Figma vs Sketch vs Penpot: Which Design Tool to Choose
Basics4 minInnovialabs editorial team
In short
Figma is the default for browser-based team collaboration, Sketch is a native macOS app with local files, and Penpot is open source and can run on your own server; choose based on platform, budget, data requirements and what your partners use.
The short answer
- Figma if real-time collaboration, the largest plugin ecosystem and compatibility with most designers and contractors matter most.
- Sketch if your whole team is on macOS and you want a fast native editor with files stored locally.
- Penpot if you need open source, data on your own servers, or face limits on access to or payment for foreign services.
All three handle vector design, components, prototypes and developer handoff. The difference is in the working model.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Figma | Sketch | Penpot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Browser, apps for Windows and macOS | Editor on macOS only, viewing in browser | Browser, any OS |
| Collaboration | Real-time, core to the product | Available within a workspace | Real-time |
| Where files live | Figma's cloud | Locally or in a workspace | Penpot's cloud or your own server |
| Offline | Limited, built around a network connection | Full, files on disk | Needs access to a server, local ones included |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes, open source |
| Plugins | Largest ecosystem | Mature but smaller | Growing, the youngest |
| Dev handoff | Dev Mode, variables, code snippets | Inspect in the web app | Inspect mode with CSS, SVG and markup |
Plans and terms change for all three, so check the official pricing pages before buying.
Pricing: what to look at
Compare the model, not just the monthly price:
- Who pays. Usually editors pay, while viewers and developers may get free or separate access. Check whether developers need a paid seat for handoff.
- What the free plan includes. Limits on files, projects and version history.
- Payment method. For companies in Uzbekistan it matters whether you can pay with a local card or through a reseller.
- Self-hosting cost. Penpot is free as software, but the server, updates and backups cost you money and time.
Offline work and self-hosting
If your company requires that design files never leave the internal network, there are two options:
- Sketch. Files sit on disk and you can work without internet. Collaboration and web viewing, however, rely on the cloud workspace.
- Penpot on your own server. The team works in the browser while data stays with you. It deploys with Docker, and updates and backups are your admin's job.
Figma works only as a cloud service.
Plugins and developer handoff
Plugins handle routine work: generating data, checking contrast, exporting icons, syncing tokens. Figma has the widest choice, so almost any task has a ready-made plugin.
Handoff is how developers get sizes, spacing, colors and assets. Beyond having an inspect mode, file discipline matters: components, styles, auto layout or flex layouts, clear layer names. A poorly built file hands off poorly in any tool.
Penpot has one advantage here: its layouts are based on CSS Flexbox and Grid, so the design logic is closer to how frontend developers will build it.
Recommendations
- Freelancer. Use whatever your clients use, which is most often Figma. Penpot is a good free option for your own projects.
- Studio. Figma, if you work a lot with external clients and contractors. File compatibility and a familiar format matter.
- macOS-only team with local storage. Sketch.
- Access, budget or security constraints. Penpot: free open source, browser-based, can run on your own infrastructure.
Common mistakes
- Picking a tool for one feature without testing the whole flow from mockup to development.
- Ignoring what contractors use: converting files between tools usually loses part of the structure.
- Keeping a design system in several tools at once without syncing them.