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Kalka vs Penpot
Both are open source and both speak CSS. Penpot is a mature, web-based tool you can self-host. Kalka is a desktop app where the canvas itself is the web page.
| Feature | Penpot | Kalka |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Yes | Yes, MIT |
| Runs | Web, self-hostable | Desktop: macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Layout | CSS Flex and Grid layouts | Any CSS, laid out by the browser |
| Code | Inspect tab: SVG, CSS, HTML | The project is the code |
| AI agents | Open MCP server | Built-in local MCP, no usage cap |
| Figma files | Import via Penpot Exporter | Imports .fig and .pen files |
| Status | Mature, free plan with unlimited files and seats | In development |
Choose Penpot if
- You need an open source tool your team can use today.
- You want to self-host it on your own server.
- You work in the browser, on any OS.
Choose Kalka if
- You want the browser to lay out your design, not imitate it.
- You want a project that is a plain folder in Git.
- You want Figma's interface, exactly where your hands expect it.
Speaking CSS vs being CSS
Penpot describes its layouts with CSS Flex and Grid, which already makes handoff easier. Kalka goes one step further: the canvas is rendered by a browser engine, so text, shadows and layouts look exactly like they will on the live site, because they are the live site.
Facts about Penpot come from penpot.app, checked October 9, 2026. We build Kalka.