# Figma Alternatives for Indie Makers: Free and Cheap Picks

> Figma alternatives for indie makers in 2026: Penpot, Lunacy, Affinity, Sketch, Framer and more, with verified prices, licences and picks by situation.

- Canonical: https://zeroraised.com/blog/figma-alternatives-for-indie-makers
- Published: 2026-11-11T07:30:00Z
- Author: ZeroRaised Team (https://zeroraised.com/blog/authors/zeroraised)
- Publisher: ZeroRaised (https://zeroraised.com/)
- Section: Building
- Tags: design, alternatives, developer-tools, comparison

**Verdict:** For most indie makers the best Figma alternative is Penpot: it is open source, free on its cloud plan, runs in the browser and can take your existing Figma files through a plugin. If you prefer a native desktop app, Lunacy (Windows, macOS, Linux) and Affinity (Windows, macOS, iPadOS) are both free, and if you are on a Mac and want a one-off purchase, Sketch sells a $120 licence.

Every price, limit and licence below comes from the vendor's own page, checked on 11 Nov 2026. The picks and the cost maths are ours and are marked as such.

## TL;DR

- **Figma's free plan is tight.** Starter is "A single team with one folder and 3 files" with 30 days of version history ([Figma plans and features](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040328273-Figma-plans-and-features)). Professional is $16/mo per Full seat with annual billing selected ([Figma pricing](https://www.figma.com/pricing/)).
- **Penpot** is the closest swap: $0 Professional plan, MPL-2.0 open source, self-hostable, Inspect tab with CSS, SVG and HTML ([Penpot pricing](https://penpot.app/pricing), [Penpot vs Figma](https://penpot.app/penpot-vs-figma)).
- **Lunacy** is free design software "for Windows, macOS, Linux" with offline mode ([Lunacy](https://icons8.com/lunacy)).
- **Affinity** is "free for individuals (seriously)", with a free Canva account required ([Affinity](https://www.affinity.studio/)).
- **Sketch** has no free plan: $12 per editor per month billed yearly, or $120 for a Mac-only licence ([Sketch pricing](https://www.sketch.com/pricing/)).
- **Landing page only?** Skip the design tool and use Framer, which has a free plan and paid site plans from $10/mo ([Framer pricing](https://www.framer.com/pricing)).

**Disclosure:** ZeroRaised publishes this guide and is a launch site for bootstrapped products. ZeroRaised has no commercial relationship with any tool named here and earns nothing if you sign up. Facts come from the linked sources as checked on 11 Nov 2026.

## What Figma costs a solo founder today

Before switching, it is worth knowing exactly what you are switching away from. Figma's [pricing page](https://www.figma.com/pricing/) shows three seat types on the Professional plan, with annual billing selected by default:

| Figma seat (Professional) | Price shown (annual billing) | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Full seat | $16/mo | Figma Design and the rest of the suite, 3,000 AI credits/mo |
| Dev seat | $12/mo | Dev Mode, 500 AI credits/mo |
| Collab seat | $3/mo | FigJam and lighter collaboration, 500 AI credits/mo |

Figma's FAQ notes that seats added mid-term on a Professional annual plan are billed "at the monthly price", so check the Monthly toggle on the page if you do not want to commit for a year.

The free Starter plan includes "Unlimited drafts", "UI kits and templates" and up to 500 AI credits a month, but the help centre lists its file organisation as "A single team with one folder and 3 files" and version history at "30 days" ([Figma plans and features](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040328273-Figma-plans-and-features)).

Our read: three team files is enough for one small app. It stops being enough when you also need a landing page, OG images and app store screenshots, which is when most indie makers either pay $192 a year or look around.

