•4 min read•Design
Verdict:For a free Figma alternative you can use offline on Linux today, Inkscape covers vector UI frames we exported; Penpot is the open-source collaborative closest match (docs-only here); Lunacy and Affinity add desktop options with free tiers per their sites.
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penpot | Free Professional ($0/user/month); Unlimited $7/editor/month (cap $175/month) | Web browser, Self-hosted | Teams that want browser-based UI design closer to Figma without proprietary lock-in | Docs only |
| Inkscape | Free (open source, GPL) | Linux, Windows, macOS | Offline vector UI frames, icons and SVG handoff without an account | Yes |
| Lunacy | Free; Personal cloud $4.99/month; Graphics $9.99/month | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web browser | Desktop UI design with Figma import and optional offline use | Docs only |
| Affinity | Free for individuals (Canva account required) | Windows, macOS | Designers who want a native pro vector/pixel/layout app at no seat cost | Docs only |
Last updated October 18, 2026
Short answer: the closest open-source Figma alternative for teams is Penpot (browser or self-hosted; we reviewed pricing only). For offline vector UI work with no login, use Inkscape—we exported a 390×844 phone UI frame to PNG. Lunacy adds a free desktop app with Figma import (docs-only). Affinity is free for individuals per its site (Windows/macOS, Canva account). Figma’s own Starter plan remains free with limits per figma.com/pricing.
How we ordered the tools: by closeness to Figma’s collaborative UI workflow, not by what we tested. Penpot leads on that (reviewed from its official pages only); Inkscape is the one we tested hands-on; Lunacy and Affinity follow from their official docs. None of these products is ours.
Figma’s moat is multiplayer + Dev Mode + libraries. Alternatives usually win on price, Linux, or offline—not on cloning every Figma seat feature.
What it replaces: Figma’s browser collaboration for UI kits, components and developer-friendly handoff. Penpot emphasizes open standards and self-hosting on its site.
What it lacks vs Figma: ecosystem plugins and community files are smaller. Hosted Penpot needs an account; we did not register one, so no canvas test on this page (same constraint as our Canva alternatives write-up).
Where to get it: penpot.app — Cloud or self-host. Pricing page: Professional $0/user/month; Unlimited $7/editor/month capped at $175/month.
What it replaces: Figma for single-designer vector frames, icons and SVG export—especially on Linux without SaaS.
What we saw in testing: Inkscape 1.4 rendered a hand-written SVG (dark phone frame, inputs, primary button) to frame.png at 390×844 (8,707 bytes) with no network and no account. That is enough to prove an offline UI-mock path; it is not auto-layout or component variants.
What it lacks vs Figma: no multiplayer cursors, no Dev Mode inspect, no FigJam. Alignment tools exist, but the mental model is illustration-first.
Where to get it: inkscape.org. GPL; Windows, macOS, Linux.
What it replaces: Figma on the desktop with optional offline mode and a marketed Figma import. Icons8’s Lunacy page lists Windows, macOS, Linux and a browser version.
What it lacks vs Figma: proprietary stack; graphics attribution rules on the free tier per Lunacy docs. We did not install Lunacy.
Where to get it: icons8.com/lunacy. Docs: app free; personal cloud $4.99/month; graphics subscription $9.99/month.
What it replaces: Figma for individuals who want a native vector/pixel/layout app and can leave browser multiplayer behind.
What it lacks vs Figma: no Linux build on the pages we checked; requires a Canva account to activate; real-time multiplayer is Canva’s world, not classic Affinity. We did not install it.
Where to get it: affinity.studio / get-affinity — free for individuals per those pages; Windows and macOS.
Figma’s pricing page (checked 2026-10-14) still offers a Free Starter plan with limits, then Professional full seats at $16/month on the billed-monthly view we saw. Leaving Figma is rarely about finding a cheaper pen tool; it is about seats, Linux, offline work or open formats. Penpot and Inkscape address those axes differently: Penpot for multiplayer-on-open-source, Inkscape for files you own on disk.
Our Inkscape frame used fixed coordinates on purpose. Auto-layout and component variants are why teams stay on Figma or move to Penpot—not why they open Inkscape. Use Inkscape for icons, simple marketing UI and SVG handoff; use Penpot when the team needs a shared canvas.
1. .fig files stay in Figma. Export SVG, PDF or PNG. Lunacy claims Figma import—verify on a copy. Penpot’s site discusses migration; we did not run it.
2. Components and variables. Rebuild as Inkscape symbols, Penpot components or Affinity symbols. Expect naming cleanup.
3. Auto layout. Penpot maps more closely to CSS flex-like layout per its marketing; Inkscape needs manual constraints. Our Inkscape test used fixed positions only.
4. Dev handoff. Figma Dev Mode has no full twin in Inkscape. Penpot markets code-oriented handoff; inspect SVG/CSS manually otherwise.
5. Fonts. Embed or subset licenses carefully when moving to desktop apps.
6. Prototyping. Lunacy lists prototyping; Inkscape does not replace Figma prototype links.
7. Design systems. Figma libraries become Penpot libraries, Affinity templates or Inkscape template SVGs. Appoint one person to own tokens/colors during migration week.
8. Comments and review. Figma comment threads will not migrate. Export PDFs or use your issue tracker for leftover feedback.
Figma has no native Linux desktop app comparable to its Windows/macOS installs. On Linux, Inkscape is the free tool we actually exported a UI frame with, and it needs no account. Lunacy lists Linux per Icons8 and Penpot runs in the browser or self-hosted—both docs-only here. Affinity is Windows/macOS only. For related decisions, see free Figma alternative, Figma vs Sketch, Figma vs Framer and Canva vs Figma.
No Penpot account was created, so no Penpot canvas test. Lunacy and Affinity were not installed. No .fig import attempts. Inkscape test was a static UI frame SVG→PNG, not real-time multiplayer.
Inkscape 1.4 (Debian 1.4-6) exported a 390×844 SVG phone UI frame to PNG (8,707 bytes) on a CPU-only Linux machine with no Figma account. Penpot, Lunacy and Affinity were not run hands-on: Penpot’s hosted app needs an account (same blocker noted on our Canva page), Lunacy and Affinity were reviewed from official sites only. Prices were read from vendor pages on 2026-10-14.