Sketch

Sketch allows people to design websites, concept pages, logos, icons, and more.

Whether you’re a blogger wanting to customize your site or a professional marketing designer, Sketch can simplify how you create.

The app gives Mac users a space to design mockups of web pages, apps, and marketing materials.

You can add editors to your plan to collaborate with teammates or simply share designs with others to view.

You can sync changes and comments in real-time, so there’s less back and forth with your team.

What Is Sketch?

Sketch is a drawing app that artists and designers use to streamline their workflow.

There are different tools for many art styles. Going above and beyond, Sketch makes it easy for artists to collaborate on the app in real time.

What Is Sketch Used For?

With Sketch, you can design a blog before you build it.

Whether you start from scratch or access the template library, you can build web pages, apps, icons, and other materials.

Countless tools let you tweak and customize every aspect of the project, ensuring you and your team love the final product.

How Sketch Works

Sketch is easy to use, but you can watch tutorials to learn your way around the dashboard.

It’s a small app, especially compared to Photoshop, so it installs and opens quickly.

Once you pull up the app, right-click the toolbar to customize it.

You can pick what actions are available for the easiest access.

From there, you open an artboard and start designing.

You can have multiple artboards saved in a single Sketch file, so the design possibilities are endless.

You can also open templates from the included library.

Notable Features of Sketch

Sketch goes above and beyond many design programs you might already know.

These notable features help you understand what you can get from your Sketch subscription and how it will improve your design business.

1. Live Collaboration

Sketch allows live collaboration, meaning multiple editors can work on a file simultaneously.

Everything syncs with every change, so if you change a font, your coworker sees it immediately.

You might worry that too many people working together can ruin the file, but that won’t happen.

Sketch has a history of all changes made, so you can see who did what and go back to previous versions if necessary.

2. Unlimited Viewers

While editors collaborate on a project, viewers can see what’s happening.

They don’t need a Mac for this purpose; in fact, viewers can watch from a Windows device or iPhone.

Viewers leave comments for the designers to streamline the entire project timeline.

With Sketch, there’s no need to print a mockup and pass copies around the office.

You don’t have to worry about lost or leaked copies because you do everything online.

Send a link to the viewers and get their feedback promptly so you can make the necessary changes.

The best part of Sketch collaboration is that you can have unlimited viewers.

You need to buy a plan for everyone who will have access to edit files, but there’s no restriction for viewers.

That means you’re free (literally!) to send the document links to shareholders, employees, and test groups for feedback without needing to change your plan.

3. Shared Libraries

Sketch offers plenty of libraries in the app, including website foundations, app designs, and blog post templates.

As you use the software, you can add custom templates to the library, whether you create them yourself or find them online.

Once you add a file to the library, it’s accessible to all collaborators in the shared library.

This feature is ideal for teams because you don’t have to wait for one person to send you a specific document or template.

A file in the library is available for everyone.

4. Multiple File Formats

When you create designs in Sketch, they’re saved as .sketch files, the program’s unique format.

You can then open these files in Photoshop and Illustrator if necessary.

But you’re not limited to using the .sketch format for your designs.

You can change the file format as you save the design and choose options such as:

• JPG
• PDF
• PNG
• PSD
• TIFF
• WebP

5. Plugins Available

People looking for design software typically think about tools, file formats, and artistic capabilities.

With Sketch, however, you can also consider plugins.

There are countless plugins you can use to automate your Sketch process.

An example of how you can use plugins with Sketch includes image searches.

Instead of opening a browser window and scrolling through images, use the Unsplash plugin to pull free images to use in your projects.

Are There Any Minimum Requirements Necessary To Use Sketch?

You need to have a Mac to use Sketch, but that’s the baseline.

Windows users can view files and leave comments, but they can’t make any changes, so having a Mac is imperative.

How Much Does Sketch Cost?

Sketch gives you a 30-day free trial, so you have a chance to see what’s offered.

At that point, you can sign up for a Standard plan, which is $9 a month per editor.

You can save money by paying for a year in advance for $99 per editor.

Does Sketch Have an Enterprise Version Available?

Yes, Sketch has a plan for businesses.

If you’ll have 25 editors working on the software, this plan is a better choice.

You get everything from the Standard plan, plus priority technical support and a customer success manager.

Contact Sketch for Business plan pricing.

Who Are Sketch’s Main Alternatives?

By now, you have an idea of whether or not Sketch is the right software for your needs.

Before you make a final decision, consider a few of Sketch’s main alternatives.

These programs might have what you need for your design work.

1. Canva

Canva is something you can use in addition to Sketch because even the free version gives you a lot to work with.

You can use templates sized for standard social media platforms and prints.

There’s an impressive free library of themes and design elements.

A paid plan gives you unlimited access to everything, and the Canva for Teams plan is more affordable than Sketch.

2. Moqups

Moqups helps you turn an idea into a finished product.

You can insert simple design elements and use the Moqups prediction tool to see what it might look like in the end.

Teamwork is possible, just as it is with Sketch.

It’s best for professionals and corporations because it’s much more expensive than Sketch.

3. Figma

Figma is a design program that lets you collaborate with others.

You can use it online without needing to download software, which plays into the teamwork aspect.

Users can log in and see the latest artwork, and changes they make will sync to all other open versions.

Figma is more expensive than Sketch unless you can get by with the limited features of the free plan.

How Does Sketch Differentiate Itself From Competitors?

Sketch is only for Mac users, so you might think they’re limiting themselves.

In fact, it’s a great app for Mac because it’s so much smaller than programs like Photoshop or Illustrator.

You can run Sketch without slowing down your computer, which means you can get through the design process much more quickly than you expect.

Who Is Sketch Best For?

The short answer is that Sketch is best for Mac users.

This might be obvious since it’s a Mac app, but it’s worth stating flat-out.

Windows users can view Sketch files on the web app, but there’s no ability to edit the documents or design something new.

Why Is Sketch Best for Mac Users?

Any Mac user can create something beautiful with Sketch.

You can use it for icon design, web design, and logos.

If you have a subscription to this software, you can use it for any of your design projects.

Is Sketch Easy to Use?

Yes, Sketch is easy to use.

The dashboard is easy to navigate, and there are keyboard shortcuts to learn for your most-used actions.

If you’re having trouble using the software, there are plenty of tutorials available.

You can also join the Community Hub to network with other designers.

If you’re in a jam, contact Sketch for help.

What Features Do Some Users Love?

Users love the ability to collaborate with Sketch.

You can let all staff see the designs while they’re in progress.

This approach saves time because you don’t have to print a mockup, wait for feedback, and then make changes.

Editors can make changes that sync immediately, and others can leave comments on the Artboard, so everyone gets to chime in.

What Features Do Some Users Find Frustrating?

The ability to check files on the web app, which means you can use Windows to see designs, is a pro and a con.

It’s nice that anyone can double-check your designs before you move on, especially if feedback is critical for your work.

But if you’re checking the designs on another platform—even your iPhone—it’s frustrating that you can’t make edits at the moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve learned about what Sketch has to offer.

If you’re still not sure it’s the right program for you, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions for more information.

Wrapping Up

Sketch is a quality program for Mac users.

You can create websites and apps from scratch or from the countless included templates.

Since the software is so light, it takes no time to install, open, and get to work.

Sketch also streamlines the work process by allowing multiple editors to work on files and share them for feedback.

If you’ve used Sketch, leave a review below to help others decide if they should try the software.