React Color vs react-sketchapp
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A React library of ready-made color picker components modeled on popular design and browser tools.
Open source · MIT
A React renderer that draws components as layers in Sketch design files.
The short answer
Choose React Color if you need…
- React developers who need a color selection control in a web interface
- Teams wanting a picker that resembles familiar tools like Sketch or Photoshop
- Developers who want to assemble a custom picker from provided building blocks
Choose react-sketchapp if you need…
- Teams maintaining a design system in Sketch who want assets generated from code
- Developers already comfortable with React who want to build Sketch artboards with components
- Designers who want to pull real data into Sketch files
- Tool builders who want to use Sketch as a canvas for custom design tooling
Side-by-side
| React Color | react-sketchapp | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.3k | 14.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 3 years ago | 12 months ago |
What each one is
React Color
React Color is a JavaScript library that provides color picker components for React apps. It includes 13 pickers styled after tools such as Sketch, Photoshop, and Chrome, and you can drop one into a page with a single import. The README also says it offers building-block components for making your own picker.
react-sketchapp
react-sketchapp lets developers write Sketch documents as React components instead of placing layers by hand. You describe a design in JSX and the library renders it into a Sketch file through Sketch's scripting support. It is aimed at teams that maintain design systems and want their Sketch assets generated from code.
Best for
React Color
- React developers who need a color selection control in a web interface
- Teams wanting a picker that resembles familiar tools like Sketch or Photoshop
- Developers who want to assemble a custom picker from provided building blocks
react-sketchapp
- Teams maintaining a design system in Sketch who want assets generated from code
- Developers already comfortable with React who want to build Sketch artboards with components
- Designers who want to pull real data into Sketch files
- Tool builders who want to use Sketch as a canvas for custom design tooling
Strengths
React Color
- Offers 13 picker styles out of the box
- Installs through npm with a single import
- Includes building-block components for custom designs
react-sketchapp
- Uses React, a familiar model for JavaScript developers, to describe Sketch layouts
- Designed for design systems at Airbnb, with documented examples, API reference, and styling guides
- Open source under the MIT license with a runnable example project
Not ideal for
React Color
- People who are not writing React code, since the library is a React component package
- Projects that need a picker outside React, because the README describes only React usage
- Anyone needing a non-inline styling approach, since the README states it uses 100% inline styles
react-sketchapp
- People who only design visually in Sketch and do not write code, because the workflow depends on React and a terminal
- Anyone needing a current Sketch version, since the README's quick-start mentions Sketch 50+ and a compatibility badge listing 43-50
- Users who need a maintained, widely supported Sketch plugin ecosystem, since the README does not state current maintenance status for newer Sketch releases
Trade-offs
React Color
- Styling is done with inline styles via ReactCSS, which can be harder to override with a stylesheet
- The README excerpt provides limited detail on configuration options
- Last push date shown is January 2024, so maintenance activity may be limited
react-sketchapp
- Tied to Sketch's scripting API, which the README notes often changes
- The README's Sketch compatibility information appears dated and the quick-start targets Sketch 50+
- Requires Node and npm plus working knowledge of React to be useful
Getting started
React Color
Install the package
npm install react-color --savereact-sketchapp
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/airbnb/react-sketchapp.gitInstall the basic example dependencies
cd react-sketchapp/examples/basic-setup && npm installFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between React Color and react-sketchapp?
React Color: A React library of ready-made color picker components modeled on popular design and browser tools. react-sketchapp: A React renderer that draws components as layers in Sketch design files. React Color suits react developers who need a color selection control in a web interface, while react-sketchapp suits teams maintaining a design system in sketch who want assets generated from code.
Are React Color and react-sketchapp free?
React Color: Free and open source. react-sketchapp: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, React Color or react-sketchapp?
React Color is easier to get started with (rated beginner); react-sketchapp is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is React Color or react-sketchapp more popular?
react-sketchapp has more GitHub stars (14.8k) than React Color (12.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to React Color and react-sketchapp?
Other options people compare them with include react-dates, React-Toastify, Storybook.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.