SyncSketch
SyncSketch is a cloud-based real-time visual collaboration and review platform for animation, VFX, and game-production teams, enabling synchronized frame-accurate review of video, images, 360, and 3D assets, now a Unity Technologies subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBerkeley, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What SyncSketch does
SyncSketch is a cloud-based real-time visual collaboration and review platform built for animation, VFX, and game-production teams. Founded in 2012 (per company history; one source lists 2016) in Berkeley, California, the platform enables synchronized reviews of images, videos, 360-degree content, and 3D models, with all participants able to control playback and leave frame-accurate visual annotations simultaneously without compression artifacts, dropped frames, or lag. Core product components include a high-performance review player, a Brush Engine for detailed frame-by-frame drawing, native 3D model viewing (added in beta February 2022), a Media Tab for asset organization (December 2022), and integrations with ShotGrid for production tracking, Google for SSO, and Unity ID for authentication. The platform is offered in three tiers: a free tier for individuals and small teams, a Team plan for growing studios, and an Enterprise plan with custom pricing, multi-year contracts, and advanced security features for IP protection.
The company serves primary customers in two verticals: animation and VFX studios producing film, TV, and streaming content (Framestore, Jellyfish Pictures, Reel FX, HBO Max/Scott Free, BRON Studios, Mighty Nice, Nichtlustig) and game development studios (Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, Maxis, Frontier Developments, Double Fine, Machine Zone). It also serves a smaller education vertical including CAVE Academy and ithinkasia. The business model is a hybrid product-led growth and enterprise field sales motion, with a freemium entry point for organic acquisition and dedicated sales for large deployments. The customer base is global, with named users in the US, UK, Canada, France, Cambodia, Australia, and Germany.
In December 2021, SyncSketch was acquired by Unity Technologies (NYSE: U) and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary, giving it access to Unity's distribution network across the global game-development ecosystem. Headcount is 11-50, and the company is led by co-founders Bernhard Haux and Philip Floetotto. The platform is marketed primarily through content (blog, creator stories, case studies), industry event presence (Annecy, GDC, CTNX, SIGGRAPH), webinars with marquee customers, and competitions such as the SIGGRAPH London Escape From Earth animation contest.
SyncSketch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SyncSketch
- Legal name
- SyncSketch
- Website
- https://syncsketch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SyncSketch is a cloud-based real-time visual collaboration and review platform for animation, VFX, and game-production teams, enabling synchronized frame-accurate review of video, images, 360, and 3D assets, now a Unity Technologies subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SyncSketch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Collaboration Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Remote Review, Approval & Dailies (screening, annotations, version compare) (MPAHANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Production Asset Collaboration (shared bins, proxies, live collaboration) (MPAHANAG)
Keywords
Where SyncSketch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berkeley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SyncSketch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription SaaS - Team and Enterprise Plans: Cloud-based subscription model with tiered Team and Enterprise plans. Enterprise tier offers advanced security features, administrative interfaces, and custom deployments for large studios. Pricing page exists at syncsketch.com/pricing with tier summaries available.
- Free Tier / Freemium: Free sign-up available for individual users and small teams, with basic review functionality. Supports product-led growth motion.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free / Starter Tier |
| Subscription | Annual | Team Plan |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Plan |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SyncSketch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SyncSketch provides a cloud-based real-time visual collaboration and review platform for animation, VFX, and gaming teams. It enables synchronized, in-browser playback of images, videos, 360 content, and 3D models with frame-accurate annotation and drawing tools, supporting distributed creative teams through Team and Enterprise subscription tiers (plus a free tier).
