Figma vs Penpot (2024 Comparison)
Figma offers seamless real-time collaboration and an extensive plugin ecosystem, making it a top choice for design teams. Its user-friendly interface ensures a smooth learning curve for designers of all skill levels.
- Seamless real-time collaboration
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- User-friendly interface
- Limited offline capabilities
- Requires internet connection
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$15 per month per user
Penpot's open-source flexibility and community-driven development make it a compelling choice for those who value adaptability. Its highly customizable nature allows users to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
- Open-source flexibility
- Community-driven development
- Highly customizable
- Requires setup and customization
- Less polished interface
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$175 per monthWhat is Figma?
Figma is a powerful design tool that allows teams to collaborate in real-time on web and app designs. It offers a cloud-based platform where designers can create, prototype, and share their work seamlessly. With its intuitive interface and robust features, Figma helps streamline the design process, making it easier for teams to work together, regardless of their location. Whether you're a solo designer or part of a large team, Figma's collaborative capabilities and extensive plugin ecosystem make it an invaluable tool for creating stunning designs efficiently.
What is Penpot?
Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping platform that caters to designers and developers alike. It offers a collaborative environment where users can create and share designs without the constraints of proprietary software. Penpot's flexibility and compatibility with various design formats make it a versatile choice for teams looking to integrate design into their development workflow. Its open-source nature ensures that users have the freedom to customize and extend the platform to suit their specific needs, making it a popular choice for those who value transparency and community-driven development.
Pros and Cons of Figma vs Penpot
Pros & Cons of Figma
- Figma's real-time collaboration feature allows multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, making it easy to share ideas and feedback instantly. This feature is particularly useful for remote teams, as it eliminates the need for constant back-and-forth communication.
- Figma offers a wide range of plugins that enhance its functionality and allow users to tailor their design environment to their specific needs. Its extensive plugin ecosystem makes it easy to extend and enhance its capabilities.
- Figma's intuitive interface makes it accessible to designers of all skill levels. Its user-friendly design and extensive documentation ensure a smooth learning curve, allowing users to quickly become proficient.
- Figma's cloud-based platform requires an internet connection to access and work on projects. This can be a limitation for users who need to work offline or in areas with limited connectivity.
- Figma's reliance on an internet connection can be a drawback for users who need to work offline or in areas with limited connectivity. This can be a limitation for those who require constant access to their designs.
Pros & Cons of Penpot
- Penpot's open-source nature allows users to modify and extend the platform to suit their specific needs. This makes it a compelling choice for those who value flexibility and community-driven development.
- Penpot's open-source nature allows for community-driven development, ensuring that new features and enhancements are continually being added. This makes it a versatile choice for those who value adaptability.
- Penpot's open-source nature allows for extensive customization, allowing users to tailor the platform to their specific needs. This makes it a compelling choice for those who value flexibility and adaptability.
- Penpot's open-source nature means that it may require additional setup and customization to achieve the same level of polish as proprietary software. This can be a limitation for users who prefer a more plug-and-play solution.
- Penpot's open-source nature means that its interface may not be as polished or feature-rich as proprietary software. This can be a limitation for users who value a more refined user experience.
Figma vs Penpot: At A Glance
Value to Price
Figma offers excellent value for its price, providing a comprehensive suite of design tools that cater to both individual designers and large teams. Its cloud-based platform ensures seamless collaboration, making it a worthwhile investment for those who prioritize teamwork. Penpot, being open-source, offers a cost-effective solution for teams looking for flexibility and customization. While it may not have the same level of polish as Figma, its affordability and open-source nature make it a compelling choice for budget-conscious teams.
Ease of Use
Figma is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to designers of all skill levels. Its intuitive design and extensive documentation ensure a smooth learning curve, allowing users to quickly become proficient. Penpot, while also user-friendly, may require a bit more time to master due to its open-source nature and the need for customization. However, for those who enjoy tinkering and tailoring their tools, Penpot offers a rewarding experience.
Functionality
Figma excels in functionality, offering a wide range of features that cater to various design needs. Its robust prototyping and collaboration tools make it a favorite among design teams. Penpot, while still developing its feature set, offers a solid foundation for design and prototyping. Its open-source nature allows for community-driven enhancements, making it a versatile choice for those who value adaptability.
Scalability
Figma's cloud-based platform ensures scalability, allowing teams to grow and collaborate without limitations. Its ability to handle large projects and teams makes it ideal for organizations of all sizes. Penpot, while scalable, may require additional customization to meet the needs of larger teams. However, its open-source nature allows for flexibility and adaptation, making it a viable option for those willing to invest time in customization.
Integrations
Figma offers a wide range of integrations with popular tools, enhancing its functionality and making it a versatile choice for design teams. Its extensive plugin ecosystem allows users to tailor their workflow to their specific needs. Penpot, while still building its integration capabilities, offers a solid foundation for connecting with other tools. Its open-source nature allows for community-driven development, ensuring that new integrations are continually being added.
Customer Support
Figma provides robust customer support, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and a responsive support team. Its active community also offers valuable insights and assistance. Penpot, being open-source, relies heavily on community support. While this can be a valuable resource, it may not offer the same level of immediate assistance as Figma's dedicated support team.
Security
Figma prioritizes security, with robust measures in place to protect user data and ensure a safe design environment. Its cloud-based platform offers secure collaboration, making it a trusted choice for teams handling sensitive information. Penpot, while also committed to security, may require additional customization to meet specific security needs. However, its open-source nature allows for transparency and community-driven improvements, ensuring that security remains a top priority.
Overall Rating
Figma's overall rating reflects its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly interface, and robust collaboration tools. Its ability to cater to both individual designers and large teams makes it a top choice for design professionals. Penpot, while still developing its feature set, offers a compelling alternative for those who value flexibility and open-source development. Its affordability and adaptability make it a strong contender in the design tool market.
