Add to ChromeHow they compare
These tools sit on opposite ends of the design-to-code pipeline. Figma Dev Mode is where designers hand off a spec; Design Mode is where the deployed page gets refined back into the source.
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Design Mode | Figma Dev Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Visual editing of any live website | Yes — full design surface (typography, colour, layout, spacing, motion, effects) | Read-only handoff of design file |
| MCP (Model Context Protocol) handoff to AI agents | Yes — Cloud, Local, and Self-hosted modes; eight MCP tools | No |
| Persistent change history (Changes tab) | Yes — searchable, filterable, exportable | Figma version history |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Proprietary |
| Price | Free forever | Figma seat (Dev Mode tier) |
| Markdown / JSON export of the diff | Yes | Code snippets, measurements |
| Best fit for | Designers, developers, QA, PMs, content, indie hackers, agencies, vibe coders | Engineers reading a Figma spec |
When to pick Design Mode
- You're working on the deployed product, not the Figma file.
- You want edits that translate directly into PRs.
- You want an AI agent to write the production code from your edits.
When to pick Figma Dev Mode
- You're reading the design spec for a new feature.
- Your team's source of truth is the Figma file.
Honest take
Different tools, different stages. Most teams that use Figma Dev Mode will also benefit from Design Mode on the deployed side.