Adobe XD vs. Sketch

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Adobe XD
Score 7.3 out of 10
N/A
Adobe XD is a prototyping and UX/UI option for website and mobile application design, featuring a range of UI tools and and templates, a versatile artboard and contextual layer panels, and deep integration with Adobe's creative suite of products for fast import of objects from these applications.
$33.99
per month per license
Sketch
Score 6.1 out of 10
N/A
Sketch is a visual design tool of use for application prototyping, coming with a wide variety of extensions, plugins, and an active user community.
$10
per month billed yearly per editor
Pricing
Adobe XDSketch
Editions & Modules
Individual
$9.99 ($119.88)
per month (annual, prepaid)
Students & Teachers - All Apps
$19.99 ($239.88)
per month, annual plan (for the year)
Business - Single App
$33.99
per month per license
Business - All Apps
$79.99
per month per license
Schools & Universities - Institution Wide
Contact Sales
Standard Subscription
$10
per month billed yearly per editor
Standard Subscription
$12
per month per editor
Mac-only license
$12
per seat
Business Subscription
$22
per month billed yearly per editor
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Adobe XDSketch
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Adobe XDSketch
Considered Both Products
Adobe XD
Chose Adobe XD
More and more competitors, agencies, start-ups, tech companies are using Figma instead of Adobe XD or sketch so our company is trying to get licenses of Figma in addition to Adobe XD. At a large company like us, we already have an Adobe Creative Cloud license so it makes sense …
Chose Adobe XD
Adobe XD used to be able to stack great, but I would select Figma over Adobe XD any day. Much better features, better quality of life features and includes darkmode. Another great part of Figma is the fact you can strickly use it in a browser without having to install any apps, …
Chose Adobe XD
So far I've had minimal issues with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. All my issues have been with Adobe XD simply not being that great.
Chose Adobe XD
First off if we talk about Sketch, then Adobe XD has the upper hand because it supports both Windows and Apple Macintosh. Then coming on Axure RP, Adobe XD is far better than Axure. Because it comes with extensive features. Finally, about Figma, Figma is the only rival to Adobe …
Chose Adobe XD
Figma is also a very good product, but the reason we are still using Adobe XD is because we can grab this software and have multiple projects that are going on at the same time, so it's very hard for to move on to other software. ** The Repeat Grid Feature is super good and, in …
Chose Adobe XD
If we compare with Sketch, I would still prefer Adobe XD. Sketch is a pioneer as a UI design tool, but the features and integration (without plugins) that Adobe XD provides are number 1, especially on the prototyping side.
Chose Adobe XD
Before XD came to the company, screens were designed in Illustrator or Photoshop and a PDF presentation was generated, which was extremely time-consuming. XD saved us a lot of time (and money) by generating interactive prototypes, which are much more tangible for the client …
Chose Adobe XD
A little change in layout can lead to massive process in Wix, Although templates and ADI system is good it makes issues sometimes. ADOBE XD has more powerful tools than it and for a customized website, It works very well. basic designing particles in the library can be used …
Chose Adobe XD
While I have used Zeplin, Invision, and Adobe XD on various projects, partly dependent on in-house client teams preferences, Adobe XD is the most familiar to me based on 20+ years [of] working within Adobe applications. They all can do most of what I am looking to do within …
Chose Adobe XD
Sketch, InVision, Affinity, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Photoshop, KeyShot and Balsamiq
Chose Adobe XD
It's a lot easier to prototype ideas and make mock-ups faster in Adobe XD than it is to in say Photoshop. Figma is fairly similar but XD works with the Adobe ecosystem and I feel is easier to learn and use and the way you can share XD links is what I really like.
Chose Adobe XD
I have tried Sketch to see how it compares to Adobe XD but that didn't last long and i will stick to XD.
Chose Adobe XD
Adobe XD is very comparable to most of the other wireframing and UX builders on the market. One of the big advantages is that it works on both a Mac & PC environment removing a possible tech barrier. The similarity with the other Adobe products makes it easy to get up to …
Chose Adobe XD
I do not use Sketch consistently as it is designed for Mac computers but Sketch is an alternative to consider if you don't have an Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription. Sketch is a one-time charge, has an intuitive interface. There is a low learning curve and has useful …
Chose Adobe XD
Compared to Sketch, Adobe XD is perfectly capable for most prototyping needs that we have. And it's free! I am less familiar with Figma, but can only say that it was a cost-prohibitive choice at the time we were evaluating. I do believe that Figma has become more sophisticated …
Chose Adobe XD
Highlighted previously, but Sketch is likely a better product. We have XD included in Creative Cloud so it was no additional cost, and half the team is on Windows. Otherwise would be paying for Sketch.
