Penpot vs Stark
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
The verdict
Both Penpot and Stark are credible ui ux design tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Penpot — The open-source design tool.
Stark — Accessibility tools for design teams.
Penpot vs Stark: side by side
| Dimension | Penpot | Stark |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | Free – $15/user/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Open source | Freemium |
| Best for | Designers, Developers | Designers, Product Teams |
| Platforms | Web, Self Hosted | Web, Mac, Windows |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
Penpot key facts
- Vendor
- Penpot
- Pricing
- Open source — Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Self Hosted
- Best for
- Designers, Developers
- Editor rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Barcelona, Spain
Stark key facts
- Vendor
- Stark
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $15/user/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mac, Windows
- Best for
- Designers, Product Teams
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- New York, NY, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Penpot better than Stark?
Neither is universally better — Stark edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Penpot or Stark cheaper?
Penpot is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free. Penpot starts at free; Stark starts at free – $15/user/mo.
Can Penpot replace Stark?
Yes for most teams — both are ui ux design tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.