ModuleX vs Pencil: Features, Pricing & Which Is Better (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of ModuleX and Pencil — features, pricing, and ideal use cases — to help you decide which AI tool fits your workflow.

ModuleX

Freemium

An AI workflow orchestration platform to build with natural language or a visual canvas, connect 600+ tools, and run any major AI model.

Natural-Language & Visual Builder: Build workflows by describing them in plain language or using a visual canvas.
600+ Tool Integrations: Connect CRMs, databases, communication tools, and more across your stack.
Any Major AI Model: Run workflows with every major AI model using your own keys at provider rates.
Deep Agentic Assistant: Describe a goal and a deep agent reasons, picks the right tools, and executes across integrations.
Multiple Execution Modes: Trigger workflows via chat, SDK, or REST API.
Real-Time Cost Visibility: See every step and its cost in real time as workflows run.
Developer SDKs: Native JavaScript and Python SDKs plus curl/REST endpoints for embedding automation.

Business Automation: Orchestrate multi-step workflows across CRM, database, and communication tools.
Agentic Task Execution: Hand a goal to the deep agent and let it select tools and complete it.
Developer Integration: Trigger workflows programmatically from code via SDK or REST API.
Cost-Controlled AI: Use your own API keys to keep model costs transparent and predictable.

Pencil (Pencil Works)

Freemium

In-IDE design canvas that lets engineers design UI and convert designs directly into code to speed development.

In-IDE Design Canvas: Provides a visual design canvas embedded inside developers' IDEs so users can create and edit UI designs without context switching to external design apps.
Design-to-Code Export: Converts designs into code-friendly artifacts or components (land in code) to reduce manual implementation and speed delivery of production UI.
Local MCP Server & Discovery: Runs a local MCP-style service that writes config (e.g., ~/.claude.json) so external tools and agents can discover Pencil, read its port/command, and integrate programmatically.
Auto-Configuration & Port Sync: Supports auto-setup and auto-sync behaviors (project or global scope) so integrations (like OpenCode) automatically add Pencil to their configs and update ports when Pencil restarts.
Project-Scoped Integration: Can be configured per-project or globally, allowing teams to make Pencil available only within specific repositories or across all projects for consistent workflows.
Tooling & CLI Support: Exposes status, setup, and sync actions for partner tools and agent plugins (e.g., pencil_status, pencil_setup, pencil_sync) to manage connectivity and lifecycle programmatically.
Canvas-based UI design embedded into developer workflows/IDEs