Free alternatives to Figma
4 free programs that can replace Figma, each pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
Figma is a design tool that runs in the browser. Designers, product teams and developers use it to lay out app and website screens, build clickable prototypes, keep shared libraries of components and comment on work together. It is an online service with subscription plans, so your files live in the vendor's cloud.
Before switching, check these points:
- Native Figma files usually cannot be opened directly by other programs. Plan to export what you need as SVG, PNG or PDF and rebuild the rest.
- Test the features you use every day, such as components, variants, automatic layout and prototype links, in a real project.
- Check your plugins and the way developers receive measurements, colors and assets from your designs.
- If clients or colleagues send you Figma links, find out how you will view, comment on and return that work.
- Make sure your fonts are available in the new tool.
Penpot and Excalidraw are among the options in the list below. They suit different kinds of design work, so match each one to your own.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExcalidrawDraw diagrams, sketches and screen layouts in your browser in a hand-drawn style, and share the same board with other people. | Ease Adownload and open · Web | Nothing extra | Few signals | 134,938+322 in 5 days | 34 |
| PenpotDesign and prototype screens in the browser, with real-time teamwork, and keep the files on your own server. | Ease Adownload and open · Web | Nothing extra | Few signals | 61,932+262 in 6 days | — |
| Diagram DesignAn add-on for AI assistants that turns a plain request into a tidy diagram saved as one HTML file you can open. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Other tools, Node.js | Few signals | 63,485+2,107 in 5 days | — |
| Dimensional DrawingTeaches an AI coding agent to turn a piece of your app's interface into a one-page measured technical drawing. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Node.js, FFmpeg, Other tools | Few signals | 1,681+429 in 4 days | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to Figma is the easiest to install?
Excalidraw has the highest ease rating among the 4 options: A (download and open · Web).
Is there a free alternative to Figma for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: Diagram Design, Dimensional Drawing. macOS: Diagram Design, Dimensional Drawing. Linux: Penpot, Diagram Design, Dimensional Drawing.
Are the alternatives to Figma really free?
0 of the 4 are completely free; 4 depend on a paid service or key for some features.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. 4 of the 4 have no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.