Figma is built for designers and design teams, with a focus on vector-editing 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 $15/mo for Figma. That $7/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.

Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.

Figma edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.3). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.

Feature-wise, Penpot offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Figma takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.

Both tools are a solid fit for developers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.

Bottom line: Figma has a slight overall edge — but if open-source and self-hostable for free matters most to you, Penpot may still be the right call.