Penpot vs Nuclino
Both Penpot and Nuclino 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
Nuclino
EU- Headquarters
- Munich, DE
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Penpot offers a free tier, while nuclino 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. Nuclino 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 Nuclino hosts in Germany. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Nuclino was founded in 2015, giving it a 6-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 Interactive prototyping and Component libraries, while Nuclino provides Nested pages and Graph view. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Penpot | Nuclino |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Penpot | Nuclino |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Madrid, ES | Munich, DE |
| Data Centers | EU | DE |
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| Interactive prototyping | ||
| Component libraries | ||
| Design tokens | ||
| Flex and Grid layout | ||
| SVG native format | ||
| CSS inspect panel | ||
| Plugin system | ||
| Self-hosting option | ||
| Nested pages | ||
| Graph view | ||
| Kanban boards | ||
| List and table views | ||
| Markdown support | ||
| Search | ||
| Integrations | ||
| API access |
Pricing Comparison
Penpot
Freefree / enterprise
Nuclino
Freefreemium
Compliance Comparison
Penpot
GDPRDPA
Nuclino
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 Nuclino
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Penpot
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Nuclino
Penpot vs Nuclino — FAQ
What is the main difference between Penpot and Nuclino?
Both Penpot and Nuclino are European team collaboration solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Penpot is open source while Nuclino is proprietary, and Penpot uses free / enterprise pricing while Nuclino uses freemium. Penpot is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, while Nuclino is based in Munich, Germany. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Penpot or Nuclino?
Both Penpot and Nuclino 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 Nuclino GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Penpot and Nuclino 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.