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Alternatives

The Best Figma Alternatives

Penpot is the closest free, open-source swap and can be self-hosted. Sketch suits Mac-only teams and offers a one-time license. UXPin, Framer and Balsamiq each replace one part of Figma.

By PickedTech Editorial TeamLast updated Pricing checked Oct 2026

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How this page was made: this is a research-based comparison built from official pricing pages, product documentation and vendor announcements. We haven’t tested these tools ourselves or run hands-on benchmarks for this page, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Penpot is the closest free, open-source swap and can be self-hosted. Sketch suits Mac-only teams and offers a one-time license. UXPin, Framer and Balsamiq each replace one part of Figma. Penpot for a free, open-source Figma replacement ($7). Sketch for mac-only teams ($12). UXPin for code-based prototyping (from $29/seat/mo). Framer for designing and publishing websites (from $10/mo).

Last updated Pricing checked Oct 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (pricing checked Oct 2026)
AlternativeBest forPricing
Penpota free, open-source Figma replacementFree; Unlimited $7/editor/mo (max $175/mo)
SketchMac-only teams$12/editor/mo (yearly); $120 Mac-only license
UXPincode-based prototyping$29/seat/mo (yearly)
Framerdesigning and publishing websitesFree; Basic $10/mo, Pro $30/mo
Balsamiqquick low-fidelity wireframesFrom $16/editor/mo (annual)

Zapier[6] is an automation vendor that integrates with Figma. Need quick social graphics rather than UI design? See Adobe Express vs Canva.

Why look beyond Figma?

Figma’s free Starter plan includes unlimited drafts and 150 AI credits a day (up to 500 a month). Professional full seats cost $16 a month billed annually, Organization full seats $55 a month and Enterprise full seats $90 a month, according to its pricing page. Zapier[6] calls Figma “the gold standard” for wireframing and app design, but notes a learning curve for advanced features. Common reasons to look elsewhere:

  • You want open source or self-hosting. Penpot.
  • You work only on Macs and want offline files. Sketch.
  • You want prototypes built from real code components. UXPin.
  • You want to design and publish a website in one tool. Framer.
  • You only need rough wireframes. Balsamiq.

How do they compare?

Figma alternatives at a glance (vendor pricing pages and Zapier; checked October 2026)
ToolPaidFree optionBest for
PenpotUnlimited $7/editor/mo, capped at $175/mo; Enterprise $25/member/moProfessional plan, $0Open-source design you can self-host
SketchStandard $12/editor/mo (yearly); Mac-only license $120/seatFree trialMac-native design teams
UXPin$29/seat/mo billed yearly ($49 monthly)Free trialCode-based prototypes and design systems
FramerBasic $10/mo; Pro $30/mo (yearly billing)Free, 500 AI credits to tryDesigning and publishing websites
BalsamiqFrom $16/editor/mo, billed annually (Zapier)—Low-fidelity wireframes for non-designers

The alternatives

Best for a free, open-source Figma replacement

1. Penpot

Best for: a free, open-source Figma replacement

Penpot’s Professional plan costs $0 and is described as “free and fully featured. No limits, no missing tools.” The Unlimited plan is $7 per editor a month, “capped at $175 per month, no matter your team size,” and Enterprise is $25 per member a month. Penpot is open source, and you can use its cloud or host it yourself. Non-profit, education and open-source discounts are available.

Pricing (Oct 2026): Free; Unlimited $7/editor/mo (max $175/mo) Source

Pros

  • Free plan with no feature limits
  • Open source with a self-host option
  • Team cost capped at $175 a month

Cons

  • Paid tiers mainly add storage, history and governance
Check Penpot pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for Mac-only teams

2. Sketch

Best for: Mac-only teams

Sketch’s Standard plan is $12 per editor a month billed yearly, with real-time collaboration, unlimited documents, unlimited free viewers and free developer handoff. Professional is $24 per editor and adds SSO, and Enterprise is $44. If you don’t need collaboration, a Mac-only license is $120 per seat and includes one year of updates, letting you work offline and save documents locally.

