Each and every sector is moving towards online platforms so they need to built user interfaces and for that, a vector graphics editing software is a mandatory requirement. Market is full of vector editing software which has different features and functionalities so there is a lot of confusion in choosing a software. Hence we will compare the two most popular vector graphic editing tools which are Figma and Sketch. Both of these tools are used by multiple organizations and come with tons of features. These softwares can be used on different platforms and provides easy to use interface. Figma and Sketch come with paid as well as trial periods so anybody can use them for a certain time period and if he/she finds them useful they can purchase them.
What is Figma?
Figma is computer software which is used for prototyping and editing vector graphics. It is mainly used in designing UI/UX for mobile and web platforms. The development credit for this software goes to Figma Incorporation. It was launched in 2016. It comes with advanced drag and drop features to make different designs, logos, symbols, illustrations etc. It is available for different operating systems like Windows, Linux, MacOS etc.
Advantages of Figma:
- It does not require any space on the user’s hard disk as it is a browser-based app.
- It has an easy to use interface with a structured editor.
- It has a collaboration feature which allows different members of the team to work on a project together.
- It allows users to share frames or files with permissions to the dedicated personnel.
- It allows communication among team members through slack.
Limitations/Disadvantages of Figma:
- It requires an internet connection to work on it, no offline feature is provided.
- Uploading files to Figma takes a large amount of time.
- It requires a graphic card to work smoothly.
What is Sketch?
Sketch is computer software for editing vector graphics. It was developed by Sketch B.V which is a Dutch company. Initially, it was launched in 2010 and its stable version came in 2022. It supports only the mac operating system. It is available as a web platform also so to ease users.
Advantages of Sketch:
- It provides industry-standard design features for making mobile and web designs.
- It allows third-party plugins to enhance its capabilities.
- It comes with a real-time sync feature.
- Presets and codes can be easily exported.
Disadvantages/Limitations of Sketch:
- It does not support any operating system other than Mac.
- It is heavy software and requires a large amount of RAM.
- It does not provide any free version, and only gives a trial period of 30 days.
Following is a table of differences between Figma and Sketch:
|
Figma |
Sketch |
|
| 1. | It is defined as a UI/UX designing software which helps in prototyping and graphic designing work. | It can be understood as a graphic editing tool to create and manipulate vector designs. |
| 2. | It was developed by Figma Incorporation. | It was developed by Sketch B.V |
| 3. | It is available for Windows as well as for Linux and Mac operating systems. | It is not available for Windows and supports only mac operating systems. |
| 4. | It saves files with the .fig extension. | It saves files with the .sketch extension. |
| 5. | Figma starter is completely free while Figma professional charges $15 per month. | It offers a 30-day free trial after which a subscription starts at $9 per month. |
| 6. | Vector manipulation is performed using vector networks. | It uses a vector path to perform vector manipulation. |
| 7. | It does not have many plugins for different tasks. | It has a large number of plugins for tasks like prototyping, animation etc. |
| 8. | Figma is a browser-based application. | It is available for both browsers and desktops. |