Penpot
#9 in Graphic Design Software · Rated 4.0
Open-source, browser-based UI design and prototyping
Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping platform designed for teams that want control and openness. Browser-native and self-hosted deployments give teams a choice between cloud SaaS or on-premises collaboration, with SVG-native design tokens and component systems that align with modern design-system workflows. Penpot is actively developed by Kaleidos and has gained traction in open-source circles as a flexible, privacy-friendly alternative to proprietary tools for UI design and design-system work. The 2.0 release and ongoing community activity in 2025 reflect a growing ecosystem of plugins and integrations, including token-driven design and code-inspection workflows. Penpot serves teams that value transparency, self-hosting, and vendor independence.
Features
- SVG-native design
- Real-time collaboration
- Self-host deployment options
- Design tokens and components
- Code-inspection features
Pros
- Open source and free by default
- Self-hosting for data control
- Cross-platform browser access
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem vs big-name tools
- Some users experience a learning curve from traditional tools