Designers often have discussions like which user interface (UI) design tool is the most effective. Typically, designers compare design systems to decide on which tool is better to be used. This is the case of Figma vs Sketch. If you are one of those trying to choose between these tools for your app development project, you can find all the necessary information in this article. Below, we discuss Figma’s and Sketch’s differences and similarities and figure out which one is more suitable for application development.
Vector Graphics Editors
Vector Graphics Editors are one of the most effective prototyping tools used by designers. Talking about the visual side of software development, Sketch and Figma are especially useful and frequently used in all kinds of projects. These tools have proven themselves best in web development, but they can also be used to design application UIs, web apps, and much more.
Whether your project aims to create a web or mobile application, a Vector Graphic Editor is the perfect tool. These tools help designers build app layouts and design mockups that allow project managers and other team members to get an idea of how an application will look once finished, ease user testing and feedback loops.
Although almost all these tools have similar basic functions, they still have some differences. It is in these features where we can decide which one is best for building apps.
Designing Apps
Let’s start with taking a look at what is involved in designing an app. Right now, all apps are focused on guaranteeing users an engaging experience. Because of this, development teams are giving user data a closer look and focus more on an application’s design elements. Why?
Firstly, it is impossible to come up with a world-class app that does not focus on the UX/UI. Besides, applications that are visually attractive are more likely to engage users.
These aspects force app development teams to cooperate in order to achieve еру results expected by users. Developers and designers must have an opportunity to communicate clearly. Working together on design pieces makes it possible for teams to share ideas and find solutions effectively.
Figma vs Sketch: Differences
One insignificant difference between these two tools is the wording. While they have similar basic design elements and tools, they are referred to differently.
Figma’s components are known as symbols in Sketch. If you know your way around design tools, this should not be a problem. In Figma, components allow the user to make changes directly to work, while Sketch requires a user to go to the symbols panel. It may seem insignificant, but it actually saves time in the working process.
One more difference is that Figma is a web application, and Sketch is a desktop application. Due to this, Figma runs on a browser and helps the user place the computing workload on the app’s server-side without affecting performance. Besides, it allows userы to share design files easily with all the team members in real-time. What about Sketch, it is more a folder than a real-time collaboration feature. It is quite restrictive for cooperation. However, this option is useful if you do not want an entire team to share their ideas on the project.
Figma vs Sketch: Similar Features
Generally, Figma and Sketch have similar UI design tools. When a user knows how to use them properly, he or she gets excellent results. Finally, achieving impressive results depends on specific design skills and experience, not on the tool. Like with writing papers, you need to have good writing skills to come up with an interesting essay, and your success does not depend on the sheet of paper your essay is written on. However, with academic papers, you can always ask someone, “Please, write my paper for me.”
One more similar feature is that both programs are created specially for designers. It means that anything you do with them can be easily scaled up and adapted to your team’s needs. Both programs are good for Agile working environments.
For some projects, using Sketch can require using other programs, such as InVision or Zeplin. This is relevant if you want to be able to collaborate and share in real-time. Such a real-time collaboration is not an obstacle with Figma. This program allows users to do everything in the product design workflow, including creating, cooperating, prototyping, sharing, and getting feedback.
Using Figma’s Strengths
The main advantage of Figma is real-time design. It has a strong creative focus regarding team collaboration. Because of this, the chances are that the web version might be the way to go for multiple other apps. And this, in turn, might make many users switch from Sketch to Figma.
In terms of application development, using a web app and having the ability to share information in real-time is crucial. Such a feature can help greatly improve teamwork and the quality of the process of creating top design features. Furthermore, it is very likely that, when using Figma, you will not need any additional programs. It is complete, easily updates, and is constantly being improved.
Using Sketch’s Strengths
The main advantage of this program is its plugins. They have already been on the market for several years, and because of this, Sketch has become a favorite of plugin developers. Although updating Sketch is not as easy as for a web application, its plugins can help users add new features and stay up to date with significant changes.
The second important advantage is that this program can work offline. Because it is installed directly on your computer, you should not worry about having access to the Internet to work.
The Verdict
In terms of collaboration, Figma wins. Its ability to run in-browser is an immediate benefit for anyone who needs access to certain files but does not want to install design tools. Figma has been created with teamwork in mind, so the real-time cooperation and detailed version control features are its critical advantages.
However, in comparison to Sketch, Figma is a more expensive option — especially for larger teams. Regarding native design capabilities, both Figma and Sketch do not compete, but Sketch provides multiple available plugins.
Also, Sketch wins due to its age. For the nearest future, we think that this program will keep its position as the designers’ favorite. However, that could change swiftly with the collaborative, remote work that Figma is designed for.