Compare
Kalka vs Paper
Both tools draw on a canvas made of real HTML and CSS. Paper is a hosted product from a funded team. Kalka is open source, local, and keeps the interface you know from Figma.
| Feature | Paper | Kalka |
|---|---|---|
| Canvas | HTML and CSS | HTML and CSS, laid out by the browser |
| Interface | Its own | Close to Figma, nothing to relearn |
| Open source | No license published | Yes, MIT |
| Apps | Web and desktop | Desktop: macOS, Windows, Linux |
| MCP | 100 tool calls a week free, 1M on Pro | Local, no usage cap |
| Your files | In your Paper workspace | A folder on your machine, Git ready |
| Price | Free, Pro $16 per editor a month billed yearly | Free app, hosted version later |
| Status | Available, used by teams in production | In development |
Choose Paper if
- You need an HTML canvas today, in production.
- Your team works in the browser and shares one workspace.
- You want token and component sync with a codebase now.
Choose Kalka if
- You want Figma's habits, not a new interface.
- You want your files on your disk, versioned with Git.
- You want open source and an agent with no usage cap.
The real difference
Paper and Kalka agree on the big idea: a design should be a web page, not a picture of one. They differ on everything around it. Paper is a hosted product with plans and seats. Kalka is a free desktop app, open source, where a project is just a folder of HTML, CSS and design tokens.
If you already know Figma, Kalka is built so your hands know where to go on day one.
Facts about Paper come from paper.design and its pricing page, checked October 9, 2026. We build Kalka.