InVision
Prototyping and design collaboration for product teams.
Alternatives · 2026
Alternatives to Penpot
Open-source design and prototyping platform for teams.
5 hand-curated alternatives from MintedSaaS's directory. See the Penpot listing →
Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping platform built for collaborative team work on digital products. It runs entirely in the browser, with design files stored as open standards, and the codebase available on GitHub. Teams use it to create wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and design systems without locking files into proprietary formats. Penpot attracts organizations that prioritize data ownership, cost control, and the ability to self-host or contribute code changes.
The typical Penpot user is a designer, product manager, or small agency that either can't justify design-tool subscriptions at Figma or Adobe's prices, wants to avoid vendor lock-in, or needs to run the platform on their own servers. It's commonly deployed in companies with existing DevOps infrastructure, open-source practices, or compliance requirements that rule out SaaS-only tools. Workflows typically involve real-time co-editing on shared canvases, exporting to web standards, and integration with Git-based design-to-development handoffs.
What we offer that competes
What to look for
- Whether the platform stores design files in an open standard or proprietary closed format
- Whether you can deploy the tool on your own servers or if it's cloud-only with no self-hosting option
- Whether the free tier includes real-time multi-user collaboration or limits it to single-user and view-only sharing
- Whether the tool offers a public API for automation and third-party integrations or only manual workflows
- Whether pricing is per-seat subscription or one-time purchase, and what the annual cost is for a five-person team
- Whether the platform requires a specific operating system or runs identically across Windows, Mac, and Linux
FAQ
What's the best alternative to Penpot for design teams?
Figma offers the strongest feature parity with Penpot if you want cloud-only collaboration and don't need self-hosting; Sketch is better for macOS-first workflows; Framer suits teams building interactive prototypes and web design simultaneously.
Are there free alternatives to Penpot?
Penpot's community edition is free and self-hostable; Figma and Framer both have free tiers but cap collaboration and file count; Sketch requires a paid license but includes one-time purchase options rather than subscriptions.
How do I choose a design tool for a remote team?
Prioritize real-time co-editing, whether the tool enforces a single operating system, and how many files you can share without hitting a paywall. Figma and Framer excel at browser-based collaboration; Sketch locks you to macOS unless paired with third-party viewers.
Which design platforms support self-hosting?
Only Penpot offers self-hosted deployment as a core feature; InVision, Figma, Framer, Adobe XD, and Sketch are cloud-only or desktop-only respectively.
What are the cheapest design tools for startups?
Penpot and Figma both have free tiers; Sketch starts at $99 per year per seat; Adobe XD and InVision require monthly subscriptions starting around $10–20 per user.
Can I export my design files in an open format?
Penpot exports to SVG and stores files in an open standard; Figma exports to SVG but keeps the native file format proprietary; Sketch, Adobe XD, and Framer all use closed file formats.
Do design tools offer API access for automation?
Figma provides a public REST API for reading designs and triggering workflows; Penpot's API is under development; InVision, Framer, Adobe XD, and Sketch have limited or no documented APIs for external integrations.
Which design platform has the steepest learning curve?
Figma and Framer are quickest to learn for new designers; Sketch and Adobe XD require more feature discovery; Penpot's interface is similar to Figma so it's easy if you're migrating from that tool.