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Research · head to head

Mendeley vs Sketch

Mendeley logo

Mendeley

Research

The free all-in-one reference manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sketch logo

Sketch

Technology

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mendeley has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mendeley free plan is capped at 2GB storage; unlimited storage requires the MAX plan at $14.99/month or $165/year; Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mendeley and Sketch actually diverge.

Attributes where Mendeley and Sketch differ
AttributeMendeleySketch
Starting priceFree$12/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebmacOS, Web, iOS, iPad
CategoryResearchTechnology
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Mendeley

Nothing recorded that Sketch does not also cover.

Only in Sketch

  • Vector editing
  • Symbols & components
  • Prototyping
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Developer handoff
  • Plugins ecosystem
  • Cloud sync
  • Version history

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Mendeley

No use cases recorded yet. See the Mendeley review.

Sketch

  • UI designnot Mendeley
  • Mobile app designnot Mendeley
  • Web designnot Mendeley
  • Design systemsnot Mendeley
  • Prototypingnot Mendeley

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Mendeley

  • Free plan is capped at 2GB storage; unlimited storage requires the MAX plan at $14.99/month or $165/year

Sketch

  • macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features
  • Real-time collaboration feels less seamless than Figma with occasional sync delays
  • Limited built-in image editing capabilities, requiring external software for bitmap work
  • Subscription required for cloud features and collaboration, losing access if subscription lapses

Pricing, plan by plan

Mendeley

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Mendeley review.

Sketch

$12/month
  • Standard$12/month
    • Real-time collaboration
    • Unlimited documents
    • Unlimited free viewers
  • Professional$24/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    • Project archiving
  • Enterprise$44/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • SCIM provisioning
    • BYOK encryption
  • Mac-only License$120/perpetual
    • Native Mac app
    • Offline access
    • Local file saving

Which should you pick?

Choose Mendeley if

  • You want to start without paying.
Mendeley review

Choose Sketch if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You work on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
  • You also want symbols & components.
Sketch review

Questions people ask

Is Mendeley or Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. Mendeley starts at Free and Sketch at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mendeley or Sketch?
Mendeley has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mendeley and $12/month for Sketch.
Does Mendeley or Sketch run on more platforms?
Mendeley runs on Web. Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
Can I use Mendeley for free?
Yes. Mendeley has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sketch starts at $12/month.
What can Mendeley do that Sketch cannot?
Sketch covers Vector editing, Symbols & components, Prototyping, Real-time collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Sketch: Is Sketch available for Windows or Linux?

No. Sketch is macOS-only for the design and prototyping features. Web and mobile apps provide viewing and collaboration, but editing requires macOS 14.0 or later.

Source
Sketch: Does Sketch offer a free trial?

Yes. Sketch provides a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. You can also purchase a one-time Mac-only license for $120 per seat instead of subscribing.

Source
Sketch: What collaboration features does Sketch include?

Sketch supports real-time collaboration, unlimited document sharing, unlimited viewers, and version history on all paid subscription plans (Standard $12/month, Professional $24/month, Enterprise $44/month).

Source
Sketch: Can I use Sketch offline?

Yes. The one-time Mac-only license ($120) allows you to use Sketch offline and save files locally, but it excludes cloud collaboration and iOS previewing features.

Source
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