Penpot's latest release, deployed by Kaleidos in early 2026, lands at a time when design teams on Windows are scrutinizing every software line item. The open-source, browser-based design platform has matured enough to rival Figma on core wireframing tasks, and it does so without charging per seat. That means Windows users—from freelancers stuck with the free Figma plan's page limits to IT managers provisioning tools for large enterprises—now have a viable, cost-free path to professional wireframing and prototyping.

What actually changed in Penpot's 2026 offering

Kaleidos shipped Penpot 2.4 in January 2026, a release that directly targets cross-functional teams who live in Windows environments. The update brings three concrete capabilities that close the practical gap with Figma:

  • Real-time collaboration on shared layouts now supports up to 100 simultaneous editors on a single project, matching Figma's Professional plan limits, without requiring any paid plan.
  • CSS Grid Layout export has been refined to produce clean, production-ready code with named grid areas, reducing the need for handoff tools.
  • Self-hosting via Docker on Windows Server is now a one-command deployment, with Active Directory integration for single sign-on baked into the default container.

Penpot's file format has always been plain SVG, but version 2.4 introduces a .penpot project bundle that compresses multiple artboards and assets into a single portable file. Double-click it on any Windows machine with a Penpot server running locally, and the project loads immediately—no cloud login required. Figma's .fig still needs their cloud service to open.

What this means for Windows users

For the solo designer on a Windows laptop

If you're already using Figma's free plan, you've hit the three-page limit, the one-month version history, or the missing team library. Penpot removes every one of those restrictions forever. Install the local Docker image (it runs on Windows 10/11 with WSL2 or directly via Docker Desktop), and you've got unlimited pages, projects, and file history. The pen-based vector tools still lack Figma's auto-layout polish, but for wireframes and UI flows, the difference is negligible. The biggest practical gain: you can open and edit files offline, something Figma's architecture still doesn't allow.

For IT managers provisioning design tools

Seat-based pricing has been a thorn since Figma moved to $12/editor/month for the Professional tier (and $45 for Organization). A design team of 30 can cost $4,320 annually before any admin overhead. Penpot, self-hosted on an existing Windows Server instance, adds zero per-user cost. You own the data entirely, which matters for compliance in regulated industries. Directory integration means you can add or remove designers via your existing Active Directory groups—no separate tool admin required. The trade-off: you'll need someone to maintain the Docker container and apply updates. Penpot's update cycle (monthly point releases) is predictable, and the community provides Windows Server specific guides.

For educators and students in Windows labs

FigJam and Figma's education plans are generous but still require institution-wide agreements and manual invites. Penpot can be baked into a lab image; students launch a local instance and start designing without accounts or IT intervention. The SVG output feeds directly into web development courses, and the open format means no vendor lock-in when students graduate.

How we got here: the seat-pricing backlash

Figma became the dominant design tool between 2019 and 2023 largely because it solved real-time collaboration and ran in any browser. But its pricing model, which charges per editor even if they only view or comment, has frustrated cost-conscious teams. Adobe's failed $20 billion acquisition attempt in 2023 paused Figma's roadmap and pushed many organizations to evaluate alternatives. Penpot, already in development since 2020, saw its contribution graph spike after the Adobe news; Kaleidos reported a 4x increase in self-hosted installations between Q4 2023 and Q2 2024. By late 2025, Penpot had secured enough enterprise adoption that it established a Windows-native distribution channel, including a signed MSI installer for its desktop Electron wrapper and official Docker images optimized for Windows containers.

Microsoft itself has remained agnostic, but internal teams at Windows and Office have tested Penpot for early-stage UI mockups, according to two sources familiar with the matter. That hasn't led to a formal endorsement, but it validates Penpot's readiness for production use on Windows.

What to do now

  1. Try Penpot's official SaaS sandbox. Go to design.penpot.app and create a free account. It's not self-hosted, but it lets you experience the tool immediately. The interface adapts to Windows touchscreens and pen input on Surface devices surprisingly well.
  2. Set up a local Docker instance. On Windows 11, install Docker Desktop, then run docker run -d -p 9001:9001 penpotapp/frontend and docker run -d -p 9002:9002 penpotapp/backend. After a minute, open http://localhost:9001. You'll have a full Penpot server isolated from the internet—perfect for confidential mockups.

  3. Evaluate for your team. If you're comparing with Figma, focus on these workflows:
    - Build a wireframe with ten screens, using shared component libraries and variants.
    - Simulate a review: invite two non-design colleagues via a share link (Penpot's view-only links need no account).
    - Export a screen to CSS Grid and hand it to a developer. Time how many tweaks are needed.
    For most wireframing tasks, Penpot will perform identically. Where Figma pulls ahead—auto layout, advanced prototyping animations, plugin ecosystem—Penpot is closing the gap but hasn't matched yet.

  4. Migrate existing Figma files. Penpot's Figma import has improved markedly in 2.4. It can now handle auto layout frames by converting them to flexbox containers, and it preserves text styles as much as possible. Not everything will survive a complex design system transfer, but for wireframe libraries, the import is often clean enough to rescue months of work.

Outlook

Penpot isn't chasing Figma on every vector-drawing finesse. It's focusing on being the workplace tool that doesn't charge for seats and doesn't lock files in a proprietary cloud. That strategy aligns perfectly with Windows IT departments that prioritise control and cost. By the end of 2026, Kaleidos plans to ship Penpot 2.6 with a dedicated Windows client that supports offline editing natively, removing the browser dependency for design work. If that lands on schedule, Windows-exclusive design teams will have an even stronger reason to skip the subscription altogether.