Adobe XD vs Penpot
A detailed comparison of Adobe XD and Penpot to help you choose the best tool for your needs in 2026. Penpot is a free and open-source UI/UX design tool. It has a Figma-like interface. It runs in the browser (cross-platfor...
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is Adobe's UI/UX design and prototyping tool. It's known for fast prototyping and voice prototyping. The单独订阅 is $9.99/month (or $54.99/month for All Apps). Users who want a free alternative with real-time collaboration look for options.
PRICING
Single app $9.99/month; All Apps $54.99/month
Penpot
Penpot is a free and open-source UI/UX design tool. It has a Figma-like interface. It runs in the browser (cross-platform). Completely free — no premium tier. You can self-host it for 100% privacy.
RATING
4.7Live Data
Adobe XD
Penpot
💡 Data sourced from FMHY (Free Media Heck Yeah) and updated regularly. GitHub stars reflect real-time community adoption.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Detailed breakdown of features, pricing, and capabilities
| Feature | Adobe XD | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid Single app $9.99/month | Free |
| Open Source | ||
| Self-Hosted | ||
| User Rating | — | 4.7 |
| Migration Difficulty | N/A | Easy |
| Best For | General use | Designers who want a free, open-source, Figma-like alternative to Adobe XD |
Why Choose Penpot Over Adobe XD?
100% free and open-source, cross-platform, Figma-like interface
KEY FEATURES
Best For
Designers who want a free, open-source, Figma-like alternative to Adobe XD
Pros & Cons
Adobe XD
KNOWN FOR
Adobe XD is Adobe's UI/UX design and prototyping tool. It's known for fast prototyping and voice prototyping. The单独订阅 is $9.99/month (or $54.99/month ...
PAIN POINTS
- Expensive ($9.99/month for single app)
- No free tier — must pay to use
- Less community plugins than Figma
Penpot
PROS
- Completely free — no paywall
- Open-source (AGPL license)
- Cross-platform
- Self-hostable
- Figma-like interface (easy migration)
CONS
- UI is less polished than Figma
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma
- No offline desktop app
Why Consider Switching from Adobe XD?
Get UI/UX design and prototyping for free
Pay $0/year instead of $120/year
Get real-time collaboration (like Figma)
Use open-source tools with no subscription
Get more plugins and community support
Common Adobe XD Pain Points
Expensive ($9.99/month for single app)
Impact: Users pay $120/year for one design tool
No free tier — must pay to use
Impact: Students and casual users can't try
Less community plugins than Figma
Impact: Users miss specialized plugins
No real-time collaboration (unlike Figma)
Impact: Teams struggle to collaborate in real-time
Adobe ecosystem lock-in
Impact: Users who don't use other Adobe apps overpay
How to Migrate from Adobe XD to Penpot
- 1
Export your Adobe XD files as SVG or PDF
- 2
Import into Figma (drag and drop)
- 3
Rebuild prototypes in Figma or Penpot
- 4
Install Figma plugins (1,000+ to choose from)
- 5
Cancel Adobe XD subscription after confirming the alternative meets your needs
Pro Tips
- Figma is the best free alternative for most users
- Penpot is best if you want 100% open-source and self-hostable
- Both have Figma-like interfaces — migration is easy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a completely free alternative to Adobe XD?
Yes. Figma has a generous free tier. Penpot is 100% free and open-source. Both are viable free alternatives to Adobe XD.
Which Adobe XD alternative has the best free tier?
Figma has the most generous free tier (3 projects, unlimited collaborators). Penpot is 100% free with no limits.
Can I migrate my Adobe XD files to Figma?
Yes. Export your Adobe XD files as SVG or PDF, then import into Figma (drag and drop). You'll need to rebuild prototypes, but the design assets transfer easily.