InVision vs Penpot: The Complete 2026 Comparison
Choosing between InVision and Penpot for design? This in-depth comparison breaks down pricing, features, user ratings, integrations, and real-world use cases to help you make the right decision. Both tools serve the design category, but they take distinctly different approaches to helping teams get work done.
Founded in 2011, InVision is a digital product design platform known for its prototyping and collaboration capabilities. Meanwhile, Penpot was founded in 2019. Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping platform, built on web standards (SVG, CSS, HTML). Let us dive into how they stack up across every dimension that matters.
Quick Verdict
InVision edges ahead with a G2 rating of 4.4/5 (based on 830 reviews) versus Penpot's 4.3/5 (210 reviews). However, Penpot holds its own with 12 key features and competitive pricing starting at Free (self-hosted, unlimited).
At-a-Glance: InVision vs Penpot
Before we dive into the details, here is a high-level overview of how InVision and Penpot compare across the key criteria most teams care about when evaluating design software.
| Criteria | InVision | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Rating | 4.4/5 (830 reviews) | 4.3/5 (210 reviews) |
| Free Plan | Free (up to 3 documents) | Free (self-hosted, unlimited) |
| Pro Pricing | $7.95/user/month (Pro) | Free (cloud, unlimited) |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing (premium support) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2019 |
| Key Features | 12 features | 12 features |
| Integrations | 10+ integrations | 10+ integrations |
| Category | Design | Design |
| Website | www.invisionapp.com | penpot.app |
About InVision
InVision is a digital product design platform known for its prototyping and collaboration capabilities. Its Freehand whiteboarding tool and design system manager serve design teams looking for workflow tools beyond pixel-pushing. Founded in 2011, InVision has built a reputation in the design space, earning a 4.4/5 rating on G2 from 830 verified user reviews. The platform offers 12 distinct features and integrates with 10+ third-party tools.
InVision's core strengths include Prototyping, Freehand (whiteboarding), Design system manager, Inspect (dev handoff), Boards (mood boards). Teams that choose InVision typically value its approach to Prototyping and Freehand (whiteboarding), which sets it apart in the crowded design landscape.
About Penpot
Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping platform, built on web standards (SVG, CSS, HTML). It is completely free with no paywalls, supports self-hosting, and uses CSS-native layout tools like Flexbox and Grid, bridging the gap between design and development. Since its founding in 2019, Penpot has grown to serve teams worldwide, achieving a 4.3/5 G2 rating from 210 reviews. The platform provides 12 key features and supports 10+ integrations.
Penpot's standout capabilities include Vector editing, Prototyping, Components, Design tokens, Real-time collaboration. Teams gravitating toward Penpot often prioritize Vector editing and Prototyping, making it a strong fit for organizations that need these specific capabilities.
Pricing Breakdown: InVision vs Penpot
Pricing is often the deciding factor when choosing design software. Here is how InVision and Penpot stack up across their pricing tiers. Note that both tools may offer annual billing discounts, and prices shown are for monthly billing as of 2026.
| Plan | InVision | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Starter / Free | Free (up to 3 documents) | Free (self-hosted, unlimited) |
| Pro / Business | $7.95/user/month (Pro) | Free (cloud, unlimited) |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing (premium support) |
Pricing verdict: Both InVision and Penpot are competitively priced. Focus on which tool delivers more value for your specific workflow rather than optimizing purely on cost. Consider running a trial of both tools with your team to see which drives better outcomes.
Keep in mind that both tools offer free plans or trials, so you can test each platform before committing. For teams of 10 or fewer, both InVision and Penpot provide functional free tiers that let you evaluate the core experience without spending anything.
Feature Comparison: InVision vs Penpot
Feature availability can make or break your team's productivity. Below is a detailed comparison of every feature offered by either InVision or Penpot. This checklist covers 22 features across both platforms, giving you a comprehensive view of what each tool brings to the table.
| Feature | InVision | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Animations and transitions | Yes | No |
| Boards (mood boards) | Yes | No |
| CSS-native design | No | Yes |
| Comments and feedback | Yes | No |
| Components | No | Yes |
| Design system manager | Yes | No |
| Design tokens | Yes | Yes |
| Flex layout | No | Yes |
| Freehand (whiteboarding) | Yes | No |
| Grid layout | No | Yes |
| Inspect (dev handoff) | Yes | No |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Plugin system | No | Yes |
| Prototyping | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | No | Yes |
| SVG-native | No | Yes |
| Screen recording | Yes | No |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes |
| Stakeholder reviews | Yes | No |
| User testing | Yes | No |
| Vector editing | No | Yes |
| Version history | Yes | No |
InVision offers 12 features while Penpot provides 12. The features unique to InVision include Freehand (whiteboarding), Design system manager, Inspect (dev handoff). Penpot's unique features include Vector editing, Components, Real-time collaboration.
Integrations: InVision vs Penpot
In today's software landscape, no tool exists in isolation. The integrations a design tool supports determine how well it fits into your existing tech stack. Here is how InVision and Penpot compare in terms of third-party integrations.
Shared integrations (1): Slack. Both tools connect to these popular platforms, so if these are your critical integrations, neither tool has an advantage.
Unique to InVision: Sketch, Photoshop, Jira, Trello, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Google Drive, Zapier.
Unique to Penpot: Git, Storybook, GitHub, GitLab, Taiga, API, Webhooks, SVG import/export, Figma import.
Both platforms support Zapier or similar automation tools, which means you can build custom integrations even if a native connection is not available. When evaluating integrations, focus on the ones your team uses daily rather than the total count.
