Penpot vs Photopea
Both Penpot and Photopea are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the design tools 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
Photopea
EU- Headquarters
- Prague, CZ
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Penpot offers a free tier, while photopea 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. Photopea is proprietary, which often means a more polished out-of-the-box experience and dedicated support, but less flexibility for customisation.
- Photopea was founded in 2013, giving it a 8-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 Photopea provides PSD/AI/Sketch file support and Layer-based editing. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Penpot | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Penpot | Photopea |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Madrid, ES | Prague, CZ |
| Data Centers | EU | 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 | ||
| PSD/AI/Sketch file support | ||
| Layer-based editing | ||
| Brushes and filters | ||
| RAW file support | ||
| Vector tools | ||
| Text editing | ||
| Batch processing | ||
| Browser-based (no upload needed) |
Pricing Comparison
Penpot
Freefree / enterprise
Photopea
Freefreemium (ad-supported)
Compliance Comparison
Penpot
GDPRDPA
Photopea
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 Photopea
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Penpot
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Photopea
Penpot vs Photopea — FAQ
What is the main difference between Penpot and Photopea?
Both Penpot and Photopea are European design tools solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Penpot is open source while Photopea is proprietary, and Penpot uses free / enterprise pricing while Photopea uses freemium (ad-supported). Penpot is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, while Photopea is based in Prague, Czechia. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Penpot or Photopea?
Both Penpot and Photopea offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (free / enterprise vs. freemium (ad-supported)), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both Penpot and Photopea GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Penpot and Photopea 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.