Penpot is the open-source alternative to Figma. Every feature is free forever, no paywalls.

Getting Started

Sign up at penpot.app (free cloud) or self-host. Create a team, then a project. Inside a project, create a file. The interface has the canvas in the center, layers panel on the left, design panel on the right, and toolbar at the top.

Drawing and Layout

Penpot uses open web standards natively — everything is SVG, CSS, and HTML under the hood. The layout tools are built around Flexbox and CSS Grid. Create auto-layout frames that reflow content when resized. Components (reusable design pieces) work with variants and overrides.

Prototyping

Switch to Prototype mode (tab at top). Connect frames with interaction lines. Set triggers (click, hover, delay) and actions (navigate, overlay, toggle). Preview in Presentation mode. Share a link for stakeholders to view and comment.

Collaboration

Invite team members. Real-time multiplayer — see others’ cursors and changes live. Comments on the canvas for design reviews. Library of shared components across projects.

Key Differences from Figma

  • Fully open-source — Self-host, no vendor lock-in
  • Web standards — Flexbox and Grid instead of proprietary layout
  • No limits — Unlimited files, pages, and viewers on the free plan