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Design · head to head

Proto.io vs Sketch

Proto.io logo

Proto.io

Design

Hosted high-fidelity prototyping with device preview and no code

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sketch logo

Sketch

Technology

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Proto.io prototypes live in the vendor cloud and offline export is a higher-tier feature, so the ability to archive completed client work is a plan-level decision rather than a given.; Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features
  • They diverge on capability: Proto.io covers Event and condition system, Sketch covers Vector editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Proto.io and Sketch actually diverge.

Attributes where Proto.io and Sketch differ
AttributeProto.ioSketch
Starting priceOn request$12/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Web, iOS, iPad
CategoryDesignTechnology
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Proto.io

  • Event and condition system
  • Timeline animation
  • Device preview
  • Component library
  • User testing integration
  • Design import

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.

Proto.io

  • Running usability tests where the prototype must respond to real input rather than replay a fixed click pathnot Sketch
  • Demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code existsnot Sketch
  • Testing a mobile interaction on the physical device it is designed for, with correct gesture behaviournot Sketch
  • Validating a concept for a client who needs to feel the product, not watch a video of itnot Sketch

Sketch

  • UI designnot Proto.io
  • Mobile app designnot Proto.io
  • Web designnot Proto.io
  • Design systemsnot Proto.io
  • Prototypingnot Proto.io

Where each one falls short

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

Proto.io

  • Prototypes live in the vendor cloud and offline export is a higher-tier feature, so the ability to archive completed client work is a plan-level decision rather than a given.
  • Design is done elsewhere and interaction is rebuilt here, so every change to the visual design has to be reapplied by hand and the two artefacts drift apart.
  • The event and condition model is layer based, so a genuinely complex flow becomes a large tree of triggers that nobody but its author can audit.
  • Editor seats are priced individually and viewer access is limited on lower plans, so opening review to a wide stakeholder group pushes you up a tier for people who never edit anything.
  • The market standardised on Figma, so hiring people who already know Proto.io is progressively harder and every new researcher is a training cost.

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

Proto.io

On request
  • Freelancer$undefined/month
    • Single editor
    • Limited active projects
    • Standard sharing
  • Startup$undefined/month
    • Multiple editors
    • More projects
    • Team library
  • Agency$undefined/month
    • Higher project and storage limits
    • Client sharing controls
  • Corporate$undefined/month
    • Largest quotas
    • Offline export on higher tiers
    • Priority support

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 Proto.io if

  • You need event and condition system.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want timeline animation.
Proto.io 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 Proto.io or Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. Proto.io starts at On request and Sketch at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Proto.io or Sketch?
Proto.io starts at On request and Sketch at $12/month.
Does Proto.io or Sketch run on more platforms?
Proto.io runs on Web, iOS, Android. Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
What is Proto.io best used for?
Proto.io is most often used for running usability tests where the prototype must respond to real input rather than replay a fixed click path, demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code exists, testing a mobile interaction on the physical device it is designed for, with correct gesture behaviour, validating a concept for a client who needs to feel the product, not watch a video of it. Of those, running usability tests where the prototype must respond to real input rather than replay a fixed click path and demonstrating a form-heavy or data-driven flow to stakeholders before any code exists are not what Sketch is typically brought in for.
What can Proto.io do that Sketch cannot?
Proto.io covers Event and condition system, Timeline animation, Device preview, Component library. Sketch covers Vector editing, Symbols & components, Prototyping, Real-time collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Proto.io: Can it replace Figma?

No. It has no design system or file-handoff role. It sits alongside Figma for the prototypes Figma cannot express.

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
Proto.io: What happens to prototypes if we stop paying?

They stop being accessible unless you have exported them, and offline export is restricted to higher plans, so plan archiving before you cancel.

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
Proto.io: Is it worth learning now that InVision has gone?

If your work is usability research on conditional flows, yes. If you need click-through demos of static screens, Figma already does that at no extra cost.

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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