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Software · head to head

Sketch vs Adobe XD

Sketch logo

Sketch

Software

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Adobe XD logo

Adobe XD

Software

Design, prototype, and share user experiences

From
$54.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features; Adobe XD standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan
  • They diverge on capability: Sketch covers Vector editing, Adobe XD covers Vector design tools.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sketch and Adobe XD actually diverge.

Attributes where Sketch and Adobe XD differ
AttributeSketchAdobe XD
Starting price$12/month$54.99/month
PlatformsmacOS, Web, iOS, iPadWeb, macOS, Windows
Founded20102015

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Sketch

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

Only in Adobe XD

  • Vector design tools
  • Responsive resize
  • Auto-animate
  • Voice prototyping
  • 3D transforms
  • Design systems
  • Component states
  • Coediting

Both cover

  • Jira
  • SSO

What people use each for

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

Sketch

  • UI designnot Adobe XD
  • Mobile app design
  • Web design
  • Design systems
  • Prototypingnot Adobe XD

Adobe XD

  • Web design
  • Mobile app design
  • Design systems
  • Interactive prototypesnot Sketch
  • User testingnot Sketch

Both are used for mobile app design, web design, design systems, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

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

Adobe XD

  • Standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan
  • Mac-first design tool with more limited Windows support
  • Collaboration features are less mature compared to Figma
  • Not open source unlike alternatives like Penpot
  • Higher price point than competing standalone design tools

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Adobe XD

$54.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Adobe XD review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Sketch if

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

Choose Adobe XD if

  • You need vector design tools.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want responsive resize.
Adobe XD review

Questions people ask

Is Sketch or Adobe XD better?
Neither clearly leads. Sketch starts at $12/month and Adobe XD at $54.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sketch or Adobe XD?
Sketch starts at $12/month and Adobe XD at $54.99/month.
Does Sketch or Adobe XD run on more platforms?
Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad. Adobe XD runs on Web, macOS, Windows.
What is Sketch best used for?
Sketch is most often used for ui design, mobile app design, web design, design systems. Of those, ui design and prototyping are not what Adobe XD is typically brought in for.
What can Sketch do that Adobe XD cannot?
Sketch covers Vector editing, Symbols & components, Prototyping, Real-time collaboration. Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Responsive resize, Auto-animate, Voice prototyping. Both handle Jira, SSO.

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
Adobe XD: Can I use Adobe XD without a full Creative Cloud subscription?

No. Adobe XD is no longer available as a standalone subscription. It is only available as part of Creative Cloud All Apps plan priced from $54.99 to $69.99 per month.

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
Adobe XD: What file formats does Adobe XD support?

Adobe XD supports XD format natively, with import/export capabilities for other design formats and vector graphics.

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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