Penpot vs Miro
Penpot is open-source, browser-based design and prototyping platform. Self-hostable, while Miro is online collaborative whiteboard platform for brainstorming, planning, and design. The biggest difference up front: Penpot is free, while Miro starts at $8/user/mo. Penpot is built for teams that want a free, open-source figma alternative, whereas Miro targets teams that need visual collaboration and whiteboarding.
| Feature | Penpot | Miro |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Components | ✓ | — |
| Diagramming | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | — |
| Prototyping | ✓ | — |
| SVG Native | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | — |
| Sticky Notes | — | ✓ |
| Templates | — | ✓ |
| Voting | — | ✓ |
| Whiteboards | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Penpot is completely free, which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Miro starts at $8/user/mo, but 3 free boards. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Penpot offers Components, Open Source and Prototyping that Miro lacks. Miro brings Diagramming, Sticky Notes and Templates that Penpot does not have.
Team fit: Penpot is geared toward small teams teams, while Miro is aimed at any size teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Penpot is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Miro is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Penpot's biggest strengths are: 100% free and open source. self-hostable for data sovereignty. Miro's biggest strengths are: includes whiteboards as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows. huge template library covers social media, presentations, marketing materials, and more.
Watch out for: With Penpot, users commonly note that less mature than figma — fewer features. With Miro, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
choose Penpot if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want a free, open-source figma alternative
- Budget is a hard constraint — Penpot is free, Miro is not
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Components and Open Source
- You care about self-hostable for data sovereignty
choose Miro if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that need visual collaboration and whiteboarding
- You specifically need Diagramming and Sticky Notes
- You care about huge template library covers social media, presentations, marketing materials, and more
- Your team size fits the any size profile Miro is designed for
- The free tier works for you: 3 free boards
frequently asked
What is the difference between Penpot and Miro?
Penpot is open-source, browser-based design and prototyping platform. Self-hostable, while Miro is online collaborative whiteboard platform for brainstorming, planning, and design. The biggest difference up front: Penpot is free, while Miro starts at $8/user/mo. Penpot is built for teams that want a free, open-source figma alternative, whereas Miro targets teams that need visual collaboration and whiteboarding.
Should I use Penpot or Miro?
Penpot is the free option; Miro charges $8/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Penpot over Miro?
Choose Penpot if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want a free, open-source figma alternative; Budget is a hard constraint — Penpot is free, Miro is not; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Components and Open Source; You care about self-hostable for data sovereignty.
When should I choose Miro over Penpot?
Choose Miro if Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that need visual collaboration and whiteboarding; You specifically need Diagramming and Sticky Notes; You care about huge template library covers social media, presentations, marketing materials, and more; Your team size fits the any size profile Miro is designed for; The free tier works for you: 3 free boards.
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