pen.dev

pen.dev is an agentic design canvas, formerly called Pencil, where AI agents design websites, apps and marketing graphics with you, for designers and developers who already work with AI models. You can let an agent generate a layout and then refine it with familiar design tools, or plug in agents like Claude Code over MCP. Its biggest difference is that it does not lock you into one model: you bring the provider, subscription or API key you prefer.

What is pen.dev used for?

pen.dev is used to design interfaces and visuals quickly with agents while keeping hands-on control of the canvas.

• Prompting the on-canvas agent to design a website, mobile app screen or social media graphic
• Connecting Claude Code, Codex or other agents through MCP, WebMCP or the CLI
• Choosing models from Claude, OpenAI, Grok, Qwen, Gemini, Kimi, DeepSeek or MiniMax, or using an existing ChatGPT or Claude subscription
• Importing any website or app as editable layers through the built-in browser, or importing HTML and Figma files
• Drawing icons and illustrations with the AI Pen, vectorizing images and removing backgrounds
• Building component libraries with variables, themes and shaders, and exporting to HTML and code

Who pen.dev is best for

pen.dev is a good fit for developers who design their own products with AI coding agents, designers who want an editor that agents can drive, and teams that care about owning their files locally. People who want a fully managed AI with no model setup, or teams standardized on a single shared cloud design tool, may prefer something simpler.

pen.dev pricing

As of October 2026, pen.dev's free plan includes the full local-first editor, unlimited MCP tool calls on agent days, 25 image and SVG generations a month, 5 days a month designing with an agent, limited hosted models and the option to connect your own agent subscription or API key. Pro costs $16 per user per month and adds daily agent design, included credits for hosted models, 350 image and SVG generations, up to 3 parallel agents and organization keys for CLI and CI/CD. Ultra costs $48 per user per month with 750 generations, up to 6 parallel agents and a shared team usage pool. Annual billing saves 20 percent, and Enterprise is priced on request.

pen.dev limitations

• Free users can design with an agent on only 5 days each month
• Using your own models means you manage keys and provider costs
• The rename from Pencil means older tutorials use the previous name
• It is a newer tool than established design platforms, so integrations are still growing

pen.dev vs alternatives

Onlook focuses on visual editing of a real React codebase, which is better when the app already exists. v0 by Vercel and Lovable are better when you want a deployed app straight from a prompt. Cursor and Claude Code are coding agents that pair with pen.dev over MCP rather than replacing it. pen.dev wins when you want a full design editor that any agent and any model can work on, with local files you own.

Tips for getting started with pen.dev

Connect the AI subscription you already pay for, such as Claude or ChatGPT, before relying on hosted credits. Import a page from your own live site through the built-in browser to start from real layouts. Save your component set as a UI library early so agents reuse it across files. On the free plan, batch your agent work into a few focused days, since days without agent use do not count.

pen.dev FAQ

Is pen.dev free?

Yes, pen.dev has a free plan with the full editor, 25 image and SVG generations a month and 5 days of agent design. Pro costs $16 per user per month.

Is pen.dev the same as Pencil?

Yes, pen.dev is the new name for pencil.dev, and the product continues under the pen.dev domain.

Can I use Claude Code with pen.dev?

Yes, pen.dev connects to Claude Code, Codex and other agents through MCP, and you can also use a Claude or ChatGPT subscription.

What is the best alternative to pen.dev?

Onlook is a strong alternative for visual editing of React code, while v0 by Vercel is better for generating a full app from a prompt.