Figma vs Penpot
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Figma is a collaborative web application for interface design, with additional offline features enabled by desktop applications for macOS and Windows.
Penpot is a web‑based, open‑source design and prototyping tool that lets UI/UX designers create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes. It offers a collaborative environment similar to commercial alternatives while keeping data under your control. Because it is open source, teams can self‑host Penpot on their own infrastructure or use the free cloud offering, making it a flexible choice for freelancers, startups, and enterprises that need cost‑effective design workflows.
Free for individuals and small teams; paid plans start at $12/editor/month.
- Best-in-class real-time collaboration
- Runs in any modern browser
- Strong plugin ecosystem
- Great for design systems
- Fully open‑source with self‑hosting option
- Free cloud tier for small teams
- Real‑time collaborative editing
- Vector‑based design with SVG export
- Requires stable internet connection
- Can get slow on huge, complex files
- Advanced prototyping still simpler than dedicated animation tools
- Limited native integrations compared to commercial rivals
- Performance can lag with very large files
- No dedicated desktop or mobile apps
What reviewers say
Figma Reviews
5.0 (2)Solid choice
We've been using Figma for a few months now and it's genuinely made a difference for our team. Great for design systems. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Great tool for design
Our team evaluated a few options before settling on Figma. Runs in any modern browser. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Penpot Reviews
No reviews yet.
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Prototyping and wireframing tool for building web and mobile app interfaces without code.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataFigma offers a mature, browser‑based design suite with strong real‑time collaboration and a large plugin ecosystem, while Penpot provides an open‑source, self‑hostable alternative with comparable core design features but fewer integrations.
Key differences
- •Figma is SaaS‑only with a free tier; Penpot can be self‑hosted for full control.
- •Figma has a broader native integration list (Slack, Jira, Notion, GitHub) versus Penpot’s more limited set.
- •Penpot is open‑source and free for small teams; Figma’s paid plans start at $12/editor/month.
- •Figma runs in any modern browser and also offers desktop apps; Penpot has no dedicated desktop or mobile apps.
- •Figma’s plugin ecosystem is larger and more mature than Penpot’s community‑driven plugins.
Pricing & value
Penpot offers a free cloud tier and self‑hosting at no license cost; Figma’s paid plans start at $12/editor/month.
Ease of use / learning curve
Figma’s mature UI and extensive documentation make onboarding faster than Penpot’s newer interface.
Features & depth
Figma includes Dev Mode, advanced prototyping, and a vast plugin library; Penpot’s features are comparable but less extensive.
Integrations & ecosystem
Figma lists Slack, Jira, Notion, GitHub; Penpot lists only GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Notion.
Collaboration
Both provide real‑time collaborative editing and sharing via links.
Scalability
Figma’s cloud infrastructure handles large files better; Penpot can lag with very large files.
Support
Figma offers Help Center and Community Forum; Penpot only community forum and email for paid plans.
Security & privacy
Penpot can be self‑hosted, giving organizations full control over data; Figma is cloud‑only.
Migration / lock‑in
Penpot’s open‑source nature and export options reduce lock‑in risk; Figma’s proprietary format may require conversion.
Choose Figma if…
Teams needing robust prototyping, extensive plugins, and seamless integrations, willing to pay for SaaS.
Choose Penpot if…
Organizations that require self‑hosting, open‑source control, or a free tier for small teams.
Common questions
Can I use Penpot without paying any license fees?
Yes, Penpot offers a free cloud tier for small teams and can be self‑hosted at no cost.
Does Figma work offline?
Figma requires a stable internet connection; offline use is limited.
Which tool has more native integrations with other SaaS products?
Figma lists integrations with Slack, Jira, Notion, and GitHub, whereas Penpot lists only GitHub, GitLab, Slack, and Notion.