch:
Sketch UI
Here’s Figma in action:
Figma UI
The canvas is in the middle of both applications, with layers on the left and tools on the right. The right panel is called “properties” in Sketch and “inspector” in Figma, although they both perform the same purpose. These parallels are not coincidental. Designers will find it easier to move from Sketch to Figma if the interface seems familiar. It’s primarily a matter of personal choice when it comes to which user interface is best.
Artboards/Frames
Users may build several artboards with specific grids, layouts, and scaling limits in both applications. Artboards in Sketch are kept simple: each one represents a distinct page. Sketch’s artboards are quite uniform as a result of this mindset. This tour will take you through all of the delicious stuff.
The “frames” in Figma, on the other hand, are far more versatile. Figma encourages designers to nest frames within one other, whereas Sketch only permits one artboard per page. Designers can use different frames for headers, footers, menus, tabs, and lists, among other things. Designers may experiment with different rulers and guides on different portions of the screen since each frame can have its own unique grid.
However, there is a cost. Figma does not support restricting groups in order to facilitate nested frames. While the frames in Figma are more powerful than the artboards in Sketch, both tools are competitive.
Figma vs. Sketch: Advantages and Disadvantages
Figma and Sketch share a lot of the same features. That isn’t to say that neither app has an advantage.
Collaboration
In terms of teamwork, Figma easily outperforms Sketch. Figma, like Google Docs, allows numerous designers to work on the same document at the same time.
Figma’s “multiplayer technology” has been at the forefront of the program from its inception, and they’ve established a robust framework that distinguishes them from every other design tool.
It’s very useful for any size group. Because Figma is a web application, anybody, regardless of platform, may examine a project and offer comments for free by just clicking a link. Even if just a few designers have a membership, the complete team may interact and offer input.
Sketch, on the other hand, will not be able to offer live collaboration until May 2020. Previously, projects could only be seen by Mac users who had Sketch installed on their machines.
Things are, however, beginning to change. Sketch needs to collect $20 million in Series A investment to stay up with the competition and introduce new features. Sketch introduced “Sketch for Teams” in June 2019, a public beta aimed at improving cooperation.
They promised live cooperation by the end of 2019, but it took almost two years longer than expected. It won’t be until May 2021 when live collaboration is available. Only paid users may modify, as is always the case with Sketch.
Sketch’s real-time cooperation, on the other hand, is nothing to chuckle at.
It’s remarkable, and the following function (which allows you to attach yourself to an editor and monitor their progress) is very useful, although it lags behind Figma.
In terms of collaboration and cooperation, Figma obviously takes the lead. They’ve had years to develop the technology, whereas Sketch is still catching up.
Drawing Tools
While neither application has as many vector-drawing choices as illustration-focused software such as Adobe Illustrator, they both provide a wealth of design capabilities. Shape tools, boolean operations, and a free form vector tool are all available in Sketch and Figma. Both programs can handle the great majority of design issues because of these characteristics.
Eight exterior points are joined by a single center point in this animated animation. To show that all of the points are genuinely related to the center, the cursor grabs and manipulates the center point.
Figma does have a little advantage thanks to vector networks. Figma’s vector networks permit curves between any combination of points, but Sketch’s vector tool forces designers to “chain” points together. As a consequence, instead of building two separate routes, designers may join several lines at a single point, as seen in this animation from Figma’s website.
When compared to other vector programs, though, Sketch isn’t far behind. After all, with version 57, they enhanced boolean options. For the time being, both initiatives are neck and neck.
Symbols/Components
Symbols are standard components that may be duplicated across pages and changed at the same time in both Sketch and Figma. The symbol’s functionality is implemented differently in each software.
Sketch centralizes the process on a single page, resulting in a considerably more efficient approach.
When you make a new symbol, such as a button or an icon, the original element is moved to the “Symbols Page” and a flattened “instance” is left behind. Simply modify the master symbol on the Symbols Page to alter all instances at once. Any modifications to the master symbol are reflected in all instances. You may add an identical replica of the symbol at any moment by simply inserting another instance. The “overrides” panel may be used to configure each individual instance. Sketch symbols are strong and adaptable in general.
The “component” is Figma’s rendition of the symbol. Components are less strong and structured, but they are simpler. Figma, unlike Sketch, does not have a distinct component page. The master component, on the other hand, stays in place.
Simply duplicate the master component to create a new instance. Every instance is updated when the master component is changed, and each instance may be modified in place. While Figma components are more simple, Sketch’s distinct Symbols Page helps you keep your project organized.
Plugins
One of the most significant benefits of Sketch over Figma is a large number of third-party plugins available. Plugins for animation, prototyping, data supply, and even third-party app integration are available in Sketch. Developers have had enough time to create plugins as Sketch has been the dominating player for a long time. If there’s a Sketch plugin that you can think of, it’s probably on the plugin page. If it isn’t there now, it will most likely be short.
Figma, on the other hand, has only lately begun to enable plugins. While plugins are available, there aren’t as many alternatives for Figma. Figma, on the other hand, is using show-and-tell events and featured material on its release website to encourage developers to create additional plugins.
Figma is catching up, although it is still behind Sketch for the time being. Plugins may make or break software for some designers, while they aren’t a significant concern for others. Sketch, on the other hand, is the way to go if you want to personalize your design application.
Pricing Figma vs. Sketch
Your team’s ability to negotiate a better price is a factor. While Figma has a free version, a document may only be edited by two persons at a time (though any number of people can view it). The free edition of Figma is ideal for small teams. Larger teams, on the other hand, must pay $12 per month per editor for the professional version and $45 per month for the organization version. Each edition has its own set of features, which are detailed on Figma’s price page.
Although Sketch does not offer a free version, the license is only required once. All features and a year’s worth of upgrades are included in a single $99 purchase. There are also bulk and education discounts available. The Sketch price page has further information.
Sketch for Teams, on the other hand, demands an $8.25/month membership per editor. The Mac App is included in the subscription, although the service is still in beta and does not have as many live editing tools as Figma. More information may be found on the Sketch for Teams website.
Conclusion
The best software for your business is determined by your needs. Sketch may be preferred by in-house organizations utilizing Mac computers, but Figma may be preferred by teams using remote designers or Windows machines. Both tools are highly capable, and you can build stunning images and interfaces with either. In the end, your decision should be based on the needs of your firm.
