Brandwave

Balsamiq vs Sketch:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Balsamiq had more branded searches than Sketch among prototyping tools worldwide. Balsamiq had about 40,500 branded searches, while Sketch had 22,200. Balsamiq made up 0.77% of all prototyping tool searches we track, and Sketch accounted for 0.42%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about prototyping tools, Balsamiq and Sketch each appeared in three of the five answers. Balsamiq was mentioned before Sketch in two out of three answers that named either.

Among prototyping tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Balsamiq, about 82% more searches than Sketch

Balsamiq 40.5K searchesSketch 22.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Balsamiq in 3 of 5Sketch in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Balsamiq, named ahead of Sketch in 2 of 3 answers

Balsamiq first in 2Sketch first in 1

Follow Balsamiq vs Sketch and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top prototyping tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Balsamiq and Sketch were each mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Balsamiq was listed before Sketch in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Figma1st
  2. ProtoPie2nd
  3. Axure3rd
  4. Framer4th
  5. Proto.io5th
  6. Balsamiq6th
  7. Sketch7th
  8. UXPin8th
  9. InVision–
  10. Marvel–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Figma5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Axure5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ProtoPie4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Framer3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Balsamiq3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sketch3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • UXPin3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Proto.io2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • InVision0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Marvel0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about prototyping tools

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Balsamiq or Sketch more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Balsamiq and Sketch by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten prototyping tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Balsamiq and Sketch among prototyping tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Balsamiq, Sketch. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFigmaInVisionFramerBalsamiqSketchAxureProtoPieMarvelProto.ioUXPin
Oct 202595.2%0.77%1.4%1.2%0.51%0.35%0.23%0.19%0.06%0.08%
Nov 202595.7%0.63%1.5%0.95%0.52%0.28%0.23%0.15%0.06%0.07%
Dec 202595.4%0.63%1.7%0.94%0.52%0.28%0.28%0.13%0.05%0.07%
Jan 202695.1%0.77%1.8%0.94%0.52%0.34%0.28%0.1%0.05%0.08%
Feb 202695.5%0.63%1.8%0.94%0.42%0.28%0.28%0.08%0.04%0.08%
Mar 202695.8%0.52%1.5%0.95%0.42%0.28%0.28%0.08%0.03%0.07%
Apr 202696.3%0.43%1.3%0.95%0.35%0.23%0.23%0.08%0.03%0.06%
May 202696.5%0.43%1.3%0.78%0.35%0.23%0.19%0.07%0.03%0.09%
Jun 202695.9%0.63%1.4%0.78%0.52%0.28%0.19%0.19%0.02%0.13%
Jul 202696.5%0.52%1.4%0.64%0.35%0.23%0.16%0.07%0.04%0.06%
Aug 202695.5%0.77%1.5%0.77%0.63%0.28%0.19%0.23%0.04%0.13%
Sep 202695.6%1.4%1.2%0.77%0.42%0.23%0.15%0.08%0.06%0.05%

How has the Balsamiq and Sketch comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Balsamiq was ahead of Sketch in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Balsamiq’s share of searches among prototyping tools worldwide moved from 1.2% to 0.77%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 40.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sketch’s share of searches among prototyping tools worldwide moved from 0.51% to 0.42%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 22.2K.

How did search popularity change for prototyping tools worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, InVision overtook Framer and Balsamiq to rank 2nd among prototyping tools worldwide, with 1.4% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Balsamiq worldwide fell 45.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 40.5K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sketch worldwide fell 32.9% over 12 measured months, from 33.1K to 22.2K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Balsamiq’s and Sketch’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Balsamiq

1 branded search term

  • balsamiq

Sketch

1 branded search term

  • sketch app

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free