Adobe Illustrator vs Sketch Comparison
Compare Adobe Illustrator and Sketch side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Adobe Illustrator and Sketch are both strong contenders in the design tools space, but they serve different needs. Adobe Illustrator edges ahead with an overall score of 78/100 compared to Sketch's 72/100. Sketch is easier to get started with (8/10 for ease of use vs 6/10). On pricing, neither offers a free tier — Adobe Illustrator starts at $23/mo and Sketch at $12/mo. Sketch rates higher for value for money (7/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Adobe Illustrator | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 78/100 | 72/100 |
| Starting price | $23/mo | $12/mo |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Best for | Industry-standard vector graphics editor | Design toolkit for Mac |
Pricing comparison
Adobe Illustrator
No free tier
Illustrator (Annual)$23/mo
Illustrator (Monthly)$35/mo
All Apps (Annual)$55/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Calculate your cost
Adobe IllustratorIllustrator (Annual)
$23/mo
$276/yr
SketchStandard
$10/mo
$120/yr
Cheaper— save $156/yr
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Vector editing | Yes | Yes |
| Prototyping | No | Yes |
| Components | Symbols | Yes |
| Auto-layout | No | Symbols |
collaboration
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time editing | Cloud docs | Yes |
| Comments | Yes | Yes |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| Dev handoff | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Design systems | Libraries | Yes |
| Plugins | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Basic | Limited |
| Responsive design | No | Via plugins |
integrations
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Yes | No |
| InDesign | Yes | No |
| After Effects | Yes | No |
| Figma | Via plugin | No |
| Slack | No | Yes |
| Jira | No | Via plugin |
| Zeplin | No | Yes |
| Abstract | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
Choose Adobe Illustrator if...
- You're ready to invest from $23/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Sketch if...
- You're ready to invest from $12/mo
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
