Software · head to head
Penpot vs Figma
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources; Figma no offline editing capability, can only view and create new files when disconnected
- They diverge on capability: Penpot covers Vector editing, Figma covers Vector networks.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Penpot and Figma 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 Penpot
- Vector editing
- Interactive prototyping
- Components & libraries
- SVG support
- CSS Grid & Flexbox
- Code export
- Figma import
- SVG export
Only in Figma
- Vector networks
- Auto-layout
- Components & variants
- Prototyping
- Developer handoff
- Version control
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
Both cover
- Design systems
- Real-time collaboration
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Penpot
- UI/UX design
- Prototyping
- Design systems
- Developer handoff
- Open source projectsnot Figma
Figma
- UI/UX design
- Design systems
- Prototyping
- Design collaborationnot Penpot
- Developer handoff
Both are used for ui/ux design, prototyping, design systems, 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.
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
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
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Penpot or Figma better?
- Neither clearly leads. Penpot starts at Free and Figma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Penpot or Figma?
- Penpot starts at Free and Figma at Free.
- Does Penpot or Figma run on more platforms?
- Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Figma runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Penpot for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Penpot best used for?
- Penpot is most often used for ui/ux design, prototyping, design systems, developer handoff. Of those, open source projects is not what Figma is typically brought in for.
- What can Penpot do that Figma cannot?
- Penpot covers Vector editing, Interactive prototyping, Components & libraries, SVG support. Figma covers Vector networks, Auto-layout, Components & variants, Prototyping. Both handle Design systems, Real-time collaboration.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceFigma: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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 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.
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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