Comparison · UI design tools
Penpot vs ProtoPie: which is better in 2026?
Penpot ranks higher in our list of UI design tools (#2 against #5, score 88.0 against 81.0).
- 88.0Editorial score81.0
- 2Platforms2
- YesFree to useYes
- YesOpen sourceNo
Which should you choose?
Choose Penpot if you want
Open-source design you can self-host.
An open-source design platform that runs in the browser or on your own servers, under the MPL-2.0 license. Its feature set and community are smaller than Figma's.
Choose ProtoPie if you want
Interaction-heavy prototypes and developer handoff.
Interaction prototyping app for macOS and Windows with AI-generated interactions, specs for developer handoff and a free start. It goes deeper than Figma on interaction detail, but it is less general for interface design.
The main differences
- Only ProtoPie runs on Windows.
- Only ProtoPie runs on macOS.
- Only Penpot runs on Web.
- Penpot is open source; ProtoPie is not.
Side by side
| Score | 88.0 | 81.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in list | #2 of 10 | #5 of 10 |
| Price | Free and open sourceFree to sign up and self-host; open source under MPL-2.0 | Free plan, paid upgradesFree to start; paid plans on the pricing page |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Platforms | WebSelf-hostedWeb, Self-hosted | macOSWindowsmacOS, Windows |
| Made by | Not stated | Not stated |
| Best for | Open-source design you can self-host | Interaction-heavy prototypes and developer handoff |
| Strengths |
|
|
| Limits |
|
|
| Links | Visit site | Visit site |

