Quick facts
VendorEvolus
Year launched—
StatusActive
Location2nd Floor, Building PHL house, 109 Cong Hoa, Ward 12, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Countries servedGlobal
Languages2
Integrations1+
Free tier—
Free trial—
Contact sales—
About Pencil Project
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Pencil Project by Evolus is a free, open-source tool designed primarily for sketching user interface (UI) mockups and creating structured diagrams. Since its launch in 2008, the application has gained a loyal following, especially among developers, designers, analysts, and open-source enthusiasts. Recognized early on for its contribution to the Mozilla ecosystem, Pencil Project has maintained its position as a valuable design and documentation tool, particularly for users seeking an accessible alternative to paid wireframing and diagramming software. Its core objective is to enable users to visualize application interfaces and user flows quickly—making it ideal for requirement gathering, early-stage prototyping, and design documentation in software development lifecycles. The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), ensuring that anyone can use, modify, and contribute to its development freely. The user interface of Pencil Project is intuitive and familiar, resembling that of a simple HTML editor or presentation application.
Pros & Cons
What users like
- +Fast and Lightweight: Runs smoothly even on older hardware; better than most Electron-based apps.
- +Easy to Use: Great for beginners and experts; quick prototyping in minutes.
- +Rich Template & Shape Library: Includes Android/iOS kits, Sketchy UI, Bootstrap, GTK, and flowchart elements.
- +Multiple Export Formats: Supports PNG, PDF, SVG, ODT, and single web page exports.
- +Offline Desktop App: Doesn’t require internet; ideal for various operating systems.
- +Open Source: Free to use with no major restrictions.
- +Design Versatility: Good for web, mobile, GUI, and app mockups.
- +Optional Shape Customization: Supports personal shapes and clip-art libraries.
What users flag
- −Limited Support & Documentation: Instructions can be unclear; geared more toward developers than everyday users.
- −Template & Element Limitations: Some users wished for a wider variety and more advanced components.
- −Poor Font and Canvas Management: Font handling and canvas resizing were common frustrations.
- −UI Needs Polish: Outdated interface in need of redesign.
- −Basic Export Features: Although formats are supported, functionality is limited (e.g., no canvas resize for print).
- −Steep Initial Learning Curve: Takes time to understand full capabilities.
Features
Key features
- Open-Source Graphics Tool
- It is an open-source tool for sketching and designing user interfaces, offering transparency and community-driven development.
- Multi-Platform Based on Mozilla
- Functions across various operating systems, leveraging Mozilla technologies, ensuring wide accessibility.
- UI Design for Analysts & Developers
- Specifically helps analysts and developers quickly draw application interfaces for documentation and deployment planning.
- Stand-alone or Firefox Add-on
- Can be deployed either as an independent application or integrated as an add-on within Mozilla Firefox 3.
- Award-Winning Add-on
- Recognized as the "Best Add-on" for Firefox 3 in 2008, highlighting its quality and utility.
- GPL License
- Released under the GPL license, allowing users to freely use, access, modify, and upgrade its source code.
Additional features
- Assignment Sketching Tool
- Serves as a utility for sketching assignments.
- Open-Source Graphics
- The software is open-source, allowing for free use and modification.
- Multi-Platform
- It can operate on various operating systems.
- Mozilla Firefox-Based
- Developed and operates based on Mozilla Firefox technologies.
- Award-Winning Add-on
- Received the "Best Add-on Award for Mozilla Firefox 3" in 2008.
- User Interface Building
- Helps in designing and building application interfaces.
- Quick Application Interface Drawing
- Enables users to rapidly draw out application interfaces.
- Delivery Document Creation
- Used to create documents for customers during the request collection process.
- Deployment Resource Generation
- Creates resources that form the basis for application deployment teams.
- Community Contribution
- An effort by Evolus to contribute back to the open-source community.
- Public Open-Source Instrument
- Released as an open-source tool, accessible to the public.
- GPL License
- Licensed under the GNU General Public License, ensuring free access and use.
- Source Code Access
- Users have the opportunity to access and adjust its source code.
- Source Code Upgrade
- Users can upgrade the software's source code.
- Firefox Add-on Deployment
- Can be deployed as an add-on specifically for Mozilla Firefox 3.
- Independent Application Deployment
- Can also function and be deployed as a standalone application.
- Operates on Mozilla Firefox 3 Supported Systems
- Works well on any operating system supported by Mozilla Firefox 3.
Pricing
Free trial
Free version
Request a quote
Promo Offer
Countries & Languages
Global
Countries served
2
Interface languages
11
Billing currencies
Interface languages
EnglishVietnamese
Billing currencies
🇺🇸USD🇪🇺EUR🇬🇧GBP🇦🇺AUD🇨🇦CAD🇯🇵JPY🇨🇭CHF🇸🇬SGD🇮🇳INR🇨🇳CNY🇭🇰HKD
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About Pencil Project
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Pencil Project Details
Vendor
Evolus
Year Launched
Location
2nd Floor, Building PHL house, 109 Cong Hoa, Ward 12, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Deployment
cloud
Training Options
Countries Served
All Countries
Languages
English, Vietnamese
Users
UI/UX designers, Software developers, Business analysts, Project managers, Product designers, System analysts, Technical writers, Educators, Students, Graphic designers, Open-source contributors
Industries Served
Software development, Information technology, Education, Product design, Technical documentation, Consulting, Startups, Government and public sector, Nonprofit organizations, Engineering and systems design
Tags
Diagram, Pencil Project, Evolus
Pencil Project's In-App Market Place
Does Pencil Project have an in-app market place?
Yes
How many Mini-Apps in the marketplace?
1
Mini Apps
N/A
Pricing Options
Free trial
Free version
Request a quote
Promo Offer
Accepted Payment Currencies
USD ($), EUR (€), GBP (£), AUD (A$), CAD (C$), JPY (¥), CHF (CHF), SGD (S$), INR (₹), CNY (¥), HKD (HK$)
Pros & Cons
- Fast and Lightweight: Runs smoothly even on older hardware; better than most Electron-based apps.
- Easy to Use: Great for beginners and experts; quick prototyping in minutes.
- Rich Template & Shape Library: Includes Android/iOS kits, Sketchy UI, Bootstrap, GTK, and flowchart elements.
- Multiple Export Formats: Supports PNG, PDF, SVG, ODT, and single web page exports.
- Offline Desktop App: Doesn’t require internet; ideal for various operating systems.
- Open Source: Free to use with no major restrictions.
- Design Versatility: Good for web, mobile, GUI, and app mockups.
- Optional Shape Customization: Supports personal shapes and clip-art libraries.
- Limited Support & Documentation: Instructions can be unclear; geared more toward developers than everyday users.
- Template & Element Limitations: Some users wished for a wider variety and more advanced components.
- Poor Font and Canvas Management: Font handling and canvas resizing were common frustrations.
- UI Needs Polish: Outdated interface in need of redesign.
- Basic Export Features: Although formats are supported, functionality is limited (e.g., no canvas resize for print).
- Steep Initial Learning Curve: Takes time to understand full capabilities.
Pencil Project's Support Options
Email Address
contact@evolus.vnContact
(+84) 28 629 6688 6
