Excalidraw vs Penpot

If you're looking for a charming, low-fidelity solution primarily for quick sketches or brainstorming sessions, Excalidraw is your best bet. Its hand-drawn aesthetic makes it ideal for developers sketching architecture or visualizing ideas without the need for polished visuals. Plus, being open-source and self-hostable means you have flexibility regarding privacy and data ownership. However, avoid Excalidraw if your work demands high-fidelity diagrams or a comprehensive design tool with advanced features.

On the other hand, choose Penpot if you prioritize a more structured design and prototyping environment that still respects open-source principles. It’s great for collaborative projects, especially between designers and developers, thanks to its real-time capabilities and SVG format. While it may lack the extensive plugin ecosystem of Figma, it stands out for privacy-conscious teams. However, don't select Penpot if you require the highest levels of polish or advanced integrations found in commercial design tools.