Think about it, you’re a designer starting a new project. You need a tool that’s powerful, collaborative and fits your workflow. But you’re torn between two options: Penpot vs Figma.

Figma’s been around for a while. It’s cloud-based, lets teams work together easily, and has lots of plugins. On the other hand, there’s Penpot. It’s newer, open-source, and web-based. Penpot aims to bridge the gap between designers and developers, helping them create beautiful products. It’s built to make the design-to-code process smoother.

Both tools have their strengths, but which one’s right for you? Let’s compare their features to help you decide.

A Brief Overview of Penpot and Figma

Whether you’re looking for more control and customization or prefer a tool that’s ready to go out of the box, these two design platforms offer different experiences. Penpot is gaining traction for its flexibility, while Figma continues to dominate as the standard choice for professionals. Let’s explore both to see which one fits your workflow.

Penpot: Open-source Design Freedom

Penpot is an open-source design tool that allows for team collaboration, without being tied to any specific operating system. Its open nature appeals to developers and designers who appreciate customization and freedom.

Key Highlights of Penpot

• Open-source and free to use
  Unlike other design tools, Penpot is free and open to modifications by its user community.
• Cross-platform compatibility
  It works on any browser, making it accessible on different operating systems like Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Developer-friendly with SVG as the native format
  Penpot uses SVG as its native file format, making it ideal for developers who work with scalable vector graphics.
• Collaboration tools
  It includes features for real-time collaboration, so multiple team members can work on the same project seamlessly.
• Customization options
  Since it’s open-source, you can modify and add features as needed, giving you control over the design environment.

Keep Reading: Common Pitfalls to Avoid for a Smooth Figma to WordPress Conversion

Figma: The Industry Standard

Figma is a cloud-based design tool known for its ease of use and wide adoption. It has become the go-to platform for professional designers who value speed, collaboration, and integration with other tools.

Key Highlights of Figma

• Cloud-based design
  With Figma, you can work from anywhere and on any device, as long as you have internet access.
• Real-time collaboration
  Figma allows multiple users to work on a design at the same time, making it ideal for teams.
• Built-in prototyping
  Figma comes with prototyping features, allowing you to create interactive designs without switching tools.
• Large library of plugins and integrations
  Figma has an extensive library of plugins that can extend its functionality, from automation to design assets.
• Frequent updates and support
  Figma is well-maintained and frequently updated, keeping it ahead of trends and tech changes.

Also Check: Figma to Gutenburg Using Spectra Block Editor 

Key Features of Penfort vs Figma: Find Out Which One You Require

Prototyping and Animations: Figma’s Advanced Features vs. Penpot’s Simplicity

Figma excels in prototyping and animations, offering advanced features like interactive animations, smooth transitions, and micro-interactions. Designers can create sophisticated prototypes that mimic real-world app interactions, making Figma a top choice for those who need a high level of interactivity. The platform also supports smart animate, allowing elements to transition naturally between different states.

Penpot, while offering prototyping capabilities, focuses on more straightforward interactions. Its animation features are much simpler, suitable for basic prototypes where complex animations are unnecessary. Penpot’s strength lies in its ease of use for rapid design iterations rather than advanced motion design.

Component Library: Figma’s Complexity vs. Penpot’s Simplicity

Both Figma and Penpot provide component libraries, but they serve different needs.

• Figma offers a sophisticated component system where designers can create reusable components, complete with variants, states, and responsive behaviors.
• Users can build a shared design system for the entire team, ensuring consistency across projects.
• Components in Figma can automatically resize, making them adaptable to various screen sizes.
• Penpot also allows for reusable elements, but it keeps things simple, ideal for teams that don’t require advanced features like variants and complex states.

Observation Mode: Figma’s Collaboration Advantage

Figma shines with its real-time collaboration features, especially in Observation Mode. This feature allows multiple stakeholders to follow the presenter’s view, making it ideal for design reviews or team brainstorming sessions.

Penpot also supports real-time collaboration, but its observation mode is less dynamic. It does enable multiple users to work on the same file, but Figma’s tools for presentation and feedback are more refined.

CSS Styles and Export: Comprehensive in Figma, Simplified in Penpot

When we compare Penpot vs Figma, we discover a few basic things that set apart the two tools:

• Figma: Designers can easily inspect and export CSS styles directly from the design interface. It supports a wide range of CSS properties, making handoff to developers seamless.
• CSS codes in Figma include precise measurements, colors, and typography styles.
• Developers can extract styles without altering the design file.
• Penpot: Offers CSS export features, but they’re not as comprehensive as Figma’s. It’s more suitable for simpler projects where CSS requirements aren’t as demanding.

Keep Reading: Figma vs Framer: Which Tool Will Elevate Your Design Game?

Brainstorming Tools: Limited in Penpot, Integrated in Figma

Figma has built-in brainstorming tools like FigJam, a separate tool designed for team collaboration on brainstorming sessions, wireframing, and diagramming. It allows teams to switch easily between design work and idea generation within the same ecosystem.

