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About Penpot
What is Penpot?
Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping platform for product teams. It allows designers, developers, and product managers to collaborate in real time on interface design, wireframes, and interactive prototypes — all through a browser with zero licensing fees.
Who is it for?
Penpot is ideal for digital product teams that want complete control over their design tools, especially those with strict data governance or budget constraints. It’s a strong fit for startups, enterprises, and educational institutions. It is not for teams that require native offline apps or advanced vector illustration features comparable to Sketch or Figma.
Key use cases
Teams use Penpot to create UI/UX mockups, design system libraries, interactive prototypes, and developer handoff assets — all without per-seat costs. Its web-based collaboration makes it easy to share and iterate on designs in real time, with version history and comment threads.
Key features
- Open-source & free — No licensing fees; self-host or use the cloud version, forever.
- Real-time collaboration — Multiple team members can edit the same file simultaneously with live cursors and comments.
- Interactive prototyping — Link screens, add transitions and hotspots to create clickable prototypes without coding.
- Design system libraries — Create shared components, styles, and assets that sync across all projects.
- Developer handoff — Inspect mode with CSS code export, SVG assets, and measurement tools for seamless handoff.
- SVG-native format — All designs are stored as pure SVG, making them easy to version with Git or process programmatically.
- Self-hosting option — Deploy Penpot on your own infrastructure for full data control and security compliance.
SaaSpartout Score
7.4
/10
Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Penpot really free forever?
Yes. Penpot is open-source (Mozilla Public License 2.0). The cloud version is free with no time limit, and you can self-host it at no cost.
How does Penpot compare to Figma?
Penpot is a free, open-source alternative to Figma. It offers similar real-time collaboration and prototyping, but has fewer plugins and a smaller community. Best for teams that prioritize open source and data ownership.
Who is Penpot best for?
Penpot is best for product teams, startups, and enterprises that want a free, collaborative design tool with self-hosting capabilities. It is especially suited for teams with strict data sovereignty requirements.
Does Penpot have offline mode?
No, Penpot is a web-based application and requires an internet connection to use. There is no native desktop app with offline support at this time.
Can I import Figma files into Penpot?
Yes, Penpot supports importing .fig files (Figma format) through its built-in import feature, making migration easier.
