This page provides details about Penpot (organization,product) which was ranked #9 out of 130 in the list of brands (25 mentions (6.3% share)) in answers from AI models (Perplexity Sonar (with search) (latest), Anthropic Claude Sonnet (latest), OpenAI ChatGPT Latest, Google Gemini Flash (latest), X.AI Grok (latest)) when they were asked the following 3 questions: "What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.", "If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.", "What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry." on Dec 30, 2025 by AI Chat Watch.
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] ption (Adobe)[6 Best Online Graphic Design Tools For 2025 (Free + Paid)](https://bloggingwizard.com/online-graphic-design-software/)[The Best Graphic Design Tools in 2025 (Free and Paid)](https://strongweb.net/best-tools-for-graphic-designers-in-2025/) |
| UI/UX Prototyping | Figma, Sketch, Framer, Penpot, Lunacy | Real-time collab, responsive prototypes, cross-platform | Free tiers; $15/mo (Figma), $99/yr (Sketch)[The Best Graphic Design Tools in 2025 (Free and Paid)](https://strongweb.net/best-tools-for-graphic-designers-in-2025/)[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](htt [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ons of AI tools, praising narrow-scope features in Figma and Midjourney for practical adoption.[AI Design Tools Are Marginally Better: Status Update - NN/G](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-design-tools-update-2/) Blogs from **HYPE4 Academy** and **Raw.Studio** offer expert picks like Sketch and Penpot for privacy-focused workflows.[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)[Top 30 AI Tools For Designers In 2025 - Raw.Studio](https://raw.studio/blog/top-30-ai-tools-for-designers-in-2025/) YouTube creators [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] .academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)[AI Design Tools Are Marginally Better: Status Update - NN/G](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-design-tools-update-2/)[New UX/UI Tools You Need to Try! + AI Design Tools - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11ixIV656X0) Open-source **Penpot** and cross-platform **Lunacy** appeal to budget-conscious users; **GIMP** and **Affinity Photo** as free/one-time alternatives.[The Best Graphic Design Tools in 2025 (Free and Paid)](https://strongweb.net/best-tools-for-graphic-designers-in-2025/)[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - H [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] do/), [Builder.io](https://www.builder.io/), [Lovable](https://lovable.dev/), [Jitter](https://jitter.video/), [Mocku](https://mocku.co/), [Tight Studio](https://tight.studio/), [Bento Generator](https://bento-generator.com/), [Visily](https://www.visily.ai/), [ProtoPie](https://www.protopie.io/), [Penpot](https://penpot.app/), [Lunacy](https://icons8.com/lunacy), [Khroma Color](https://www.khroma.co/), [GIMP](https://www.gimp.org/), [Affinity Photo](https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/).
### Major Industry Events and Conferences
Search results lack specific 2025 events; general design conferenc [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] raphic Design Tools in 2025 (Free and Paid)](https://strongweb.net/best-tools-for-graphic-designers-in-2025/)[Free Design Tool for Websites, Product Design & More - Figma](https://www.figma.com/design/) Reddit, Dribbble, and Behance host discussions, with tool-specific plugins/forums for Sketch and Penpot.[The Best Graphic Design Tools in 2025 (Free and Paid)](https://strongweb.net/best-tools-for-graphic-designers-in-2025/)[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025) No dominant forums highlighted.
### Influe [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] agile websites), **Microsoft Designer** (DALL-E visuals), **UIzard** (UI prototyping).[10 AI design tools for brands to know in 2025 - Flatline Agency](https://www.flatlineagency.com/blog/10-ai-design-tools/)
Free/open-source alternatives include **GIMP** (photo editing), **Inkscape** (vectors), **Penpot** (UX/UI competitor to Figma), and **Lunacy** (AI features, cross-platform).[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)[Best Graphic Design Software Comparison (Top 10 Tools 2025)](https://crm.org/news/best- [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] plates, stock, [envato.com](https://elements.envato.com)).[Best Graphic Design Tools of 2025 | GoSkills](https://www.goskills.com/Design/Resources/Graphic-design-tools)
### Influential Experts and Reviewers to Follow
Search results highlight tool creators over individuals, but follow:
- **Pablo** (Penpot founder/team, active on updates), via Penpot's [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/Penpot).[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)
- Review sites: **Elegant Themes** ([elegantthemes.com](https:// [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] envato.com)).[Best Graphic Design Tools of 2025 | GoSkills](https://www.goskills.com/Design/Resources/Graphic-design-tools)
### Influential Experts and Reviewers to Follow
Search results highlight tool creators over individuals, but follow:
- **Pablo** (Penpot founder/team, active on updates), via Penpot's [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/Penpot).[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)
- Review sites: **Elegant Themes** ([elegantthemes.com](https://www.elegantthemes.com)), **HYPE4 Academy** ([ [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] 2025 for Creativity and Collaboration](https://www.chiefreinventionofficer.com/blog-page/top-15-best-tools-for-design-in-2025)
- **Canva** templates and Chrome plugin for quick edits.[Best Graphic Design Software Comparison (Top 10 Tools 2025)](https://crm.org/news/best-graphic-design-software)
- **Penpot** libraries, prototyping resources, and [YouTube tutorials](https://www.youtube.com/c/Penpot).[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)
- **Envato Elements** for assets (fonts, photos, [elements.envato.com [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] w.figma.com/events)) or Adobe MAX ([adobe.com/max](https://adobe.com/max.html)) from brand sites.[Top 15 Best Design Tools in 2025 for Creativity and Collaboration](https://www.chiefreinventionofficer.com/blog-page/top-15-best-tools-for-design-in-2025)
### Notable Startups Disrupting the Space
- **Penpot**: Open-source Figma rival with 2.0 updates, free tier scaling to teams, [penpot.app](https://penpot.app).[Best UX/UI design tools in 2025 | SquarePlanet - HYPE4.Academy](https://hype4.academy/articles/design/best-ux-ui-design-tools-in-2025)
- **Framer**: AI-assisted websites with human control.[10 [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] XD](https://www.adobe.com/products/xd.html)** - Adobe's UI/UX design and prototyping tool
3. **[Sketch](https://www.sketch.com)** - Mac-only vector design tool, popular among UI designers
4. **[Framer](https://www.framer.com)** - Interactive design and prototyping tool with code capabilities
5. **[Penpot](https://penpot.app)** - Open-source design and prototyping platform
6. **[InVision](https://www.invisionapp.com)** - Digital product design platform with prototyping features
### Graphic Design & Illustration
1. **[Adobe Illustrator](https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html)** - Industry- [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] orth watching)
These are influential either through new workflows (design-to-web) or open alternatives.
