Penpot vs Sketch — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Penpot starts at $7/mo. Sketch starts at $14/mo. Penpot is $7/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Sketch.
Open-source design tool positioned as the alternative to Figma for teams that want self-hosting, on-premise deployment, or vendor-lock-in escape. Distinctive for using open web standards (SVG-native, not proprietary format) so files are portable across tools. Fully free when self-hosted; cloud tier launching. Backed by Kaleidos (Spanish OSS studio). Popular with government agencies, enterprises with data residency needs, and open-source purists.
The design tool that dominated pro workflows in 2015-2019 before Figma killed it through real-time collaboration. Positioned as the alternative to Figma for designers who prefer Mac-native performance and offline capability. Distinctive for one-time purchase option ($120) plus subscription ($12/user/mo) — Figma is subscription-only. Bootstrapped Dutch company, still profitable serving pro Mac users who never made the Figma switch.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Penpot monthly | Penpot annual | Sketch monthly | Sketch annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free (Professional) / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Unlimited / Standard | $7 | $7 | $14 | $12 |
| Teams | — / Business | — | — | — | $20 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise / — | $950 | $950 | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Penpot is worth it if… open-source-oriented design teams that want Figma-alternative UI/UX design with SVG-native files and full self-host option — particularly if data sovereignty or budget matter. Free forever for hosted use; Enterprise for self-hosted deployments.
Sketch is worth it if… macOS designers who want one-time-purchase native UI/UX design tools — the OG Figma alternative for teams that don't need real-time browser collaboration. Standard subscription for latest updates; alternative one-time purchase for a version.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Penpot is freemium, Sketch is per seat.
Choose Penpot over Sketch if…
Choose Penpot if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (freemium, from $7/mo).
- You match the profile Penpot is built for: open-source-oriented design teams that want Figma-alternative UI/UX design with SVG-native files and full self-host option — particularly if data sovereignty or budget matter.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Sketch if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $14/mo).
- You match the profile Sketch is built for: macOS designers who want one-time-purchase native UI/UX design tools — the OG Figma alternative for teams that don't need real-time browser collaboration.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Penpot | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $7/mo | $14/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 19, 2026 | September 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 19, 2026. Tracked daily.