Lunacy vs Penpot
Lunacy and Penpot are free apps you can use instead of Figma. Penpot is open source and you can run it yourself. Lunacy is free to use and the code is closed.
A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. How this works
Instead of Figma
Last checked October 15, 2026
Penpot is #1 (79). Lunacy is #2 (61).
Lunacy
#2
10 of 10 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: whiteboard / FigJam-style canvas. You only get part of: auto layout, prototyping, and multiplayer editing, and 4 more.
Penpot
#1 · Closest
10 of 10 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: whiteboard / FigJam-style canvas. You only get part of: auto layout, prototyping, and variables and design tokens.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | Lunacy#2 · 6110 of 10 checked features | Penpot#1 · 7910 of 10 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Vector interface designCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Components and variantsCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Auto layoutCounts for 9 | Partial | PartialFlex and grid layout cover a lot of auto layout and do not match every Figma behavior. |
| PrototypingCounts for 8 | Partial | Partial |
| Multiplayer editingCounts for 8 | PartialCloud documents support collaboration. It is not Figma multiplayer. | Full |
| Inspect and dev handoffCounts for 7 | Partial | Full |
| Shared librariesCounts for 6 | Partial | Full |
| Whiteboard / FigJam-style canvasCounts for 4 | Missing | Missing |
| A server you runCounts for 6 | PartialOnly on a paid private-cloud plan. | Full |
| Variables and design tokensCounts for 5 | Partial | PartialDesign tokens exist. They are not a full Figma variables clone. |
Where they differ
Multiplayer editing
Worth 8 points. Lunacy does part of it. Cloud documents support collaboration. It is not Figma multiplayer. Penpot does all of it.
Inspect and dev handoff
Worth 7 points. Lunacy does part of it. Penpot does all of it.
Shared libraries
Worth 6 points. Lunacy does part of it. Penpot does all of it.
A server you run
Worth 6 points. Lunacy does part of it. Only on a paid private-cloud plan. Penpot does all of it.
Both do all of these: vector interface design, and components and variants.
Also ranked: diagrams.net is #3 (34). Affinity is #4 (25).
The facts on file
Lunacy
A free proprietary design app for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Rules
- Free, but the code is closed.. Proprietary
- Run it yourself
- Private cloud and bunker mode are paid. The free app is not a server you run.
- Free plan
- Free plan: low-resolution built-in assets, an Icons8 attribution requirement, 10 cloud documents, and 30-day version history.
- They host it
- The paid plan is listed at $11.99. We have not checked how it is billed. Not checked.
- Where it runs
- Mac, Windows, Linux, Web
Last checked October 15, 2026
Penpot
Open-source design and prototyping, with a free cloud.
- Rules
- Open source. MPL-2.0
- Run it yourself
- Setup: medium. Docker Compose is documented and heavier than a single-container app. Fine for a design team, not a five-minute install.
- Free plan
- Penpot Cloud has a $0 plan. Running the same software yourself is free.
- They host it
- Unlimited editors are listed at $7/editor/month, capped at $175/month. A Business plan is $25/member/month.
- Where it runs
- Web, Run it yourself
Last checked October 25, 2026
Which one to pick
Lunacy
Pick Lunacy if you want a desktop design app and you do not need the code. Multiplayer, inspect, and shared libraries are partial. A server you run is only on a paid private-cloud plan. It is not open source. The free plan lists 10 cloud documents and 30-day version history.
Penpot
Pick Penpot if you want open-source design and a server you can run. Multiplayer, inspect, and shared libraries are full. The license is MPL-2.0. Penpot Cloud has a $0 plan. Running it yourself is free. Setup is medium.