
OpenPencil
by OpenPencil · Open-source design editor that opens Figma files
37.2 — BenchRank score out of 100
Screenshots of OpenPencil
Homepage
Overview
OpenPencil is an open-source design editor that opens Figma .fig files natively via a Kiwi binary codec and supports copy and paste with Figma. It runs locally as a ~7 MB desktop app installed through Homebrew, or in the browser, with no account or server. A headless CLI, a Vue SDK and built-in AI chat with 90 tools sit on the same core.
- Best for
- Designers and developers who want a local, open-source editor that opens Figma .fig files.
- Pricing
- No prices are shown; the site states the app is free to use under the MIT licence with no account required.
- Runs on
- WebmacOS
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Opens .fig files and copies/pastes to and from Figma
- MIT licensed: editor, engine, file codec and CLI
- Runs locally with no account, server or internet
- Headless CLI and MCP server for Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf
Trade-offs
- Collaboration is P2P via WebRTC, with no server-hosted sessions
- Custom editing surfaces require the Vue SDK, so Vue only
- Figma Plugin API support runs via eval, not a native plugin runtime
How this score is made up
Each dimension is scored out of 100 and combined into the headline score using fixed weights.
- MCP support
- 60 out of 100
- API quality
- 0 out of 100
- Documentation
- 0 out of 100
- Agent friendliness
- 82 out of 100
- Changelog
- 80 out of 100
- Marketing site structure
- 50 out of 100
- Operational trust
- 0 out of 100
Measured, but not part of the score
Useful to know, but not a mark for or against the product — so these do not affect the ranking.
- Openness
- 60 out of 100
- Maintenance
- 100 out of 100
This doesn’t look right — report a problem with OpenPencil’s score
Alternatives in Design Tools
Ranked 1
68.9 — BenchRank score out of 100Balsamiq
Balsamiq Wireframes · Low-fidelity wireframing and prototyping for product teams
Best for: Product teams and founders wanting fast low-fidelity wireframes and clickable prototypes
Ranked 2
63.4 — BenchRank score out of 100Figma
Visly · Shared canvas for product design, prototyping and developer handoff
Best for: Product teams needing design, prototyping and developer handoff in one shared workspace
Ranked 3
58.6 — BenchRank score out of 100Grida
Grida · Open-source canvas and desktop workspace for design, SVG and decks
Best for: Designers and developers wanting an open-source local canvas with AI-assisted SVG and decks

