Penpot

Open SourceMPL-2.0Self-hostable

The open-source design platform for UI/UX and prototyping — built on open web standards so design and code finally speak the same language. A Figma alternative you can self-host.

Open source alternative to

Figma

Canva

Visit Penpot View source

About Penpot

Penpot is the design tool that treats designers and developers as one team. Because everything is native SVG and open web standards, what you design is literally what ships — inspectable, exportable, and free of proprietary formats.

It covers the core Figma workflow: components, auto-layout (Flex/Grid, modeled on real CSS), prototyping, and real-time multiplayer collaboration. Design tokens are first-class, which teams migrating from Figma increasingly demand.

MPL-2.0 licensed and self-hostable with Docker, Penpot boomed after Figma's acquisition drama — it's the serious open option for teams that want design infrastructure they control.

Key features

Real CSS layout — Auto-layout built on actual Flexbox and Grid, so designs translate directly to code.
Design tokens & components — First-class tokens, shared libraries and components for scalable design systems.
Multiplayer & prototyping — Real-time collaboration, comments and interactive prototypes in the browser.
Self-host with Docker — Run the whole platform on your infrastructure — no vendor holding your design files.

The honest read

What we like

Free and open source with no per-editor seats
SVG-native — designs map cleanly to code
Real-time collaboration like Figma
Design tokens built in
Self-hostable for full data control

Worth knowing

Plugin ecosystem smaller than Figma's
Performance dips on very large files
No native desktop app (browser-based)
Some advanced Figma features still missing

FAQ

Is Penpot free?

Yes — Penpot is free and open source under MPL-2.0, with no per-editor pricing. You can use the hosted app or self-host it for nothing.

Is Penpot a real Figma alternative?

For most UI/UX work, yes — components, auto-layout, prototyping and multiplayer are all there. Teams deep in Figma plugins or advanced features may still notice gaps.

Can I self-host Penpot?

Yes — official Docker images let you run Penpot on your own servers, which is a key reason teams choose it.

How does Penpot handle developer handoff?

Everything is standard SVG and CSS — developers inspect real code values rather than approximations, which makes handoff notably cleaner than proprietary formats.

Does Penpot support design tokens?

Yes — design tokens are a first-class feature, making it a strong pick for design systems work.