Open Source · head to head
Penpot vs Sketch
The short version
- Only Penpot has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources; Sketch macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features
- They diverge on capability: Penpot covers Interactive prototyping, Sketch covers Symbols & components.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Penpot and Sketch actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Penpot
- Interactive prototyping
- Design systems
- Components & libraries
- SVG support
- CSS Grid & Flexbox
- Code export
- Figma import
- SVG export
Only in Sketch
- Symbols & components
- Prototyping
- Developer handoff
- Plugins ecosystem
- Cloud sync
- Version history
- InVision
- Principle
Both cover
- Vector editing
- Real-time collaboration
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Penpot
- UI/UX designnot Sketch
- Prototyping
- Design systems
- Developer handoffnot Sketch
- Open source projectsnot Sketch
Sketch
- UI designnot Penpot
- Mobile app designnot Penpot
- Web designnot Penpot
- Design systems
- Prototyping
Both are used for prototyping, design systems, 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
Sketch
- macOS-only for editing, blocking Windows and Linux users from accessing design features
- Real-time collaboration feels less seamless than Figma with occasional sync delays
- Limited built-in image editing capabilities, requiring external software for bitmap work
- Subscription required for cloud features and collaboration, losing access if subscription lapses
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
Sketch
$12/month- Standard$12/month
- Real-time collaboration
- Unlimited documents
- Unlimited free viewers
- Professional$24/month
- Everything in Standard
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Project archiving
- Enterprise$44/month
- Everything in Professional
- SCIM provisioning
- BYOK encryption
- Mac-only License$120/perpetual
- Native Mac app
- Offline access
- Local file saving
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Sketch if
- You need symbols & components.
- You work on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
- You also want prototyping.
Questions people ask
- Is Penpot or Sketch better?
- Neither clearly leads. Penpot starts at Free and Sketch at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Penpot or Sketch?
- Penpot has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Penpot and $12/month for Sketch.
- Does Penpot or Sketch run on more platforms?
- Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Sketch runs on macOS, Web, iOS, iPad.
- Can I use Penpot for free?
- Yes. Penpot has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sketch starts at $12/month.
- What is Penpot best used for?
- Penpot is most often used for ui/ux design, prototyping, design systems, developer handoff. Of those, ui/ux design and developer handoff are not what Sketch is typically brought in for.
- What can Penpot do that Sketch cannot?
- Penpot covers Interactive prototyping, Design systems, Components & libraries, SVG support. Sketch covers Symbols & components, Prototyping, Developer handoff, Plugins ecosystem. Both handle Vector editing, 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.
SourceSketch: Is Sketch available for Windows or Linux?
No. Sketch is macOS-only for the design and prototyping features. Web and mobile apps provide viewing and collaboration, but editing requires macOS 14.0 or later.
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.
SourceSketch: Does Sketch offer a free trial?
Yes. Sketch provides a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. You can also purchase a one-time Mac-only license for $120 per seat instead of subscribing.
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.
SourceSketch: What collaboration features does Sketch include?
Sketch supports real-time collaboration, unlimited document sharing, unlimited viewers, and version history on all paid subscription plans (Standard $12/month, Professional $24/month, Enterprise $44/month).
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.
SourceSketch: Can I use Sketch offline?
Yes. The one-time Mac-only license ($120) allows you to use Sketch offline and save files locally, but it excludes cloud collaboration and iOS previewing features.
Source