// comparison · Design
Figma (paid plans)vsPenpot: Which Should You Use?
Quick verdict: Penpot is the only credible self-hostable Figma alternative — vector design, prototyping, design tokens, multi-cursor collaboration. Figma's polish, ecosystem, and dev-handoff workflow still lead.
Side-by-side
| Figma (paid plans) | Penpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12/mo (Figma Professional per editor) | $0 (free) |
| License | Proprietary subscription | Open source (FOSS), self-hostable, privacy-first |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS | Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| File compatibility | Native formats | Reads common file formats |
| Learning curve | Established workflow | Medium |
| Best for | Your team and external clients all already work in Figma | You self-host and want a Figma-equivalent fully under your control |
When to use each
Stick with Figma (paid plans) when
- Your team and external clients all already work in Figma
- You depend on the plug-in ecosystem (Iconify, Tokens Studio, Mock-up plugins)
- You use Figma's dev mode + inspect for engineer handoff
- You need the polish of FigJam and the Figma Slides product
Switch to Penpot when
- You self-host and want a Figma-equivalent fully under your control
- Privacy or compliance prevents cloud SaaS for design files
- You like that Penpot uses open SVG/CSS internally, not a proprietary format
- You're building a design system on open standards
Migration: Figma (paid plans) → Penpot
Switch Score for Penpot: Medium · Reads common file formats. If you decide to move from Figma (paid plans) to Penpot, plan a short adjustment window. Most users find that day-to-day work transfers within a week, with file-format quirks the most common source of friction.
Honest trade-offs of Penpot
- Plug-in ecosystem is much smaller than Figma's
- Some UX details (smart selection, auto-layout polish) are still catching up
- Real-time collaboration works but at smaller scale than Figma's serverside infra
FAQ
Can I import Figma files?
Penpot ships with a Figma-import tool that handles many common files. Complex auto-layout and effects may need cleanup.
Is Penpot really free even on their cloud?
Yes — Penpot's cloud offers a generous free tier. There's also a self-hosted option, fully free.
What's the underlying format?
SVG plus CSS — open standards. That means designs are portable and version-control-friendly.