What is the main difference between Graphite and Penpot?

Graphite and Penpot are both online design tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Graphite or Penpot?

The choice between Graphite and Penpot depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Graphite to Penpot?

Migration between Graphite and Penpot is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Graphite vs Penpot

Learn how Graphite and Penpot differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these online design tools is best for you.

Graphite

A free, open source vector graphics editor built around nondestructive, node-based design. Runs locally in the browser, exports SVG, PNG, and JPG.

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Stars
26,495
Forks
1,212
Last commit
1 hour ago
Repository age
6 years
License
Apache-2.0

Activity score

94/100

View Repository

Penpot

Design, prototype, and hand off to developers in one platform. Supports design systems, tokens, flexible layouts, and AI workflows with real CSS/HTML output.

Visit Penpot Read more

Stars
55,395
Forks
3,632
Last commit
7 hours ago
Repository age
11 years
License
MPL-2.0
Self-hosted
Yes

Activity score

97/100

View Repository

Detailed Comparison

Penpot appears to have several advantages over Graphite, particularly in popularity, maturity and features. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Penpot wins

Community & Popularity

Penpot leads in popularity with 55,395 stars vs 26,495 stars for Graphite. The 109% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, Penpot has 3,632 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Graphite last updated 1 hour ago and Penpot 7 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with JavaScript, Bash, Typescript, SCSS, Rust. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: Penpot leverages CSS, JSX, Python, Java, Lua, Clojure.

Penpot wins

Project Maturity

Penpot has been in development longer, starting 11 years ago, compared to Graphite which began 6 years ago. This 4.4-year head start suggests Penpot may have more mature features and established processes.

Comparable

Licensing

The projects use different licenses: Graphite is licensed under Apache-2.0 while Penpot uses MPL-2.0. Consider the licensing requirements when choosing for your project.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Online Design. However, they also have distinct specializations: Graphite also focuses on Whiteboarding while Penpot extends into UI/UX Design.

Penpot wins

Hosting & Deployment

Penpot provides self-hosting options for complete data control and customization, while Graphite may be primarily cloud-based or require different deployment approaches.

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