Adobe Xd vs. Sketch

Sketch vs. Adobe Xd. An overview of design platforms

The debate between Adobe Xd and Sketch has gone viral among designers. Sketch has always been the most popular prototyping tool since its inception. But, like with anything, competition is fiercer than ever, and other popular options have emerged in recent years, one of which is Adobe XD.

We all know what these instruments are for and what they can do. Nonetheless, in this article, I will compare the two most well-known designers’ tools, Adobe Xd vs. Sketch. I’ll reach and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each platform and answer a few other key questions to determine which platform best meets your requirements.

Adobe Xd

The project was produced by the well-known firm Adobe in 2015 to respond to the famous software Sketch. The first public beta was released in 2016. Initially, it was exclusively accessible for macOS, but a Windows version was later published that year. A year later, they revealed Adobe Xd was no longer in beta.

As part of Adobe Creative Cloud, Xd quickly gained attention, particularly among Adobe-native designers and developers. It is easier to use for beginners, and the ability to work with Illustrator, Photoshop, and AfterEffects files makes it even better.

Sketch

Sketch is a well-known prototyping tool first released in 2010 by a Dutch startup and has since become a great hit. Sketch was a pioneer in developing a few standards for user interface software and was a leader in the field.

Sketch is popular among UI/UX designers because it is simple to use and includes many plugins. However, Sketch is only accessible for macOS, and there are no plans to create a Windows-compatible version.

What are the Cons and pros?

Collaboration in real-time

Collaboration and coworking on projects are key components of any software; let’s compare Adobe Xd vs. Sketch to see which platform is superior.

The Adobe Xd coediting function enables real-time cloud collaboration. Using Adobe’s Creative Cloud, you’ll understand how convenient this is; Xd in the cloud’s live collaboration is the best and has become the industry standard for prototype tools.

Real-time collaboration was introduced in Sketch in 2021; however, it is only available to Mac app subscribers. Primary features include “browsable version history” and “Follow Mode,” allowing users to observe how another designer works. You can also invite an infinite number of viewers to rate and comment on your work.

Plugins and extensions

Plugins and extensions are an excellent way to enhance software functionality; to a large developer community, Adobe Xd and Sketch feature a large number of free and paid plugins.

Adobe Xd provides a variety of Ui Kits, which are native and third-party plugins that enable integration with valuable tools and services. For example, if you wish to use Google Material Design or Apple Design to design your project, you can use Ui Kits to do it.

Sketch plugins can do more than Adobe Xd; you can add more functionality, alter current capabilities, and automate work processes. Aside from existing plugins, you may also create your own in the Sketch ecosystem. It has decent documentation for this, and you may add custom features if you require them. Some services provide Sketch to WordPress as well as Xd to WordPress.

Tutorials

Both programs come with tutorials, and Youtube has thousands of hours of free videos. Sketch favors documentation and how-to videos, but Adobe Xd offers more step-by-step video lessons and recorded live streams.

Live collaboration

Collaboration and coworking on projects are critical components of any software. The Adobe Xd coediting function enables real-time cloud collaboration. If you’ve used Adobe’s Creative Cloud, you’ll understand how convenient this is; Xd in the cloud’s live collaboration is the best and has become the industry standard for prototype tools.

Real-time collaboration on Sketch is only available to people who have paid for the Mac version. Basic features include “browsable version history” and “Follow Mode,” allowing users to observe how another designer works. You can also invite an infinite number of viewers to rate and comment on your work.