Chose Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a very useful tool for building wireframes, but I've now turned to Figma for my go-to wireframing and prototyping software. The thing that both Adobe and Figma have going for them is that they're available on Windows, as well as Mac. A lot of tools are Mac-only. …
Chose Adobe XD
I think in the next year XD will make Sketch irrelevant. It's sad to see giants like Adobe flat out copying independent companies, but it's hard to say no when XD is already included in my CC subscription. They have (mostly) the same features, so it's just a no-brainer.
Chose Adobe XD
We actually use Figma, Sketch, and InVision along with XD in our design practice. We mainly use XD on quick prototypes or experimentation for mobile projects. We always end up falling back to Sketch+InVision for our Design System Implementations and developer collaboration …
Chose Adobe XD
I'm still trying to explore why I should choose XD over Figma.
Chose Adobe XD
In terms of visualization, it is best when compared to any other software.
Chose Adobe XD
We have used Sketch software alongside Adobe XD to make prototypes and wireframes of our projects. There are some features which are exclusively available into Sketch and we don't want our clients to get shorted on any features, so that's why we use both.
Chose Adobe XD
Standard Adobe type expectations as far as integrating with other apps.
Sketch
Chose Sketch
In terms of comparing Sketch with some of it's competitors, I would say that Sketch falls behind Figma due to the fact that it doesn't not have the power of inline collaboration that Figma has developed. It's also not quite as powerful as Axure in terms of providing a usable …
Chose Sketch
I constantly use various tools, selecting the right one for each task based on my experience and understanding of their strengths. This allows me to combine the advantages of each tool to complete tasks more efficiently and achieve better results. For example, I primarily use …
Chose Sketch
Figma and Adobe XD provide features surpassing Sketch in key areas, such as collaboration, cross-platform support, and advanced prototyping. For those who need these capabilities, either Figma or Adobe XD is likely the better choice over Sketch, depending on whether integration …
Chose Sketch
I think Sketch it better than Illustrator in a lot of respects. I feel like Sketch allows for more accuracy and precision. I do think it lacks in its collaboration. Unlike Figma it doesn't allow live collaboration.
Chose Sketch
I would say that it's different enough from the others that it has its place right alongside them. Nothing beats Sketch in terms of its ability to quickly wireframe.
Chose Sketch
Sketch's approachable UI allowed those using outdated technologies to transition efficiently. Among its peers, Sketch performs comparably with most prototyping tools. It falls behind compared to those that can better handle movement, like Invision Studio, which combines …
Chose Sketch
The interfaces of Adobe and Figma are very similar, but I would say that Figma's collaboration tool is great with onboard live collaboration. For Sketch, that is a separate payment. XD is great for free usage and for Windows collaboration, but some parts of the collaboration …
Chose Sketch
Very easy to start in Sketch. But less community as compared to Adobe, and fewer features as compared to Figma.
Chose Sketch
If we compared to popular design tools right now (Figma and Adobe XD ).
Sketch app is still no 1, in terms of popularity, compatibility, and cost.
Chose Sketch
Sketch works well against any UI design apps and the pricing is also affordable.
