Figma→Penpot−$15/mo · −$180/yr
Design files that belong to the team, in an open format.
Medium2 hoursdocker compose ready
Why switch
- ▸Figma Professional is $15/editor/month and the files live in their cloud in a closed format.
- ▸Penpot is built on open web standards (SVG/CSS) — files are portable by design.
- ▸Unlimited editors, unlimited files, self-hosted or hosted free.
The migration
- 01
Deploy or sign up
Self-host Penpot with the AltStack compose, or use Penpot's hosted plan free. Self-hosting keeps design assets behind your VPN.
- 02
Export from Figma
Figma frames export as SVG/PNG. For structure, use the Penpot Figma import plugin or export frames per-page — component structure won't survive 1:1, so export the rendered truth.
- 03
Rebuild the design system first
Recreate colors, typography and core components as Penpot design tokens/components before touching product files. Everything downstream then inherits.
- 04
Hand off with real CSS
Penpot inspect output is production CSS/SVG because the tool speaks web natively — developers stop translating Figma-speak.
Gotchas — read before you cancel
- ⚠Auto-layout ≈ flexbox but not identical — complex responsive frames need a re-layout pass.
- ⚠Figma plugins (Stark, Tokens Studio) have Penpot equivalents but not all — audit your plugin list first.
- ⚠Prototype interactions are simpler in Penpot; complex flows may need simplification.
Only cancel when this is true
- ✓A core component (button + input) renders pixel-close in both tools
- ✓Developers can inspect and copy real CSS from Penpot
- ✓Two designers edit the same file simultaneously without conflicts
Replacing more than one tool?
The Stack Composer bundles Penpot with the rest of your open-source stack into one docker-compose file.
Open in Stack Composer →