ToolAlts

Figma vs Penpot

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings.

Feature
Figma
Penpot
Rating
★ 4.7
★ 4.5
Open Source
No
Yes
GitHub Stars
N/A
47,975
Unlimited files and projects
Team-wide design libraries
Advanced Dev Mode inspection and MCP Server
Unlimited teams
Shared libraries and fonts
Centralized admin tools
Custom team workspaces
Design system theming and APIs
SCIM seat management
Design
Auto versioning
Penpot editor
Flex Layout
Grid Layout
Path Editor
Multiplatform
Libraries & templates
Plugins
Inspect mode
Collaboration
Multiplayer edition
Comments
Share presentations
Team management
Editors
Role and permissions
Administration & Security
API REST
Webhooks
Deleted file recovery
Sneak Peek in New Ft.
Design systems
Components
Fonts management
Variants
Design tokens
Styles
Prototype
Create prototypes
Interactions
Transitions
Flows
View mode
Share prototypes with a link
Comments on prototypes
Devtools
Code inspector
Properties inspector
Distances and measurement
Component annotations
Export production assets
Support
Community forum
Help center

Detailed Comparison

Overview

Figma and Penpot are two powerful design tools that cater to UI/UX designers and product teams, but they take fundamentally different approaches. Figma is a cloud-based, proprietary platform known for its real-time collaboration, robust prototyping, and extensive plugin ecosystem. Penpot, on the other hand, is the first open-source design and prototyping platform, built on open web standards like SVG, and offers both free cloud and self-hosted options. Both tools support real-time collaboration, but their philosophies—commercial versus open-source—create distinct advantages for different users.

Feature Comparison

| Feature | Figma | Penpot |

|---------|-------|--------|

| **Real-time collaboration** | Yes, with multiplayer editing | Yes, with multiplayer editing |

| **Prototyping & interactions** | Advanced, with transitions, overlays, and animations | Basic, with simple interactions and transitions |

| **Design systems & components** | Robust, with shared libraries and variants | Supported via design tokens and components |

| **Developer handoff** | Dev Mode with inspect, code snippets, and plugins | Basic inspect mode, CSS export |

| **Auto layout & responsive design** | Yes, with constraints and auto layout | Yes, with constraints and flex layout |

| **Whiteboarding** | FigJam integrated | Not available natively |

| **Plugins & widgets** | Extensive ecosystem (hundreds) | Limited, community-driven |

| **Open source** | No | Yes (AGPL license) |

| **Self-hosted** | No | Yes |

| **File format** | Proprietary (.fig) | SVG-based (open standard) |

| **Offline mode** | Limited (via desktop app) | Not available |

Pricing

**Figma** offers three tiers:

  • **Starter ($0)**: 3 projects, unlimited cloud storage, basic prototyping, and collaboration.
  • **Professional ($12/month)**: Unlimited projects, advanced prototyping, version history, and team libraries.
  • **Organization ($45/month)**: Centralized admin, design system analytics, and advanced security.

    • **Penpot** is completely free:

  • **Self-hosted ($0)**: Full control, no user limits, requires your own server.
  • **Cloud ($0)**: Hosted by Penpot, unlimited projects and users, but may have performance limits during peak usage.

    • When to Choose Figma

    Choose Figma if you need a mature, industry-standard tool with a rich feature set. It excels in:

  • **Advanced prototyping**: Figma’s interactions, overlays, and animations are more sophisticated than Penpot’s.
  • **Developer handoff**: Dev Mode provides detailed CSS, iOS, and Android code snippets, plus plugins for Zeplin, Storybook, and more.
  • **Plugin ecosystem**: With hundreds of plugins for accessibility, icon libraries, and automation, Figma extends far beyond core design.
  • **Team collaboration at scale**: Figma’s Organization tier offers admin controls, analytics, and SSO, ideal for large enterprises.
  • **Whiteboarding**: FigJam is integrated for brainstorming and workshops, a feature Penpot lacks.

    • Figma is best for teams that prioritize a polished, all-in-one design workflow and are willing to pay for premium features.

    When to Choose Penpot

    Choose Penpot if you value open-source principles, cost savings, or data sovereignty. It shines in:

  • **Budget-conscious teams**: Penpot is free forever, with no per-user or per-project limits.
  • **Self-hosting**: Organizations with strict data privacy requirements can run Penpot on their own servers, ensuring full control.
  • **Open standards**: Penpot uses SVG as its native file format, making designs portable and future-proof.
  • **Design tokens**: Built-in support for design tokens aligns with modern design system practices.
  • **Community-driven development**: As an open-source project, Penpot evolves based on user contributions and feedback.

    • Penpot is ideal for startups, educational institutions, or any team that wants a capable design tool without vendor lock-in or recurring costs.

    Verdict

    Both Figma and Penpot are excellent design tools, but they serve different needs. Figma is the more mature, feature-rich platform, offering advanced prototyping, a vast plugin ecosystem, and seamless developer handoff—making it the go-to choice for professional design teams and enterprises. Penpot, meanwhile, is a compelling open-source alternative that provides core design and collaboration features at zero cost, with the added benefits of self-hosting and open standards.

    If your team can afford the subscription and relies on advanced prototyping or a large plugin ecosystem, Figma is the clear winner. If you prioritize cost savings, data control, or open-source values, Penpot is a strong and capable choice. For most teams, Figma’s polish and ecosystem edge out Penpot, but Penpot’s rapid development and community support make it a serious contender—especially for those who value freedom over features.