Chose Sketch
Sketch works in a similar way to programs like Figma and InVision. Sketch is a mac only program so it works well in a mac environment. Tools like Figma and InVision have better collaboration tools and are both cross-platform. Sketch is easier to use and more intuitive for most …
Chose Sketch
Sketch is great for creating digital assets quickly and easily. It is simple to figure out and easy to use. It has a very clean user interface and isn't a resource hog like Adobe products tend to be. Its export feature is fantastic, generating multiple asset sizes/resolutions …
Chose Sketch
At the time of evaluation, Sketch provided a full feature design tool at the cost we needed. We also had required integration with Abstract, Zeplin, and InVision. Our design team already had familiarity with the Sketch interface. these considerations made it an easy decision to …
Chose Sketch
We went from designing websites in Photoshop to designing in Sketch, and it is certainly much quicker and easier to design in Sketch, and you're more easily able to make sure that our designs are exact in Sketch, as far as spacing exact pixels. I have never used AdobeXD and …
Chose Sketch
Sketch works perfectly well with Adobe Illustrator, you can seamlessly copy and paste vector artworks and open PDF files. It also [works] very well with prototyping tools such as proto.io and Bravo App. At ExMachina we also selected Sketch for its handover capabilities and …
Chose Sketch
Sketch is much better for web design than Adobe products. It's easier to learn and use, and it's a much more efficient way to hand off design files to developers. However, given a choice between Figma and Sketch, I'd choose Figma because of its cloud file storage and …
Chose Sketch
  • We use Sketch for its clarity. While Figma and InVision Studio have some "google-doc-escrow" collaboration tools, I've found them hard to make pixel-perfect designs, which is necessary while working with IT and clients.
  • Illustrator may have been the first of these vector-based …
Chose Sketch
Sketch eliminates all the complexity of Photoshop and it simplifies the screen design process for web, UI, UX designers. It is also much faster software with capabilities to make responsive design quickly.
Chose Sketch
I was a big Fireworks user when it was discontinued by Adobe. At the time most people used Photoshop, but I've never liked Photoshop for web designs because it was built for photo editing, not vector graphics. I've heard Illustrator might be a pretty good alternative now, but …
Chose Sketch
The simplicity, good UI and UX, integration with other apps, and mainly the plugins are the main reasons why we selected it.
Chose Sketch
Again, I would say that Sketch stacks up very well against similar Adobe products in the field. I get the sense, just from the little bit I've used it, that It may not be as robust as some of the Adobe products. However, for my needs (fundamental to the middle of the road use), …
Chose Sketch
I think they are both similar and different. I can generally choose an Adobe product when I'm looking for a specific end result. I use Sketch a lot for layout, UI and UX design cause it just takes all the frills out of the equation while giving me an equal end product. They are …
Chose Sketch
Although there's a lot of overlap, we use these different platforms for different purposes. InVision allows us to create more robust prototypes, Zeplin is a better tool for design/dev handoffs, and Marvel is great for basic wireframes. None of these tools beat Sketch when it …
Chose Sketch
Sketch had been great and improved a lot in the past, but so has Adobe. If you are going to start new, it's better to plan long term and based on needs see what suits more. Figma is relying a lot on new technologies which are not bug-free, but that may be the future of design.
Chose Sketch
Sketch is the industry leader when it comes to visual design for mobile apps and websites. However, its competitors are catching up very quickly and starting to offer features that Sketch doesn't have. While I think Sketch is still the best visual design software out there for …
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Adobe XDSketch
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User Ratings
Adobe XDSketch
Likelihood to Recommend
5.5
(0 ratings)
4.5
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
7.7
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
5.5
(0 ratings)
6.3
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.3
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Adobe XDSketch
Likelihood to Recommend
Adobe XD is particularly useful and extremely easy to learn if you are a designer or a frequent user of the Adobe Creative Suite. Like all Adobe software, the tools, shortcuts, and interface are very similar to each other and allow for easy migration. Now, if you are not a frequent user of Adobe, it will probably cost a bit more to learn how to use the software, plus it is probably not going to be worth the price just for Adobe XD.
Read full review
Sketch may still be a solid tool, especially for Mac-based designers focused on high-precision design and creating static design systems. However, Figma excels in real-time collaboration, cross-platform support, and interactive prototyping. If you need features beyond simple vector design—like collaborative prototyping or working across different operating systems—Figma is a more comprehensive solution.
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Pros
  • Wireframing/high fidelity mockups. We're using it for both responsive websites and apps.
  • Prototyping. It just gets better with each update, especially with auto-automate.
  • Ridiculously small learning curve. In my opinion, everything seems to be just where I would expect it to be, especially being familiar with other Adobe products.
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  • Auto Saving your work
  • Great library of plugins to use to make the software your own
  • Easy to understand interface that is very similar to other prototyping applications
  • They have been around for 12 years so you know the support and legacy stands
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Cons
  • Doesn’t have image editing tools, so having to go back to Photoshop or Lightroom just to make a sight edit can be a pain.
  • Could add some text editing functionality. It feels silly that I have to draw a line under text when I should just be able to underline.
