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Software · head to head

Sketch vs Zed

Sketch logo

Sketch

Software

The digital design toolkit

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zed logo

Zed

Software

Code at the speed of thought

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zed has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features; Zed newer product with smaller ecosystem than established editors
  • They diverge on capability: Sketch covers Vector editing, Zed covers AI code completion.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sketch and Zed actually diverge.

Attributes where Sketch and Zed differ
AttributeSketchZed
Starting price$12/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, Web, iOS, iPadmacOS, Linux, Windows
Founded20102023

Identical on both: 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
  • Developer handoff
  • Plugins ecosystem
  • Cloud sync
  • Version history
  • InVision

Only in Zed

  • AI code completion
  • Lightning-fast performance
  • Rust-based architecture
  • Multi-language support
  • Integrated terminal
  • Git integration
  • Vim keybindings
  • Git

Both cover

  • Real-time collaboration

What people use each for

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

Sketch

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

Zed

  • Collaborative codingnot Sketch
  • High-performance editingnot Sketch
  • Real-time pair programmingnot Sketch
  • Systems programmingnot Sketch
  • Web developmentnot Sketch

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

Zed

  • Newer product with smaller ecosystem than established editors
  • Limited extensions and plugin marketplace compared to VSCode or Sublime Text

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

Zed

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Single-player editing
    • Local AI assistance
    • Fast performance
  • Plus$10/month
    • Multiplayer collaboration
    • Cloud AI assistance
    • Advanced features

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 Zed if

  • You need ai code completion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want lightning-fast performance.
Zed review

Questions people ask

Is Sketch or Zed better?
Neither clearly leads. Sketch starts at $12/month and Zed at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sketch or Zed?
Zed has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Sketch and Free for Zed.
Does Sketch or Zed run on more platforms?
Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad. Zed runs on macOS, Linux, Windows.
Can I use Zed for free?
Yes. Zed has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sketch starts at $12/month.
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 Zed is typically brought in for.
What can Sketch do that Zed cannot?
Sketch covers Vector editing, Symbols & components, Prototyping, Developer handoff. Zed covers AI code completion, Lightning-fast performance, Rust-based architecture, Multi-language support. Both handle 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
Zed: What platforms does Zed support?

Zed is available for macOS, Linux, and Windows, providing cross-platform support for developers.

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
Zed: Is Zed free to use?

Yes. Zed is open-source software available free to download and use. The editor and GPUI framework are available under open-source licenses (GPL for editor, Apache/MIT for GPUI).

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
Zed: What makes Zed fast compared to other editors?

Zed is written in Rust and uses GPU-accelerated rendering to achieve startup times under 500ms and keystroke latency below 2ms.

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
Zed: Does Zed support real-time collaboration?

Yes. Zed provides real-time collaborative editing and screen sharing capabilities, enabling multiple developers to work on the same code simultaneously.

Source
Zed: What AI models does Zed support?

Zed supports multiple AI models and agents for agentic editing, enabling human-AI collaboration during development.

Source
Zed: When was Zed 1.0 released?

Zed 1.0 was officially released on April 29, 2026, marking the stable production release.

Source
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