Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to Figma in 2025
With Figma increasingly being the go-to tool for UI/UX design, 2025 has seen a surge in powerful open-source alternatives. Whether you're in search of robust design capabilities, better platform support, or extensive community contributions, this article explores the top 10 open-source alternatives to Figma, comparing them on key data points such as features, compatibility, customization, and community support.
Boost Your SEO by Getting Featured in Our Blogs and get a backlink.
We publish content about startups, education, tech, funding, etc. that ranks well not only in Google but also in Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok and other AI tools.
👉 Get featured now!
1. Penpot
- Description: Penpot is an open-source, web-based design and prototyping platform focused on collaborative design. It aims to bridge the gap between designers and developers.
- Collaboration: Offers real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same design simultaneously.
- File Format: Uses SVG as its native format, which provides scalability and flexibility.
- Features: Includes vector editing, prototyping tools, component libraries, and code inspection.
- Flex and Grid Layouts: Generates code that developers can use directly, minimizing handoff issues.
- Accessibility: Is cross-platform and browser-based, increasing accessibility for different users. Learn more about Penpot
2. Inkscape
- Description: Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor, comparable to Adobe Illustrator. It's suitable for a wide range of tasks, including logo creation and web graphics.
- Vector Graphics: Provides robust vector drawing tools, various shapes, and enhanced text handling.
- File Compatibility: Supports various file formats including SVG, PNG, PDF, and more.
- Customization: Offers a highly customizable interface with tools that are comparable to paid software.
- Cross-Platform: Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Community: Has a large, active community that provides support and tutorials. Learn more about Inkscape
Get your FREE Landing Page Analysis!
Insert your landing page link and get a super useful analysis and easy fixes to get more clicks!
👉 Get Your Analysis Here!
3. Lunacy
- Description: Lunacy is a free, Windows-based design tool with a focus on UI, UX, and web design. It's known for its speed and unique features.
- Platform: Primarily a Windows application, but is also available for other platforms.
- Offline Capabilities: Most of its features work offline, unlike some web-based tools.
- AI-Powered: Includes AI tools for background removal, image upscaling, and text generation.
- Built-In Resources: Offers built-in design resources like icons, illustrations, and photos.
- Sketch Compatibility: Directly handles Sketch (.sketch) files. Explore Lunacy
4. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
- Description: GIMP is a free and open-source image editing tool, often compared to Adobe Photoshop. It can be used for creating design elements and icons.
- Image Manipulation: Offers comprehensive photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.
- Customizable Interface: Highly customizable workspace and functionality with plugins and scripting.
- File Handling: Supports a wide range of file formats.
- Painting Tools: Provides a full suite of painting tools, including digital retouching and photo enhancement.
- Community Support: Strong community with numerous resources and support available. Discover GIMP
5. Akira
- Description: Akira is an open-source design tool built specifically for Linux. It emphasizes a native Linux experience.
- Native Linux App: Provides a seamless experience for Linux users.
- Vector Graphics: Supports vector graphics creation.
- User-Friendly Interface: Offers an intuitive interface for web and graphic designers.
- Customization: High level of customization options.
- Focus: Specifically tailored for the Linux environment. Learn more about Akira
Validate your startup idea with the unique borrowed authority approach: we publish articles about your product in our blog and you get traffic and testers for your MVP
- Prove Market Demand: See real organic traffic and waitlist conversions
- Unlock High-Potential Keywords: Receive a curated list of top-performing keywords directly from Google Search Console data.
- Estimate Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Gain financial foresight with an estimated CAC based on real keyword performance data.
🔗 Start validating your startup now
6. Plasmic
- Description: Plasmic is an open-source design tool for building web pages, that can import Figma designs and also supports A/B testing.
- Figma Import: Can import designs from Figma.
- Web Page Design: Specialized in creating web pages.
- A/B Testing: Supports A/B testing to improve user interaction.
- Integration: Integrates with various CMS and Jamstack sites.
- Free Features: Offers most of its features for free. Explore Plasmic
7. Krita
- Description: Krita is a free and open-source vector graphics tool focused on digital painting and illustration, particularly useful for creating comics.