- [Framer](https://www.framer.com/) — design-to-web and interactive prototypes.
- [Webflow](https://webflow.com/) — visual web building increasingly overlapping with product design workflows.
- [Penpot](https://penpot.app/) — open-source design and prototyping (often mentioned as an alternative approach to proprietary tools).
- [Rive](https://rive.app/) — interactive animation becoming more common in product UI.
---
## 9) Key publications and media channels to stay informed
- [Smashing Magazine [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] .dev/) (often used by product teams alongside design tools)
### Interactive motion & next-gen prototyping
- [Rive](https://rive.app/) (runtime-ready interactive animations)
- [Spline](https://spline.design/) (3D design for web/product scenes)
### Open-source & self-hosted design infrastructure
- [Penpot](https://penpot.app/) (open-source alternative gaining mindshare where procurement/security/self-hosting matter)
(If you tell me your target—enterprise, indie, agencies, education—I can narrow “emerging” to the startups most relevant to that buyer.)
---
## 7) Current trends that are reshaping bu [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Design Tools options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] work with Spotify and NASA.
### 4. Promising Startups and New Market Entrants
New tools are focusing on AI integration and bridging the gap between design and code.
* **[Framer](https://www.framer.com):** A site builder that allows designers to go from canvas to a live website instantly.
* **[Penpot](https://penpot.app):** The first open-source design and prototyping platform meant for cross-domain teams.
* **[Uizard](https://uizard.io):** An AI-powered design tool that turns sketches into wireframes automatically.
* **[Spline](https://spline.design):** An approachable 3D design tool that [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Design Tools, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] isionapp.com/)) for prototyping (now DSM) and **Procreate** ([Procreate](https://procreate.art/)) for iPad digital painting.
### Recommended Products and Services
Start with free tiers or trials:
- **Figma** (free plan available) for collaboration.
- **Canva** (free basics) for quick graphics.
- **Penpot** ([Penpot](https://penpot.app/)): Open-source Figma alternative, fully free.
- **Excalidraw** ([Excalidraw](https://excalidraw.com/)): Simple hand-drawn diagramming.
For pros: Adobe Creative Cloud subscription ([pricing](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html)), Sketch one-time license.
* [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] m/)) for prototyping (now DSM) and **Procreate** ([Procreate](https://procreate.art/)) for iPad digital painting.
### Recommended Products and Services
Start with free tiers or trials:
- **Figma** (free plan available) for collaboration.
- **Canva** (free basics) for quick graphics.
- **Penpot** ([Penpot](https://penpot.app/)): Open-source Figma alternative, fully free.
- **Excalidraw** ([Excalidraw](https://excalidraw.com/)): Simple hand-drawn diagramming.
For pros: Adobe Creative Cloud subscription ([pricing](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html)), Sketch one-time license.
**Comparison [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Design Tools industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] merly InVision, illustration leader. [Pablo Stanley](https://pablostanley.com/)
- **Femke van Schoonhoven**: UI evangelist. [Femke van Schoonhoven](https://femke.design/)
Follow via [UX Collective on Medium](https://uxdesign.cc/) (1M+ followers).
### Emerging Startups and Trends
**Startups**:
- **Penpot**: Open-source Figma alternative. [Penpot](https://penpot.app/)
- **Uizard**: AI-to-design from sketches. [Uizard](https://uizard.io/)
- **Relume**: AI Webflow/Figma components. [Relume](https://www.relume.io/)
- **Vercel v0**: AI UI generation. [v0 by Vercel](https://v0.dev/)
**Trends** (per [Fig [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] o Stanley](https://pablostanley.com/)
- **Femke van Schoonhoven**: UI evangelist. [Femke van Schoonhoven](https://femke.design/)
Follow via [UX Collective on Medium](https://uxdesign.cc/) (1M+ followers).
### Emerging Startups and Trends
**Startups**:
- **Penpot**: Open-source Figma alternative. [Penpot](https://penpot.app/)
- **Uizard**: AI-to-design from sketches. [Uizard](https://uizard.io/)
- **Relume**: AI Webflow/Figma components. [Relume](https://www.relume.io/)
- **Vercel v0**: AI UI generation. [v0 by Vercel](https://v0.dev/)
**Trends** (per [Figma's 2024 Design Trends report](https://ww [...]