## Figma alternatives compared

| Tool | Price (from the vendor's page) | Platform | Real-time collaboration | Dev handoff / code | Open source | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Penpot](https://penpot.app/pricing) | $0 Professional; Unlimited $7/editor/mo, capped at $175/mo | Browser, or self-host | Yes | Inspect tab: CSS, SVG, HTML | Yes, MPL-2.0 | Code-first founders, anyone leaving Figma |
| [Lunacy](https://icons8.com/lunacy) | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Not verified | Not verified | No | Native app on a modest laptop, Linux users |
| [Affinity](https://www.affinity.studio/) | Free for individuals; Canva AI tools need a premium Canva plan | Windows, macOS, iPadOS | Not stated | Not verified | No | Marketing graphics, illustration, print |
| [Sketch](https://www.sketch.com/pricing/) | $12/editor/mo billed yearly; $120 Mac-only licence | Mac app, web app, iPhone/iPad viewer | On Standard, not on the Mac-only licence | Not covered here | No | Mac-only solo designers who want to own a licence |
| [Framer](https://www.framer.com/pricing) | Free (non-commercial); Basic $10/mo; Pro $30/mo | Browser | Extra editors $20/mo | Publishes the live site | No | Landing pages and marketing sites |
| [Excalidraw](https://plus.excalidraw.com/pricing) | Free; Excalidraw+ $6/user/mo | Browser | Unlimited collaborators on free | No | Not covered here | Rough flows and diagrams |
| [tldraw](https://www.tldraw.com/) | Free whiteboard | Browser | Yes ("collaborative whiteboarding") | No | Not covered here | Sketching ideas with a co-founder |
| [Balsamiq](https://balsamiq.com/buy/) | Starter $16/editor/mo billed annually ($192/yr); 14-day trial | Browser | Not covered here | No | No | Low-fidelity wireframes |
| [Uizard](https://uizard.io/pricing/) | Free (3 AI generations/mo, 2 projects); Pro $12/mo billed annually | Browser | Not covered here | Not covered here | No | Non-designers generating first mockups |
| [v0](https://v0.app/pricing) | Free (7 messages per day limit); Business $100/user/mo | Browser | Not covered here | Generates code | No | Skipping the mockup and going straight to React |

"Not verified" or "not covered" means we did not confirm it on the vendor's page today, not that it is missing.

## The alternatives, one by one

### Penpot: the like-for-like replacement

Penpot is the one tool on this list that is a browser-based UI design tool, open source, and free at the same time. The repository's README states that the code "is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0" ([Penpot on GitHub](https://github.com/penpot/penpot)).

On the [pricing page](https://penpot.app/pricing), the Professional plan is "$0" per user per month and is described as "Free and fully featured. No limits, no missing tools." The paid Unlimited plan is "$7" per editor per month and "Capped at $175 per month, no matter your team size." The page lists storage tiers of up to 10GB and up to 25GB on its cloud plans, so check which applies before uploading heavy assets.

For developers, the [Penpot vs Figma](https://penpot.app/penpot-vs-figma) page says you can "Get ready-to-use code for all of your designs expressed in SVG, CSS, and HTML", with the Inspect tab available "for every role, no Dev Mode add-on." It also lists real-time collaboration. If you would rather run it yourself, the self-hosting guide offers Docker Compose and Kubernetes, and says "The experience stays the same, whether you use Penpot in the cloud or self-hosted" ([Penpot getting started](https://help.penpot.app/technical-guide/getting-started/)).

Our read: Penpot's Flex and Grid layouts map neatly to how a code-first founder already thinks. It is the default pick unless you want a native app.

### Lunacy: free, native, works offline

Icons8 describes [Lunacy](https://icons8.com/lunacy) as "free graphic design software for Windows, macOS, Linux" that can "Open, edit sketch files". It advertises "Online and offline modes", built-in icons, illustrations and photos, and a "Free, fast, and accurate Figma to .sketch converter."

Our read: Lunacy is the pick if you work on Linux, travel with patchy internet, or simply prefer a desktop app.

### Affinity: free for individuals, best for marketing graphics

Affinity's homepage now says "Affinity is free for individuals (seriously)", and its FAQ says individuals can use the Pixel, Vector and Layout studios "as much as they want, with no restrictions or payment needed" ([Affinity](https://www.affinity.studio/), [Get Affinity](https://www.affinity.studio/get-affinity)). You need a free Canva account to download it. The Canva AI tools inside Affinity, such as generative fill and background removal, require a premium Canva plan. It runs on Windows, macOS and iPadOS.

Our read: Affinity is not a UI tool in the Figma sense. It is a professional photo, vector and layout suite, which makes it the right free tool for launch graphics, social images, illustrations and print, alongside Penpot for the app itself.

### Sketch: pay once on a Mac

[Sketch's pricing page](https://www.sketch.com/pricing/) lists Standard at "$ 12" per editor per month, "billed yearly", and a Mac-only licence at "$ 120" "Per seat, includes one year of updates", which is "Yours to keep, forever." The Mac-only licence excludes collaboration, online sharing and iOS previewing. There is a 30-day trial and free viewers in the browser, but the FAQ is clear: "we have no plans to offer an entirely free plan."

Our read: if you design alone on a Mac and dislike subscriptions, $120 once is the cheapest paid option here over a few years.

### Framer: design where the page ships

If the only thing you design is your marketing site, a separate design tool is an extra step. [Framer's pricing](https://www.framer.com/pricing) lists a Free plan, Basic at $10 per month and Pro at $30 per month, with additional editors at $20 per editor per month. The FAQ says "Our Free plan is ideal for non-commercial use" and that connecting a custom domain needs a paid plan. We compare it in depth in [Framer vs Webflow for indie makers](https://zeroraised.com/blog/framer-vs-webflow-for-indie-makers), and against Carrd and others in [best landing page builders for bootstrapped founders](https://zeroraised.com/blog/best-landing-page-builders-for-bootstrapped-founders).

