Penpot vs Synthesia — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Penpot starts at $7/mo. Synthesia starts at $18/mo. Penpot is $11/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Synthesia.
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.
AI avatar video platform — generate presenter-style videos from a script and a chosen AI avatar. Pricing: Starter $18/mo (10 mins video), Creator $64/mo (30 mins), Enterprise custom. Popular with corporate learning, internal comms, and marketing teams producing multilingual video content at scale.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Penpot monthly | Penpot annual | Synthesia monthly | Synthesia annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free (Professional) / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Unlimited / Starter | $7 | $7 | $18 | $18 |
| Pro / power | — / Creator | — | — | $64 | $55 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | $25 | $25 | Custom | Custom |
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.
Synthesia is worth it if… enterprises producing multilingual video content — employee training, product tutorials, internal comms — without hiring on-camera talent for every language. Starter ($18/mo) is limited but usable; Creator ($64/mo) suits regular business use; Enterprise adds custom avatars + SSO.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Penpot is freemium, Synthesia is tiered.
Choose Penpot over Synthesia 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 Synthesia if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (tiered, from $18/mo).
- You match the profile Synthesia is built for: enterprises producing multilingual video content — employee training, product tutorials, internal comms — without hiring on-camera talent for every language.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Penpot | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $7/mo | $18/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Tiered |
| Verification | Checked September 28, 2026 | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 1, 2026. Verification cadence varies by tool; check each tool page.