- Digital Painting: Offers a wide range of brushes, stabilizers, and drawing aids.
- Vector Tools: Supports vector editing and drawing.
- Advanced Templates: Provides advanced templates and features.
- Focus: Heavily focuses on digital painting and illustration.
- Free: It is completely free to download and use. Learn more about Krita
8. Pencil
- Description: Pencil is a free and open-source prototyping tool that operates directly in the web browser.
- Web-Based: Runs in the browser, avoiding software installation.
- Prototyping: Allows creation of interactive prototypes.
- Lightweight: A lightweight and easy-to-use tool.
- User-Friendly Interface: Accessible to designers of all experience levels.
- Component Library: Has a collection of pre-built components. Explore Pencil
9. Wireflow
- Description: Wireflow is a free and open-source tool specifically designed for creating wireframes and user flows.
- Specialized: Designed for user flow creation.
- Open-Source: Has free open source code available.
- Features: Includes features for wireframing and diagramming.
- Focus: Focuses on user interface structure.
- Collaboration: Supports collaborative wireframing. Learn more about Wireflow
10. Blender
- Description: Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite used for modeling, animation, and rendering but increasingly used in game design and even UI/UX prototyping.
- 3D Modeling: Extensive capabilities for 3D modeling, sculpting, and texturing.
- Animation: Features a full-fledged animation suite.
- Rendering: Offers strong rendering capabilities.
- Versatility: Can be used for game design, animation, and UI mockups.
- Open-Source: Free and open to customization and contribution. Discover Blender
Join ElonaHunt (like ProductHunt but for women) and explore the coolest women-focused startups out there!
Discover your next big inspiration and connect with like-minded female entrepreneurs!
👉 Join the Hunt Here
FAQ
1. What is Penpot and how does it compare to Figma?
Penpot is an open-source, web-based design and prototyping platform focused on collaborative design. It offers real-time collaboration, uses SVG as its native format, and includes vector editing, prototyping tools, and component libraries. Learn more about Penpot
2. How does Inkscape support vector graphics editing?
Inkscape is a free, open-source vector graphics editor providing robust vector drawing tools, support for various file formats, highly customizable interface, and cross-platform functionality. Explore Inkscape
3. What makes Lunacy unique as a design tool?
Lunacy is a free design tool with offline capabilities, AI-powered features, built-in resources, and compatibility with Sketch files, primarily for Windows but also available on other platforms. Discover Lunacy
4. Can GIMP be used for UI/UX design?
GIMP is a free and open-source image editing tool offering comprehensive photo retouching, highly customizable workspace, support for a wide range of file formats, and a full suite of painting tools, suitable for creating design elements and icons. Learn more about GIMP
5. What are the features of Akira as a design tool?
Akira is an open-source design tool built for Linux, providing seamless experience for Linux users, supporting vector graphics creation, offering intuitive interface and high-level customization. Explore Akira
6. How can Plasmic enhance web page design?
Plasmic is an open-source design tool that can import Figma designs, specializes in creating web pages, supports A/B testing, integrates with various CMS and Jamstack sites, and offers most of its features for free. Discover Plasmic
7. Is Krita suitable for digital painting and illustration?
Krita is a free, open-source vector graphics tool offering a wide range of brushes, stabilizers, drawing aids, and advanced templates, focused heavily on digital painting and illustration. Learn more about Krita
8. What can Pencil do for prototyping?
Pencil is a free and open-source prototyping tool that runs directly in the web browser, allowing creation of interactive prototypes with a lightweight and user-friendly interface, and pre-built components. Explore Pencil
9. How does Wireflow assist with wireframing and user flows?
Wireflow is a free and open-source tool designed for creating wireframes and user flows, with features for wireframing and diagramming, focused on user interface structure, and supports collaborative wireframing. Learn more about Wireflow
10. Can Blender be used for UI/UX prototyping?
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite offering extensive capabilities for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and increasingly used in game design and UI/UX prototyping. Discover Blender
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.