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It's a split decision.
Choose Penpot if open standards, CSS-based layouts, and lower team costs matter most: its core plan is free, and Unlimited is $7 per editor monthly, capped at $175. Choose Figma for its range of seat types, AI credits, and Dev Mode inspection with MCP Server. Figma’s lowest listed paid seat is $3 monthly for a Collab seat, with the pricing toggle’s billing period unclear. Both offer free plans; compare seat needs before moving a team.
01Side by side
| Penpot | Figma | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid starting price | $7/editor/month for Unlimited | $3/collab seat/month; billing toggle unclear |
| Free plan | Free Professional plan; no file limits within storage | Free Starter plan; unlimited drafts |
| Best for | Teams prioritizing open standards and lower costs | Teams needing varied seats and AI credits |
| Core strength | CSS layouts, design tokens, and open file formats | Shared workspace, AI tools, and production handoff |
| Learning curve | Review ease-of-use score: 6/10 | Review ease-of-use score: 7/10 |
| Integrations and data | CSS, HTML, SVG, JSON, and open file format | Dev Mode inspection and MCP Server |
| Team and seat costs | $7/editor; Unlimited capped at $175/month | $3–$90/seat/month listed; Organization and Enterprise billed annually |
| Support | Review support score: 5/10; terms not published | Review support score: 5/10; terms not published |
Penpot Choose Penpot if
- Choose Penpot if open formats and CSS-oriented workflows matter.
- Choose Penpot if you want a free plan without file limits within storage.
- Choose Penpot if you want a capped $175 monthly Unlimited bill.
Figma Choose Figma if
- Choose Figma if your team needs multiple seat types.
- Choose Figma if AI credits are part of your design workflow.
- Choose Figma if Dev Mode inspection and MCP Server matter.
02Pricing compared
Both products have free plans, but their paid pricing works differently. Penpot’s Professional plan is free and includes its full feature set, with no file limits within storage capacity. Unlimited is $7 per editor per month, capped at $175 monthly; Enterprise is $25 per member per month. Private Server is listed at $50,000 per year. Figma Starter is free. Its lowest listed paid seat is Collab at $3 per seat per month, followed by Dev at $12 and Full at $16 on Professional. The pricing page shows a Monthly/Annual toggle but does not say which setting those Professional prices reflect, so confirm before budgeting. Organization and Enterprise prices are listed as annual: $5–$55 and $5–$90 per seat per month, respectively, depending on seat type. Compare the seats your team needs, not just the entry price.
03Features and depth
Penpot’s case is strongest when CSS-based work and open formats matter. It supports responsive, rules-based interfaces, interactive prototypes, CSS Grid and Flex layouts, design systems with native tokens and shared libraries, and code inspection. Its open-standards list includes CSS, HTML, SVG, JSON, and Penpot’s own file format. Penpot also describes AI workflows that connect agents, LLMs, and other AI tooling across design and code; the published details do not specify included AI credits or a bundled agent. Figma centers on a shared creative workspace for product design, with an AI collaborator that can add motion, document design systems, and implement feedback. Its paid plans list AI credits, while Dev Mode inspection and MCP Server are included on Professional seats. Figma also lists shared libraries and, on higher plans, centralized administration or design-system APIs. Pick based on the workflow you need: Penpot emphasizes open web standards and CSS layouts; Figma lists more seat-specific handoff and administration options.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published feature lists do not establish which product is easier to learn, and both cover more than basic screen design. Penpot combines responsive layouts, tokens, prototypes, and code inspection; Figma combines shared design work, Dev Mode, and AI features. That breadth can mean more concepts to learn, depending on your team’s workflow. Our review scores put ease of use at 6/10 for Penpot and 7/10 for Figma, a small difference rather than a verdict for every team. Before switching, map the files, libraries, developer handoff, and seat types you rely on. Penpot’s review also advises testing large files before moving.
Questions people ask
Is Penpot cheaper than Figma?
Penpot’s core Professional plan is free, and Unlimited is $7 per editor monthly with a $175 monthly cap. Figma also has a free Starter plan and a $3 Collab seat, but Professional’s pricing toggle is unclear. Compare the seats and features your team actually needs.
Does Penpot have AI features?
Penpot describes workflows that connect agents, LLMs, and AI tools across design and code. The published pricing and feature details do not list a bundled Penpot AI credit allowance. Figma lists an AI collaborator and monthly credits on its plans, with additional credits available at unpublished prices.
Which is better for developers, Penpot or Figma?
Penpot offers CSS Grid and Flex layouts, code inspection, and work with CSS, HTML, SVG, and JSON. Figma lists Advanced Dev Mode inspection and MCP Server on Professional seats. The better fit depends on whether your team prioritizes open web standards or Figma’s listed handoff tools.
Can a team use Figma for free?
Yes. Figma Starter is listed at no charge and includes unlimited drafts, UI kits and templates, and AI credits subject to daily and monthly limits. The published plan details do not describe every free-plan restriction, so check Figma’s current pricing page against your team’s needs.