### Whiteboards and wireframes: Excalidraw, tldraw, Balsamiq

For flows and rough screens, a whiteboard is often enough. Excalidraw is "Free forever" with "Unlimited collaborators", and Excalidraw+ is "$6 a month per user" ([Excalidraw+ pricing](https://plus.excalidraw.com/pricing)). tldraw.com offers "free and instant collaborative whiteboarding" ([tldraw](https://www.tldraw.com/)). Balsamiq Starter is $16 per month per editor, "Billed annually ($192/year)" ([Balsamiq](https://balsamiq.com/buy/)).

### AI generators: Uizard and v0

If you have no design skills at all, AI tools can get you a first draft. Uizard's free plan includes "3 AI generations per month" and "2 projects", and Pro is "$12" per month billed annually with "500 AI generations per month" ([Uizard pricing](https://uizard.io/pricing/)). Vercel's v0 skips the mockup and generates code: the Free plan is $0 with a "7 message/day limit", and paid plans include "$30 of included monthly credits per user", with Business at $100 per user per month ([v0 pricing](https://v0.app/pricing)).

Our read: treat AI output as a starting sketch, not a design system. It is fast for a first landing page, and inconsistent once you need ten screens that look like the same product.

## Our picks by situation

| Your situation | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Code-first founder building a web app | Penpot (free) | CSS-native layouts, Inspect tab, open source |
| Solo designer on a Mac who hates subscriptions | Sketch Mac-only licence ($120) | Pay once, keep it |
| You only need a landing page | Framer (free to build, $10/mo to publish on a custom domain) | Design and publish in one place |
| No design skills, need something today | Uizard free or v0 free, then tidy up in Penpot | Fast first draft |
| Launch graphics, OG images, social posts | Affinity (free) | Pro-grade photo and vector tools at $0 |
| Linux laptop or offline work | Lunacy (free) | Native, offline mode |
| Planning flows with a co-founder | Excalidraw or tldraw (free) | Zero setup |

These are our editorial picks based on the published prices and features above.

## Worked example: a year of design tools for one founder

This is our illustrative maths, using the prices quoted above for one person over 12 months.

| Stack | Year 1 cost |
|---|---|
| Figma Professional, 1 Full seat at $16/mo (annual billing) | $192 |
| Sketch Standard, 1 editor at $12/mo billed yearly | $144 |
| Sketch Mac-only licence | $120 once (includes one year of updates) |
| Penpot Professional + Affinity + Excalidraw | $0 |
| Penpot (free) + Framer Basic at $10/mo for the site | $120 |

Our read: the all-free stack (Penpot for UI, Affinity for graphics, Excalidraw for flows) covers what most pre-revenue makers do. Spend money where it ships something, such as a site plan with a custom domain, before you spend it on a design seat.

## Migrating from Figma to Penpot

Penpot's route is a Figma plugin, not a direct .fig upload. Its [migration guide](https://help.penpot.app/user-guide/first-steps/migration-guide/) points to the Penpot Exporter, which covers "design files, slides, components, variants, auto layout, styles, variables, and libraries." Our checklist, built from Penpot's own warnings:

1. **Audit first.** Penpot's guide notes there are "plugins that will not come along", so list any Figma plugins your files depend on.
2. **Run the Penpot Exporter** from inside Figma on one file at a time. Penpot's [switching guide](https://penpot.app/blog/how-to-make-the-switch-from-figma-to-penpot/) says "very large files can be slow to export."
3. **Import the .penpot file** in Penpot.
4. **Fix layouts.** "Expect some layout cleanup, Figma Auto Layout becomes Flex and Grid in Penpot."
5. **Move static assets separately** by exporting SVG, PNG or JPG from Figma.
6. **Cut over once.** The exporter is "for one-off migration, not continuous sync", so pick a day and stop editing in Figma.

Our read: migrate your active files only. Old explorations can stay in Figma's free drafts.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best free Figma alternative for a solo founder?

For most solo founders it is Penpot. Its Professional cloud plan is $0, it is open source under MPL-2.0, it runs in the browser, it has an Inspect tab that gives CSS, SVG and HTML, and it has a Figma plugin (Penpot Exporter) for moving existing files across. If you want a native desktop app instead, Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is free.