Penpot, on the other hand, doesn’t offer an integrated brainstorming tool. While teams can collaborate on designs, they might need third-party tools for more structured brainstorming sessions.

Export of CSS Code: Easy in Figma, Basic in Penpot

Both platforms offer CSS code export for handoff to developers, but the level of detail differs.

• Figma: Provides detailed CSS code export, allowing developers to inspect layer properties, colors, typography, and more, directly from the design file.
• Figma allows direct integration with developer tools for seamless handoff.
• CSS is generated accurately with all necessary properties, including responsive settings.
• Penpot: Offers basic CSS code export. While it’s functional, it doesn’t provide the same level of granular detail as Figma, which might be limiting for developers working on more complex designs.

Also Read: How to Convert Figma to WordPress with Custom Animations & Microinteractions?

Plug-ins & Widgets: Figma Leads with Versatility

Figma’s extensive library of plug-ins and widgets allows users to extend functionality across a range of use cases, from accessibility tools to advanced design utilities. This flexibility enables teams to customize their workflows and integrate third-party tools directly within Figma’s interface.

• Figma offers over 1,000 plug-ins for everything from accessibility checks to advanced animation tools.
• Plug-ins like Stark help with accessibility, while others like Autoflow help visualize design flows.
• Users can create custom plug-ins to fit their team’s specific needs.
• Penpot, while still developing, doesn’t yet have a plug-in ecosystem that matches Figma’s, limiting customization and flexibility.

Explore More: Figma vs Affinity Designer: Which Tool to Choose?

Collaboration: Real-Time Design Across Both Platforms, But Figma Excels

Both Figma and Penpot support real-time collaboration with multiple stakeholders working simultaneously on a design.

• Figma: Seamless collaboration with built-in feedback, commenting tools, and live observation modes.
• Stakeholders can leave comments directly on the design, reducing the need for lengthy feedback loops.
• Teams can view updates in real-time without needing to refresh.
• Penpot: Also allows real-time collaboration but lacks the deeper integration of comments, observation, and presentation modes that make Figma more fluid for team collaboration.

Tool Compatibility: Figma’s Extensive Integrations vs. Penpot’s Focus

Figma integrates with a wide array of tools such as Slack, Trello, and Photoshop, which allows for smoother project management and cross-team workflows. Its integration with FigJam further enhances its role in both design and brainstorming processes.

Penpot is more limited in terms of third-party tool compatibility. While it integrates with some key tools, it doesn’t yet support a wide variety of platforms like Figma. Penpot’s strength lies more in its focus on open-source design systems.

Keep Reading: How to Convert Figma to WebFlow: A Step-by-Step Guide

Performance and Speed: Penpot’s Faster Load Times vs. Figma’s Heavy Feature Set

Penpot is known for its faster load times, especially when dealing with large files, thanks to its WebGL 2D rendering engine. Designers often experience smoother performance, particularly when working with resource-intensive projects.

Figma, while offering powerful performance, tends to load a bit slower when handling large or complex designs. However, the slower load speed is a trade-off for its extensive feature set and more advanced functionalities, especially for those who need high levels of interactivity and collaboration.

Security & Management: Cross-Platform Availability and Auto-Backups

Figma is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, Figma’s cross-platform support is extensive, ensuring teams can access their designs anywhere. Plus, there is also –

• Automatic backups and real-time updates ensure design progress is never lost.
• Version history is maintained with the ability to revert changes easily.
• Penpot is available on Web, Windows, macOS, and Linux, Penpot covers a wide range of platforms but lacks mobile support. Its backup system and real-time updates are comparable to Figma but may feel less intuitive.

Also Check: How to Export Figma to PDF: Simple Methods and Best Practices

Resources & Learning: Strong Communities for Both, But Figma’s is Larger

Figma has a large, active community that contributes to tutorials, plug-ins, and templates. Its comprehensive documentation and learning materials, including Figma University, make it easier for designers of all skill levels to get up to speed.

• Figma University offers structured lessons for beginners and advanced users.
• The community contributes to forums, webinars, and meetups.
• Figma also provides a vast template library for new projects.
• Penpot also has a growing community and offers helpful documentation, but it’s not as vast or developed as Figma’s. However, Penpot is known for being particularly friendly for open-source advocates.

Find Out More: Best Figma to WordPress Conversion Tools [Top Picks]

Verdict: Figma for the Win!

Figma emerges as the top choice for modern designers due to its comprehensive ecosystem and forward-thinking features. Its cloud-based nature allows for seamless collaboration across devices, making it ideal for remote teams and flexible workflows. The extensive plugin library and integrations with popular tools create a versatile design environment that can adapt to any project’s needs. Figma’s advanced prototyping capabilities, including interactive animations and micro-interactions, enable designers to create highly realistic product simulations. 

The robust component system supports scalable design systems, crucial for maintaining consistency across large projects. With its strong focus on developer handoff, including detailed CSS exports, Figma bridges the gap between design and development more effectively. The platform’s continuous updates and large, active community ensure that designers always have access to cutting-edge features and support, keeping them at the forefront of design trends.