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Software · head to head

Sketch vs etcd

Sketch logo

Sketch

Software

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
E

etcd

Software

A strongly consistent, distributed key-value store

From
On request
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; etcd licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (etcd-io/etcd LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sketch and etcd actually diverge.

Attributes where Sketch and etcd differ
AttributeSketchetcd
Starting price$12/monthOn request
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
PlatformsmacOS, Web, iOS, iPadWeb
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: 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 etcd

Nothing recorded that Sketch does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Sketch

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

etcd

No use cases recorded yet. See the etcd review.

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

etcd

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (etcd-io/etcd LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Benchmarked at only thousands of writes per second per instance per etcd.io, a throughput ceiling that requires clustering or an alternative store for higher write volumes

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

etcd

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the etcd 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 etcd if

Nothing in the data separates etcd from Sketch on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

etcd review

Questions people ask

Is Sketch or etcd better?
Neither clearly leads. Sketch starts at $12/month and etcd at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sketch or etcd?
Sketch starts at $12/month and etcd at On request.
Does Sketch or etcd run on more platforms?
Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad. etcd runs on Web.
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 mobile app design are not what etcd is typically brought in for.
What can Sketch do that etcd 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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