Software · head to head
Figma vs Penpot
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Figma no offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected; Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources
- They diverge on capability: Figma covers Vector networks, Penpot covers Vector editing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Figma and Penpot actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Figma
- Vector networks
- Auto-layout
- Components & variants
- Prototyping
- Developer handoff
- Version control
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
Only in Penpot
- Vector editing
- Interactive prototyping
- Components & libraries
- SVG support
- CSS Grid & Flexbox
- Code export
- Figma import
- SVG export
Both cover
- Real-time collaboration
- Design systems
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Figma
- UI/UX design
- Design systems
- Prototyping
- Design collaborationnot Penpot
- Developer handoff
Penpot
- UI/UX design
- Prototyping
- Design systems
- Developer handoff
- Open source projectsnot Figma
Both are used for ui/ux design, design systems, prototyping, developer handoff, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Figma
- No offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected
- Mobile apps are read-only, cannot edit designs on iOS or Android
- No self-hosted option, requires cloud connectivity and internet access
- Performance degradation with large files containing thousands of layers
- Library components and unloaded pages not accessible offline
Penpot
- Smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources
- Self-hosting requires Linux server and Docker knowledge for technical setup
- Real-time collaboration features may have performance issues with very large design files
Pricing, plan by plan
Figma
Free- StarterFree
- Unlimited drafts
- 3 Figma files
- 3 FigJam boards
- Professional$12/month
- Unlimited files and folders
- Team libraries
- Advanced prototyping
- Organization$55/month
- Unlimited teams
- Shared libraries
- Design system theming
- Enterprise$90/month
- Custom workspaces
- API access
- SCIM seat management
Penpot
Free- FreeFree
- Cloud-based design
- Real-time collaboration
- Components and variants
- Unlimited$7/month
- All free features
- Priority support
- Advanced cloud features
- Enterprise$950/month
- Custom enterprise features
- Dedicated support
- Advanced security
Which should you pick?
Choose Figma if
- You need vector networks.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
- You also want auto-layout.
Choose Penpot if
- You need vector editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want interactive prototyping.
Questions people ask
- Is Figma or Penpot better?
- Neither clearly leads. Figma starts at Free and Penpot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Figma or Penpot?
- Figma starts at Free and Penpot at Free.
- Does Figma or Penpot run on more platforms?
- Figma runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Figma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Figma best used for?
- Figma is most often used for ui/ux design, design systems, prototyping, design collaboration. Of those, design collaboration is not what Penpot is typically brought in for.
- What can Figma do that Penpot cannot?
- Figma covers Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants, Prototyping. Penpot covers Vector editing, Interactive prototyping, Components & libraries, SVG support. Both handle Real-time collaboration, Design systems.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Figma: What's included in Figma's free tier?
Figma's Starter plan is free forever and includes unlimited drafts, up to 3 Figma files, 3 FigJam boards, core design features (vector editing, auto layout, components, prototyping), basic developer handoff (inspect), and 150 AI credits per day up to 500 per month. Maximum 2 editors per file.
SourcePenpot: Is Penpot really free?
Yes. Penpot is completely free with no feature gates. The open-source version can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure for zero cost beyond server expenses.
SourceFigma: Does Figma work offline?
Figma has very limited offline support. You can create one new file and edit currently loaded pages, but cannot open previously created files, access new pages, search for library components, or see real-time collaboration. Changes are cached locally for up to 30 days and sync when you reconnect.
SourcePenpot: Can I self-host Penpot?
Yes. Penpot can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure with no licensing costs. Organizations with specific privacy or governance needs can run Penpot on their own servers.
SourceFigma: Can you self-host Figma?
No. Figma is a closed, cloud-only platform with no option to self-host or run on your own servers.
SourcePenpot: What are the paid plans if I use Penpot cloud?
Penpot's cloud service offers a free tier, Unlimited plan at $7 per user per month for professionals and medium teams, and Enterprise starting at $950 per month for larger organizations.
SourceFigma: What export formats does Figma support?
Figma exports to PNG, JPEG, SVG (at 1x scale only), and PDF (at 1x scale only). Export settings allow customization of resolution, quality, and scale.
SourcePenpot: What platforms does Penpot support?
Penpot runs in the browser, so it works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and any OS with a web browser. No platform-specific downloads required.
SourceFigma: What platforms does Figma support?
Figma is available as a web app (all platforms), desktop apps for macOS and Windows, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. Linux users can access Figma through the web browser only.
SourceFigma: What are Figma's integrations?
Figma integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Asana, Linear, Notion, VS Code, Zapier, and hundreds of other tools. Integration categories include collaboration, project management, developer handoff, prototyping, and AI/code generation.
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