  • Would be nice to have some real-time collaboration functionality.
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  • The Sketch interface can feel a bit clumsy when you're working with a document that has many pages. As an example, I regularly work in a document that captures 10 different aspects of a product. Sketch doesn't allow me to organize all those pages into any type of folder hierarchy. I have to scroll through the complete list of pages to try and find the page I want. You can drag pages into a different order in Sketch, but that doesn't remove the lengthy list or provide visual demarcation between groups of related pages.
  • Nested symbols are extremely useful, but the interface available on the right panel of the screen to manipulate a nested symbol in a canvas is not clearly organized to find what you're looking for quickly. It displays as a list of items in your nested symbol with no visual delineation between objects, so it can be a bit of guesswork to make sure you're making changes to the correct element.
  • It would be nice if Sketch offered the ability to create a workflow with automatic connection of objects via lines and arrows, like a sitemap or process flow. I use Sketch to create all my screens, but still need to leave the app to create my visual diagrams in a separate app.
  • A fresh take on the UI to better delineate things visually would be a great help. As mentioned, pages can't be organized, nested symbols are cumbersome to read through, etc. Separating the main central area of the app where canvases are displayed visually from the tools on the left and right would make for a cleaner work environment.
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Likelihood to Renew
We utilize many of the applications in the Adobe CC suite and our usage of this application came about simply because it was the one that was already paid for. Bearing that in mind we will definitely be renewing the software upon the expiration of the licensing. I am not sure if this is the solution we would go with were it not already included, we would have to evaluate all other options
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Sketch is a core tool for us and the cost to keep it going with our teams is low. It provides a good alternative to other screen design tools for our team members who prefer to use it.
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Usability
Adobe XD is basically on life-support now, there are much better software out there that do everything XD can do, and a few that you don't even have to pay a monthly subscription fee on. While Adobe XD is great as shortcuts that are used in other CC software works, and its integration with CC is great. But it still lacks compared to its closest competitor.
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At the end of the day, it's just simple. This goes a long way in design and goes even further when your talking productivity, intuitive design and turnover rate. It's not difficult to figure something out even if it's not something your directly familiar with, i.e. if you want to export in certain file formats or change the size of the canvas, you don't have to delay your end product trying to figure it out. Similar situations took me less than 30 seconds to solve without a Google search. That's Usability.
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Support Rating
I have not had a need to connect with the Adobe XD support team as of yet, but from past experience when dealing with the other products, the support has been very very good, and I would have no reason to think that this product would be any different. There are a good number of training videos on the Adobe site for this product as well as on other social media sites so a quick search should let you find the answers in several different ways.
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The support is relatively decent, and they are quick to respond. However, their releases are not great. Sketch could use more robust testing of their software before releases. Over the last four years, I have had many days lost while waiting for Sketch to patch issues with their releases. It's actually a running joke in our office. So, support, good. Releases in the first place? Not great.
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Implementation Rating
Implementation was a snap
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Adobe XD used to be able to stack great, but I would select Figma over Adobe XD any day. Much better features, better quality of life features and includes darkmode. Another great part of Figma is the fact you can strickly use it in a browser without having to install any apps, but if you do install the apps, it works great if not better.
Read full review
I constantly use various tools, selecting the right one for each task based on my experience and understanding of their strengths. This allows me to combine the advantages of each tool to complete tasks more efficiently and achieve better results. For example, I primarily use Figma at work, but if I need to draw an icon quickly, I prefer Sketch and then export it to Figma.
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Return on Investment
  • The time it takes to design in Adobe XD is significantly faster. Saving time.
  • It boosts productivity, causing better ideas to be created.
  • It's easy to use and quick to learn. Not much of a learning curve so we can get to work pretty quickly.
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  • Saved time -- Intuitive interface saves us lots of time/money because it is reliable and easy to use. Other programs have caused serious confusion, leading to project delays.
  • More captivating wireframes -- Stakeholders have been finding it easier to visualize potential “final products” with vector-based Sketch designs. Because of this, we’ve been able to have more targeted, focused discussions that lead to improved final products (with fewer immediate post-launch revisions!).
  • Increased productivity -- Because Sketch is so easy to use, our designers have had more time to do more work. Rather than finagling difficult tools in previously used products, our designers feel no hesitation with Sketch, and are producing more often and more creatively.
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ScreenShots