Sketch
Dutch vector UI design tool from The Hague, the original Mac-native alternative to Adobe and Figma
Quick Overview
| Company | Sketch B.V. |
|---|---|
| Category | Design & Photo Editing |
| Headquarters | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Founded | 2008 |
| EU Presence | EU (Netherlands) |
| Data Location | Your device, or Sketch cloud for collaboration |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Standard $12 / Professional $24 / Enterprise $44 per editor/month (billed yearly); Mac-only licence $120 one-time |
| Free Option | 30-day free trial, no credit card |
| Replaces | Adobe XD, Figma, Adobe Illustrator for UI work |
Detailed Review
Sketch is the tool that started the current wave of vector UI design software, launched from The Hague in 2010 years before Figma existed, and it still covers the same ground: vector design, reusable components and shared libraries, prototyping and developer handoff, now with real-time multi-user collaboration added on top of what was originally a single-player Mac app.
For a team already standardised on Mac hardware, that lineage shows in details competitors still catch up on, particularly font and vector handling.
Sketch B.V. is the contracting party under Dutch law, with disputes handled by the court in The Hague.
Pricing runs Standard at $12, Professional at $24 and Enterprise at $44 per editor per month billed yearly, plus an option Figma does not offer at all: a one-time Mac-only licence at $120 per seat for teams that would rather own the software outright.
The 30-day trial needs no credit card. The catch is the same one that defined Sketch from the start: it is Mac-only, so a design team with Windows or Linux members has to work around it or pick something else entirely.
What Sketch does well
- Mature vector UI design with strong component and library tools
- One-time Mac-only licence available alongside the subscription
- Dutch company, Dutch jurisdiction
- Real-time collaboration added onto the original desktop app
- 30-day trial, no credit card needed
Where Sketch falls short
- Mac only; no Windows or Linux app
- Collaboration cloud features cost more than the base subscription implies
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma
- Not open source
Standout feature. A one-time Mac licence next to the subscription: Sketch is the only Figma-class UI design tool here you can still simply buy.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Mature vector UI design with strong component and library tools
- One-time Mac-only licence available alongside the subscription
- Dutch company, Dutch jurisdiction
- Real-time collaboration added onto the original desktop app
- 30-day trial, no credit card needed
Cons
- Mac only; no Windows or Linux app
- Collaboration cloud features cost more than the base subscription implies
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma
- Not open source
Alternatives to Sketch
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sketch?
Sketch is the tool that started the current wave of vector UI design software, launched from The Hague in 2010 years before Figma existed, and it still covers the same ground: vector design, reusable components and shared libraries, prototyping and developer handoff, now with real-time multi-user collaboration added on top of what was originally a single-player Mac app.
For a team already standardised on Mac hardware, that lineage shows in details competitors still catch up on, particularly font and vector handling.
Where is Sketch based?
Sketch operates from The Hague, Netherlands, which places it under EU (Netherlands).
What does Sketch cost?
Standard $12 / Professional $24 / Enterprise $44 per editor/month (billed yearly); Mac-only licence $120 one-time. 30-day free trial, no credit card.
Who is Sketch best for?
Mac-based UI design teams that want Figma's workflow with an offline option. A one-time Mac licence next to the subscription: Sketch is the only Figma-class UI design tool here you can still simply buy.
What are the drawbacks of Sketch?
Mac only; no Windows or Linux app. Collaboration cloud features cost more than the base subscription implies. Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma. Not open source.
Is Sketch a good alternative to Adobe XD?
Sketch is built as a European alternative to Adobe XD: Dutch vector UI design tool from The Hague, the original Mac-native alternative to Adobe and Figma. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does Sketch compare to other Design & Photo Editing tools?
Sketch is one of several European Design & Photo Editing tools we cover. It is most often compared with Adobe XD, Figma, Adobe Illustrator for UI work.