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Operating Systems · head to head

OpenWrt vs Penpot

OpenWrt logo

OpenWrt

Operating Systems

Linux firmware replacement for routers and embedded network devices, with a package manager and writable filesystem

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: OpenWrt support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.; Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources
  • They diverge on capability: OpenWrt covers Package manager, Penpot covers Vector editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenWrt and Penpot actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenWrt and Penpot differ
AttributeOpenWrtPenpot
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeUnknown
PlatformsRouters, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gatewaysWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryOperating SystemsDeveloper Tools
FoundedUnknown2021

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 OpenWrt

  • Package manager
  • LuCI web interface
  • Traffic shaping
  • VPN and DNS
  • VLAN and multi-network
  • OpenWrt One

Only in Penpot

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

What people use each for

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

OpenWrt

  • Extending the useful life of an ISP-supplied router that has stopped receiving security updatesnot Penpot
  • Separating guest, IoT and work devices onto VLANs on hardware that does not offer it nativelynot Penpot
  • Running WireGuard, ad blocking or DNS over TLS at the edge rather than configuring every clientnot Penpot
  • Building small industrial or retail gateways where a full Linux distribution is too heavynot Penpot

Penpot

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

Where each one falls short

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

OpenWrt

  • Support is per device and per hardware revision, so a model number that worked last year may point at a different chipset this year and be unsupported.
  • Flashing can brick a device permanently, and on hardware without a serial console or a recovery bootloader there is no way back.
  • Devices with 4MB or 8MB of flash have been dropped from recent releases, so a lot of older hardware is stuck on unsupported versions with known vulnerabilities.
  • Hardware acceleration for NAT and routing depends on vendor drivers, and enabling traffic shaping frequently cuts a gigabit connection to a fraction of its rated throughput.
  • A sysupgrade keeps your configuration but not your installed packages, so every release upgrade is followed by reinstalling and reconfiguring add-ons by hand.

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

OpenWrt

Free
  • OpenWrtFree
    • No licence fee for any device count
    • All packages from the official feeds
    • Community support via forum and wiki

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 OpenWrt if

  • You need package manager.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways.
  • You also want luci web interface.
OpenWrt review

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.
Penpot review

Questions people ask

Is OpenWrt or Penpot better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenWrt 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, OpenWrt or Penpot?
OpenWrt starts at Free and Penpot at Free.
Does OpenWrt or Penpot run on more platforms?
OpenWrt runs on Routers, Access points, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, Embedded gateways. Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use OpenWrt for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OpenWrt best used for?
OpenWrt is most often used for extending the useful life of an isp-supplied router that has stopped receiving security updates, separating guest, iot and work devices onto vlans on hardware that does not offer it natively, running wireguard, ad blocking or dns over tls at the edge rather than configuring every client, building small industrial or retail gateways where a full linux distribution is too heavy. Of those, extending the useful life of an isp-supplied router that has stopped receiving security updates and separating guest, iot and work devices onto vlans on hardware that does not offer it natively are not what Penpot is typically brought in for.
What can OpenWrt do that Penpot cannot?
OpenWrt covers Package manager, LuCI web interface, Traffic shaping, VPN and DNS. Penpot covers Vector editing, Interactive prototyping, Design systems, Components & libraries.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenWrt: How do I know my router is supported?

Check the Table of Hardware for your exact model and revision before buying or flashing. Do not assume that a supported model number means a supported unit; manufacturers change chipsets within a model.

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
OpenWrt: Is the OpenWrt One worth buying over a used router?

If you are evaluating OpenWrt rather than rescuing hardware you own, yes. It is supported by definition, has an unbrickable boot arrangement, and part of the price funds the project.

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
OpenWrt: Will flashing void my warranty?

Almost always, and it may also break the ISP remote management your provider relies on for support. Keep the stock firmware image before you start.

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
OpenWrt: Is opkg still the package manager?

It is in the current stable releases, but development has moved towards apk, so expect package tooling and command syntax to change at the next major release.

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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