OpenPencil
A free, local-first design editor that opens .fig files natively, offers built-in AI assistance, and allows full programmability via SDK. No account or server required.
OpenPencil is an open-source alternative to:
OpenPencil
OpenPencil is a free, open-source design editor that opens Figma files natively while providing built-in AI tools and full programmability. It serves as both a standalone application and a toolkit for building custom editors.
Key Features
- Figma-Compatible: Opens .fig files natively with round-trip fidelity using Kiwi binary codec. Supports copy & paste between Figma and OpenPencil.
- Programmable: Headless CLI for inspecting, exporting, and analyzing .fig files. Supports Figma Plugin API via eval, Tailwind CSS export, and JSON output for CI/automation.
- Toolkit Approach: Build custom editing surfaces with the Vue SDK, embed OpenPencil into other products, or create workflow-specific editors around the same core.
- AI-Native: Built-in chat with 90 tools for creating shapes, setting styles, managing layouts, and analyzing tokens. Includes MCP server for integration with Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.
- Open Source: Released under MIT license with full transparency—edit the editor, engine, file codec, and CLI.
- Free & Local: No account, server, or internet required. Available as a ~7MB desktop app via Homebrew or as a web app.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Peer-to-peer collaboration via WebRTC with live cursors and follow mode—no server needed.
Tech / Self-Hosting
OpenPencil is designed for local-first usage with optional real-time collaboration. The desktop app is available via Homebrew, and the web app can be self-hosted. The entire stack is open-source under the MIT license, allowing for full customization and self-hosting capabilities.