Sketch

Sketch

Sketch is an artistic suite of digital tools that works as an alternative to other mainstream art suites like Photoshop. Some might find it hard to believe that this tool can match or even exceed the utility of Photoshop, but the software is exceptionally useful for a number of reasons and activities that make it at least on par with Photoshop.

Download Sketch
Features of Sketch
  • Graphic Design Tools
Pros of Sketch
  • Excellent Artistic Potential
Cons of Sketch
  • Annoying Bugs
Sketch Reviews

There are some bugs in this software that make is a bit annoying to work with, but most of them are fairly innocuous in the long run and don't really affect the end results. For instance, if you are adding text to a project, in some cases the text will disappear from the scene while you are actually typing it. Once you've finished typing, the full sentence appears. This is simply a small bug with the real-time rendering process. In short, the reason why Sketch could even come close to the functionality, or at least the utility, of Photoshop is that it has some features that Photoshop actually doesn't have. For instance, Adobe only recently added some new art boards to Photoshop, but those same features have been in Sketch long enough that the community around the software is already at the development stage for various plugins to use with Sketch. The goal of some of these plugins is to integrate code structures and live data into the Sketch platform. If you operate a team that performs something that is artistic but doesn't require any photo-editing tools, Sketch is the ideal solution. Since it doesn't have those photo-editing features, it is much easier to use Sketch in the design of user interface modules. For example, Photoshop can not import or open SVG files, and the drag and drop function in that software is fairly unreliable. In essence, you can use Photoshop to perform the same UI design functions as Sketch, but Sketch gives you the power to perform those functions faster and with more efficiency. Unfortunately, if you have any photo-editing needs that go along with what you need to design a UI, you'll need something like Photoshop. It is highly unlikely that any such tools will be added to the Sketch software any time soon. Many users would love to be able to avoid the new monthly subscription costs associated with Adobe premium software, but it will be some time before the functionality of both Photoshop and Sketch is found in a single app. In reality, Sketch is only a viable tool as a UI designer because there is no dedicated software suite on the market that does the job. There are several things that a new design tool could use that other tools don't have, like design that is oriented around objects. It would also be nice to see an app with a user interface that matches the coding of the app itself. For now, Sketch is the most viable option for UI design on the market, and with the right tweaks, it could become one of the most notable artistic apps in the world. It might even usurp Photoshop one day.

Sketch Video

Alternatives to Sketch

Shapr3D

Freemium
Shapr3D is an app where the user can create and design 3D CAD designs on the go. The app is fully mobile, so the user can create and design content on the go whether they have Wi-Fi or not. Shapr3D aims
Show details

OmniGraffle

Paid
OmniGraffle is a premium mobile app designed to help you create beautiful visual diagrams, sketches, and other designs. It has enough power to meet the needs of professional designers, but it
Show details

Draw.io

Free
Draw.io is a piece of artistic development software that helps streamline the process of creating readable flowcharts and diagrams. While the software is technically an art package, it's primarily
Show details

Cacoo

Freemium
Cacoo is a flowchart design program that is available online. It includes collaboration features that allow users on different computers to work simultaneously on the same flowchart. Users
Show details

SmartDraw

Paid
SmartDraw is a tool that allows the user to draw graphs and diagrams and then import and export them as need. SmartDraw is able to run on the Windows desktop, Mac, and offers an online option. SmartDraw
Show details

Artboard

Paid
Artboard is a vector graphic design software for Macs with capabilities beyond the basic fill and stroke design of other illustration software. The Style Editor allows you to design and edit
Show details

YEd Graph Editor

Free
YEd is a desktop application designed to efficiently and easily create quality diagrams. Users are able to create diagrams manually as well as import outside data sets for easy analysis. yEd
Show details

Mockplus

Paid
Mockplus is available for free download on Windows & Mac OS and Android & iOS devices. The free trial is feature complete with no expiration date or tied contract included.
Show details

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a full featured software package for creating resolution-independent vector graphics, for both print and the web. You can also use the software to create raster graphics
Show details

Gliffy

Paid
Gliffy is a diagramming software for creating flow charts, organizational charts, network schemas, and other two-dimensional diagrams. You can start creating diagrams by using one of the
Show details

Google Web Designer

Free
Google Web Designer helps you build professional looking web content with minimal knowledge of programming languages.
Show details

Inkscape

Free
Inkscape is a free open source software package for creating and manipulating vector graphics, and it can be seen as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator for those on a budget.
Show details

PosterMyWall

Freemium
PosterMyWall.com allows businesses to design their own posters, graphics, and video presentations. The site includes a design tool and many attractive templates.
Show details

Adobe Photoshop

Paid
Adobe Photoshop is undeniably the industry standard when it comes to graphic design and photo manipulation. The software has been on the market since 1990 after originally being created in 1988
Show details

