Designers migrate from cloud platforms to open-source alternatives

A shift is occurring in the digital productivity landscape as professional users and institutions migrate from established cloud platforms toward self-hosted, open-source alternatives. This trend is exemplified by designers moving workflows from Canva to open-source solutions like Penpot to gain more infrastructure control and avoid paywalls on essential professional features.

Major market leaders are facing economic shifts. Canva reported an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $4 billion at the end of 2025, but has lowered its 2026 growth projections from 30 percent to approximately 20 percent due to rising AI integration costs and product delays. Similarly, Figma is seeing a deceleration in growth, with expected revenue growth for the third quarter of 2026 projected at 36 percent, down from a previous 48 percent.