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Penpot vs Inkscape Comparison

Last updated:

Penpot

4.4(310 reviews)

Starting at Free free

  • Small Business
  • Mid-Market

Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping tool built for cross-functional teams, offering a Figma-like experience with full self-hosting capability. It runs in the browser, supports real-time collaboration,…

Inkscape

4.5(364 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Inkscape is an invaluable, free design tool that can take you from concept to completion with ease. Whether you need a web or printed output, it offers powerful transformations like moving, scaling, rotating, or skewing…

Inkscape leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 364 reviews.

Penpot vs Inkscape — at a glance

FeaturePenpotInkscape
Rating4.4 / 54.5 / 5
Reviews310364
Starting priceFree freeContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forSmall Business, Mid-Market, EnterpriseLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryGraphic Design SoftwareGraphic Design Software
PlatformsCloud, On-Premise, LinuxSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable—
Support modesGitHub Issues, Community Forum, Help Center, Enterprise SupportOnline

Key differences between Penpot and Inkscape

  • Pricing: Penpot starts at Free free. Inkscape pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Penpot is built for Small Business and Mid-Market, while Inkscape targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Inkscape scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
  • Deployment: Penpot supports Cloud, On-Premise, Linux; Inkscape supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Penpot vs Inkscape — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Graphic Design Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Penpot logo
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Inkscape - New SaaS Software
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Penpot vs Inkscape: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Penpot

Best for

Small Business, Mid-Market, Enterprise

Inkscape

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Penpot typically suits Small Business and Mid-Market. Inkscape tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping tool built for cross-functional teams, offering a Figma-like experience with full self-hosting capability. It runs in the browser, ... Read More about Penpot

Inkscape is an invaluable, free design tool that can take you from concept to completion with ease. Whether you need a web or printed output, it offers powerful transformations like moving, ... Read More about Inkscape

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from Free
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.8/10

Not Available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.45

(364)
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Penpot

  • Full Design Tool at Zero Cost: Self-hosted Penpot provides a Figma-grade design and prototyping experience with no subscription, no seat limits, and no vendor lock-in.
  • Data Sovereignty for Design: Self-hosting keeps all design files, assets, and collaboration data on company infrastructure — meeting data residency requirements that SaaS tools cannot.
  • Developer-Friendly Output: SVG-based designs with CSS inspect eliminate the format conversion step between design and development — designers and developers work in the same open language.
Best fit

Best fit

Penpot

  • Government and public sector organizations that cannot use US SaaS tools due to data residency or sovereignty requirements
  • Open-source projects and nonprofits that need professional design tooling without SaaS subscription costs
  • European enterprises replacing Figma to maintain GDPR-compliant design data on EU-hosted self-managed infrastructure

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Penpot and Inkscape Compare on Features?

Total Features

6 Features

3 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Penpot and Inkscape on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • Free
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Free (Self-Hosted)

        Free

        • Full features

        • Unlimited users

        • Docker deployment

        Show more +

      • Free (Cloud)

        Free

        • Cloud hosting

        • Unlimited projects

        • Real-time collaboration

        Show more +

      • Enterprise

        Custom

        paid

        • On-premise SLA

        • Priority support

        • Custom integrations

        Show more +

      • Not Available

      Penpot vs Inkscape: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Individuals
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Individuals
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Penpot User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      4.4

      (based on 310 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      250

      130

      12

      4

      1

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 310 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Completely free with no per-seat pricing when self-hosted — a Figma-equivalent tool at zero software cost for unlimited team members.
      • Open-source (MPL 2.0) with full self-hosting means design data never leaves the company's infrastructure — critical for regulated industries.
      • SVG-based output using open web standards (CSS, HTML) produces design files that are directly readable by developers without proprietary format conversion.

      Common complaints

      • Feature set lags behind Figma — advanced auto-layout, variables, and component library features are available but less mature than Figma's implementations.
      • Self-hosting requires Docker and server administration skills — small teams without DevOps support may find the setup overhead a barrier to adoption.

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 397 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Free to use
      • Cross-platform compatibility
      • Design tools

      Common complaints

      • Steeper learning curve
      • Limited support resources
      • Occasional bugs

      Pros and Cons

      • Completely free with no per-seat pricing when self-hosted — a Figma-equivalent tool at zero software cost for unlimited team members.

      • Open-source (MPL 2.0) with full self-hosting means design data never leaves the company's infrastructure — critical for regulated industries.

      • SVG-based output using open web standards (CSS, HTML) produces design files that are directly readable by developers without proprietary format conversion.

      • Feature set lags behind Figma — advanced auto-layout, variables, and component library features are available but less mature than Figma's implementations.

      • Self-hosting requires Docker and server administration skills — small teams without DevOps support may find the setup overhead a barrier to adoption.

      • Offers a comprehensive suite of design tools for free.

      • Compatible with multiple operating systems for flexibility.

      • Strong community support and resources available.

      • May require time to learn advanced features.

      • Performance can lag on older hardware.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Penpot or Inkscape? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      No videos available.

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      Top Alternatives to Penpot and Inkscape in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Penpot or Inkscape?
      Inkscape edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Penpot and Inkscape offer a free trial?
      Neither Penpot nor Inkscape currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Penpot vs Inkscape?
      Penpot starts at Free free. Inkscape starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Penpot?
      Top alternatives to Penpot include Bannersnack, Placeit, Marvel, Inkscape, Wepik.
      What are the top alternatives to Inkscape?
      Top alternatives to Inkscape include Vecteezy Editor, Gravit Designer, Repper, Icons8 App, Autotracer.