WillItSurvive
Design and creative software · Netherlands

Sketch

sketch.com ↗

Mac-native digital design and prototyping tool built by Bohemian Coding.

Protection under test
Assessed 23 July 2026 · Evidence as of 23 July 2026
Something worth protecting exists and is being tested right now.
On the recordSince 23 July 2026 · Checkable from Q4 2026 · Every call on the record Checkpoint: Next Ramp software-design market-share tracker update
The call

Sketch keeps a small, loyal Mac-based design audience while Figma and AI-generated design tools absorb the rest of the market.

Sketch makes software that designers use to create app layouts and graphics on Mac computers. Figma beat Sketch by moving to the web and letting teams work together online, and now AI tools can generate designs from text descriptions, which cuts into the core work Sketch users do by hand. Sketch still has loyal customers who like its speed and offline features, but unless it finds a new reason teams need it instead of free AI or Figma, its quiet profit may just be slow decline.

Why
01
AI pressure: Google Stitch, Figma AI, Magic Patterns. Prompt-to-UI tools like Google Stitch and Figma AI let anyone generate screens from text, bypassing Sketch's manual vector workflow. Could AI do the core job? Yes, likely.
02
Bigger players: Figma. Figma's browser-based collaboration already pulled most of Sketch's market, leaving Sketch with a shrinking niche. Could a giant copy it? Yes, easily.
03
What protects it. Mac-native speed and locked-in libraries, SSO, and offline workflows keep existing teams from switching.
What would change this call
Next market-share tracker reading shows Sketch share stabilizing or continuing to erode. Would show whether Sketch's decline versus Figma has bottomed out or is still worsening.
Sketch announces a Series B or new institutional funding round. Would show investors believe Sketch can still compete against Figma and AI tools.
Sketch ships a proprietary AI design capability beyond MCP compatibility. Would show Sketch can respond to prompt-to-UI tools like Google Stitch and Figma AI.
Key numbers
  • Figma holds 80%+ design-tool share, $600M+ ARR (2026-03-11)
  • Sketch est. revenue ~$28.8M (est.) (n.d.)
  • Sketch headcount 253, +2.8% YoY growth (2026-06-27)
Named risks
  • Continued single-digit share erosion to Figma with no growth-side moat identified. Severity: high
  • AI-native prompt-to-UI tools like Stitch and Magic Patterns erode core manual design workflow. Severity: high
  • No new institutional funding disclosed since roughly early 2019, limiting resources to compete. Severity: medium
  • India direct-purchase discontinuation as of 15 July 2026 signals possible regional revenue friction. Severity: low
  • Reliance on MCP-based AI neutrality rather than proprietary AI could leave Sketch dependent on third-party AI vendors. Severity: medium
Rivals, as read in July 2026
RivalDirectionEvidence
Figmalosing toLost majority Mac UI design share to Figma by 2018, remains single-digit share vs Figma 80%+ as of 2026-07-11
Google Stitchlosing toAI-native prompt-to-UI tool launched May 2025, relaunched expanded by March 2026, bypasses manual design workflow
Magic Patternslosing toNamed as fast-growing vendor gaining category share alongside Figma per July 2026 Ramp tracker
Adobe XDcontestingLong-standing legacy competitor; Adobe itself tried to acquire Figma in 2022 before deal collapsed December 2023
FramercontestingAI-assisted design and website builder competitor, noted for rapid prototype generation in 2025 reviews
Questions people ask
Is Sketch still profitable in 2026?
Sketch is described by third-party comparison sites as quietly profitable with an estimated revenue near $28.8M, though this figure is an unaudited estimate. It runs on a loyal Mac-native design base rather than venture-fueled growth, with no new funding disclosed since around early 2019.
Who owns Sketch the design tool?
Sketch is owned by Sketch B.V., formerly Bohemian Coding, a private Dutch company headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, founded by Pieter Omvlee and Emanuel Sa. It has not been acquired and remains independent as of mid-2026.
Is Sketch losing to Figma?
Yes. Sketch dominated Mac UI design through roughly 2016-2018 before losing majority share to Figma, which by 2024 held an estimated 80%+ market share, 4M+ paying users, and $600M+ ARR (vendor/analyst estimate), while Sketch remains a single-digit-share player per a July 2026 Ramp tracker.
Did Sketch have layoffs?
Yes, Sketch cut staff in October 2022 from roughly 280 employees, reportedly reflecting business and financial pressure. Headcount has since only modestly recovered, reported at 253 employees as of mid-2026 per Crustdata, up just 2.8% year over year.
Could AI replace Sketch?
AI-native prompt-to-UI tools like Google Stitch (launched May 2025), Figma AI, and Magic Patterns can generate wireframes and screens directly from text, threatening Sketch's core manual vector workflow. Sketch responded by shipping an MCP Server on 17 October 2025 rather than building its own generative AI.
What is Sketch's biggest competitor?
Figma is Sketch's dominant competitor, now publicly traded (NYSE: FIG, about $19.99/share as of 23 July 2026) with an estimated 80%+ market share in collaborative UI design, versus Sketch's single-digit share per a July 2026 Ramp Software Design category tracker.
Timeline
  • 2026-07-14Sketch stops direct purchases from India, requires partner-channel buying
  • 2026-07-11Ramp tracker shows Sketch as single-digit share mover versus Figma's dominant category position
  • 2026-06-23Sketch ships Dublin 2026.1 and Edinburgh 2026.2 releases with new design tools
  • 2026-02-05Sketch publishes internal use-case guidance for its MCP Server
  • 2025-10-17Sketch MCP Server exits beta, general release as version 2025.2.4
  • 2025-10-08Sketch MCP Server ships in beta
  • 2022-10-12Sketch lays off staff, cutting from roughly 280 employees
  • 2019-01Sketch's most recent disclosed funding round occurs, per Crustdata estimate
  • 2012Sketch wins Apple Design Award
  • 2010-09-07Sketch first released by Bohemian Coding
Revision history
23 July 2026
First assessed. Protection under test. The text above is fixed as of this date and is not edited afterwards.
In the same band
KalturaPond5Maxon
More in Design and creative software →
Sources