app·Creative & Work

Penpot

Open-source design and prototyping tool—self-host or use Penpot cloud free tier.

FREEOPEN SOURCESELF-HOSTED

Setup guide · 60–90 min

Visit Penpot →

Quick facts

Price model: Open source
Starting price: Free (self-host or SaaS free tier)
Best for: UI/UX design · Prototyping · Design systems
Replaces: Figma professional seats, Sketch Cloud
Platforms: WebSelf-hosted
Last verified: 2026-06-22

Why it's listed

Open format design without per-editor monthly seat math.

Penpot covers UI design, prototyping, and design systems with SVG openness. Teams avoiding Figma seat expansions can self-host for infrastructure cost only.

The catch

Jump to setup guide ↓

Smaller plugin market than Figma; team change management required.

How to set up Penpot

Self-hosted Figma alternative for UI and marketing design—your team owns the server and files.

Time: 60–90 min
Difficulty: Technical
Verified: 2026-06-22

Before you start

Docker Compose on a server with 4GB+ RAM
Domain or LAN-only access plan
SMTP optional for invite emails

Deploy Penpot
Use official docker-compose from help.penpot.app → Technical Guide → Docker. Configure .env secrets and volumes. docker compose up -d.
Create admin and team
Open http://server:9001 (or your proxy URL). Register first user → create team workspace.
Invite collaborators
Team settings → invite by email (needs SMTP) or share LAN URL for household use.
Import or start a file
New design file → set board size. Import SVG/PNG assets. Penpot uses open formats—export SVG/PDF when done.
Optional — reverse proxy + HTTPS
Put Caddy or nginx in front for https://penpot.yourdomain. Required if designers work remotely.

Troubleshooting

Emails not sending: Configure SMTP in compose env or skip email invites on LAN-only setups.
Slow canvas: Allocate more RAM; close huge background images.
Need offline solo design: Penpot is server-based—Affinity or Penpot cloud trial for travel; self-host for home team.