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APIs · head to head

Hoppscotch vs Penpot

Hoppscotch logo

Hoppscotch

APIs

Open-source API development ecosystem with web-based REST client

From
Free
Rated
-
Penpot logo

Penpot

Developer Tools

Open source design and prototyping platform

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hoppscotch open-source project with no published commercial support plans or pricing; Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources
  • They diverge on capability: Hoppscotch covers REST Client, Penpot covers Vector editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hoppscotch and Penpot actually diverge.

Attributes where Hoppscotch and Penpot differ
AttributeHoppscotchPenpot
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Self-hostedWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryAPIsDeveloper Tools
Founded20192021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Hoppscotch

  • REST Client
  • WebSocket
  • gRPC Client
  • GitHub
  • Documentation tools
  • CI/CD
  • Desktop support

Only in Penpot

  • Vector editing
  • Interactive prototyping
  • Design systems
  • Components & libraries
  • Real-time collaboration
  • SVG support
  • CSS Grid & Flexbox
  • Code export

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Self-hosted support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hoppscotch

  • API Developmentnot Penpot
  • API Gatewaynot Penpot
  • API Testingnot Penpot
  • API Documentationnot Penpot
  • Microservicesnot Penpot

Penpot

  • UI/UX designnot Hoppscotch
  • Prototypingnot Hoppscotch
  • Design systemsnot Hoppscotch
  • Developer handoffnot Hoppscotch
  • Open source projectsnot Hoppscotch

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hoppscotch

  • Open-source project with no published commercial support plans or pricing
  • No official enterprise tier or SLA information disclosed

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

Hoppscotch

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full REST client
    • WebSocket support
    • Community
  • Teams$8/monthly
    • Team collaboration
    • Cloud sync
    • Priority support

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 Hoppscotch if

  • You need rest client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Self-hosted.
  • You also want websocket.

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 Hoppscotch or Penpot better?
Neither clearly leads. Hoppscotch 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, Hoppscotch or Penpot?
Hoppscotch starts at Free and Penpot at Free.
Does Hoppscotch or Penpot run on more platforms?
Hoppscotch runs on Web, Desktop, Self-hosted. Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Hoppscotch for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hoppscotch best used for?
Hoppscotch is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Penpot is typically brought in for.
What can Hoppscotch do that Penpot cannot?
Hoppscotch covers REST Client, WebSocket, gRPC Client, GitHub. Penpot covers Vector editing, Interactive prototyping, Design systems, Components & libraries. Both handle Web support, Self-hosted support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hoppscotch: Is Hoppscotch free to use for API development?

Yes, Hoppscotch is a completely free, open-source API development ecosystem. There are no subscription fees, license costs, or registration requirements to access the core platform.

Source
Penpot: 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.

Source
Hoppscotch: Can I deploy Hoppscotch on my own infrastructure?

As an open-source project, Hoppscotch can be self-hosted and deployed on your own infrastructure. The source code is available for customization and deployment in private environments.

Source
Penpot: 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.

Source
Penpot: 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.

Source
Penpot: 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.

Source
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