Penpot: The Open-Source Alternative to Figma With Huge Potential

For years, Figma has been the go-to design tool for UI/UX teams worldwide. Its ease of use, cloud-first approach, and powerful collaboration features made it the undisputed standard. But as teams grow, so do the subscription costs—and suddenly, the “affordable” tool isn’t so affordable anymore. That’s where Penpot steps in: an open-source design and prototyping platform that positions itself as a true alternative to Figma.

Video source: penpot.app

Why Penpot Deserves Your Attention

• It’s open-source → Penpot is free to use, making it a game-changer for larger teams. The savings compared to Figma’s per-seat pricing can be massive, freeing up budget for other parts of the product process.

• Self-hosting option → Unlike Figma, Penpot can be hosted on your own servers. That means more control over your data, compliance with stricter IT or legal requirements, and peace of mind for teams working in sensitive industries.

• Production-ready → Is it as polished as Figma? Not yet. But it’s good enough for real, production-level work—wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and even building scalable design systems.

• Growing ecosystem → As an open-source project backed by a strong community, Penpot evolves quickly. New features and improvements arrive steadily, and the community’s involvement suggests huge potential for the future.

Penpot vs. Figma: Where It Stands Today

Let’s be honest—Figma still wins in terms of polish, integrations, and overall maturity. Its real-time collaboration is unmatched, and its plugin ecosystem is far richer. If your team relies heavily on advanced prototyping, automation, or niche plugins, Figma still holds the edge.

But Penpot offers something Figma never will: freedom.

• Freedom from vendor lock-in.

• Freedom to run your own hosting and keep data fully under your control.

• Freedom from rapidly increasing subscription costs that can become a huge burden for larger teams.

For many startups, design teams, and especially larger organizations, that freedom outweighs the missing polish. And in everyday practice, most teams don’t need all of Figma’s advanced extras to get solid, production-ready work done.

Why Open-Source Matters

Open-source tools often start behind their proprietary competitors. They may lack polish or integrations at first. But over time, as the community grows and contributions multiply, they can leap ahead. We’ve seen this in other industries with tools like Linux, WordPress, or Blender. Penpot has the same potential in the design space.

Being open-source also means:

• Transparency in how the tool is built.

• The ability to contribute directly or request features.

• No dependency on a single vendor’s business model or acquisition plans.

The Long-Term Potential of Penpot

Penpot has all the ingredients to become a major player in the design ecosystem:

• A dedicated team actively developing and maintaining the tool.

• A passionate and growing open-source community.

• Clear and growing demand for a viable alternative to Figma, especially after Adobe’s attempted acquisition raised concerns about the future of competition in this space.

It’s not a matter of if Penpot becomes a key player—it’s more a matter of when. And by adopting it early, teams can help shape the tool while also benefiting from its cost and flexibility advantages.

Image source: penpot.app

Conclusion

Penpot may not replace Figma for everyone just yet. But for teams looking to cut costs, gain more control, and invest in an open future, it’s one of the most exciting tools in the design ecosystem today. Whether you’re a startup watching your budget, a large organization with strict IT requirements, or a design team that values freedom and flexibility, Penpot deserves a serious look.

👉 If you’re exploring alternatives to Figma—or just want to future-proof your design stack—it’s worth giving Penpot a try. You might be surprised how ready it already is for real-world design work.