OSI-licensed only · self-hostable
Sketch is a vector design tool for interface work: artboards, reusable symbols, shared styles and prototyping. It is a proprietary Mac app, so the open-source options split the job. Penpot is the closest match for team UI design, while others cover vector drawing, wireframes or prototype testing.
Every tool below is under an OSI-approved licence (MPL-2.0, Apache-2.0, MIT, GPL), checked against its repository. Unlike Sketch, none of them is limited to macOS in the same way: Penpot runs in the browser and can be self-hosted.
Licences checked against each repository on November 7, 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Licence | Runs as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penpot | Closest overall Sketch replacement for teams | MPL-2.0 | Docker |
| Graphite | Vector and raster graphics in one editor | Apache-2.0 | Desktop + server |
| SVG-Edit | Embedding a vector editor in your own app | MIT | Server |
| Pencil | Quick GUI wireframes and diagrams | GPL-2.0 | Desktop app |
| Quant-UX | Prototyping with usability testing | GPL-3.0 | Docker |
| Excalidraw | Hand-drawn style sketches and low-fi wireframes | MIT | Server |
Best for: Closest overall Sketch replacement for teams
Describes itself as the open-source design platform for teams that build digital products. Runs in the browser, can be self-hosted (the README mentions Docker, Kubernetes and Elestio), and also has a hosted version.
Best for: Vector and raster graphics in one editor
Describes itself as a free, open-source vector and raster graphics engine and editor. A good fit for illustration and graphic work rather than structured UI design systems.
Best for: Embedding a vector editor in your own app
A fast, web-based, JavaScript-driven SVG drawing editor that works in any modern browser. Can be used standalone or integrated into other web apps.
Best for: Quick GUI wireframes and diagrams
A free, open-source tool for making diagrams and GUI prototypes, installed as a desktop app.
Best for: Prototyping with usability testing
A research, usability and prototyping tool for building prototypes and getting data-driven insights from test sessions. The repository holds the front end; the backend (qux-java) is a separate project.
Best for: Hand-drawn style sketches and low-fi wireframes
An open-source virtual hand-drawn style whiteboard, collaborative and end-to-end encrypted, used for diagrams and wireframes. Also available as an embeddable component.
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| If you need… | Start with |
|---|---|
| A team design tool with shared components | Penpot |
| Illustration and vector or raster mixed work | Graphite |
| Rough wireframes with a hand-drawn feel | Excalidraw or Pencil |
| Testing a prototype with real users | Quant-UX |
| A vector editor inside your own web app | SVG-Edit |
Quick answers to common questions
Sketch itself is proprietary. Penpot is the closest open-source equivalent for interface design, licensed under MPL-2.0 and usable in the browser.
Penpot's documentation covers importing files from other design tools, but check the current import options in its docs and test with a copy of one project, since complex symbols and plugins may not carry over.
Penpot runs in the browser, so it works on any OS. Graphite, Pencil and SVG-Edit are also cross-platform in practice.
Yes. The code is under MPL-2.0 and the README describes installing it with Docker, Kubernetes or other options. A hosted version also exists.
It is a file-level copyleft licence. For using the tool internally, nothing changes; it only matters if you modify and distribute the tool's own source files.
List it on TechLogHub and we'll review it for this page.
