Overview of Penpot
Penpot is an open‑source, self‑hosted design and prototyping tool that mirrors many Figma UI patterns. It runs in the browser, stores data on your own server, and uses SVG as its native format, offering portability and full data ownership.
While it covers core UX workflow features—components, shared libraries, grids, constraints, versioning, and real‑time editing—several trade‑offs emerge when you compare it with Figma.
Collaboration & Commenting
Penpot supports simultaneous editing, but its feedback loop is less polished.
- Comments are not as integrated; no threaded or nested discussions.
- Tagging teammates and viewing comment history require external tools.
- Resolution of comments is manual, lacking a dedicated side‑panel view.
Figma’s collaboration suite includes real‑time cursors, robust commenting, and seamless comment resolution, making team communication faster.
Prototyping & Animation
Penpot’s prototype animations are basic, while Figma offers advanced motion control.
- Figma’s Smart Animate provides multiple easing options and natural transitions.
- Auto Layout in Figma ties directly to variants and animation, enabling automatic layout changes during interactions.
- Penpot’s Flex Layout works in prototypes but requires manual state adjustments.
Whiteboarding & Plugin Ecosystem
Penpot includes a whiteboard kit that must be downloaded and assembled, adding friction.
- Shapes aren’t pre‑grouped, so users must manually create sticky notes and other board elements.
- Figma’s FigJam is built‑in, instantly ready, and tightly integrated with design files.
- Figma also benefits from a vast plugin marketplace, which Penpot lacks.
Team Workflows & Permissions
Penpot shines for solo designers but becomes cumbersome for larger teams.
- Inviting collaborators to a self‑hosted server adds administrative overhead.
- Shared libraries, permission controls, and multi‑designer features are less mature.
- Figma’s real‑time co‑editing, responsive cursors, and permission structures are purpose‑built for fast‑moving teams.
Conclusion
Penpot is a powerful, free, and self‑hosted alternative for individual designers or small projects that value data ownership. However, teams that need seamless whiteboarding, sophisticated prototyping, robust commenting, and a rich plugin ecosystem will likely find Figma a more efficient choice.