Adobe XD
Penpot
| Feature | Adobe XD | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $54.99/mo | Free / from $8/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | adobe-users, ui-designers, teams-already-in-creative-cloud, rapid-prototyping | open-source-teams, privacy-focused-designers, developers, educational-institutions |
| Founded | 2016 | 2015 |
| Vector Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Prototyping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Animate | ✓ | ✗ |
| Repeat Grid | ✓ | ✗ |
| Components | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design Specs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Voice Prototyping | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design Tokens | ✗ | ✓ |
| Real Time Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Css Output | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hostable | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Adobe XD Pros
- Tight integration with Adobe Creative Cloud suite
- Smooth prototyping with auto-animate transitions
- Repeat grid for efficient design patterns
- Included in Creative Cloud subscription
✗ Adobe XD Cons
- In maintenance mode (Adobe investing in Figma instead)
- No longer receiving major feature updates
- Community and plugin ecosystem declining
✓ Penpot Pros
- Open-source and self-hostable for free
- CSS-based design outputs production-ready code
- Real-time collaboration (Figma-like experience)
- SVG-native (no proprietary formats)
✗ Penpot Cons
- Performance slower than Figma on complex files
- Smaller plugin and community ecosystem
- Missing some advanced design features
The Verdict
Adobe XD is built for adobe users and ui designers, with a focus on vector-design and prototyping. Penpot targets open source teams and privacy focused designers and leads with vector-editing and prototyping.
On pricing, Penpot is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $8/mo compared to $54.99/mo for Adobe XD. That $46.99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Penpot has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Adobe XD requires a paid subscription from day one.
Bottom line: Penpot has a slight overall edge — but if tight integration with adobe creative cloud suite matters most to you, Adobe XD may still be the right call.