Pick Onlook if
frontend teams who want a visual layer on Next.js + Tailwind and will run the OSS editor.
Read the Onlook pageOnlook vs Pencil
Our take
Pick Onlook if you're on a frontend team who want a visual layer on Next.js + Tailwind and will run the OSS editor. Pick Pencil if you're designers who want agents on a local canvas and will export HTML or hand off via MCP. Skip Onlook if you're a no-code founder who needs App Store builds without touching a repo (Adalo). Skip Pencil if you're a team that must design on the production React repo (Subframe).
Best for
Onlook Design on the source of truth
Pencil An agentic canvas you can export to HTML
Free plan
Onlook $0 · apache-2.0. Run the editor yourself
Pencil $0 · 25 image/SVG generations / month. 5 agent days / month. 1 agent at a time. Limited hosted models. Bring your own key
Lowest paid
Onlook Not published by the vendor
Pencil Pro $16
Next step up
Onlook
Pencil Ultra $48
Coding agent
Onlook
Pencil Codex
Runs where
Onlook Local or hosted
Pencil Hosted
Watch out
Onlook Hosted is quote-only
Pencil Free agent time is 5 days / month
Last checked
Onlook 2026-10-28 · onlook.com/pricing
Pencil 2026-10-28 · pen.dev/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Pencil if
designers who want agents on a local canvas and will export HTML or hand off via MCP.
Read the Pencil page