Top 10 Free Alternatives to Zeplin in 2025

Design handoff and effective design-developer collaboration are crucial in today’s rapid development cycles. While Zeplin remains popular, numerous free alternatives have emerged, offering unique features and competitive advantages. Explore the top 10 free Zeplin alternatives in 2025, complete with detailed descriptions and useful information.

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1. Figma

Website: Figma
Description: Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool that excels in real-time collaboration.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes, with limitations (e.g., 3 files, 30 days of file version history).
Design Handoff: Built-in features for developer handoff, with inspect and code generation tools.
Collaboration: Real-time collaborative editing, commenting, and versioning.
Integration: Integrates with Slack, Jira, and more.
Features: Prototyping, design systems, component libraries, plugins, and more.

2. Miro

Website: Miro
Description: Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard platform ideal for brainstorming, visual planning, and design collaboration.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes, with limitations (e.g., 3 editable boards).
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration, comments, and visual feedback.
Templates: Offers pre-made templates for various uses, including design and planning.
Integrations: Integrates with Slack, Jira, Microsoft Teams, etc.
Features: Sticky notes, drawing tools, mind mapping, project tracking, and more.

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3. Avocode

Website: Avocode
Description: Avocode is a design handoff tool that allows developers to extract design specs, assets, and code snippets.
Data Points:
Free Plan: No, but free trial available.
Design Handoff: One-click design handoff, generates code for web, iOS, Android, React Native.
Collaboration: Commenting and annotating features for team collaboration.
Code Output: Allows developers to extract code directly from layer styles.
Offline Access: Provides access to designs without an internet connection.

4. Mockplus

Website: Mockplus
Description: Mockplus is an all-in-one design collaboration tool with capabilities for prototyping, wireframing, and design handoff.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes, with limitations.
Design Handoff: Auto-generated and manual specs, developer-friendly measurements.
Collaboration: Real-time team collaboration, commenting, and feedback.
Features: Prototyping, wireframing, design specs, assets, code snippet delivery, and more.
Prototyping: Built-in tool for creating interactive designs.

5. Penpot

Website: Penpot
Description: Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping tool that bridges the gap between designers and developers.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes, completely free and open source.
Design Handoff: Tools for generating design specs and code snippets.
Collaboration: Seamless collaboration between designers and developers.
Prototyping: Built-in prototyping capabilities.
Features: UI design, prototyping, and code generation all in one app.

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6. Marvel

Website: Marvel
Description: Marvel is a platform for creating prototypes, conducting user testing, and simplifying design handoff.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes, with limitations (1 user, 1 project).
Design Handoff: Generate design specs and integrate with workflow tools.
Prototyping: Tools for rapid prototyping and wireframing.
Testing: User testing features.
Features: Interactive prototypes, wireframes, design specs.

7. FigJam (by Figma)

Website: FigJam
Description: FigJam is a collaborative online whiteboard tool from Figma, designed for brainstorming and team ideation.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes, included with Figma's free plan.
Collaboration: Real-time co-editing, sticky notes, and drawing tools.
Templates: Pre-built templates for planning and workshops.
Integration: Integrates with Figma design files.
Features: Visual collaboration tools for brainstorming and diagramming.

8. InVision (Freehand)

Website: InVision
Description: InVision's Freehand is a digital whiteboard tool focused on team collaboration.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Yes.
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration capabilities.
Features: Whiteboarding tools, free drawing, commenting, templates.
Integration: Connects with other design tools.
Purpose: Enhances productivity and team connection.

9. Sympli

Website: Sympli
Description: Sympli automates the handoff of designs, specs, style guides, and assets.
Data Points:
Free Plan: No, trial available.
Design Handoff: Automatically turns designs into assets and specs.
Integrations: Integrates with Jira and Slack.
Collaboration: Collects feedback with inline comments.
Features: Manages updates and streamlines workflow.

10. Abstract

Website: Abstract
Description: Abstract is a version control and collaboration platform tailored for design teams and handoff.
Data Points:
Free Plan: Unknown; availability varies.
Version Control: Git-based version control for design files.
Collaboration: Tools for collaboration and feedback.
Design Handoff: Includes tools for design handoff with specs.
Features: Project management, design system components.

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FAQ

1. What is the best alternative to Zeplin for real-time collaboration?

Figma is an excellent choice for real-time collaboration offering features like collaborative editing, commenting, and versioning. Learn more about Figma

2. Which alternative to Zeplin is free and open-source?

Penpot is a completely free and open-source design and prototyping tool. Explore Penpot

3. What design handoff tool offers offline access?

Avocode provides offline access to designs, allowing developers to work without an internet connection. Discover Avocode

4. Which alternative is best for brainstorming and visual planning?

Miro is an excellent tool for visual planning and brainstorming with features like sticky notes, drawing tools, and mind mapping. Check out Miro

5. What is a good alternative for prototyping and user testing?

Marvel is a suitable choice for both prototyping and user testing. Learn more about Marvel

6. Which tool among the alternatives provides version control for design files?

Abstract offers Git-based version control for design files, aiding in collaboration and feedback. Discover Abstract

7. What is the best choice for creating interactive prototypes?

Mockplus includes a built-in prototyping tool to create interactive designs. Explore Mockplus

8. Which tool integrates well with existing design platforms?

Sympli integrates with tools like Jira and Slack and provides automated design handoff. Learn more about Sympli

9. What tool can enhance productivity and team connection through digital whiteboarding?

InVision's Freehand is focused on enhancing team collaboration and productivity through digital whiteboarding. Discover Freehand

10. Which alternative is included with Figma's free plan and ideal for team ideation?

FigJam is included with Figma's free plan and is perfect for brainstorming and team ideation. Learn more about FigJam

References

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.