Sketch review

Sketch is built only for the Mac, and its site says the macOS editor was made for designers and no-one else. It suits designers who want a fast native app with files they can keep on their own disk. Sketch's pricing page offers a 30-day free trial without a credit card, then a Standard subscription at $12 per editor per month billed yearly, which adds real-time collaboration, unlimited documents, free viewers, version history and developer handoff. A Mac-only license costs $120 per seat with one year of updates for people who work offline and do not need online sharing. Recent layout features include Stacks, flexible frames and Auto-Pin, and Sketch offers a free MCP server for AI clients without extra AI credits. Its focus is interface, icon and screen design, so print layout and painterly illustration are better handled by Affinity. For a Mac-only studio that prefers a native app to a browser tab, Sketch is the strongest alternative to Figma.

Who it is for

Mac-only design teams and freelancers who want a native app with offline work

Price

$12 per editor per month billed yearly; Mac-only license $120 per seat with one year of updates.

$ 12 per editor/month, billed yearly
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Native macOS editor that works offline and saves documents locally
• Stacks, frames and Auto-Pin for flexible layouts
• Real-time collaboration, free viewers and version history on subscriptions
• Free MCP server that connects AI clients such as Claude or Cursor to designs
• Mac-only license for $120 per seat with one year of updates

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Choice of subscription or a one-time Mac-only license
• Strength: 30-day free trial with no credit card
• Strength: Free viewers can browse, comment and inspect documents
• Weakness: Editor runs only on macOS
• Weakness: The Mac-only license drops collaboration and online sharing
• Weakness: Focused on interface design more than print or illustration

Key facts

• Standard plan: $12 per editor per month, billed yearly
• Mac-only license: $120 per seat, one year of updates
• Free trial: 30 days, no credit card
• Platforms: macOS editor, web app, iPhone and iPad viewer

Where it ranks

Sketch is No. 6 in our Best Graphic Design Software for Mac verdict and No. 3 in Best UI Design Tools.