Figma vs Penpot

Figma logovsPenpot logo
Figma is the browser-based design tool with the larger ecosystem, while Penpot is open source, built on web standards and can be self-hosted. Most small teams are better served by Figma.
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The verdictSide by sidePlans and pricingWho each is forOther options

The verdict

For a small B2B team, I'd pick Figma. Most designers, freelancers and agencies already work in it, and shared libraries and comments on a live file keep reviews short.

Pick Penpot when openness is a requirement. That means a company with strict data rules, an open-source project, or a team that wants to script design work through an open API.

Before you move to Penpot, run a pilot on one real project. Switching costs time, and libraries from another tool have to be rebuilt or imported. If no data or openness rule forces the change, stay with what your designers know.

What the data says
  • Both cover 2 of the 2 features we compared.
  • Both have a free plan, so you can try each before you pay.
  • Penpot starts lower, at $7/mo against $16/mo.
  • Both have an API and an MCP server, so either works with AI employees.
  • In our Build ranking, Figma places 1 and Penpot 3 of 6.

Side by side

Figma and Penpot compared
6 points compared
Figma logoFigma
Penpot logoPenpot
Starts at$16/mo$7/mo
Free planYesYes
APIYesYes
MCP serverYesYes
API & automationsYesYes
Interactive prototypingYesYes
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Plans and pricing

Figma logo

Figma

  • StarterFree limited access to Figma products with 150 AI credits per day.Free
  • ProfessionalFull seat price shown; Dev seat 12 (annual) and Collab seat 3 (annual) per month.$20/mo/seat
  • OrganizationBilled annually only; full seat 55 per month, Dev 25, Collab 5.$660/yr/seat
  • EnterpriseBilled annually only; full seat 90 per month, Dev 35, Collab 5.$1,080/yr/seat
Penpot logo

Penpot

  • ProfessionalFree cloud plan with up to 8 team members, unlimited viewers, 10 GB storage and 7 days of version history.Free
  • UnlimitedPer editor with a monthly cap of 175 USD whatever the team size; 14-day free trial.$7/mo/seat
  • EnterprisePer member for larger organisations; 14-day free trial.$25/mo/seat
  • Private ServerDedicated private server, billed yearly.$50,000/yr

Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.

Who each is for

Figma logo

Choose Figma if…

Pick Figma if design is shared work between several people and you will invest in learning it. Comments pinned on the design, shared libraries and Dev Mode for handoff are the core of the value. There is a free Starter plan, and an official MCP server lets an agent read design context.

The learning curve is real. Components, variables and auto-layout take weeks, so plan some coaching if you have no designer.

Figma is not a publishing tool. You still need a developer or a site builder to ship the result. Skip it if you only need quick graphics, where Canva is faster.

VisitRead the review
Penpot logo

Choose Penpot if…

Pick Penpot if you want your design files on your own infrastructure, or your company cannot send files to a closed cloud tool. Layouts and tokens map closely to what developers write, which helps design systems that must match code.

It has a free cloud plan with up to 8 team members and unlimited viewers, a plugin system, an open API with webhooks, and an official MCP server. Discounts are available for non-profit, education and open-source projects.

Check that the plugins and templates your team relies on exist for Penpot. If you self-host, you carry the hosting and updates.

VisitRead the review

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