For years, many designers, myself included, relied on Sketch for Mac to bring ideas to life. But as the design world evolves, so do our needs. If you're considering a switch from Sketch to Figma, you're not alone. Today's design ecosystem demands cloud-based collaboration, real-time teamwork, and flexible cross-platform access.

In this post, I'll share my personal experience and deep insights into why Figma is now the industry standard over Sketch and my design choice.

A New Era in Design Collaboration

Collaboration & Cloud-Based Features

One of the biggest challenges with Sketch was its limited collaboration tools. Working with remote teams often meant exporting files, emailing versions, and juggling third-party apps. Figma, on the other hand, offers real-time editing and cloud-based storage that lets multiple team members work simultaneously. This means less time wasted on version control and more time creating together.

Cross-Platform Accessibility

While Sketch is exclusively for macOS, Figma's browser-based app makes it accessible on Windows, Linux, and mobile devices. This cross-platform capability is a game-changer for distributed teams and freelancers who work across different devices and operating systems.

Pricing & Ecosystem: Value for Every Designer

Pricing & Cost Considerations

Figma offers free and paid plans catering to individual designers, small teams, and large enterprises. Figma's free plan is robust enough for many freelancers. In contrast, the paid plans unlock advanced collaboration, dev mode and organizational features, delivering excellent value for money compared to Sketch's license cost.

Plugins, Integrations, & Extensibility

Both Sketch and Figma boast vibrant plugin ecosystems. Still, Figma's open API and extensive integration options provide a seamless experience that eliminates the need for third-party tools like Abstract or Zeplin. This all-in-one solution streamlines your workflow from design to developer handoff, saving time and reducing errors.

Performance, Prototyping, and Version Control

Performance & Speed

Figma's performance, even with large files, has been impressive. Its cloud-based nature means you don't have to worry about local file limitations or storage issues. My experience has shown that Figma runs smoother during peak collaboration sessions, with fewer crashes or slowdowns than Sketch.

Prototyping & Developer Handoff

Figma's prototyping tools are built right into the platform. Designers can create interactive prototypes without the need for additional software. Moreover, the developer handoff process is simplified by Figma's automatic code generation and detailed design specs, features that previously required separate tools when working with Sketch.

Version Control & File Management

Forget managing multiple file versions on your hard drive. Figma's cloud-based storage automatically saves your progress, offers a robust version history, and allows you to revert changes effortlessly. This ensures that your design iterations are secure and accessible from anywhere.

My Journey: Why I Switched from Sketch to Figma

After years of mastering Sketch, collaboration and cross-platform access limitations became increasingly frustrating, especially when working on complex projects with remote teams. The transition to Figma wasn't just about adopting new software but about embracing a tool that reflects today's design demands. I found that Figma increased my team's efficiency and enhanced the overall design quality through its intuitive interface and integrated prototyping features.

Real-world use cases, such as simultaneous editing during client presentations and eliminating cumbersome file transfers, have solidified Figma's position as the superior choice. The switch has allowed me to focus more on creative problem-solving than administrative overhead.

Conclusion

In summary, Figma's strengths, real-time collaboration, cross-platform accessibility, cost-effective pricing, seamless integration, and robust version control make it a better choice over Sketch in today's fast-paced, cloud-first design ecosystem.

Try Figma if you're a designer or a design team still tied to Sketch. The transition unlocks a new level of productivity and creativity.

For more insights, check out our Figma Migration Guide and other Figma tutorials to help ease your transition.