pen.dev vs Starry
pen.dev
pen.dev
Starry
app.starry.designSide by side
| Figure | pen.dev | Starry |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $16/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 3 |
| Spec score · AI UI Design Generators | 8.9 (#3) | 8.0 (#11) |
| AI providers | The documented integrated provider options include OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, xAI, OpenRouter, and other API-key providers. | Users provide their own API key for supported AI providers, and Starry also supports custom OpenAI or Anthropic format endpoints. |
| AI workflow | Users can work with an integrated agent or connect external agents through MCP, and plans allow different numbers of agents to run in parallel. | The canvas AI is powered by ACP and can create and modify auto-layout designs from natural language. |
| CLI | The @pen.dev/cli package provides headless creation, editing, MCP-shell access and PNG, JPEG, WEBP and PDF export from the terminal. | A headless CLI can export documents and automate design operations, including use in CI workflows. |
| Code export | Frames can be exported in one click as HTML with CSS or Tailwind CSS, while artwork can be exported as PDF, PNG, JPEG or WEBP. | It exports React JSX, HTML, SVG, design tokens, and raster formats including PNG, JPG, and WEBP. |
| Integrations | Official documentation lists MCP integrations including Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, OpenCode, Kiro, and Claude Desktop. | Starry provides an MCP server for connecting AI coding tools and editors such as Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex. |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says text-based AI inputs and outputs using a user's own provider credentials go directly from the device to that provider and do not pass through High Agency servers. | Starry says API keys are stored locally and prompts go directly to the chosen provider without passing through Starry's servers. |
| Product | pen.dev describes itself as an agentic canvas for building software and a vector design tool integrated with development environments. | Starry is an AI design editor that creates editable interface layers from natural-language prompts and exports production code. |
Plans
In their own words
pen.dev
pen.dev is a canvas for building software and a vector design tool integrated with development environments. Its editor works with components, variables, themes, scripts and shaders, and can import Figma files and HTML. It can export to HTML, CSS and Tailwind, as well as PNG, JPEG, WEBP and PDF. Users can work with its integrated agent or connect external agents through MCP; the available plans specify how many agents can run in parallel. Documented integrations include Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, OpenCode, Kiro and Claude Desktop. Integrated provider options include OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, xAI, OpenRouter and other API-key providers. Its.pen design file is open JSON with an open schema. Tools include a Chrome extension for importing webpages, IDE extensions and an npm-installed CLI requiring Node.js 22.19 or later. The pricing page says pen.dev stays free until plans launch. The Free plan is free; Pro is $16 a month; Ultra is $48 a month.
Starry
Starry is an AI design editor that turns natural-language prompts into editable interface layers and exports code and design assets. Its canvas AI, powered by ACP, can create and modify auto-layout designs. Export formats include React JSX, HTML, SVG, design tokens, PNG, JPG, and WEBP. Starry reads native Figma.fig files and supports copying and pasting selections between the two editors. Users provide their own key for supported AI providers, and can use custom OpenAI- or Anthropic-format endpoints. Starry says keys are stored locally and prompts go directly to the selected provider. Designs are saved as local.pen and.fig files that can be committed to Git. Peer-to-peer collaboration runs over WebRTC without a server or account, and a headless CLI can export documents and automate design operations, including in CI workflows. Starry supports macOS 12 or later, Windows 10 or later, and Linux, with about 150 MB of free disk space required. The free plan requires users to supply an AI provider key for AI chat; Pro is listed at $29 a month.