Is Penpot better than Sketch?

Penpot ranks higher in our list of UI design tools (#2 against #3, score 88.0 against 86.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Penpot is best for: open-source design you can self-host. Sketch is best for: native Mac interface design.

Which is cheaper, Penpot or Sketch?

Penpot: Free to sign up and self-host; open source under MPL-2.0. Sketch: Subscription plans for individuals and teams; Mac-only license option.

Do Penpot and Sketch run on the same platforms?

Penpot supports Web, Self-hosted. Sketch supports macOS, Web, iPadOS, iOS.

Comparison · UI design tools

Penpot vs Sketch: which is better in 2026?

Penpot88.0#2 in best UI design tools

Sketch86.0#3 in best UI design tools

Penpot ranks higher in our list of UI design tools (#2 against #3, score 88.0 against 86.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.

How we rank Share

88.0
Editorial score
86.0
2
Platforms
4
Yes
Free to use
No
Yes
Open source
No

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 Sketch if you want

Native Mac interface design.

A native Mac app for interface design, with a web app and iPhone and iPad apps. It is subscription-based and has no native Windows app, though its web app runs in any browser.

The main differences

Only Sketch runs on macOS.
Only Sketch runs on iOS.
Penpot is open source; Sketch is not.
Penpot can be used for free; Sketch requires payment.

Side by side

	Penpot	Sketch
Score	88.0	86.0
Rank in list	#2 of 10	#3 of 10
Price	Free and open sourceFree to sign up and self-host; open source under MPL-2.0	SubscriptionSubscription plans for individuals and teams; Mac-only license option
Free to use	Yes	No
Open source	Yes	No
Platforms	WebSelf-hostedWeb, Self-hosted	macOSWebiPadOS, iOSmacOS, Web, iPadOS, iOS
Made by	Not stated	Sketch B.V.
Best for	Open-source design you can self-host	Native Mac interface design
Strengths	Open source under MPL-2.0 Can be self-hosted on your own servers	Native Mac app with a web app Discounts for education and non-profits
Limits	Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma	No native Windows app Subscription pricing by plan
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Penpot vs Sketch

Is Penpot better than Sketch?: Penpot ranks higher in our list of UI design tools (#2 against #3, score 88.0 against 86.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Penpot is best for: open-source design you can self-host. Sketch is best for: native Mac interface design.
Which is cheaper, Penpot or Sketch?: Penpot: Free to sign up and self-host; open source under MPL-2.0. Sketch: Subscription plans for individuals and teams; Mac-only license option.
Do Penpot and Sketch run on the same platforms?: Penpot supports Web, Self-hosted. Sketch supports macOS, Web, iPadOS, iOS.