### Is Figma's free plan enough for an indie maker?

It can be for a very small project. Figma's help centre lists the Starter plan as a single team with one folder and 3 files, with 30 days of version history, plus unlimited drafts and 500 AI credits a month. Once you want separate files for your app UI, landing page, launch graphics and app store screenshots, the 3-file limit is usually what pushes you to pay or switch.

### Can I import Figma files into Penpot?

Yes, through a plugin. Penpot's migration guide points to the Penpot Exporter Figma plugin, which covers design files, components, variants, auto layout, styles, variables and libraries. Penpot warns that you should expect some layout cleanup because Figma Auto Layout becomes Flex and Grid in Penpot, and that the exporter is for one-off migration, not continuous sync.

### Is Affinity really free now?

Affinity's own site says it is free for individuals and that its Pixel, Vector and Layout studios can be used with no restrictions or payment. You need a free Canva account to download and activate it, and you need a premium Canva plan only if you want the Canva AI tools inside Affinity. It runs on Windows, macOS and iPadOS.

### Is Sketch cheaper than Figma for one person?

On published prices, slightly. Sketch Standard is $12 per editor per month billed yearly, against $16/mo for a Figma Professional Full seat on annual billing. Sketch also sells a $120 Mac-only licence that includes one year of updates and is yours to keep, but it excludes collaboration and online sharing. Sketch has no free plan apart from free viewers and education.

## Ship what you designed

Once the screens are done, the hard part is getting them in front of people. Work through our [product launch checklist for bootstrapped makers](https://zeroraised.com/blog/product-launch-checklist-for-bootstrapped-makers), then [submit your product to ZeroRaised](https://zeroraised.com/submit) for free. For more tool comparisons for founders building without investors, [join the ZeroRaised newsletter](https://zeroraised.com/newsletter).

## Sources

- [Figma pricing](https://www.figma.com/pricing/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Figma plans and features (help centre)](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040328273-Figma-plans-and-features), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Penpot pricing](https://penpot.app/pricing), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Penpot on GitHub (licence)](https://github.com/penpot/penpot), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Penpot vs Figma](https://penpot.app/penpot-vs-figma), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Penpot self-hosting: getting started](https://help.penpot.app/technical-guide/getting-started/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Penpot migration guide](https://help.penpot.app/user-guide/first-steps/migration-guide/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Penpot: how to make the switch from Figma](https://penpot.app/blog/how-to-make-the-switch-from-figma-to-penpot/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Lunacy by Icons8](https://icons8.com/lunacy), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Affinity](https://www.affinity.studio/) and [Get Affinity](https://www.affinity.studio/get-affinity), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Sketch pricing](https://www.sketch.com/pricing/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Framer pricing](https://www.framer.com/pricing), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Excalidraw+ pricing](https://plus.excalidraw.com/pricing), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [tldraw](https://www.tldraw.com/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Balsamiq pricing](https://balsamiq.com/buy/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [Uizard pricing](https://uizard.io/pricing/), last checked 11 Nov 2026
- [v0 pricing](https://v0.app/pricing), last checked 11 Nov 2026

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best free Figma alternative for a solo founder?

For most solo founders it is Penpot. Its Professional cloud plan is $0, it is open source under MPL-2.0, it runs in the browser, it has an Inspect tab that gives CSS, SVG and HTML, and it has a Figma plugin (Penpot Exporter) for moving existing files across. If you want a native desktop app instead, Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is free.

### Is Figma's free plan enough for an indie maker?

It can be for a very small project. Figma's help centre lists the Starter plan as a single team with one folder and 3 files, with 30 days of version history, plus unlimited drafts and 500 AI credits a month. Once you want separate files for your app UI, landing page, launch graphics and app store screenshots, the 3-file limit is usually what pushes you to pay or switch.

### Can I import Figma files into Penpot?

Yes, through a plugin. Penpot's migration guide points to the Penpot Exporter Figma plugin, which covers design files, components, variants, auto layout, styles, variables and libraries. Penpot warns that you should expect some layout cleanup because Figma Auto Layout becomes Flex and Grid in Penpot, and that the exporter is for one-off migration, not continuous sync.

### Is Affinity really free now?

Affinity's own site says it is free for individuals and that its Pixel, Vector and Layout studios can be used with no restrictions or payment. You need a free Canva account to download and activate it, and you need a premium Canva plan only if you want the Canva AI tools inside Affinity. It runs on Windows, macOS and iPadOS.

### Is Sketch cheaper than Figma for one person?

On published prices, slightly. Sketch Standard is $12 per editor per month billed yearly, against $16/mo for a Figma Professional Full seat on annual billing. Sketch also sells a $120 Mac-only licence that includes one year of updates and is yours to keep, but it excludes collaboration and online sharing. Sketch has no free plan apart from free viewers and education.