Sketch vs Adobe XD: Which Design Tool is Right for Me?

Design tools have revolutionised the world of digital design by making it easier, faster, and more convenient to create high-quality graphics and user interfaces. Sketch and AdobeXD are two of the most popular design tools, used by professionals and amateurs alike. In this article, we'll compare the two tools and help you decide which one is best for your business.

What is Sketch?

Sketch is a vector-based design tool that was first released in 2010. It was designed specifically for creating user interfaces for websites and mobile applications. Sketch quickly gained popularity among designers due to its intuitive user interface and the ease with which users could create complex designs.

What is AdobeXD?

AdobeXD, on the other hand, is a relatively new design tool that was released in 2016. It was designed to be an all-in-one solution for digital design, offering features for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. 

AdobeXD was developed by Adobe Systems, the company behind other popular design tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator and it comes under the Adobe Creative Suite.

So, which tool should you use? Let's take a closer look.

Usability

When it comes to usability, both Sketch and AdobeXD have their strengths and weaknesses. 

How user-friendly is Sketch?

Sketch is known for its simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to get started. It has a robust set of tools that allow users to create complex designs quickly. However, some users have reported that Sketch can be slow to load large files and that it doesn't handle complex typography as well as AdobeXD.

How user-friendly is AdobeXD?

AdobeXD, on the other hand, is known for its powerful features and flexibility. It has a more complex interface than Sketch, but it's still easy to use. AdobeXD's strengths lie in its prototyping and collaboration tools, which are more advanced than what Sketch offers. 

However, some users have reported that AdobeXD can be slow to load and that it lacks some of the advanced vector editing tools that Sketch has.

‍When it comes to usability, Sketch wins out for its ease of use and intuitive interface. 1-0.

Pricing

Sketch is a one-time purchase of $99, which includes all future updates for one year. 

After the first year, users can continue to use the software, but they won't receive any further updates unless they renew their license for $69/year. Or, you can pay monthly per editor for a Standard or a Business option. Check their website for the most recent pricing.

AdobeXD is available as part of Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription service, which starts at $20.99/month for a single app subscription or $52.99/month for the full suite of Creative Cloud apps. Adobe also offers discounts for students and educators. Again, check the website for up to date pricing.

In terms of pricing, Sketch is the winner for its affordable one-time purchase option. 2-0.

Top Features

Both Sketch and AdobeXD have a wide range of features that make them popular among designers. 

Sketch’s Features

• Vector-based design: Sketch uses vector-based design, which means that graphics can be scaled up or down without losing quality. This is especially useful for designing interfaces that need to look good on various screen sizes.
• Symbols and Libraries: Sketch allows users to create symbols and libraries, which are reusable design elements that can be easily updated across multiple artboards or designs. This saves time and ensures consistency throughout the design.
• Artboard organisation: Sketch allows users to organise designs into artboards, which are like individual canvases. This makes it easy to create and iterate on different versions of a design without cluttering the workspace.
• Plugins: Sketch has a robust plugin ecosystem, which allows users to extend the functionality of the tool. There are plugins for everything from design automation to collaboration and version control.
• Prototyping: Sketch allows users to create interactive prototypes of their designs, which can be used to test and refine the user experience. This feature makes it easy to iterate on designs and ensure that they are user-friendly.

AdobeXD’s Features

• Responsive Design: Adobe XD allows designers to create responsive designs that can adapt to different screen sizes and orientations. This makes it easy to design interfaces that work well on a variety of devices.
• Repeat Grid: The Repeat Grid feature allows designers to create a grid of repeating elements, such as a row of images or a list of items. This saves time and ensures consistency throughout the design.
• Prototyping: Adobe XD allows designers to create interactive prototypes of their designs, which can be used to test and refine the user experience. This feature makes it easy to iterate on designs and ensure that they are user-friendly.
• Component States: The Component States feature allows designers to create different versions of a design element, such as a button or a menu, and switch between them with ease. This makes it easy to create dynamic and interactive interfaces.
• Collaboration: Adobe XD allows designers to collaborate with others on a design project in real-time. This feature makes it easy to get feedback and make changes to a design quickly.

