Penpot is a free, open-source design and prototyping tool that runs in the browser or self-hosted, offering vector design, collaborative editing, and interactive prototyping capabilities similar to Figma. Built with open standards (SVG-based), Penpot eliminates vendor lock-in and offers complete data ownership. It has gained significant traction as a privacy-focused Figma alternative for teams wanting design collaboration without SaaS dependency or data sent to third parties.
Penpot
Open-source design tool — the Figma alternative.
Best for: Teams with data sovereignty requirements or open-source preferences who need a Figma-like design tool.
- Free plan
4.3/5 ratingEditorial score 82/100penpot.app
The editorial note
What to know about Penpot
Is it right for you?
Who Penpot suits
Choose it if
- Teams with data sovereignty requirements or open-source preferences who need a Figma-like design tool.
Look elsewhere if
- Design teams needing Figma's mature plugin ecosystem, advanced auto-layout, or the widest design tool ecosystem — Figma remains significantly more capable for professional design workflows
What you get
Key features
- Vector design tools
- Real-time collaboration
- Prototyping and interactions
- Component libraries
- SVG-based open format
- Grid and layout tools
- Design tokens (CSS variables)
- Export to SVG, PNG, PDF
Works with
Integrations7
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free (Cloud) | FreeBilled monthly | Open-source design tool — unlimited projects, real-time collaboration, vector editing |
| Self-hosted | FreeBilled monthly | Run on your own infrastructure, full control, no restrictions |
| Enterprise | CustomBilled monthly | SSO, advanced permissions, dedicated support, custom SLA |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free and open-source — no licensing costs for unlimited users and files
- Self-hosting option provides full data ownership and privacy control
- SVG-based design files ensure compatibility and freedom from proprietary formats
- Real-time collaborative editing works for distributed design teams
- Active development with regular feature updates from the Penpot team and community
Cons
- Less mature than Figma — some features like advanced prototyping and component libraries are still developing
- Plugin ecosystem is significantly smaller than Figma's 500+ plugins
- Performance on complex files is slower than Figma's optimized rendering engine
- Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge for deployment and maintenance
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Design & Creative
- Pricing model
- Free
- Entry plan
- Free
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- penpot.app
The verdict
Our take on Penpot
The best open-source Figma alternative — self-hosting and zero cost make it compelling for privacy-conscious teams.
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