Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to Zeplin in 2025

In 2025, the design collaboration landscape has seen remarkable expansion, offering numerous open-source alternatives to Zeplin. These tools provide overlapping functionalities for design collaboration, prototyping, and handoff. Here’s a deep dive into the top 10 open-source alternatives you can explore:

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1. Figma

Description: A cloud-based design and prototyping tool that allows for real-time collaboration, making it suitable for both design and development teams.
Data Points:
Collaboration: Real-time, multi-user editing and commenting.
Prototyping: Interactive prototyping with transitions and animations.
Design Handoff: Inspect mode for developers with CSS, assets, and code snippets.
Plugin Ecosystem: Extensive library of plugins to extend functionality.
Pricing: Offers a free tier for individual use and paid plans for teams. Learn more about Figma

2. Miro

Description: An online whiteboard platform, great for visual collaboration, brainstorming, and planning, which can also assist in design-related processes.
Data Points:
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration and co-creation on a shared canvas.
Templates: A large library of pre-made templates.
Integrations: Integrates with many popular tools.
Features: Provides features like commenting, screen sharing, and video chat.
AI Features: Includes AI assistance for ideation and more. Learn more about Miro

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3. InVision

Description: A platform focusing on prototyping, collaboration, and design workflow with tools for creating interactive prototypes and sharing designs with developers.
Data Points:
Prototyping: Create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes.
Collaboration: Team collaboration with feedback and comments directly on design files.
Design Handoff: Tools for sharing designs with design specs.
Version Control: Allows to track changes and revisions on designs.
Pricing: Has a free plan for individual users and paid team plans. Learn more about InVision

4. Blender

Description: A free and open-source 3D creation suite that is increasingly being used in game design, animation, and even virtual reality; it can be used in aspects of UI/UX design.
Data Points:
3D Modeling: Comprehensive suite for modeling, sculpting, and texturing 3D objects.
Animation: Fully-fledged animation tools including rigging, physics simulations, and camera tracking.
Rendering: Capable of high-quality rendering and includes several rendering engines.
Open Source: Completely free to use and modify.
Community Support: Large and active community for support and tutorials. Learn more about Blender

5. Pencil Project

Description: An open-source UX design tool that supports various operating systems with an intuitive design for beginners in prototyping.
Data Points:
Operating Systems: Supports macOS and Windows.
Features: Data import and export, prototyping capabilities, and drag-and-drop functionality.
Ease of Use: Designed for beginners.
Open-Source: Free to download and use.
Prototyping: Specifically designed for creating prototypes. Learn more about Pencil Project

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6. Visily

Description: AI-based design collaboration tool, specializing in transforming rough ideas into clean layouts and using AI to speed up the design process.
Data Points:
AI Design: Utilizes AI for rapid design creation, wireframing, and layout generation.
Wireframing: Can transform rough ideas into structured wireframes.
Collaboration: Supports team collaboration.
Speed: Designed to speed up the design process using AI.
Free Option: Offers a free signup option to start using the tool. Learn more about Visily

7. Humaaans

Description: An open-source design library that provides illustrations of people for design projects. This could assist in the creative direction of a project in conjunction with other tools.
Data Points:
Focus: Provides illustrations of people for designs.
Collaboration: Supports design thinking and collaboration.
Flexibility: Adaptable and flexible for design projects.
Ease of Use: Known for being user-friendly and easy to implement.
Open-Source: Free to use and modify. Learn more about Humaaans

8. Sympli

Description: A design handoff and version control tool designed to sync UI elements and design systems with development environments, often compared to Storybook for designers.
Data Points:
Version Control: Built-in version control for design files and assets.
Design Handoff: Provides style guides, spec modes, and access to assets for developers.
Integrations: Integrates with popular prototyping tools.
IDEs Support: Integrates with IDEs like Xcode and Android Studio.
Collaboration: Team review and collaboration capabilities are available. Learn more about Sympli

9. Abstract

Description: A design collaboration platform that focuses on version control and organization for design teams.
Data Points:
Version Control: Main focus is version control for design projects.
Collaboration: Team collaboration features included.
Project Management: Provides project organization and management.
Design System Management: Tools for managing and maintaining design systems.
Alternative to Zeplin: Listed as a direct Zeplin alternative. Learn more about Abstract

10. Taipy

Description: An open-source Python library that aids in building AI and data web applications with data-driven GUIs and automated scenario management. Can be useful when designing interfaces around data.
Data Points:
GUI Development: Provides tools for designing intuitive user interfaces.
AI Integration: Integrates AI models.
Data Visualization: Features tools for real-time data visualization.
Open Source: Is a free open-source library.
Python Based: Built with Python. Learn more about Taipy

Disclaimer: The open-source landscape is constantly changing. Tool features, pricing, and availability may vary. Always verify information on the official websites. Some of these tools have commercial versions with more advanced features. The "open-source" status of some listed tools may vary, ranging from fully free to having a self-hosted option.

I hope this is helpful and meets your requirements for a clean, publishable output!

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FAQ

1. What is Figma, and what features does it offer?

Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool that offers real-time collaboration, interactive prototyping, an extensive plugin ecosystem, and design handoff features. Learn more about Figma

2. How does Miro support design collaboration?

Miro is an online whiteboard platform with real-time collaboration, a library of templates, integrations with many popular tools, and features like commenting and video chat. Explore Miro

3. What are the main features of InVision?

InVision is a platform for prototyping, collaboration, and design workflow that offers high-fidelity prototyping, team collaboration, design handoff tools, version control, and both free and paid plans. Discover InVision

4. What can Blender be used for in design?

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite suitable for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and can also be used in UI/UX design and game design. Learn more about Blender

5. What is the Pencil Project and who is it for?

Pencil Project is an open-source UX design tool designed for beginners that supports macOS and Windows, offering prototyping capabilities and drag-and-drop functionality.

6. How does Visily use AI in design?

Visily utilizes AI for rapid design creation and wireframing, transforming rough ideas into structured wireframes while supporting team collaboration and offering a free signup option. Explore Visily

7. What is Humaaans and how is it used in design projects?

Humaaans is an open-source design library that provides illustrations of people, supporting design thinking and collaboration, and is adaptable for various projects. Discover Humaaans

8. What are the features of Sympli?

Sympli is a design handoff and version control tool that provides built-in version control, design handoff features, integrations with prototyping tools and IDEs, and collaboration capabilities. Learn more about Sympli

9. What is Abstract’s focus in design collaboration?

Abstract focuses on version control for design projects, providing tools for team collaboration, project management, and design system management. Explore Abstract

10. How does Taipy support UI design around data?

Taipy is an open-source Python library for building AI and data web applications, featuring tools for designing GUIs, integrating AI models, and real-time data visualization. Learn more about Taipy

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.