‍AdobeXD takes the lead for its advanced prototyping and collaboration tools. 2-1.

Customer Reviews

Both Sketch and AdobeXD have received positive reviews from users and critics alike. On review sites such as G2 and Capterra, Sketch has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.

Users praise Sketch for its ease of use, powerful vector editing tools, and extensive plugin library. They also appreciate its affordability compared to AdobeXD. 

AdobeXD has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. Users of AdobeXD praise its prototyping and collaboration tools, as well as its seamless integration with other Adobe products. However, some users have reported that AdobeXD can be slow to load and that it lacks some of the advanced vector editing tools that Sketch offers.

‍When it comes to customer reviews and feedback, Sketch edges out slightly due to its ease of use, powerful vector editing tools, and affordability. 2-2.

Integrations

When it comes to integrations, both Sketch and AdobeXD have a range of options. 

Sketch’s Integrations

• InVision: InVision is a platform for design collaboration and prototyping. The InVision integration allows designers to quickly and easily send their Sketch designs to InVision for prototyping, collaboration, and feedback.
• Zeplin: Zeplin is a platform for designers and developers to collaborate on design projects. The Zeplin integration allows designers to easily share their Sketch designs with developers, who can then access design specifications and assets in a variety of formats.
• Abstract: Abstract is a version control platform for designers. The Abstract integration allows designers to manage versions of their Sketch designs, collaborate with others on a design project, and get feedback and approvals from stakeholders.
• Craft: Craft is a plugin for Sketch that provides a range of design tools, including prototyping, data integration, and design asset management. The Craft integration allows designers to streamline their workflow and access a range of powerful design tools directly within Sketch.
• Marvel: Marvel is a platform for design prototyping and collaboration. The Marvel integration allows designers to quickly and easily send their Sketch designs to Marvel for prototyping and collaboration.

AdobeXD’s Integrations

• Creative Cloud: Adobe XD is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications. This integration allows designers to seamlessly move between different Creative Cloud apps, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, and use them in conjunction with XD.

• Jira: Jira is a project management tool used by many design teams. The Jira integration allows designers to create and track design tasks directly from within XD, streamlining the design process and improving collaboration with developers and project managers.

• Slack: Slack is a popular team communication platform. The Slack integration allows designers to share their XD designs with team members and get feedback and approval directly within Slack.

• Zeplin: Zeplin is a platform for designers and developers to collaborate on design projects. The Zeplin integration allows designers to easily share their XD designs with developers, who can then access design specifications and assets in a variety of formats.

• Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is a team communication and collaboration platform. The Microsoft Teams integration allows designers to share their XD designs with team members and get feedback and approval directly within Teams.

Overall, AdobeXD wins in the integration category due to its seamless integration with other Adobe products and popular prototyping tools. 3-2.

Which is best for your business?

When it comes to deciding which design tool is best for your business, it ultimately depends on your specific needs. 

When to use Sketch

• If you're primarily focused on UI/UX design
• If you need an affordable option with a simple interface
• If you need powerful vector editing tools and an extensive plugin library

When to use AdobeXD

• If you need a more powerful tool with advanced prototyping and collaboration features
• If you're already using other Adobe products and need seamless integration
• If you're focused on creating complex animations and interactions

In conclusion, both Sketch and AdobeXD are excellent design tools that have their strengths and weaknesses. 

If you're a small business or a freelancer looking for an affordable, easy-to-use option with powerful vector editing tools, Sketch is the way to go. 

On the other hand, if you need a more powerful tool with advanced prototyping and collaboration features and you're already using other Adobe products, AdobeXD is the better choice. 

Ultimately, it comes down to your specific needs and preferences