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Design · head to head

Lunacy vs Penpot

Lunacy logo

Lunacy

Design

Free design software that keeps your flow

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Penpot logo

Penpot

Developer Tools

Open source design and prototyping platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lunacy desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers; Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources
  • They diverge on capability: Lunacy covers Auto layouts, Penpot covers Interactive prototyping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lunacy and Penpot actually diverge.

Attributes where Lunacy and Penpot differ
AttributeLunacyPenpot
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools
Founded20162021

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Lunacy

  • Auto layouts
  • Components
  • Built-in photos & icons
  • AI background remover
  • AI upscaler
  • Sketch file support
  • Sketch files
  • Icons8 assets

Only in Penpot

  • Interactive prototyping
  • Design systems
  • Components & libraries
  • SVG support
  • CSS Grid & Flexbox
  • Code export
  • SVG export
  • CSS export

Both cover

  • Vector editing
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Figma import
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Lunacy

  • UI/UX design
  • Web designnot Penpot
  • Mobile app designnot Penpot
  • Icon designnot Penpot
  • Marketing graphicsnot Penpot

Penpot

  • UI/UX design
  • Prototypingnot Lunacy
  • Design systemsnot Lunacy
  • Developer handoffnot Lunacy
  • Open source projectsnot Lunacy

Both are used for ui/ux design, 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.

Lunacy

  • Desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • Animation capabilities are basic, lacking timeline-based animation editing or spring physics available in modern design tools
  • Paid collaboration features, unlike Figma's free cloud-based team collaboration

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

Lunacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lunacy review.

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 Lunacy if

  • You need auto layouts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want components.
Lunacy review

Choose Penpot if

  • You need interactive prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want design systems.
Penpot review

Questions people ask

Is Lunacy or Penpot better?
Neither clearly leads. Lunacy 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, Lunacy or Penpot?
Lunacy starts at Free and Penpot at Free.
Does Lunacy or Penpot run on more platforms?
Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Lunacy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lunacy best used for?
Lunacy is most often used for ui/ux design, web design, mobile app design, icon design. Of those, web design and mobile app design are not what Penpot is typically brought in for.
What can Lunacy do that Penpot cannot?
Lunacy covers Auto layouts, Components, Built-in photos & icons, AI background remover. Penpot covers Interactive prototyping, Design systems, Components & libraries, SVG support. Both handle Vector editing, Real-time collaboration, Figma import, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lunacy: Is Lunacy free to use?

Yes. Lunacy is absolutely free for personal and commercial use. There is no subscription required or trial period limitation.

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
Lunacy: Can Lunacy open and work with Sketch files?

Yes. Lunacy has smooth integration with Sketch files, allowing designers to import and collaborate on Sketch projects without requiring a Sketch subscription.

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
Lunacy: Does Lunacy require internet connection to work?

No. Lunacy can work offline, allowing designers to work without an internet connection. It is a desktop application that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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
Lunacy: What are Lunacy's hardware requirements?

Lunacy is not demanding on hardware and runs smoothly even on moderate laptops. It has minimal system requirements compared to resource-intensive design tools.

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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