# Paperless-ngx vs penpot

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Paperless-ngx | penpot |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 86/100 ✓ | 84/100 |
| Rank in category | #3 of 46 in Document Management | #1 of 30 in Collaboration |
| GitHub stars | 47 259 | 61 814 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +1 268 | +1 472 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 26 ✓ | 12 |
| Latest release | v3.3.4 · 22 Oct 2026 | 2.18.5 · 26 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Main language | Python | Clojure |

## Which one should you pick?

Paperless-ngx scores 86/100 against 84/100 for penpot, so it is the safer default.

Paperless-ngx ships more often: 26 stable releases in the past year, against 12 for penpot.

If you want the quickest setup, Paperless-ngx is easier to run; penpot needs more configuration.

## Details

- [Paperless-ngx](https://selfhost.directory/project/paperless-ngx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/paperless-ngx.md)
- [penpot](https://selfhost.directory/project/penpot) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/penpot.md)

## Related comparisons

- [OpenDesign vs penpot](https://selfhost.directory/compare/open-design-vs-penpot)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/paperless-ngx-vs-penpot