Item: Abstract
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our product team uses Abstract in conjunction with Sketch for collaboration, file management, and versioning. It's imperative for us. Our team has three user experience designers and six user interface designers. So while we have a long to-do list, we are always working in groups on a single feature set from wireframing all the way to final designs for IT handoff.
Due to that, Abstract allows for robust versioning and file management without losing work. Before finding Abstract a few years ago, my team at the time had to carefully plan what features would be worked on and by who. Then make sure we don't have the same files open via Google Drive and clearly explain what artboards were changed and need to be addressed. It was a nightmare.
Abstract scans each of the Sketch files and looks for differences combine work and allows all of us to be working in one file at once.

Pros and Cons

Allows for collaboration within Sketch.
Allows for approval of work by team leads.

Frequent bugs between Abstract and Sketch.
Takes a lot of processing power and battery.

Return on Investment

Saves time on file management
Keeps old, archived work

Cloud services help hold files that everyone can access. Absrtact is not that, this is unparalleled for Sketch users; this allows for multiple users to be in the same file and help guide them through conflicts if there are even any of them. Abstract is the only one here solving this issue. However, if you use something like Figma or Adobe XD, it has this same collaboration built-in.

Support Rating

Abstract by nature is complex and has to respond to whatever changes in Sketch. So there are frequent issues. Support can be slow to respond and are not always helpful, but they are quick to find and patch the bugs. Overall, it's not the best support, but it hasn't been detrimental.

Key Insights

Do you think Abstract delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Abstract's feature set?

Yes

Did Abstract live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Abstract go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Abstract again?

Yes

Likelihood to Recommend

Abstract, to me, is a necessary addition to a large team using Sketch. Without it, file management and sharing designs updates are impossible. However, if you have a small team, it's not worth the money. For us, a team of 9, it's a lifesaver. Even more so, because we are not all co-located, and ability to share a link to a specific file/artboard is a needed workaround from pointing at someone's screen.

A Necessary Addition to any Sketch-Based Product Team

Overall Satisfaction with Abstract