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Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch Comparison

Last updated:

Adobe Illustrator

5.0(551 reviews)

Starting at $20.99 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Medium Business

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful graphics tool for logos, icons, and digital illustrations. Quickly create professional quality art for web, print, video, and interactive projects. Capture ideas anytime, anywhere with the…

Sketch

4.6(1,000 reviews)

Starting at $9 /User/Month

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Sketch is a professional tool for designing interfaces and websites. It features graphical tools for creating artwork, as well as built-in tools for prototyping and wireframing for apps. It’s for everybody who turns idea…

Adobe Illustrator leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 551 reviews.

Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch — at a glance

FeatureAdobe IllustratorSketch
Rating5.0 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews5511,000
Starting price$20.99 /Month$9 /User/Month
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises
CategoryGraphic Design SoftwareGraphic Design Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPRGDPR
Data residencyGlobalUS

Key differences between Adobe Illustrator and Sketch

  • Pricing: Adobe Illustrator starts at $20.99 /Month, while Sketch starts at $9 /User/Month.
  • Free trial: Adobe Illustrator offers a free trial; Sketch does not.
  • User satisfaction: Adobe Illustrator scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: Adobe Illustrator supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Sketch supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Mac.

Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Graphic Design Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Adobe Illustrator - Graphic Design Software
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Sketch - Graphic Design Software
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Talk to an expert

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Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Adobe Illustrator

Best for professional vector graphic design and brand asset creation.

Choose if
  • You need industry-leading vector design tools for logos and illustrations.
  • You want seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud apps.
  • Your team consists of experienced graphic designers or branding specialists.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a beginner with no prior design experience or training.
  • Your company has a very limited budget for software subscriptions.

Sketch

Best for Mac-based UI/UX designers needing advanced prototyping and collaboration.

Choose if
  • You are a Mac user focused on designing web and mobile app interfaces.
  • You need robust prototyping and reusable components to boost design productivity.
  • Your team values real-time collaboration and extensive plugin integrations.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team requires cross-platform support including Windows or Linux users.
  • You are a beginner seeking a tool with minimal learning curve and onboarding.

Adobe Illustrator: Best for professional vector graphic design and brand asset creation. Sketch: Best for Mac-based UI/UX designers needing advanced prototyping and collaboration.

Description

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful graphics tool for logos, icons, and digital illustrations. Quickly create professional quality art for web, print, video, and interactive projects. Capture ... Read More about Adobe Illustrator

Sketch is a professional tool for designing interfaces and websites. It features graphical tools for creating artwork, as well as built-in tools for prototyping and wireframing for apps. ... Read More about Sketch

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $20.99 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $9

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.1/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.99

(551)

4.62

(1000)

Best Company Size

Small businessesMedium businesses
Small BusinessMedium Business
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do Adobe Illustrator and Sketch Compare on Features?

Total Features

6 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Adobe Illustrator and Sketch on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $20.99 , Billed Yearly
      • $9

      Pricing Plans

      • Adobe Illustrator

        • Illustrator on desktop and iPad, 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Spark, and access to the latest features and updates as soon as they’re released

        • 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Adobe Illustrator pricing
      Sketch pricing

      Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Individuals
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Individuals
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🇺🇸 US

      Adobe Illustrator User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      550

      0

      0

      0

      1

      786

      192

      25

      7

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall, users praise Adobe Illustrator for its powerful and versatile design tools but note the steep learning curve and high cost as significant drawbacks.

      What buyers like

      • Versatility in design projects
      • Integration with Adobe ecosystem
      • Robust and stable functionality

      Common complaints

      • Steep learning curve
      • High subscription cost

      Buyer sentiment

      Overall positive sentiment highlights Sketch's user-friendly interface, robust asset library, and strong collaboration features, tempered by concerns over Mac-only availability and learning curve.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Extensive asset library
      • Collaboration features

      Common complaints

      • Platform exclusivity
      • Learning curve

      Pros and Cons

      • Versatile toolset for logos, posters, and digital illustrations

      • Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem

      • Stable and robust functionality with an intuitive interface

      • Steep learning curve requiring significant time and training

      • High subscription cost and complex licensing

      • Intuitive and easy-to-use interface for efficient mockup and prototype creation

      • Extensive library of assets and plugins that enhance creativity and workflow

      • Collaboration features including real-time team functionality and integrations

      • Limited to Mac OS, no support for Windows or Linux platforms

      • Steep learning curve for beginners due to feature richness

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Adobe Illustrator or Sketch? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Create New Document

      2 Screenshots

      All documents

      3 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator and Sketch in 2026

      Alternatives

      Expand your comparison

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

      Compare similar software options

      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Adobe Illustrator or Sketch?
      Adobe Illustrator edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Adobe Illustrator and Sketch offer a free trial?
      Adobe Illustrator offers a free trial. Sketch does not.
      What is the starting price of Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch?
      Adobe Illustrator starts at $20.99 /Month. Sketch starts at $9 /User/Month.
      What are the top alternatives to Adobe Illustrator?
      Top alternatives to Adobe Illustrator include Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, CorelDraw, Drawtify.
      What are the top alternatives to Sketch?
      Top alternatives to Sketch include Figma, Canva, CorelDraw, Xara Designer Pro, Drawtify.