Sketch vs Zeplin (2024 Comparison)
Sketch offers a comprehensive suite of design tools with an extensive plugin ecosystem, making it a versatile choice for designers. Its intuitive interface ensures a smooth learning curve.
- Comprehensive design tools for UI/UX.
- Extensive plugin ecosystem.
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
- Limited collaboration features.
- Requires macOS for full functionality.
Free plan?
NoStarting price
$10 per month per user
Zeplin excels in design-to-development collaboration, providing seamless handoff and centralized asset management. Its excellent collaboration features enhance team efficiency.
- Seamless design-to-development handoff.
- Excellent collaboration features.
- Centralized asset management.
- Limited design capabilities.
- Relies on external design tools.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$12 per seat per monthWhat is Sketch?
Sketch is a powerful design tool primarily used for creating user interfaces and user experiences. It offers a wide range of features that help designers create stunning visuals and prototypes. With its intuitive interface and robust plugin ecosystem, Sketch allows you to streamline your design process, making it easier to collaborate with team members and developers. Whether you're working on a mobile app or a website, Sketch provides the tools you need to bring your ideas to life.
What is Zeplin?
Zeplin is a collaboration tool that bridges the gap between designers and developers. It allows designers to upload their designs and provides developers with all the necessary specifications, assets, and code snippets to implement the design accurately. Zeplin enhances team collaboration by ensuring everyone is on the same page, reducing misunderstandings and errors. It's an essential tool for teams looking to streamline their design-to-development workflow, making it easier to deliver high-quality products efficiently.
Pros and Cons of Sketch vs Zeplin
Pros & Cons of Sketch
- Sketch offers a wide range of design tools that cater to various design needs, from wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping. Its robust features make it a favorite among designers.
- With a vast library of plugins, Sketch allows designers to extend its functionality and customize their workflow. This makes it a versatile tool that can adapt to different design requirements.
- Sketch's user-friendly interface makes it easy for designers to get started and create stunning designs. Its intuitive design ensures a smooth learning curve for new users.
- While Sketch offers some collaboration features through its cloud services, it lacks the dedicated collaboration platform that tools like Zeplin provide. This can be a drawback for teams looking for seamless collaboration.
- Sketch is only available on macOS, which can be a limitation for teams using different operating systems. This restricts its accessibility for some users.
Pros & Cons of Zeplin
- Zeplin excels in providing a dedicated platform for design handoff, ensuring that developers have all the necessary specifications and assets to implement designs accurately.
- Zeplin's collaboration features make it easy for teams to work together, reducing misunderstandings and errors. Its user-friendly interface ensures that even those new to design collaboration can navigate it with ease.
- Zeplin provides a centralized platform for storing and sharing design assets, making it easier for teams to access and use them. This enhances team collaboration and efficiency.
- Zeplin is not a design tool itself and relies on external design tools for creating designs. This can be a limitation for teams looking for an all-in-one solution.
- Zeplin's functionality is dependent on the design tools it integrates with, which can be a drawback for teams looking for a standalone solution.
Sketch vs Zeplin: At A Glance
Sketch vs Zeplin: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Design Tools
Sketch offers a comprehensive suite of design tools that cater to a wide range of design needs, from wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping. Its intuitive interface and powerful features make it a favorite among designers. Zeplin, while not a design tool itself, complements design tools by providing a platform for collaboration and design handoff. If you're looking for a tool with robust design capabilities, Sketch is the better choice.
Collaboration
Sketch provides collaboration features through its cloud services, allowing team members to share and comment on designs. However, Zeplin excels in collaboration by offering a dedicated platform for design handoff, ensuring that developers have all the necessary information to implement designs accurately. If seamless collaboration is a priority, Zeplin's features make it the superior choice.
Prototyping
Sketch includes prototyping features that allow designers to create interactive prototypes directly within the tool. This makes it easy to test and iterate on designs. Zeplin, on the other hand, focuses on the design-to-development handoff and does not offer prototyping capabilities. If prototyping is an essential part of your workflow, Sketch is the better option.
