AppBreakup

Sketch alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Sketch: editor is Mac-only, and no free plan. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Sketch, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Figma currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Figma logoFigmaFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS3 of 368.8
2Penpot logoPenpotOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted3 of 364.8
3Photopea logoPhotopeaFree plan + paidNoWeb2 of 358.3
4Lunacy logoLunacyFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 340.0
5Affinity logoAffinityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS0 of 029.5
  1. Figma logo

    1. FigmaTop pick

    Best for: Product teams designing and prototyping interfaces together

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sketch

    Cross-platform and browser-based with real-time collaboration.

    Pros

    • Real-time multiplayer editing
    • Powerful components and variables
    • Dev Mode for handoff

    Cons

    • Paid seats add up for large teams
    • Requires an internet connection for most work
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Figma a good Sketch alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes (Starter)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Real-time collaboration
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Dev Mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Penpot logo

    2. Penpot

    Best for: Teams that want a Figma-like tool without lock-in

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sketch

    Free, open-source and works on any operating system.

    Pros

    • Open source and self-hostable
    • Built on open web standards
    • Real-time collaboration

    Cons

    • Smaller plugin and community ecosystem
    • Fewer advanced prototyping features
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Penpot a good Sketch alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026penpot.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 24, 2026penpot.app(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Photopea logo

    3. Photopea

    Best for: Occasional photo editing and opening PSD files without Photoshop

    Free plan + paidWeb

    58.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sketch

    Free browser editor that can open Sketch files for quick edits.

    Pros

    • Free and runs in the browser
    • Opens PSD and many other formats
    • Familiar Photoshop-style interface

    Cons

    • Ads in the free version
    • Large files can be slow in the browser
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Photopea a good Sketch alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free with ads; premium removes ads
    Not checked yetphotopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PSD support
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install required
    No (browser)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Lunacy logo

    4. Lunacy

    Best for: Designers on Windows or Linux who want a free Sketch-compatible UI design app

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sketch

    Opens .sketch files and runs on Windows and Linux too.

    Pros

    • Free with no locked features
    • Native app on Windows, Mac and Linux
    • Opens Sketch files and works offline

    Cons

    • Small plugin and community ecosystem
    • Built-in graphics need attribution unless you pay
    • Fewer handoff and integration options than Figma
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Lunacy a good Sketch alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free, no locked features
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunacy.docs.icons8.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes, for local .sketch files
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunacy.docs.icons8.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Built-in graphics
    Free with link to Icons8
    Checked Oct 25, 2026lunacy.docs.icons8.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Affinity logo

    5. Affinity

    Best for: Designers who want professional vector, photo and layout tools without an Adobe subscription

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    29.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Sketch

    Free professional design app for Mac and Windows.

    Pros

    • Free for individuals with no subscription
    • Vector, pixel and layout tools in one app
    • Opens PSD, AI and IDML files with layers

    Cons

    • AI features need a paid Canva plan
    • Requires a Canva account to use
    • No iPad version yet after the merger
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Affinity a good Sketch alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Sketch alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Figma logo

Best Sketch alternative for most people

Figma

Cross-platform and browser-based with real-time collaboration.

Penpot logo

Best Sketch alternative for a free option

Penpot

Free, open-source and works on any operating system.

Photopea logo

Best Sketch alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Photopea

Free browser editor that can open Sketch files for quick edits.

Penpot logo

Best Sketch alternative for open source

Penpot

Free, open-source and works on any operating system.

Penpot logo

Best Sketch alternative for self-hosting

Penpot

Free, open-source and works on any operating system.

Lunacy logo

Best Sketch alternative for Mac

Lunacy

Opens .sketch files and runs on Windows and Linux too.

Affinity logo

Best Sketch alternative for Windows

Affinity

Free professional design app for Mac and Windows.

Lunacy logo

Best Sketch alternative for Linux

Lunacy

Opens .sketch files and runs on Windows and Linux too.

Figma logo

Best Sketch alternative for working in the browser

Figma

Cross-platform and browser-based with real-time collaboration.

Sketch alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Sketch?

Figma ranks first right now. Cross-platform and browser-based with real-time collaboration. Penpot and Photopea follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Sketch?

Yes. Figma (free plan + paid), Penpot (open source), Photopea (free plan + paid) and Lunacy (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Sketch?

Yes: Penpot. Penpot can also be self-hosted.

Which Sketch alternatives work on Linux?

Lunacy runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Sketch?

The complaints we hear most: editor is Mac-only; no free plan.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Sketch, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.