Head to head
Pencil (pen.dev) vs Google Stitch
Pencil (pen.dev) and Google Stitch solve the same job (AI design builders), so this is a pick-one decision. Pencil (pen.dev) is our default here: Names your exact stack as a first-class target — React + Tailwind + shadcn/ui. Draw the article template, and the drawing becomes real components. Because the .pen file lives beside the code, the design and the build cannot silently drift. Watch out: Requires a local checkout via Lovable's GitHub sync — cannot touch the browser editor. Domain is mid-rename (pencil.dev → pen.dev), early access, no published pricing commitment.
Quick read
- Editor's pick: Pencil (pen.dev).
| Field | Pencil (pen.dev)pen.dev Not yet swept | Google Stitchstitch.withgoogle.com Not yet swept |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Figma-like canvas inside Cursor/VS Code/Windsurf, storing designs as JSON .pen files inside your project folder so they are git-versioned next to the code. Runs as an MCP server, so the agent reads the canvas as structured design context rather than as an image. Two-way: you can import existing components back onto the canvas. | Generates multi-screen UI from a text prompt, sketch or screenshot, with an editable canvas and interactive prototype playback. Runs on Gemini 3. Confirmed output paths: Paste-to-Figma (editable layers) and HTML/Tailwind code copy. Some builds also emit a DESIGN.md spec. |
| Category | AI design builders | AI design builders |
| Cost tier | free | free |
| Pricing | Free during early access | Free — ~550 generations/mo |
| Why builders pick it | Names your exact stack as a first-class target — React + Tailwind + shadcn/ui. Draw the article template, and the drawing becomes real components. Because the .pen file lives beside the code, the design and the build cannot silently drift. | Free, high-volume screen ideation — lay out 8–10 screens before committing to building any. The DESIGN.md output is an excellent thing to hand an agent. |
| Watch out for | Requires a local checkout via Lovable's GitHub sync — cannot touch the browser editor. Domain is mid-rename (pencil.dev → pen.dev), early access, no published pricing commitment. | Sources conflict on React export; treat JSX output as unproven until you click it. Labs products carry real shutdown risk — do not build a workflow that depends on it. |
| How to wire it up | MCP server; assumes Claude Code as the agent | not logged |
| Editor's pick | Yes | No |
Other matchups worth running
Agent endpoint: GET /api/public/compare?slugs=google-stitch,pencil