Figma is usually the better pick for collaborative UI design because it works in the browser, supports live teamwork, and makes sharing feel almost too easy.
TLDR: Figma is a cloud-based design tool for building apps, websites, prototypes, and design systems with other people in real time. Sketch is a strong Mac-only design tool, but it often needs extra setup for team work. For example, a 6-person product team can review one Figma file together, leave 40 comments, and ship updates the same day. If your team includes designers, developers, writers, and clients, Figma will likely save time and spare a few headaches.
So, what is Figma?
Figma is a UI design tool. UI means user interface. That is the stuff people click, tap, read, scroll, and curse at when a button is too small.
You can use Figma to design:
- Mobile apps
- Websites
- Dashboards
- Landing pages
- Interactive prototypes
- Design systems
- Icons and simple graphics
The big idea is simple. You open a file. Your teammate opens the same file. You both see each other moving around, like tiny design ghosts with names. You can comment, edit, test, and share without sending files named final final really final v7.
Why people like Figma so much
Figma made design feel less lonely. Before tools like Figma, design files often lived on one person’s machine. If someone needed to see work, you exported screens. Then you emailed them. Then someone replied with feedback in a giant thread. Then everyone forgot which screen was current. Pain.
Figma changed that by being cloud first. It runs in a browser. It also has desktop apps. But the magic is still the same. One file. One link. Many people.
That means a product manager can add comments. A developer can inspect spacing. A writer can tweak button text. A client can point at a header and say, “Can this be friendlier?” Everyone sees the same thing.
Honestly, it feels like a relief when a developer can grab CSS values without asking you for the fifteenth time.
What is Sketch?
Sketch is also a UI design tool. It has been around longer than Figma and helped define modern screen design. Many designers still love it. It is clean, focused, and fast.
Sketch is mainly a Mac app. If your team is all on Macs, that may be fine. If someone uses Windows or Linux, things get awkward quickly.
Sketch has cloud features too. You can share files, collect comments, and create libraries. But its roots are in local files and the Mac desktop. Figma was born around online teamwork. That difference matters.
Figma vs Sketch: the simple version
Here is the snack-sized comparison.
- Figma: Best for teams that work together often.
- Sketch: Best for Mac-based designers who like a focused desktop app.
- Figma: Works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebooks through the browser.
- Sketch: Works best on Mac.
- Figma: Real-time editing is built into the core experience.
- Sketch: Collaboration exists, but it can feel less instant.
Collaboration: where Figma shines
Figma is like Google Docs for interface design. That comparison gets used a lot because it fits.
Multiple people can edit at the same time. You can watch cursors move. You can leave comments on exact spots. You can tag someone. You can share a link with view-only access. You can also give edit access when needed.
This is huge for remote teams. It is also huge for mixed teams. Designers are not the only people involved in product work. Developers, marketers, founders, support teams, and users may all need to review screens.
Expect to waste time on permission cleanup in many tools. With Figma, sharing is usually just a link and a role. Done.
Prototyping: click it before you build it
Figma lets you connect screens and make a clickable prototype. This helps people understand the flow. A static screen can lie. A prototype shows what happens after a tap.
You can test basic app paths like:
- User opens the app.
- User views a product.
- User adds it to cart.
- User checks out.
Sketch also supports prototyping. It works well for many simple flows. But Figma’s sharing and live feedback make testing feel easier. Send one link. Watch people click. Fix the weird parts.
Design systems: buttons with rules
A design system is a set of reusable parts. Think buttons, colors, text styles, icons, cards, forms, and layout rules.
Without a design system, chaos sneaks in. One button is blue. Another is slightly different blue. One corner is 8 pixels. Another is 10. Nobody admits it. Everyone sees it.
Figma uses components, variants, and shared libraries. You can create one main button and reuse it across many screens. If the main button changes, the copies can update too.
Sketch also has symbols and libraries. They are powerful. Many mature teams built huge systems in Sketch. Still, Figma feels smoother when many people need access across devices and roles.
Developer handoff
Developers need details. Spacing. Colors. Font sizes. Assets. States. Not vague comments like “make it pop.” Please, no.
Figma gives developers an inspect view. They can select elements and read measurements. They can copy CSS-like values. They can export icons and images if permissions allow it.
This does not replace talking to developers. It just removes tiny chores. That matters. Saving 10 minutes per screen across 30 screens is 300 minutes. That is 5 hours back. Spend it on better work. Or snacks.
Where Sketch still wins
Sketch is not old news. It still has real strengths.
- Mac performance: It can feel very snappy.
- Focused workspace: It is built for design, not everything else.
- Plugin history: Sketch has a long plugin culture.
- Local control: Some teams like keeping files close.
If you are a solo designer on a Mac, Sketch may feel great. If your whole team already uses it well, moving may not be worth the fuss.
Where Figma can annoy you
Figma is not perfect. Large files can get slow. Browser tabs can eat memory like a hungry raccoon. If your internet connection is bad, cloud tools feel less magical.
Permissions can also get messy in big companies. One person cannot open a file. Another has edit rights by mistake. Someone duplicates a design system and now there are two “official” kits. Great. Just what everyone needed.
Still, these issues are manageable. Good file structure helps. Clear naming helps. A grumpy but organized design ops person helps even more.
Quick comparison table
| Feature | Figma | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Browser, Mac, Windows | Mac focused |
| Real-time teamwork | Excellent | Good, but less central |
| Sharing | Easy links | Works through Sketch cloud |
| Best for | Teams and remote work | Mac designers and focused workflows |
Which one should you choose?
Choose Figma if your team works together often. Choose it if you need fast sharing, live comments, and easy developer handoff. Choose it if people use different computers.
Choose Sketch if you work mainly on a Mac and prefer a desktop-first design tool. It is also a fine choice if your team already has a strong Sketch setup.
For most new teams, Figma is the safer pick. It removes friction early. It keeps feedback close to the design. It makes collaboration feel normal instead of like a weekly file-swapping ritual.
The shortest answer is this: Figma is built for shared design work. Sketch is great for screen design too, but Figma makes teamwork easier from the first link.