# Penpot

> Penpot is the most established open-source Figma alternative (v2.18.3, 6 Oct 2026). It runs in the browser, either on Penpot's SaaS or self-hosted with Docker or Kubernetes, and covers UI design with components, variants, flex and grid layout, native design tokens, prototyping, real-time collaboration and an inspect tab with SVG, CSS and HTML. MPL-2.0. A paid Enterprise plan adds SSO and admin controls. There is no desktop app and no FigJam-style whiteboard.

- Repository: https://github.com/penpot/penpot
- Official docs: https://help.penpot.app/
- Checked: 2026-10-15

## What it replaces
- Figma: UI and product design with components and auto layout, Clickable prototypes and user flows, Developer handoff (inspect (partial). Closest open-source match to Figma Design; no whiteboard or slides product.
- Sketch: Interface design, Developer handoff, Live collaboration (partial). Interface layouts, components, inspectable web output and collaborative editing cover design teamwork; Sketch file compatibility, plugins and prototype parity are not assumed.

## Facts, with sources

| Question | Status | Answer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on my machine? | Confirmed | Self-hosted (Docker, Kubernetes) or Penpot SaaS; browser client | https://help.penpot.app/technical-guide/getting-started/docker/ | 2026-10-15 |
| Code licence | Partial | MPL-2.0 (file-level copyleft) | https://github.com/penpot/penpot/blob/develop/LICENSE | 2026-10-15 |
| Model weights licence | Confirmed | No separate model weights | https://github.com/penpot/penpot#readme | 2026-10-15 |
| Commercial use | Partial | Yes, under MPL-2.0 (modified Penpot source files must stay MPL); your designs are unrestricted | https://github.com/penpot/penpot/blob/develop/LICENSE | 2026-10-15 |
| Paid services needed? | Partial | None required; optional paid Enterprise plan for SSO and admin | https://github.com/penpot/penpot#penpot-enterprise | 2026-10-15 |
| Hardware | Confirmed | Server with 4 CPUs and 16 GB RAM serves thousands of users; 50-100 GB database to start; powerful client machines and Chrome recommended | https://help.penpot.app/technical-guide/getting-started/recommended-settings/ | 2026-10-15 |
| Operating systems | Partial | Server via Docker or Kubernetes; clients use a web browser (latest Chrome recommended) | https://github.com/penpot/penpot#getting-started | 2026-10-15 |
| Setup effort | Confirmed | Medium; Docker Compose file from the repo (Docker, DNS and proxy knowledge needed) | https://help.penpot.app/technical-guide/getting-started/docker/ | 2026-10-15 |

GitHub: 61194 stars, 4233 forks, last push 2026-10-16, archived: no.
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Source: RepoQuarry (https://repoquarry.dev/projects/penpot). Data licence: CC BY 4.0. Quotes are from project documentation and belong to their authors.