Penpot
#10 in UI/UX Design & Prototyping · Rated 4.0
Open-source, web-based UI/UX design and prototyping
Penpot is an open-source, web-based design and prototyping platform designed for teams that want open standards, SVG-based design, and real-time collaboration. It can be self-hosted for free, offering unlimited projects and users, or used as a managed SaaS service with paid tiers. Founded by Kaleidos in 2011–2014 and publicly released in 2021, Penpot has grown as a community-driven alternative to proprietary tools. Its headquarters are in Madrid, Spain, and it has attracted attention for open standards, SVG-first workflows, and a strong emphasis on collaboration between designers and developers. Penpot appeals to teams prioritizing transparency, security, and the ability to host their design data themselves.
Features
- Open-source, SVG-based design and prototyping
- Real-time collaboration
- Design as code concepts and components
- Self-hosted option with community support
- Multi-language and accessibility-friendly interface
Pros
- Open-source, transparent roadmap
- Self-hosted option offers full data control
- Strong multi-user collaboration
Cons
- SaaS pricing rollout is incremental (waitlist in 2025)
- Smaller ecosystem vs market-leading tools