Figma vs Penpot: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Real-time Collaboration
Figma's real-time collaboration feature is a game-changer for design teams. It allows multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, making it easy to share ideas and feedback instantly. This feature is particularly useful for remote teams, as it eliminates the need for constant back-and-forth communication. Penpot also offers real-time collaboration, but its open-source nature means that it may require additional setup and customization to achieve the same level of seamlessness as Figma. If you prioritize **seamless real-time collaboration**, Figma is the better choice.
Prototyping Tools
Figma's prototyping tools are robust and intuitive, allowing designers to create interactive prototypes with ease. Its drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of components make it easy to bring your designs to life. Penpot also offers prototyping tools, but they may not be as polished or feature-rich as Figma's. However, Penpot's open-source nature allows for customization and community-driven enhancements, making it a viable option for those who value flexibility. If you need **advanced prototyping tools**, Figma is the superior choice.
Design Systems
Figma's design systems feature allows teams to create and maintain a consistent design language across projects. Its component library and style guide features make it easy to ensure consistency and efficiency in your design process. Penpot also offers design systems capabilities, but they may require additional setup and customization to achieve the same level of polish as Figma. However, Penpot's open-source nature allows for flexibility and community-driven enhancements, making it a viable option for those who value adaptability. If you need **comprehensive design systems**, Figma is the better choice.
Version Control
Figma's version control feature allows teams to track changes and revert to previous versions of their designs with ease. Its intuitive interface and robust version history make it easy to manage and collaborate on projects. Penpot also offers version control capabilities, but they may require additional setup and customization to achieve the same level of seamlessness as Figma. However, Penpot's open-source nature allows for flexibility and community-driven enhancements, making it a viable option for those who value adaptability. If you need **seamless version control**, Figma is the superior choice.
Cross-platform Compatibility
Figma's cross-platform compatibility allows users to access their designs from any device, making it easy to collaborate and work on projects from anywhere. Its cloud-based platform ensures that your designs are always up-to-date and accessible. Penpot also offers cross-platform compatibility, but its open-source nature means that it may require additional setup and customization to achieve the same level of seamlessness as Figma. However, Penpot's open-source nature allows for flexibility and community-driven enhancements, making it a viable option for those who value adaptability. If you need **seamless cross-platform compatibility**, Figma is the better choice.
Customizability
Figma offers a high level of customizability, allowing users to tailor their design environment to their specific needs. Its extensive plugin ecosystem and API make it easy to extend and enhance its functionality. Penpot, being open-source, offers even greater customizability, allowing users to modify and extend the platform to suit their specific needs. This makes Penpot a compelling choice for those who value flexibility and community-driven development. If you need **extensive customizability**, Penpot is the superior choice.
Pricing Comparison of Figma and Penpot
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Figma and Penpot. This comparison will highlight the best option for your design needs.
Figma Pricing Plans
- Create up to 3 collaborative design files for team projects.
- Unlimited personal drafts for individual work and experimentation.
- Basic file inspection to review and analyze design elements.
- Free access for students and educators to support learning.
- Team libraries for shared design resources and assets.
- Advanced prototyping features for interactive design testing.
- Unlimited version history to track design changes over time.
- Shared and private projects for organized team collaboration.
- Design system analytics to measure design system usage.
- Branching and merging for collaborative design workflows.
- Centralized file management for efficient resource handling.
- Single sign-on for secure and easy access management.
- Sync variables to code via REST API for seamless integration.
- Dedicated workspaces for teams to enhance collaboration.
- Guest access controls for secure external collaboration.
- Idle session timeout for enhanced security measures.
Penpot Pricing Plans
- Unlimited designers and developers for collaborative projects.
- Hosted on penpot.app or self-host for flexibility.
- Community supported for shared knowledge and assistance.
- No hidden fees ensuring transparent usage.
- One subscription covers entire team regardless of size.
- Yearly pricing option available for cost savings.
- Hosted on penpot.app for easy access and management.
- Unlimited design power for medium-sized teams.
- Single sign-on and two-factor authentication for secure access.
- Team access controls for managing user permissions.
- Activity logs and analytics for performance tracking.
- Certified builds and enterprise plugins for custom needs.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly test each design tool, evaluating key features like ease of use, functionality, and scalability. We also analyze user reviews to ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each of the seven evaluation factors is weighted by importance to provide an accurate final rating, helping you avoid poor-quality tools and make informed decisions.
Figma or Penpot: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Figma If You Need ...
- Seamless real-time collaboration
If you need a **seamless real-time collaboration** tool for your design team, Figma is the better choice. Its intuitive interface and robust collaboration features make it easy to work together, regardless of location.
- Advanced prototyping tools
If you require **advanced prototyping tools** for your design projects, Figma is the superior choice. Its drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of components make it easy to bring your designs to life.
Choose Penpot If You Need ...
- Open-source flexibility
If you value **open-source flexibility** and community-driven development, Penpot is the better choice. Its highly customizable nature allows users to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
- Highly customizable
If you need a **highly customizable** design tool, Penpot is the superior choice. Its open-source nature allows for extensive customization, making it a compelling choice for those who value adaptability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool offers better real-time collaboration?
Is Penpot suitable for large teams?
Does Figma offer offline capabilities?
How does Penpot's open-source nature benefit users?
Which tool offers better prototyping tools?
Is Figma suitable for beginners?
Anastasia Belyh
Anastasia Belyh is a senior tech writer with over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales, and business software. Having worked in investment banking, management consulting, and founded multiple companies, her in-depth knowledge and hands-on expertise make her software reviews authoritative, trustworthy, and highly practical for business decision-makers.