BLOCS

Paid
Blocs is a powerful and fast web design tool that requires almost no knowledge of computers or web design to operate. With this software, you'll be able to generate webpages that are distinctive,
Show details

Adobe Fireworks

Paid
Adobe Fireworks is a powerful editing software designed to simplify creating graphics for websites and apps. Fireworks allows you to create powerful graphics without having to spend months
Show details

ProtoPie

Paid
Piece complex interactions together, build sensor-aided prototypes and share your amazing creations in a matter of minutes. All in the easiest way possible.
Show details

Bubbl.us

Free
Bubbl.us is an easy-to-use, online brainstorming software. With Bubbl.us you can create colorful mind maps and share them with others. Click here to view examples of mind maps that were created
Show details

Lucidchart

Freemium
Lucidchart is your solution for visual communication and cross-platform collaboration. Create professional flowcharts, process maps, UML models, org charts, and ER diagrams using our templates
Show details

Antetype

Paid
Antetype is the first design and layout software focused on visual design, built by UI designers for UI designers. It saves you a lot of time creating and optimizing high-fidelity detailed
Show details

Adobe XD

Download Adobe XD free with the starter plan. XD is your UI/UX design solution for designing websites and mobile apps. Design, prototype, and share for free.
Show details

Adobe Illustrator CC

Paid
Create logos, icons, sketches, typography and other vector art with Adobe Illustrator.
Show details

Vectr

Free
Free vector graphics editor. A simple yet powerful web and desktop cross-platform tool for everyone.
Show details

Figma

Freemium
Figma is the first interface design tool with real-time collaboration. It keeps everyone on the same page. Focus on the work instead of fighting your tools.‎Figma Design · ‎Figma Releases · ‎Figma
Show details

Creately

Freemium
Easily draw diagrams online using Creately’s online diagramming tool. Diagram software packed with templates and features
Show details

Diagram Designer

Free
Diagram Designer, free and safe download. Diagram Designer latest version: Easy tool to create diagrams and flowcharts. Diagram Designer is an easy-to-use tool to create all kinds of diagrams,
Show details

Roadmap Planner

Paid
Bring common sense to your strategic plan, and get winning results with Roadmap Planner. Our productivity tool is available on iOS and macOS.
Show details

Space Designer 3D

Paid
Design online floor plans, place furniture, and visualize the project in 3D real time. No download required.
Show details

Xara Designer Pro

Paid
Discover the only software you need for all your creative work: Powerful illustration and photo editing tools, flexible page layout and unrivalled WYSIWYG web design.
Show details

Design Wizard

Free
DesignWizard is a Wonderfully Simple FREE Graphic Design Software. Create Stunning Content in Seconds! Unleash Your Creativity. Become a DesignWizard NOW!
Show details

ProcedureFlow

With ProcedureFlow, following company processes has never been easier. Our cloud-based knowledge management software will help you make your employees experts faster.
Show details

SK1

Free
SK1 2.0 is professional quality illustration program for Windows, GNU/Linux and macOS platforms. sK1 2.0 is a powerful and mature application that makes users more productive and provides
Show details

Affinity Designer

Paid
Our legacy, or 'Plus' range of software is no longer being developed as we focus entirely on our new Affinity range of professional graphic design software
Show details

Bloom

Paid
What is Bloom? Bloom is an end-to-end protocol for identity attestation, risk assessment and credit scoring, entirely on the blockchain. Bloom allows both traditional and digital currency
Show details

Serif Drawplus

Freemium
Visit the Affinity website. DrawPlus X8. Download Now $24.99. DrawPlus is now a legacy Serif product. You can still purchase a license here if you wish, but no further updates will be issued. As
Show details

AutoTrace

Free
Currently there is no documentation other than the online help.
Show details

Autodesk Graphic

Paid
Powerful feature-packed vector drawing and illustration application designed specifically for Mac and iOS.
Show details

Bez

Freemium
Bez (a nod to Pierre Bézier’s eponymous curve) is a friendly vector graphics editor that makes it easy to create beautiful and precise art on your iPad and iPad Pro. With full support for Slide Over,
Show details

Inker

Freemium
Inker. Vector graphics editor. Best tool for vector drawing and sketch inking.
Show details

Vecta

Freemium
Vecta is a real time, collaborative SVG editor with a powerful Javascript based plugin system, for teams. Easily extend and automate, or create flowcharts, UML, network, isometric and web diagrams
Show details

Adobe Illustrator Draw

Free
Create beautiful, scalable vector designs on your iPad with Adobe Illustrator Draw and sync your design across Adobe Creative Cloud desktop and mobile apps.
Show details

ProtoSketch

Paid
Supercharged with icons, fonts, ui elements, basic and complex drag and drop shapes. It is easy to create anything from logo and icon to web and more...
Show details