User Ratings and Community Sentiment
Real user reviews provide invaluable insight beyond feature lists. Here is how the community has rated InVision and Penpot on G2, one of the most trusted software review platforms.
| Metric | InVision | Penpot |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 830 | 210 |
| Years on Market | 15 years (since 2011) | 7 years (since 2019) |
InVision leads with a 4.4/5 G2 rating compared to Penpot's 4.3/5. The 0.1-point gap is meaningful given that both tools have thousands of reviews. InVision's rating is based on 830 reviews, providing strong statistical confidence in the score.
Which Tool Should You Pick? Use-Case Verdicts
The best design tool is not universal -- it depends on your team size, budget, workflow requirements, and existing tech stack. Here are our recommendations for three common scenarios that cover most teams evaluating InVision and Penpot.
Scenario 1: Small Teams and Startups (Under 20 People)
For small teams on a budget, both tools offer competitive free tiers. Penpot may be easier to adopt quickly due to its more focused feature set, reducing onboarding time. However, InVision offers more room to grow as your team scales, with 12 features compared to 12.
Our pick: Penpot -- Faster setup and lower complexity for small teams.
Scenario 2: Mid-Size Companies (20-200 People)
Mid-size teams need robust design with good reporting and integrations. InVision offers integrations with Sketch, Photoshop, Slack, Jira, while Penpot connects to Git, Storybook, GitHub, GitLab. For cross-functional teams, Penpot provides stronger customization options. Both tools handle enterprise-grade workloads, but the InVision's higher G2 rating (4.4/5 from 830 reviews) suggests better overall satisfaction at scale.
Our pick: InVision -- Higher G2 rating (4.4/5) and stronger user satisfaction.
Scenario 3: Enterprise and Software Development Teams
At the enterprise level, integration depth, security, and workflow customization matter most. InVision's enterprise plan (Custom pricing) varies compared to Penpot (Custom pricing (premium support)). For development teams specifically, look at Git integrations: Penpot integrates with GitHub.
Our pick: InVision -- More extensive user base providing better community support and proven reliability.
Final Recommendation: InVision vs Penpot
After analyzing pricing, features, ratings, integrations, and real-world use cases, here is our bottom line on the InVision vs Penpot decision.
Choose InVision if: You want Prototyping, Freehand (whiteboarding), Design system manager, and your team values a focused tool that does fewer things well. InVision's Free (up to 3 documents) entry point makes it accessible to try, and its 10+ integrations ensure it fits into most tech stacks. With 15 years on the market, InVision is the more established option.
Choose Penpot if: You prioritize Vector editing, Prototyping, Components, and your team needs a streamlined tool without unnecessary complexity. At Free (cloud, unlimited) per user per month (pro tier), Penpot delivers strong value for its price point. Though founded more recently in 2019, Penpot has quickly built a strong reputation.
Whichever tool you choose, we recommend starting with the free plan or trial to evaluate how it works with your specific team's workflow. Run a two-week pilot with a small project before making a company-wide commitment. The right design tool is the one your team will actually use consistently -- and that can only be determined through hands-on experience.
Switching Between InVision and Penpot
If you are currently using one tool and considering switching to the other, here are some tips to make the migration smoother. Most design tools support data export in CSV or JSON formats, and both InVision and Penpot offer import functionality.
Start by exporting your current projects, tasks, and custom fields. Map your existing workflow to the new tool's structure before migrating data. Plan for a 2-4 week transition period where both tools run in parallel, and designate team champions to help with adoption. Consider using a third-party migration service if you have complex data structures or a large number of projects to transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is InVision better than Penpot?
InVision has a higher G2 rating (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5 from 830 reviews), but the best tool depends on your needs. InVision stands out for Prototyping, Freehand (whiteboarding), Design system manager, while Penpot excels at Vector editing, Prototyping, Components.
How much does InVision cost compared to Penpot?
InVision's pro plan costs $7.95/user/month (Pro) while Penpot's pro plan costs Free (cloud, unlimited). InVision starts at Free (up to 3 documents) and Penpot starts at Free (self-hosted, unlimited). Enterprise pricing is Custom pricing for InVision and Custom pricing (premium support) for Penpot.
Can InVision and Penpot integrate with each other?
While direct integration varies, both InVision and Penpot connect to common platforms including Slack. Third-party tools like Zapier can bridge any gaps between the two.
Which tool is easier to learn, InVision or Penpot?
InVision (founded 2011) and Penpot (founded 2019) take different approaches to usability. InVision generally has a simpler learning curve with fewer features to master, while Penpot offers more features but may take longer to fully adopt.
What are the main differences between InVision and Penpot?
The key differences are: (1) Pricing -- InVision starts at Free (up to 3 documents) vs Penpot at Free (self-hosted, unlimited). (2) G2 ratings -- InVision has 4.4/5 vs Penpot at 4.3/5. (3) Features -- InVision focuses on Prototyping, Freehand (whiteboarding), Design system manager, while Penpot emphasizes Vector editing, Prototyping, Components. (4) Founded -- InVision (2011) vs Penpot (2019).
How We Compared InVision and Penpot
This comparison is based on publicly available data including G2 user ratings and review counts, official pricing pages, published feature lists, and integration directories. Ratings and pricing data are approximate and were last verified in 2026. We encourage readers to check each tool's official website for the most current information, as pricing and features may change.
Our analysis covers pricing (free, pro, and enterprise tiers), features (22 features compared), integrations (20 total across both tools), user ratings (combined 1,040 G2 reviews), and use-case suitability (small teams, mid-size companies, and enterprises). We aim to provide objective, data-driven comparisons to help you make informed decisions.
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