Asset Management
Sketch provides asset management features that allow designers to organize and export assets efficiently. Its integration with various plugins enhances its asset management capabilities. Zeplin excels in asset management by providing a centralized platform for storing and sharing design assets, making it easier for teams to access and use them. If asset management is crucial, Zeplin's features are more advantageous.
Design Handoff
Sketch offers basic design handoff features, but Zeplin takes it to the next level by providing a dedicated platform for design-to-development collaboration. Zeplin's design handoff features ensure that developers have all the necessary specifications and assets to implement designs accurately. If design handoff is a critical part of your workflow, Zeplin is the clear winner.
Plugin Ecosystem
Sketch boasts a vast plugin ecosystem that allows designers to extend its functionality and customize their workflow. This makes it a versatile tool that can adapt to various design needs. Zeplin, while offering some integrations, does not have the same level of plugin support. If a rich plugin ecosystem is important, Sketch is the better choice.
Pricing Comparison of Sketch and Zeplin
We’ve compiled the pricing tables and highlighted the key features of both Sketch and Zeplin to aid in your decision-making process. Let’s explore what each platform has to offer.
Sketch Pricing Plans
- Collaborate in real-time with team members seamlessly.
- Access unlimited free Viewers for easy sharing.
- Inspect designs, test prototypes, and handoff to developers.
- Preview designs on iPhone or iPad for mobile testing.
- Work privately offline with local document saving.
- Keep your license forever with one-time purchase.
- Receive one year of updates for the Mac app.
- Excludes collaborative features and web app access.
- Unlimited online storage for all design files.
- Invoice-based billing for streamlined financial processes.
- Powerful permissions directory for team management.
- Priority support and dedicated customer success manager.
Zeplin Pricing Plans
- Access to annotations, flows, and approvals for project management.
- Screen versioning with version compare and screen variants.
- Integrations with Jira, Azure DevOps, VS Code, and more.
- Up to 100 components and 30 days of version history.
- Unlimited components and 1 year of version history.
- Flat rate per project with unlimited members.
- Ideal for time-bound projects with many collaborators.
- Annual plans offer 1 month free for cost savings.
- Unlimited projects and screens for extensive collaboration.
- Advanced user permissions and unlimited reviewers.
- Flow boards and team workspace for organized workflows.
- Forever version history for comprehensive project tracking.
- Invoiced billing and custom terms for flexible payment options.
- Activity logs and domain capture for enhanced security.
- 24-hour support SLA and access to Zeplin experts.
- Success manager and group training sessions for team enablement.
Our Rating Methodology
We rigorously evaluate each design collaboration tool, focusing on key factors like functionality, ease of use, and integrations. By analyzing user feedback and conducting hands-on testing, we ensure our recommendations meet diverse needs. Each factor is weighted to provide a reliable final rating, helping you choose the best tool for your team.
Sketch or Zeplin: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Sketch If You Need ...
- Comprehensive design tools
If you are a designer looking for a tool with a wide range of design capabilities, Sketch is the ideal choice. Its comprehensive suite of design tools caters to various design needs, from wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping.
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
If you need a tool that can be customized to fit your workflow, Sketch's extensive plugin ecosystem makes it a versatile choice. Its vast library of plugins allows you to extend its functionality and adapt it to your specific needs.
Choose Zeplin If You Need ...
- Seamless design handoff
If you are part of a team that requires seamless collaboration between designers and developers, Zeplin is the perfect choice. Its dedicated platform for design handoff ensures that developers have all the necessary specifications and assets to implement designs accurately.
- Centralized asset management
If you need a tool that provides a centralized platform for storing and sharing design assets, Zeplin is the ideal choice. Its asset management features make it easier for teams to access and use design assets, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between Sketch and Zeplin?
Which tool is better for design collaboration?
Can Sketch be used on Windows?
Does Zeplin offer design tools?
Which tool offers better asset management?
Is Sketch suitable for beginners?
Anastasia Belyh
Anastasia Belyh is a senior tech writer with over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales, and business software. Having worked in investment banking, management consulting, and founded multiple companies, her in-depth knowledge and hands-on expertise make her software reviews authoritative, trustworthy, and highly practical for business decision-makers.