Pricing (Oct 2026): $12/editor/mo (yearly); $120 Mac-only license Source

Pros

  • One-time Mac license option
  • Unlimited free viewers
  • Works offline with local files

Cons

  • Native app is Mac-only
  • No free plan beyond the trial
Check Sketch pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for code-based prototyping

3. UXPin

Best for: code-based prototyping

Zapier[6] picks UXPin for code-based designs. UXPin’s pricing page lists its entry plan at $29 per seat a month billed yearly, or $49 monthly, with 200 AI credits a month, and its Growth plan at $69 per seat a month (monthly price) with 500 credits, Storybook integration and SSO.

Pricing (Oct 2026): $29/seat/mo (yearly) Source

Pros

  • Prototypes built with real code components
  • Storybook integration on Growth

Cons

  • Pricier per seat than Figma Professional
  • Aimed at product teams more than solo designers
Check UXPin pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for designing and publishing websites

4. Framer

Best for: designing and publishing websites

Framer is free to start with 500 AI credits and a Framer domain. With yearly billing, Basic is $10 a month for personal sites and Pro is $30 a month, adding more pages, CMS collections and bandwidth. Additional editors cost $20 a month, and viewers are free.

Pricing (Oct 2026): Free; Basic $10/mo, Pro $30/mo Source

Pros

  • Design and publish a live site in one tool
  • Free viewers

Cons

  • Focused on websites rather than app UI
  • Extra editors are $20 a month each
Check Framer pricing (opens in a new tab)
Best for quick low-fidelity wireframes

5. Balsamiq

Best for: quick low-fidelity wireframes

Zapier[6] names Balsamiq the best wireframe tool for non-designers. Pricing starts at $16 per editor a month billed annually for up to 10 projects, with unlimited reviewers and 500 monthly Balsamiq AI credits per editor. Zapier notes its prototyping ability is extremely limited, so it’s for planning layouts, not final UI.

Pricing (Oct 2026): From $16/editor/mo (annual) Source

Pros

  • Sketch-style wireframes keep feedback on layout
  • AI can turn screenshots or text into wireframes

Cons

  • Extremely limited prototyping (Zapier)
  • No free plan listed by Zapier
Check Balsamiq pricing (opens in a new tab)

Which Figma alternative should you use?

If you want a like-for-like replacement without paying, start with Penpot, which is free, open source and self-hostable. Mac-only teams that prefer local files should look at Sketch. Teams building from coded design systems should try UXPin, and anyone whose end product is a website should try Framer. If you only need to agree on layouts before design starts, Balsamiq is simpler. For marketing graphics rather than product design, compare Adobe Express and Canva or see our Canva alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Figma?
Penpot. Its Professional plan is free and, according to Penpot, fully featured with no limits. It’s open source, and you can self-host it.
How much does Figma cost?
Figma Starter is free. Professional full seats are $16 a month billed annually, Organization $55 and Enterprise $90, per Figma’s pricing page.
Is Sketch still Mac-only?
The native Sketch app is for Mac. Sketch also sells a Mac-only license for $120 per seat with one year of updates.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. Figma: Pricing (checked October 2026) (figma.com)
  2. Penpot: Pricing (checked October 2026) (penpot.app)
  3. Sketch: Pricing (checked October 2026) (sketch.com)
  4. UXPin: Pricing (checked October 2026) (uxpin.com)
  5. Framer: Pricing (checked October 2026) (framer.com)
  6. Zapier (automation vendor): The best wireframe tools in 2026 (zapier.com)
comparison

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Figma is built for designing apps and websites, with components, prototyping and Dev Mode for developer handoff. Canva is built for people who need finished social posts, presentations and marketing visuals without design training. Many companies pay for both.