Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. This helps support our work in maintaining this directory.
Penpot vs Figma
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Penpot and Figma.
| Feature | Penpot | Figma |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Open Source | Freemium |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Cost (Solo) | $0 | $0 |
| Target Audience | creators, developers, solopreneurs, startups | solopreneurs, startups, agencies, creators |
| Verified | No | Yes |
| Solo-Friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | Yes | No |
| Editorial Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Categories | Design | Design |
| Key Features | Vector design tools, Interactive prototyping, Real-time collaboration, SVG-native format, Components and design systems | Real-time collaboration, Auto Layout, Components & variants, Prototyping, Dev Mode |
| Free Tier Quality | excellent | good |
Pricing Breakdown
Penpot
Free forever: unlimited projects, files, and team members. Self-hosted: free (Docker). Premium support: contact for pricing.
Figma
Free: 3 Figma files, 3 FigJam files, unlimited collaborators. Professional: $15/user/month (unlimited files, libraries). Organization: $45/user/month (design systems, analytics). Enterprise: $75/user/month.
Integration Overlap
Shared Integrations (2)
Only in Penpot (6)
Only in Figma (8)
Use Case Fit
Penpot
- * UI/UX design on a budget
- * Open-source project design work
- * Cross-platform design collaboration
- * Self-hosted design infrastructure
- * Prototyping without vendor lock-in
Figma
- * UI/UX design and prototyping
- * Design system management
- * Developer handoff with Dev Mode
- * Collaborative whiteboarding (FigJam)
- * Presentation design (Figma Slides)
Penpot
Pros
- + Completely free and open-source
- + Cross-platform browser-based tool
- + SVG-native means clean code export
- + Self-hosting option for full control
Cons
- - Less polished than Figma
- - Smaller plugin ecosystem
- - Performance can lag on complex files
- - Community still growing
Figma
Pros
- + Best-in-class collaboration
- + Runs in the browser — no install needed
- + Powerful design system features
- + Active plugin community
- + Generous free tier (3 projects)
Cons
- - Requires internet connection
- - Can be slow with very large files
- - Limited offline capabilities
Editorial Verdict
For solo founders on a budget, Penpot wins with solo-friendly pricing and a excellent free tier. For the highest-rated experience, Figma edges ahead with a 4.7/5 editorial rating.
SaaSLens Editorial Team
Editorial Team