Product overview
SyncSketch is a unified cloud-based visual collaboration platform designed for animation, VFX, and gaming professionals. The core product enables synchronized real-time reviews across multiple media types including images, videos, 360 content, and 3D models. The platform is offered across three tiers: a base SyncSketch product for individuals and small teams, SyncSketch Team for growing studios requiring collaborative features like Media Tab, and SyncSketch Enterprise providing enhanced security and administrative controls for large organizations. Key capabilities center on a powerful review player with annotation tools, including an advanced Brush Engine for detailed visual feedback. The platform was acquired by Unity in December 2021.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SyncSketch Cloud-based real-time visual collaboration platform enabling synchronized reviews of images, videos, 360 content, and 3D models. Users join sessions, contribute annotations, control playback, and leave visual notes simultaneously without compression artifacts or lag. Offered with a free tier for individuals and small teams.
- SyncSketch Enterprise Secure, enterprise-grade collaboration system designed for large creative studios, with advanced security features for IP protection, administrative controls, and deployment options for globally distributed teams. Custom enterprise pricing.
- SyncSketch Mobile App
Quantifiable outcome
- Animation teams at Riot Games halved review times with SyncSketch
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SyncSketch
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SyncSketch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature8 records
SyncSketch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SyncSketch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ftrack: Cloud production tracking and review platform for VFX, animation, and games. Directly comparable to SyncSketch in target customers and review workflow, with overlapping ShotGrid-style pipeline integrations.
- Frame.io: Cloud-based video review and collaboration platform now owned by Adobe. Closest direct competitor to SyncSketch, offering real-time annotation, review, and approval for media teams, with a much larger enterprise footprint and Adobe Creative Cloud distribution.
- Filestage: Review and approval platform for video, image, and document feedback with version compare and annotation. Competes in the same creative review category, particularly with marketing and creative teams.
- Wipster: Cloud video review and approval platform with annotation and frame-accurate comments. Targets similar creative and enterprise review workflows as SyncSketch across video and motion content.
- cineSync: Real-time synchronized media review tool widely used in feature film VFX and animation. Competes head-on with SyncSketch's core synchronized review capability in the same studio customer base.
- ProofHQ: Online proofing and review platform for creative assets with annotation and approval workflows. Directly comparable to SyncSketch's review-and-annotation functionality for marketing and creative teams.
Broad incumbents
- Vimeo Review: Vimeo's video review and collaboration tools (formerly VHX and Magisto integrations). Larger incumbent offering video review at broader scale across enterprise and SMB creative teams.
- Perforce (Helix DAM): Large-scale version control and digital asset management provider serving games, VFX, and animation. Overlaps with SyncSketch in serving the same studios through production asset collaboration.
Emerging players
- Iconik: Cloud-native media asset management with review and collaboration features. Adjacent competitor expanding into the same animation/VFX post-production review workflows served by SyncSketch.
- Boords: Storyboarding and creative review platform used by agencies and studios. Adjacent player targeting pre-production review workflows that overlap with SyncSketch's creative collaboration use cases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SyncSketch social profiles
Digital presenceSyncSketch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SyncSketch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SyncSketch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SyncSketch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SyncSketch
What does SyncSketch do?
SyncSketch provides a cloud-based real-time visual collaboration and review platform for animation, VFX, and gaming teams. It enables synchronized, in-browser playback of images, videos, 360 content, and 3D models with frame-accurate annotation and drawing tools, supporting distributed creative teams through Team and Enterprise subscription tiers (plus a free tier).
Is SyncSketch a public or private company?
SyncSketch is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SyncSketch founded?
SyncSketch was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SyncSketch based?
SyncSketch is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, in the North America region.
How does SyncSketch make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Subscription SaaS - Team and Enterprise Plans are the primary driver. The others are free Tier / Freemium.
Who are SyncSketch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ftrack, Frame.io, Filestage, Wipster, cineSync and ProofHQ. Broad incumbents are Vimeo Review and Perforce (Helix DAM). Emerging players are Iconik and Boords.
Does SyncSketch have an API?
No public API is recorded for SyncSketch.
What industry is SyncSketch in?
SyncSketch's product category is Creative Collaboration Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHANAB, Remote Review, Approval & Dailies (screening, annotations, version compare), with a secondary code of MPAHANAG, Production Asset Collaboration (shared bins, proxies, live collaboration). Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 7819.