Sketch Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for Sketch. Based on analysis of 15 signals.
Issues by Category
Mac-only platform excludes Windows users
Sketch is exclusively available on macOS with no Windows or Linux support planned. This creates friction for mixed-OS teams and excludes a significant portion of designers. Sketch uses core macOS technologies like Core Animation and Core Graphics that aren't available on Windows, making a port technically challenging.
No real-time collaboration compared to Figma
Sketch's collaboration features are limited compared to browser-based alternatives like Figma. Real-time collaboration relies on cloud features that feel bolted-on rather than native. Many companies have switched to Figma specifically because collaboration is easier and more seamless.
Recent updates made the app worse and less intuitive
Trustpilot reviewers report recent drastic changes have made Sketch worse, describing it as 'unintuitive' and creating 'a lot more burden onto designers.' Users complain about removed features like Layer Style menu options, keyboard shortcuts for Rename functions, and 'Select Group's Content on Click' behavior.
Limited prototyping requires third-party plugins
Sketch's built-in prototyping is basic compared to competitors. Users need plugins like Zeplin, InVision, and Abstract to provide functionalities like advanced prototyping and developer handoff. This adds complexity and cost to what should be an all-in-one design workflow.
Steep learning curve for beginners
Sketch isn't without its difficulties and learning curve, and can be intimidating to beginners. Powerful features like Symbols are often confusing for new users who don't understand what they are or how to use them. Users struggle to find basic features like undo buttons and color change options.
Object selection behavior frustrates users
Users struggle with object selection, sometimes unable to select an object beside another object, particularly with Symbols. Even using keyboard modifiers like Cmd or Option doesn't always work as expected. This basic interaction issue causes daily frustration for professional designers.
Limited vector illustration and photo editing
Sketch is not suitable for vector illustrations or photo editing. When you need to edit images in your design, you can't do it in Sketch. It's not as powerful as Adobe Illustrator for complex designs with lots of layers and objects, and users often need additional software.
EPS file import no longer supported on macOS Sonoma
macOS Sonoma no longer supports converting EPS files, so you can't import EPS files into Sketch. Users must convert files to PDF first before importing, adding extra steps to the workflow when working with legacy assets.
Plugin updates frequently break with Sketch updates
Sketch updates often break existing plugins, creating frustration for users who rely on daily tools. The plugin development community is dwindling, and plugins may cause the Mac app to hang or crash. Some plugins still load even if disabled, and developers struggle to find resources for advanced functionality.
Developer handoff is limited and incomplete
Sketch's developer handoff only provides copy/paste of HTML or CSS for specific UI elements. Developers still need to write complex screen code including layout and positioning. Without a design system, handoff creates inconsistencies and frustration between designers and developers.
Severe lag with large files and 50+ artboards
When designing products with multiple artboards (50+), Sketch becomes laggy and resource-consuming even on the latest i7 Macs with 16GB RAM. Large documents with lots of layers, Symbols, or detailed elements slow down significantly, with users reporting 10+ second delays for basic operations.
Shift to subscription model frustrates long-time users
Sketch's transition from one-time purchase to subscription pricing has frustrated many users. While a $120 one-time Mac-only license exists, it lacks cloud collaboration features. Users feel forced to pay yearly to maintain the latest features, with annual fees and plugin costs adding up quickly.
Billing disputes and trial charge complaints
Users on Trustpilot report being charged immediately on the day of their free trial starting, with support insisting on keeping the money despite only trying the paid version for a couple of hours. The company profile remains unclaimed on Trustpilot with no responses to customer concerns.
Text rendering bugs at extreme sizes
Text rendering becomes buggy at extreme sizes, requiring canvas resizing or movement to properly display content. Users report various rendering glitches that disrupt workflow and require workarounds to fix.
iOS app has limited functionality and ads
The iOS companion app has limited functionality and some users complain about ad bombardment. The View and Mirror app is primarily for previewing designs rather than editing, creating a disconnect between desktop and mobile workflows.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing Sketch.
Performance degraded as files grew
Projects that started small became complex design systems with hundreds of artboards. Sketch's performance degraded significantly, but by then the investment in Sketch files made switching painful.
Realized team needs Windows support
Users commit to Sketch only to discover later that new team members or clients use Windows, forcing a migration to cross-platform tools. This often happens when companies hire remote workers or merge with other teams.
Plugins stopped working after major update
Long-time users with workflows built around specific plugins find them broken after a Sketch update. Rebuilding workflows with different plugins or built-in features requires significant time investment.
Collaboration became a bottleneck
Teams that grew from 2-3 designers to 5+ found Sketch's collaboration features inadequate compared to what they'd heard about Figma. The realization usually comes during crunch time when real-time feedback is critical.
One-time license wasn't enough
Users bought the $120 Mac-only license thinking they didn't need collaboration, but later realized they needed version history, cloud backup, or team features. Upgrading means paying the subscription on top of the license.
Industry moved to Figma
Designers who invested years learning Sketch found clients and employers increasingly requesting Figma files. Job listings specify Figma experience, making Sketch skills less marketable.
When Sketch Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where Sketch fails or underperforms.
Design file exceeds 50+ artboards
Large documents with many artboards cause severe performance degradation. Sketch becomes laggy, copying slows down, and even modern Macs struggle. Users must split files into multiple documents, breaking design system cohesion.
Team includes Windows users
The moment a Windows user joins the design team, Sketch becomes unusable as a collaboration platform. Teams either exclude Windows users from design work or migrate entirely to cross-platform tools like Figma.
Critical plugin loses maintenance
When a workflow-critical plugin is abandoned by its developer or breaks with an update, users lose essential functionality. The dwindling plugin developer community means replacements may not exist.
Need for advanced prototyping
When projects require complex interactions, animations, or user testing flows, Sketch's basic prototyping falls short. Users must add third-party tools like Principle, ProtoPie, or InVision, fragmenting the workflow.
Remote team needs real-time collaboration
Distributed teams working across time zones find Sketch's collaboration insufficient for real-time feedback and simultaneous editing. The delay in syncing changes creates version conflicts and communication overhead.
Developer handoff becomes complex
As projects scale, basic CSS snippets are insufficient. Development teams need detailed specifications, responsive breakpoints, and interaction documentation that Sketch doesn't provide natively, requiring additional tooling.