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Technology · head to head

Redis vs Sketch

Redis logo

Redis

Technology

The real-time data platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sketch logo

Sketch

Technology

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Redis has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Redis licensing changed from BSD to AGPL in 2025, impacting open-source usage; Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features
  • They diverge on capability: Redis covers In-memory data store, Sketch covers Vector editing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Redis and Sketch actually diverge.

Attributes where Redis and Sketch differ
AttributeRedisSketch
Starting priceFree$12/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsmacOS, Web, iOS, iPad
Founded20092010

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 Redis

  • In-memory data store
  • Data structures
  • Pub/Sub messaging
  • Lua scripting
  • Transactions
  • Persistence options
  • Replication
  • Clustering

Only in Sketch

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

Both cover

  • Encryption

What people use each for

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

Redis

  • Cachingnot Sketch
  • Session managementnot Sketch
  • Real-time analyticsnot Sketch
  • Message queuingnot Sketch
  • Leaderboardsnot Sketch

Sketch

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

Where each one falls short

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

Redis

  • Licensing changed from BSD to AGPL in 2025, impacting open-source usage
  • All data must fit in memory, limiting scalability to available RAM
  • No built-in support for multi-tenancy
  • Limited transaction support compared to traditional databases

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

Redis

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Redis 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 Redis if

  • You need in-memory data store.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want data structures.
Redis 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 Redis or Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. Redis 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, Redis or Sketch?
Redis has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Redis and $12/month for Sketch.
Does Redis or Sketch run on more platforms?
Redis runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
Can I use Redis for free?
Yes. Redis has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sketch starts at $12/month.
What is Redis best used for?
Redis is most often used for caching, session management, real-time analytics, message queuing. Of those, caching and session management are not what Sketch is typically brought in for.
What can Redis do that Sketch cannot?
Redis covers In-memory data store, Data structures, Pub/Sub messaging, Lua scripting. Sketch covers Vector editing, Symbols & components, Prototyping, Real-time collaboration. Both handle Encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Redis: Is Redis open source?

Redis was open source under the BSD license since its inception in 2009 and has remained open source. However, in 2024-2025, Redis Labs changed licensing to source-available and AGPL, prompting the creation of Valkey, a BSD-licensed open-source fork.

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
Redis: What is Redis used for?

Redis is an in-memory data structure store used primarily as a cache, database, and message broker. It provides high-speed data access for real-time applications, sessions, leaderboards, real-time analytics, and other use cases requiring fast data retrieval.

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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