Penpot is a free, open-source design and prototyping tool positioned as a direct alternative to Figma, built on open web standards. It stands out for being fully free with no paid tiers, appealing to teams that want a Figma-style workflow without a per-seat subscription. Popular with teams that prioritize open-source tooling and design-developer handoff via standard SVG and CSS.

Penpot's Core Features

• Figma-style interface design and prototyping
• Completely free, open-source, no paid tiers
• Design-to-code handoff using open web standards
• Real-time collaborative editing
• Component libraries and design systems support
• Self-hostable for teams needing full data control

Penpot's Use Cases

1. Design teams can use Penpot as a Figma alternative without paying per-seat subscription costs.
2. Developers can use Penpot's open web standards to hand off SVG and CSS-based designs directly.
3. Open-source-focused teams can use Penpot's self-hosting option for full control over design data.
4. Startups can use Penpot's free plan to build a full design system without a software budget.
5. Agencies can use real-time collaboration to work on client prototypes together at no licensing cost.