Adobe XD alternatives
Killing $9.99-22.99/mo (~$120/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
the answer medium migration
Penpot · Free / self-host free ⭐ 59.1K stars Free UI design + prototyping with developer-friendly handoff.
you stop paying $9.99-22.99/mo → keep ~$120/yr
head-to-head
| Adobe XD | Penpot | |
|---|---|---|
| price | $9.99-22.99/mo | Free / self-host free |
| self-hostable | no | yes |
| license | proprietary | MPL-2.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
| migration | — | medium effort |
free & open source (1)
cheaper, but not open source (1)
Figma (free tier) cheaper
Free
XD's natural successor — free plan covers most individual work.
trade-offs: 3 files limit on free plan
faq
What is the best free alternative to Adobe XD?
Penpot is the top free option — Free UI design + prototyping with developer-friendly handoff.
How much can I save by switching from Adobe XD?
Adobe XD costs $9.99-22.99/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $120/year per seat.
Can Adobe XD be self-hosted?
Yes — Penpot can be self-hosted for free.