Written by 
Google Stitch alternatives are worth a look the moment you hit its daily credit cap. They also matter if you want your own agent on the canvas, or need something you can self-host. Stitch is genuinely good. It is free, it turns a prompt into polished mobile and web screens, and since 2026 it streams the work onto a canvas. However, it is a closed Google Labs beta with one model family and no paid tier. This guide compares seven alternatives, including free and open-source options, and explains what each one is actually for. Each section includes a screenshot of the tool in use.
What Google Stitch does well, and where it stops
Stitch started as Galileo AI and relaunched under Google Labs at I/O 2025. The March 2026 rebuild added an infinite canvas and a design agent that reasons across a whole project. It also added an MCP server and a portable DESIGN.md format for design rules. Then, at I/O 2026, Google introduced the Stitch Agent, which streams UI straight to the canvas while you type or talk. Exports cover HTML, Tailwind, React, Vue, Angular, Flutter, and SwiftUI, plus a paste-to-Figma path.
So why look elsewhere? First, usage is metered. As of spring 2026 Stitch runs on daily credits, widely reported at 400 design credits and 15 redesign credits per day. They reset at midnight UTC, and you cannot buy more. Second, it is Gemini only. You cannot bring Claude Code, Codex, or another agent onto the canvas to design; the MCP server mainly pulls finished designs out. Third, there is nothing to self-host, and the beta terms can change. Finally, the output is a starting point, not a design system of record.
Google Stitch alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Workflow shape | Open source | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Stitch | Prompt to screens on a canvas | No | Free, daily credits | Fast UI concepts |
| Doop | Live multiplayer canvas with your agents | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | Free in beta | Teams steering agent design work |
| Claude Design | Prompt to artifact | No | Paid Claude plans | Quick visuals, decks, prototypes |
| OpenDesign | Local-first workspace over CLI agents | Yes | Free | Self-hosters and tinkerers |
| v0 by Vercel | Prompt to React app | No | Free tier, from $30/month | Shipping Next.js UI |
| Paper | Designer-directed canvas with MCP | No | Free tier | Designers who direct the agent |
| Pencil | Design files in your repo, edited over MCP | No | Free | Engineering-led teams |
| Figma Make and MCP | Design system of record | No | Paid Figma seats | Teams with an existing system |
1. Doop: a multiplayer canvas for your own agents
Doop is an infinite canvas where AI agents and humans design side by side. Instead of a built-in model, it connects any MCP-capable agent, such as Claude Code or Codex, with a single command. The agent joins the canvas as you, via OAuth, and its frames stream in next to its live cursor. Feedback you leave on a frame goes back to the agent as a task. Doop is open source under AGPL-3.0, runs as one Docker container plus Postgres, and is free while in beta.
It is for: teams that already use Claude Code or Codex. They get to watch, steer, and review design work in real time. Where Stitch gives you Gemini on Google’s canvas, Doop gives you your agent on your canvas. It also doubles as a full design MCP for Claude Code.
2. Claude Design: prompt to polished artifact
Anthropic Labs launched Claude Design in April 2026 for Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers. You describe what you want, and Claude produces the visual: a prototype, a deck, or a one-pager. Inline tweaks handle theme and breakpoints. It can even build a design system from your codebase during onboarding.
It is for: people who like the Stitch shape (prompt, generate, export) but want Claude’s models. It is also a paid, supported product rather than a beta. We compared the field in more depth in our guide to Claude Design alternatives.
3. OpenDesign: open source and local-first
OpenDesign is the community’s open-source answer to both Stitch and Claude Design, released under Apache-2.0. It brings no model of its own. Instead, it drives the CLI agents you already have, including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and Gemini CLI. It covers web, mobile, slides, images, and video with built-in design systems and skills. You can run it as a desktop app or deploy it for a team with Docker.
It is for: anyone searching for a free, open-source Google Stitch alternative that keeps files local and lets you pick the model.
4. v0 by Vercel: prompt to production React
Stitch exports code, but many teams find the HTML and JSX needs rework before it ships. v0 flips the priority. It generates working React components on shadcn/ui and Tailwind, ready for a Next.js project, and deploys them to Vercel in a click. According to Vercel’s pricing page, the free plan includes $5 of monthly credits, and Plus starts at $30 per user per month. Since August 2026 the free plan is limited to the v0 Mini model.
It is for: developers who care more about code they can merge than about design frames they can hand off.
5. Paper: designers who direct the agent
Paper is a desktop design canvas whose MCP server gives agents full two-way access. They read your selection and styles, and they write artboards and markup back. You stay on a real canvas with real tools, and the agent does the production work. For a closer comparison, see our post on Paper.design alternatives.
It is for: designers who find prompt-only tools like Stitch too hands-off. They want to sketch, critique, and refine while an agent executes.
6. Pencil: design files that live in your repo
Pencil (pen.dev) stores designs as .pen files you commit next to your code. Its local MCP server lets Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other agents create and edit elements directly, and it validates every change against the file schema. As a result, an agent can update the design and the implementation in one session and ship both in one pull request. Pencil is free today, with paid plans possible later.
It is for: engineering-led teams that want design changes reviewed exactly like code changes.
7. Figma Make and the Figma MCP server: the system of record
Stitch can paste frames into Figma, but the design system still lives in Figma. Figma Make turns prompts and existing Figma designs into functional prototypes and web apps. Full seats on paid plans include it. Meanwhile, Figma’s MCP server lets coding agents read real tokens, components, and Code Connect mappings. That makes it the strongest option for implementing existing designs faithfully.
It is for: teams with an established Figma library who mainly need AI to respect it.
How to choose between Google Stitch alternatives
Start with the question of who does the designing. If you want Google’s agent and Google’s canvas, Stitch remains a great free option. If you want your own agent, Doop, OpenDesign, Paper, Pencil, and Figma all let Claude Code or Codex do the work. Only Doop and OpenDesign are open source, though. Next, decide what you need out the other end. Stitch and v0 favor code, Claude Design favors artifacts, and Figma favors design files. Finally, check the meter. Stitch, Doop, OpenDesign, and Pencil are free today, v0 and Claude Design charge monthly, and Figma Make needs a paid seat.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Stitch still free?
Yes. As of September 2026 Stitch has no paid plan. You sign in with a Google account, get a daily credit allowance, and wait for the reset if you run out.
Is there an open-source alternative to Google Stitch?
Yes, two. Doop is an open-source multiplayer canvas that any MCP agent can join. OpenDesign is an open-source, local-first workspace that drives your coding agents. Pencil is free but not open source.
Google Stitch or Figma: which should I use?
Use Stitch to explore directions quickly, then move to Figma when you need a shared library, versioning, and developer handoff. Figma Make and the Figma MCP server add AI on top of that system.
Can Claude Code use Google Stitch?
Partly. Stitch’s MCP server lets Claude Code fetch designs that Stitch already generated. If you want Claude Code to design on the canvas itself, use Doop, OpenDesign, or Pencil instead.
Try Doop with your own agent
Doop is free in beta and takes one command to connect. Add the MCP server to Claude Code or Codex, open a canvas, and watch your agent design beside you. The source is on GitHub if you would rather run it yourself.