Penpot vs Doodle
Both Penpot and Doodle are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the team collaboration space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Penpot
EU- Headquarters
- Madrid, ES
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Doodle
EU- Headquarters
- Zurich, CH
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Penpot offers a free tier, while doodle offers a free tier. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- Penpot is open source, meaning you can audit the code, self-host, and avoid vendor lock-in. Doodle is proprietary, which often means a more polished out-of-the-box experience and dedicated support, but less flexibility for customisation.
- Data residency differs: Penpot hosts data in EU, while Doodle hosts in Switzerland, EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Doodle was founded in 2007, giving it a 14-year head start over Penpot (founded 2021). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Penpot offers Real-time collaboration and Interactive prototyping, while Doodle provides Group polls and 1:1 meeting scheduling. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Penpot | Doodle |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Penpot | Doodle |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Madrid, ES | Zurich, CH |
| Data Centers | EU | CH, EU |
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| Interactive prototyping | ||
| Component libraries | ||
| Design tokens | ||
| Flex and Grid layout | ||
| SVG native format | ||
| CSS inspect panel | ||
| Plugin system | ||
| Self-hosting option | ||
| Group polls | ||
| 1:1 meeting scheduling | ||
| Booking pages | ||
| Calendar integration | ||
| Time zone support | ||
| Custom branding | ||
| Admin dashboard | ||
| Reminders | ||
| Mobile apps |
Pricing Comparison
Penpot
Freefree / enterprise
Doodle
Freefreemium
Compliance Comparison
Penpot
GDPRDPA
Doodle
GDPRDPA
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How to Choose
You need code transparency or self-hosting
Choose Penpot
You want a fully managed, turnkey solution
Choose Doodle
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Doodle
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Penpot
Penpot vs Doodle — FAQ
What is the main difference between Penpot and Doodle?
Both Penpot and Doodle are European team collaboration solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Penpot is open source while Doodle is proprietary, and Penpot uses free / enterprise pricing while Doodle uses freemium. Penpot is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, while Doodle is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Penpot or Doodle?
Both Penpot and Doodle offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (free / enterprise vs. freemium), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both Penpot and Doodle GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Penpot and Doodle are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.