Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to pen.dev · 🎨 design
pen.dev vs Quant-UX
Quant-UX is an open-source tool for creating interactive prototypes, conducting user tests, and analyzing results to improve UX design. Here is how Quant-UX ($0/mo open source) stacks up against pen.dev ($20/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Quant-UX is a verified GPL-3.0-licensed open-source replacement for pen.dev. Switching from pen.dev ($20/mo) saves $240/yr per solo seat, or $1,200/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: It is primarily a prototyping and user-testing tool, not a production-grade vector editor and design-system workspace on Figma's level.
Quant-UX
$0.00/mo · GPL-3.0
pen.dev vs Quant-UX Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | pen.dev (Paid) | Quant-UX (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $20 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $240 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $240) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,200 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,200) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $2,400 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,400) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source GPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedthey host it |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 2.8k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from pen.dev to Quant-UX
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is primarily a prototyping and user-testing tool, not a production-grade vector editor and design-system workspace on Figma's level.
How to deploy Quant-UX
Use the hosted Quant-UX signup, or run its multi-container Docker Compose stack
What it takes to run
Self-hosting needs several containers plus MongoDB, SMTP, a JWT secret, WebSocket URL and reverse-proxy/TLS configuration
Where your data lives
Hosted projects in Quant-UX's service; self-hosted prototypes and tests in MongoDB with uploaded images in mapped data directories
Why fork Quant-UX instead of vibe-coding a pen.dev clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for pen.dev or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 6 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Penpot.
pen.dev vs Quant-UX FAQ
Is Quant-UX a good free alternative to pen.dev?+
Yes. Quant-UX is a verified open-source (GPL-3.0) replacement for pen.dev. Quant-UX is an open-source tool for creating interactive prototypes, conducting user tests, and analyzing results to improve UX design.
What is the catch when switching from pen.dev to Quant-UX?+
It is primarily a prototyping and user-testing tool, not a production-grade vector editor and design-system workspace on Figma's level.
How much do you save switching from pen.dev to Quant-UX?+
pen.dev costs $20/mo ($240/yr) per seat, whereas Quant-UX is $0/mo. Switching saves $240/yr for a solo user, $1,200/yr for a 5-person team, and $2,400/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Quant-UX instead of pen.dev?+
Install: Use the hosted Quant-UX signup, or run its multi-container Docker Compose stack. Setup: Self-hosting needs several containers plus MongoDB, SMTP, a JWT secret, WebSocket URL and reverse-proxy/TLS configuration
