Software · head to head
Penpot vs Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Software
Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Penpot smaller user base and community compared to Figma means fewer templates and resources; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Penpot and Ubuntu actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
- Design systems
- Components & libraries
- Real-time collaboration
- SVG support
- CSS Grid & Flexbox
- Code export
Only in Ubuntu
Nothing recorded that Penpot does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Penpot
- UI/UX designnot Ubuntu
- Prototypingnot Ubuntu
- Design systemsnot Ubuntu
- Developer handoffnot Ubuntu
- Open source projectsnot Ubuntu
Ubuntu
- Individual developers and small teams using free Ubuntu for laptops and serversnot Penpot
- Cloud and data centre deployments requiring certified, supported Linux operating systemnot Penpot
- Organisations needing FIPS-certified or DISA-STIG-hardened Linux for government and regulated environmentsnot Penpot
- AI and machine learning teams using Ubuntu Desktop with pre-optimised toolchainsnot Penpot
- IoT and edge computing deployments using Ubuntu Corenot Penpot
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
Ubuntu
- Free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
- Ubuntu Pro required for enterprise compliance certifications (FIPS, DISA-STIG); free version does not include these
- Ubuntu Pro pricing is proprietary and varies based on cloud deployment (AWS, Azure, GCP); no published per-machine or per-user pricing
- Ubuntu Pro + Support adds 24/7 support costs on top of base subscription; total cost for enterprise-grade support not transparent
- Personal/free tier limited to 5 machines; any larger deployment requires paid enterprise subscription
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$950/month
- Custom enterprise features
- Dedicated support
- Advanced security
Ubuntu
Free- Ubuntu (Free)Free
- Desktop, Server, Core and Cloud editions
- Community support
- Standard security updates (5 years LTS)
- Ubuntu Pro (Personal)Free
- Extended Security Maintenance (10 years)
- Kernel Livepatch
- Landscape management
- Ubuntu Pro (Enterprise)$null/variable
- 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
- FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
- Kernel Livepatch
- Ubuntu Pro + Support$null/variable
- All Ubuntu Pro features
- 24/7 break-fix and bug-fix support
- Expert assistance for infrastructure and applications
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 Ubuntu if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Questions people ask
- Is Penpot or Ubuntu better?
- Neither clearly leads. Penpot starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Penpot or Ubuntu?
- Penpot starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.
- Does Penpot or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
- Penpot runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
- 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, ui/ux design and prototyping are not what Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
- What can Penpot do that Ubuntu cannot?
- Penpot covers Vector editing, Interactive prototyping, Design systems, Components & libraries.
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.
SourceUbuntu: Is Ubuntu free?
Yes. Ubuntu is free to download and use in all editions. Community support is also available at no cost. Ubuntu Pro subscriptions are optional and provide extended support and compliance tools.
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.
SourceUbuntu: How long is Ubuntu LTS support?
Standard Ubuntu LTS releases receive 5 years of security maintenance. Ubuntu Pro extends this to 10 years, expandable to 15 years with the Legacy add-on.
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.
SourceUbuntu: What compliance certifications does Ubuntu Pro provide?
Ubuntu Pro provides compliance tools for FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS standards.
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.
Source