Lunacy by Icons8 review 2026: free design tool features, AI tools, pricing plans, pros, cons, and how it compares to Figma and Sketch.
Category
Design
Pricing
Freemium, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2016
Headquarters
New York, United States (Icons8, parent company)
Free PlanWindowsFreemiumTemplatesMac
Overview
Lunacy is a free, cross-platform graphic and UI design tool made by Icons8. It began in 2016 as a Windows viewer for Sketch files and evolved into a full vector design editor running natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
It is positioned as a free alternative to Figma and Sketch, with the added advantage of full offline functionality since it runs as a native desktop application rather than requiring a browser connection.
Key Features
Lunacy supports artboards, responsive design constraints, interactive prototyping, and native .sketch file compatibility, and it ships with built-in AI tools such as background removal, image upscaling, and avatar generation.
The app includes direct in-canvas access to Icons8's library of over 1.5 million free icons, photos, and illustrations, reducing the need for separate stock asset subscriptions.
Pricing
The core Lunacy desktop editor is free for personal and commercial use with no major feature restrictions, distinguishing it from most competitors that gate core functionality behind paywalls.
Paid add-ons cover cloud storage and collaboration, priced from about 4.99 dollars per month, and a separate asset and AI subscription costs roughly 9.99 dollars per month.
Key Features
Native cross-platform desktop app — Runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and works fully offline without requiring a browser.
Sketch file compatibility — Opens, edits, and saves native .sketch files, enabling collaboration with Sketch users on non-Mac systems.
Built-in AI tools — Includes an AI background remover, image upscaler, and avatar generator directly inside the editor.
Integrated asset library — Direct in-app access to over 1.5 million free icons, photos, illustrations, and mockups from Icons8.
Responsive design constraints — Supports layout rules and constraints so designs adapt across different screen sizes.
Cloud collaboration (paid) — Optional cloud document storage, team sharing, and version history on paid subscription tiers.
Vector editing toolkit — Full vector drawing, editing, and artboard tools comparable to standard UI design software.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Core design editor is free for personal and commercial use with no major feature gating
Native desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux with full offline support
Built-in access to a massive free icon, photo, and illustration library
Includes AI tools like background removal and upscaling at no extra base cost
Native .sketch file compatibility helps teams collaborate across platforms
Cons
Smaller collaborative and plugin ecosystem than Figma
Cloud collaboration and full asset library access require paid add-ons
Backed by a much smaller company than venture-funded competitors like Figma
Less brand recognition and community content compared to Figma or Sketch
Real-time multiplayer collaboration is less mature than browser-first competitors
Pricing
Free $0 N/A
Personal Cloud $4.99/month ($47.99/year) Monthly or annual
Professional Team $4.99/seat/month Monthly
Assets and AI Subscription $9.99/month ($95.99/year) Monthly or annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lunacy really free?
Yes, the core Lunacy desktop editor is free for both personal and commercial use with no major feature restrictions; paid add-ons only cover cloud storage, larger teams, and the full asset and AI library.
Who makes Lunacy?
Lunacy is developed by Icons8, a design-assets company that also provides the icon, photo, and illustration library integrated directly into the app.
Does Lunacy work offline?
Yes, unlike browser-based tools such as Figma, Lunacy runs as a native desktop application on Windows, macOS, and Linux and works fully offline.
Can Lunacy open Sketch files?
Yes, Lunacy natively opens, edits, and saves .sketch files, which was its original purpose when it launched as a Sketch file viewer in 2016.
What AI tools does Lunacy include?
Lunacy includes an AI background remover, an image upscaler, and an AI avatar generator built directly into the editor.
How does Lunacy compare to Figma?
Lunacy is a free, native desktop alternative to Figma with offline support and a bundled asset library, though it has a smaller plugin ecosystem and less mature real-time collaboration than Figma.