Closest to Sketch
Penpot is the most complete: a browser-based design and prototyping platform with design systems, tokens, flexible layouts, and developer handoff that generates CSS, HTML, SVG, and JSON. It can be self-hosted.
Alternatives / Sketch
6 open-source alternatives
6 Best Open Source Sketch Alternatives in 2026
Looking for an open source Sketch alternative? We compared 6 open source design tools by license, platforms, Figma compatibility, and maintenance. Penpot is the closest for UI design, Inkscape is the classic vector editor, and OpenPencil, Grida, Graphite, and Quant-UX are younger or more specialized.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
Best Sketch alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Penpot | Browser-based design and prototyping | MPL-2.0 |
| Graphite | Node-based vector editor (alpha) | MIT OR Apache-2.0 |
| OpenPencil | Figma-compatible editor | MIT |
| Inkscape | Mature vector graphics editor | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Grida | Open canvas with Figma import | Apache-2.0 |
| Quant-UX | Prototyping and user testing | GPL-3.0 |
How we chose these Sketch alternatives
We looked for open-source tools that design interfaces and vector graphics like Sketch. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository. Unlike Sketch, most are cross-platform or browser-based. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Figma-compatible tools
OpenPencil opens .fig files natively with a Figma-compatible editor, a headless CLI, and peer-to-peer collaboration. Grida is an open canvas editor with Figma import and export, AI tools, and an embeddable React component.
Vector and prototyping
Inkscape is a mature cross-platform vector editor with SVG as its native format and no subscription or telemetry. Graphite is a node-based vector and procedural graphics editor that is still in alpha. Quant-UX focuses on prototyping, usability testing, and analytics rather than pure visual design.
License details
Penpot is MPL-2.0. OpenPencil is MIT. Graphite is MIT or Apache-2.0. Inkscape is GPL-2.0 or later. Grida is Apache-2.0. Quant-UX is GPL-3.0.
Maintenance status
All six had commits within days of this update. Graphite is in alpha and does not yet support raster editing or live collaboration.
Why look for a Sketch alternative?
Sketch is a proprietary app available only on macOS, sold by subscription, with plugins and collaboration tied to its ecosystem. Open-source tools run on any operating system, avoid subscriptions, and keep files in open formats, but few have Sketch's plugin ecosystem.
penpot.app
Penpot is an MPL-2.0 browser-based design platform for collaborative interface design, prototypes, components, design systems, responsive layouts, design tokens, and developer handoff. It can be self-hosted and uses open standards such as SVG, CSS, HTML, and JSON.
61.2K4.2KMPL-2.0Self-hosted
Pricing: Open source and self-hostable under MPL-2.0; hosted plans may be available separately.
- Fully open source
- Browser-based and self-hostable
- Vector editing, prototypes, components, and design systems
- More focused on UI/UX than social graphics
- Smaller template ecosystem than Canva
- Fewer ready-made marketing assets
graphite.rs
Graphite is an MIT/Apache-2.0 graphics editor combining traditional layers with procedural nodes. It runs in the browser and is evolving toward a broader 2D content-creation platform for illustration, graphic design, motion, image editing, and publishing workflows.
27.6K1.3KMIT OR Apache-2.0
Pricing: Free and open source under MIT or Apache-2.0; the project is actively developing its broader desktop and local workflows.
- Dual MIT/Apache-2.0 license
- Vector and raster editing
- Nondestructive layers and node-based procedural design
- Still in active development
- Limited templates and stock media
- Collaboration is less mature and the workflow is less beginner-oriented
openpencil.dev
OpenPencil is an MIT design editor focused on direct .fig file support, copy/paste interoperability with Figma, AI tools, MCP, a headless CLI, SDKs, and peer-to-peer collaboration.
9K923MITSelf-hosted
Pricing: Free and open source under MIT; verify current project hosting and builds.
- Native .fig support
- Figma copy/paste interoperability
- AI, MCP, CLI, SDK, and P2P collaboration
- Very young project
- Smaller community
- Feature coverage is still evolving
inkscape.org
Inkscape is a mature, GPL-2.0-or-later vector graphics editor for Linux, Windows, and macOS, with Bézier and Spiro curves, a node editor, a text tool, and broad import and export support, using SVG as its native format. It is developed on GitLab, and the GitHub repository is a mirror. It does not match every niche Adobe Illustrator feature, and raster editing and video work need other software.
4K298GPL-2.0-or-laterDesktop app
Pricing: Free and open source.
- Mature and widely used vector editor
- SVG as the native format
- Runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS
- Not a collaborative design platform
- Raster editing and video need other tools
quant-ux.com
Quant-UX is a GPL-3.0 prototyping platform focused on interactive UI widgets, user testing, behavioral analytics, and data-driven UX research with self-hosting and Docker support.
2.7K291GPL-3.0Self-hosted
Pricing: Free and self-hostable under GPL-3.0.
- Interactive prototypes
- User testing and behavioral analytics
- Self-hosting and Docker deployment
- Less suited to polished visual design
- Not a full design-system platform
- Smaller component ecosystem
grida.co
Grida is an Apache-2.0 canvas and application-building platform combining UI/UX design, SVG editing, forms, databases, AI tools, developer SDKs, and design-to-code workflows.
2.7K150Apache-2.0Self-hosted
Pricing: Free and open source under Apache-2.0; hosted services may be offered separately.
- Canvas and UI/UX design
- Forms, databases, and AI workflows
- Developer SDK and design-to-code orientation
- Broader than Figma
- Collaboration is less mature
- Some workflows are developer-oriented
Compare Sketch alternatives
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penpot | UI design | MPL-2.0 | Yes | Closest replacement |
| Graphite | Vector editor | MIT or Apache-2.0 | Local in browser | Procedural graphics |
| OpenPencil | UI design | MIT | Peer-to-peer | Opening .fig files |
| Inkscape | Vector editor | GPL-2.0+ | Desktop app | Illustration |
| Grida | UI design | Apache-2.0 | Yes | Embedded design editors |
| Quant-UX | Prototyping | GPL-3.0 | Yes | UX research |
Which one should you choose?
Want a collaborative UI design tool
Penpot offers design systems, tokens, prototyping, and developer handoff in the browser.
Want to open Figma files
OpenPencil opens .fig files natively and supports Figma plugins.
Want classic vector illustration
Inkscape is a mature SVG editor with extensions and no subscription.
Want to test prototypes with users
Quant-UX adds usability testing with heatmaps and surveys to prototyping.