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Should I self-host Figma?
Penpot is the real thing — components, prototyping, dev handoff, SVG-native. For solo work and internal tools it's a clean yes. What keeps this at KINDA is everyone else: client files, plugins, and the fact that design collaboration happens where the other designers are.
The math (nothing hidden, including your time)
| Figma (Professional, per seat) | $20.00/mo |
| VPS share + storage | −$2.00/mo |
| Your maintenance: 40 min/mo at $20/h | −$13.33/mo |
| Net saving | $4.67/mo |
| Setup: 15 min measured (one-time) | $5.00 |
| Break-even | 1.1 months |
| Markup Index (price ÷ real self-host cost) | 1.3× |
Price: source, checked 2026-08-06. Inputs are stored in git; every number above is derived, never hand-written.
What you lose
- Figma's plugin ecosystem and multiplayer ubiquity
- Auto-layout parity is close but not identical — test your patterns
What you're paying Figma for
- UI design
- components & libraries
- prototyping
- dev handoff
Ranked alternatives
Components, prototyping and more than one cursor on the same board, on a domain you own and with no per-seat bill.
A hand-drawn-style whiteboard that runs as one static container and keeps every drawing in the browser that drew it.
Hardware
Runs comfortably on a real VPS (2 GB+).
Verification
Protocol v1 · verified by zernonia on 2026-08-10 · setup measured at 15 min · AI assistant: claude-code (allowed & stated)
Full timed log
# Figma — verdict log - **Date:** 2026-08-10 - **Verdict:** KINDA — worth it if… - **Protocol:** v1 (2GB reference env, Docker preinstalled, AI assistant: claude-code) ## Why no compose file - This verdict is decided by economics/capability, not setup effort — the rubric doesn't require a timed install to conclude the subscription should stay (or that the replacement's cost lives elsewhere, e.g. GPUs, egress, or an installer script). ## The call Penpot is the real thing — components, prototyping, dev handoff, SVG-native. For solo work and internal tools it's a clean yes. What keeps this at KINDA is everyone else: client files, plugins, and the fact that design collaboration happens where the other designers are.
Verdict history
- 2026-08-10: unscored → KINDA — Initial verdict: Penpot is the real thing — components, prototyping, dev handoff, SVG-native.