Head-to-head
Penpot vs Sketch: which one in 2026?
Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping tool from Kaleidos that runs in the browser or on your own server, and Sketch is a vector design app from Sketch B.V. with a native Mac editor and a web workspace. The core difference is open, self-hostable and free to start versus a polished Mac-first product with fixed per-editor prices.
Verdict
Penpot suits teams that value openness, cost control and a free start, particularly mixed-OS groups or those that must host design files themselves. Sketch suits Mac-based design teams that want a mature native editor, free viewers and developer handoff, and a published certification. Penpot's free plan caps teams at eight members, while Sketch has no permanent free tier, so check headcount first. Both expose an MCP server for agent-driven design, and neither page checked states a regional hosting default for Penpot.
Penpot and Sketch side by side
| Penpot | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $0 (Professional) | $12 per editor per month, billed yearly (Standard) |
| Licensing model | Open source, with a Digital Public Goods listing on its site. You can sign up for the cloud or install it yourself. | Proprietary product. Editing happens in a native macOS app or the web workspace, and a one-time Mac-only license also exists. |
| What you pay to start | The Professional plan is listed at $0 per user per month, described as fully featured with no limits on tools. | No free plan. A 30-day trial needs no credit card, then Standard costs $12 per Editor per month billed yearly. |
| Step up for teams | Unlimited is $7 per editor per month, capped at $175 monthly. Enterprise is $25 per member per month with governance controls. | Professional is $24 per Editor per month and adds SSO, permission groups and project archiving. Enterprise at $44 adds SCIM and BYOK. |
| Who can view for free | Unlimited viewers are listed on the free plan, which also caps the team at 8 members. | Viewers are free on every cloud plan, and developers can inspect files and export assets without paying for a seat. |
| Hosting control | Self-hosting is offered, and a Private Server plan at $50k per year covers dedicated infrastructure. Region choice is listed but not mapped to plans. | Cloud runs on AWS us-east-1. The Private Cloud plan, priced on request, offers isolated hosting with locations in the US and EU. |
| Operating system | Runs in a browser, so the same file opens on Windows, Linux and macOS without installing anything. | The native editor needs macOS Sequoia 15.0.0 or newer. Other systems use the web app, and iOS has a View and Mirror app. |
| Layout and prototyping | Wireframes, interactive prototypes, and CSS Grid and Flex layouts, with native design tokens and shared component libraries. | Stack layouts, component variants in beta, and Smart Animate prototyping that can be tested in any browser, iPhone or iPad. |
| AI and agent access | An open MCP server lets outside agents design inside Penpot. Training use of design data is not mentioned in its privacy policy. | A free MCP server connects Claude, Cursor or other clients for design-to-code. Background removal runs locally on your machine. |
| Security paperwork | ISO 27001, SOC 2 and encryption details were not stated on the pages checked, and no retention period is given for design data. | States ISO 27001 certification and encryption in transit and at rest. SOC 2 and document retention periods were not stated. |
Where each one wins
Penpot wins on
- Free plan is fully featured and open source, so an eight-person team can start without a card or a trial clock
- Self-hosting lets a team keep design files on infrastructure it chooses, in any country
- Runs in a browser on every operating system, so mixed Windows, Linux and Mac teams share one tool
Sketch wins on
- Native Mac editor works offline, and a one-time $120 license avoids subscription billing entirely
- Published security page states ISO 27001 certification and encryption of stored and transmitted data
- Developer handoff and viewer access are free, with SSO and SCIM available on higher tiers
Which to pick
Pick Penpot if
You want to start for free, need to self-host or avoid vendor lock-in, and your team uses more than just Macs.
Pick Sketch if
Your designers work on Macs, you want offline editing or a one-time license, and a stated ISO 27001 certificate matters to procurement.
Each tool in context: Penpot profile, Sketch profile, and the full Best AI Wireframing and Prototyping Tools in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Penpot really free compared with Sketch?
Penpot lists its Professional plan at $0 per user per month, with up to 8 team members and unlimited viewers, though the exact mapping of limits to plans was not confirmed on the page. Sketch offers a 30-day trial without a card, then Standard from $12 per Editor per month as of November 2026.
Can I self-host Penpot, and can I do the same with Sketch?
Penpot offers a self-host install next to its cloud sign-up, and a Private Server plan priced at $50k per year for dedicated infrastructure. Sketch does not advertise a self-install; its Private Cloud plan runs an isolated AWS environment, with hosting locations in the US and EU, priced on request.
Does Sketch work on Windows, and does Penpot work on a Mac?
Penpot runs in a browser, so Windows, Linux and macOS all work the same way. Sketch's native editor requires macOS Sequoia 15.0.0 or newer, and other systems use its web app. Check your designers' machines before committing, since the native offline editor is Mac only.
Which of Penpot and Sketch has an MCP server for AI agents?
Both do. Penpot describes an open MCP server where any agent can design in Penpot. Sketch includes a free MCP server in its Standard plan and the Mac-only license, connecting Claude, Cursor or another MCP client for design-to-code from a frame. Neither page checked gave usage limits.