If you prioritize open-source flexibility and want to maintain privacy, choose Penpot. Its self-hostable nature and real-time collaboration make it ideal for privacy-conscious teams and open-source advocates. However, be aware that it has a smaller plugin ecosystem and may not perform as smoothly as Figma, so it’s best for users more focused on principles than performance.
On the other hand, if you're part of a product design team that relies on real-time collaboration and a rich ecosystem, go with Figma. It offers superior design-system support and a multitude of plugins, facilitating a more polished and efficient workflow. Just be prepared for higher costs if your team grows, and ensure your hardware can handle potentially heavy files. Avoid Figma if you require offline capabilities or want an open-source option.