Stacks / Docs
Easy
Penpot
Self-host the design file. Penpot is the open-source product-design tool: boards, components, prototypes — Figma and Canva without the seat.
The problem
Figma Professional is a Full-seat meter on every designer. Canva is a brand kit in someone else's building. Penpot is MPL-2.0, self-hostable, and still getting commits. You keep SVG-native files you can actually export.
Replaces
Figma / Canva
Estimated SaaS saved
$1,920
per year, small team, before lock-in
Start on RailwayPlaceholder: Penpot (frontend + backend + Postgres + Redis + object storage). A volume for assets. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway.
The stack
- Penpot
Open-source design and prototyping platform
Cost table
| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---|---|
| Figma Professional (10 Full seats) | $1,920 | Penpot on Railway |
| Canva paid seats | $1,200 | Same Penpot box |
Agent setup prompt
Replace Figma or Canva with self-hosted Penpot. - Follow Penpot's compose: frontend, backend, Postgres, Redis, and object storage or a volume for assets. - Bind HTTP to 0.0.0.0:$PORT. Set the public URL. Disable public registration after the first admin. - Import one Figma file (Penpot's importer) or rebuild the one library that actually ships. - Write AGENT_PROMPT.md and a cost table vs Figma Professional Full seats.
Also as markdown: /stacks/penpot-design.md
FAQ
- Will this open .fig files?
- Penpot imports from Figma. Treat it as a cutover, not a pixel-perfect clone of every plugin. Most teams move the library they still edit and leave archived Figma files alone.
- Why not Canva's free tier?
- Free Canva is a vendor account. Penpot is files on your disk. Pick Penpot when the brand kit cannot live in someone else's login.