2 Free & Open Source Alternatives to Sketch (2026)

Compare 2 free and open-source alternatives to Sketch: Pixso and Pencil Project. Pros, cons, pricing, and screenshots tested 2026.

Sketch

Paid ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

A professional macOS design tool for UI/UX, popular in product teams for its Symbol system.

Paid
2 free options
Design Tools
4 / 5
Why people look for alternatives Sketch requires a paid subscription for full access. Many users seek free or open-source alternatives that offer similar functionality without the ongoing cost or vendor lock-in.
Sketch design software Visit Sketch →

Quick Comparison

Tool Pricing Best for Rating
Pixso
Freemium UI/UX designers, product design teams, and Figma alternatives ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5
Pencil Project
Free & Open Source Quick, free, and open-source GUI prototyping and diagramming for desktop users. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

Detailed Reviews

Pixso

Pixso is a cloud-based UI/UX design and collaboration tool. It offers vector design, prototyping, design system management, and AI-powered features, ideal for product design teams.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.5
Freemium Best for: UI/UX designers, product design teams, and Figma alternatives

Free for personal users indefinitely. Businesses and teams can enjoy a free trial and various paid seat types with monthly/annual pricing.

2 screenshots — click to enlarge

Pixso Design Collaboration Tool Homepage Screenshot 2026 Screenshot 1
Pixso Pricing Plans 2026 Screenshot 2

✓ Pros

  • Smoother team collaboration with real-time editing
  • Extensive file compatibility including Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD
  • AI-powered design tools for intelligent UI creation
  • Centralized design system management

✕ Cons

  • May have a learning curve for users accustomed to other design platforms.
  • Requires a stable internet connection for optimal cloud-based collaboration.

Pencil Project

A free and open-source GUI prototyping tool for creating mockups and diagrams on desktop platforms. It allows users to design interfaces using various built-in shapes and export them to multiple formats.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0
Free & Open Source Best for: Quick, free, and open-source GUI prototyping and diagramming for desktop users.

Always free, open-source with GNU General Public License v3.0.

✓ Pros

  • Free and open-source
  • Easy to use for quick mockups and wireframing
  • Available on multiple desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Includes a wide range of built-in shape collections for desktop and mobile UI (Android, iOS)
  • Supports diagram drawing and flowcharts
  • Exports designs to various formats (PNG, SVG, HTML, PDF, ODT)
  • Ability to find and import cliparts from the internet
  • Supports inter-page linking to define UI flow

✕ Cons

  • Limited tools for creating custom shapes easily
  • User experience can sometimes feel underwhelming
  • Not as feature-rich as some commercial mockup tools
  • Difficulty in switching pages between different projects without manual file editing
  • Potentially limited community support compared to commercial alternatives
  • No browser-based version, only a desktop application

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