Today’s development and design markets are very rich in toolkits. In this article, I would like to briefly introduce you to the differences and similarities of the two most popular tools right now, Sketch and Figma and explain why in Qusion we switched to Figma. 

Uncertain prospects for Sketch 

As for Sketch, we can definitely mention how it revolutionized how we do UI design, however, it is Figma which, by being free and platform-agnostic, occupies a more significant part of the market now. On the other hand, Sketch’s huge advantage is the possibility to work offline, without being forced to be connected to the internet. (Figma can do it too but you have to open the file beforehand which can be a burden for some people). It is way more comfortable and acceptable especially for digital nomads, freelancers, and frequent travelers. Until recently, the biggest plus of Sketch was the vast range of third-party plugins but Figma drew level with it by coming up with a huge update several months ago. The update enables the use of plugins built by Figma community accessible for everyone. Besides, you can also build your own plugins tailored to the workflow.

  

Figma = New market leader?  

Concerning Figma, probably the most noteworthy feature of all is a collaborative real-time design tool that puts emphasis on an easier and better way to design straight from the beginning up to the successful end. The tool simplifies communication and collaboration throughout software development. In practice, it means no more need to communicate edits back-and-forth together with the end of files reforwarding between designers themselves and other parties involved such as product people, clients or devs. Also giving feedback and leaving comments amongst all the parties involved is as simple and fast as never before.  

You also do not have to install the app if you want a user to see your design. In order to see the relevant project immediately, you just need to share a link (browser-based idea). Figma is the first who brings all-in-one — designing, prototyping, communicating with devs, getting the design assets, etc. Moreover, the tool, without any doubt, appeals to users because of its free pricing plan for an indefinite period of time, including the possibility of creating teams up to 2 users. And another important point, you don't have to buy laptops with macOS since the tool is platform-agnostic, available for every device. 

  

Smart Animate: A bull’s eye 

Another feature worth noticing is Smart Animate. It was launched quite recently and designers expect nothing but better performance and new transition possibilities in the tool. If everything goes well, it definitely has the potential to beat another design competitor Principle (for more info click HERE). Figma is a type of community whose tech support is fast, creative and always in time. Besides, its developers provide great updates. If you opt for this tool, you will not make a mistake at any cost.  

Head-to-head 

To compare the 2 tools above-mentioned, both of them are vector-based. They have endless canvas and their interface is quite similar, more or less the same. It means that if you are planning to switch from one to another, you will not get in trouble with new shortcuts or flows. If you intend to use the tool as a team, Figma seems to fit better your needs. For an individual, both possibilities are convenient and except for a few things they are very similar. Using Sketch could be considered as a step back if you want to keep up with the times. Nevertheless, when you have a knack for developing and designing the apps or websites, you can master any of the available tools without the merest problem. And who knows what the future holds.