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Technology · head to head

Notion vs Sketch

Notion logo

Notion

Technology

All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, wikis, and databases

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sketch logo

Sketch

Technology

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Notion has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Notion free plan limited to 1,000 blocks for 2+ member workspaces, restricting team usage; Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features
  • They diverge on capability: Notion covers Rich text editing with blocks, Sketch covers Vector editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Notion and Sketch actually diverge.

Attributes where Notion and Sketch differ
AttributeNotionSketch
Starting priceFree$12/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Web, iOS, iPad
Founded20162010

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).

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 Notion

  • Rich text editing with blocks
  • Customizable databases
  • Kanban boards and calendars
  • Template library
  • File attachments
  • Web clipper
  • API access
  • Slack

Only in Sketch

  • Vector editing
  • Symbols & components
  • Prototyping
  • Developer handoff
  • Plugins ecosystem
  • Cloud sync
  • Version history
  • InVision

Both cover

  • Real-time collaboration
  • SSO
  • 2FA

What people use each for

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

Notion

  • Project managementnot Sketch
  • Knowledge base creationnot Sketch
  • Note-taking and documentationnot Sketch
  • Team collaborationnot Sketch
  • Content planningnot Sketch

Sketch

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

Where each one falls short

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

Notion

  • Free plan limited to 1,000 blocks for 2+ member workspaces, restricting team usage
  • Free tier only includes trial AI capabilities; full Notion AI requires paid plan
  • Page history limited to 7 days on free plan
  • Per-member pricing increases costs for teams compared to flat-rate competitors
  • Limited automation capabilities compared to dedicated workflow platforms

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

Notion

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1000 block limit (2+ members)
    • 7-day page history
    • 5MB file upload cap
  • Plus$10/month
    • Unlimited blocks
    • 30-day page history
    • Unlimited file uploads
  • Business$20/month
    • All Plus features
    • Notion Agent
    • AI Meeting Notes
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • All Business features
    • Advanced controls
    • Audit logs

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 Notion if

  • You need rich text editing with blocks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want customizable databases.
Notion 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 Notion or Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. Notion 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, Notion or Sketch?
Notion has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Notion and $12/month for Sketch.
Does Notion or Sketch run on more platforms?
Notion runs on Web, iOS, Android. Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
Can I use Notion for free?
Yes. Notion has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sketch starts at $12/month.
What is Notion best used for?
Notion is most often used for project management, knowledge base creation, note-taking and documentation, team collaboration. Of those, project management and knowledge base creation are not what Sketch is typically brought in for.
What can Notion do that Sketch cannot?
Notion covers Rich text editing with blocks, Customizable databases, Kanban boards and calendars, Template library. Sketch covers Vector editing, Symbols & components, Prototyping, Developer handoff. Both handle Real-time collaboration, SSO, 2FA.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Notion: What features are included in the free Notion plan?

The free plan ($0/member/month) includes trial AI capabilities, basic forms and sites, Notion Calendar access, unlimited databases, up to 10 external guests, and 7-day page history.

Source
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
Notion: What is the difference between Plus and Business plans?

Plus ($10/member/month) adds custom forms, unlimited file uploads, and 30-day history. Business ($20/member/month) adds Notion Agent for autonomous tasks, AI Meeting Notes, and advanced security features.

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
Notion: How does Notion calculate billing when team members join mid-month?

New members added mid-month incur prorated charges for the current billing period and are included in future billings.

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
Notion: What is the refund policy for Notion subscriptions?

New users receive a full refund within 3 days for monthly plans or 30 days for annual plans. EU/UK customers get a 14-day refund window per regional policy.

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
Notion: What happens if a payment fails on my Notion account?

Failed payments are retried up to 8 times before the account automatically downgrades to the free plan.

Source
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