Top 14 Figma plugins for designing apps

Since its debut in 2016, Figma has been changing the design processes' conditions and direction.

Just a few years ago, it was unimaginable for a designer to open its design tool in a browser and share the design on a link with other colleagues. They couldn’t open it on different computers with different operating systems outside the same office.

Figma made all that possible. While at the same time, it opened its tool for marketers and developers.

Additionally, Figma gathered a large community of designers and developers. They are creating so-called plugins to automate some steps or triggers in Figma even more.

There are currently more than 200 plugins available in the Figma community. Sometimes it’s hard to understand which ones are essential and which are just creating chaos in your workflow.

That’s why we analyzed which Figma plugins helped us and other teams to design apps faster and more effectively.

What are Figma plugins?

Figma itself defines plugins as “programs or applications created by the community that extended the functionality of Figma and FigJam.”

Moreover, they’re usually accomplishing one or more actions that are usually done manually by users.

For example, a Styler plugin automatically creates a brand color palette in two clicks. This is something a designer usually would need 30-60 minutes for.

Generating Style Guides in Figma Automatically

What are the best Figma plugins?

For us, the best Figma plugins are easy to incorporate into the workflow, saving us a ton of time and space.

While all plugins are nice to have, here’s the list of our “must haves”

1. Localizely Figma integration

What does this plugin do?

Localizely plugin for Figma amplifies the localization workflow connecting the design and translation.

How does it save you time?

This plugin helps you get various language versions of designs for a multilingual app with just a few clicks.

It lets designers pull translations directly into the design and save it as a new card without manual input. This way, you can double-check how the translation influences the design in every version and have it ready for deployment in a matter of minutes.

The platform itself allows the developers just to upload and download ready-to-use localization files. They just need to push them into the app, again, without manual edits and coding. Additionally, translators can get the context needed for better and more efficient translations. Localization specialists can monitor and review everything through the translation editor.

Persons included in the localization project will have more effective collaboration with each other. The team will be satisfied, designers, translators, and product managers included, as it enables a better overview of the process.

When to use it?

Feel free to use this tool whenever you're working on localization, whether you’re localizing content marketing materials, an app, or software at any development stage.

How much does this service cost you?

Localizley Figma plugin is available on all Organizational plans. However, the 14 days trial period is available, so you can easily check if this plugin is a game changer for you.

2. Story set

What does this plugin do?

It enables you to let your imagination go wild. Just think about thousands of illustrated concepts with editable colors and backgrounds that also can be animated. All of them are available for you with this plugin. Sounds like heaven for those creative minds in the industry.

How does it save you time?

Storyset is created by Freepik, so its database of graphics and illustrations is available for easy import, adjustment, and even animation. Once you find what you are looking for, with just a few clicks, you’ll have them directly inserted into your design.

The bonus is that you can select the style, color, background, and other small things that make a big difference when it comes to aesthetics.

When to use it?

When you want to complement your app design with matching illustrations and round them up into a complete and unique package in the shortest amount of time possible.

How much does this service cost you?

Storyset is free of charge.

3. Iconify

What does this plugin do?

It enables you to import Material Design Icons, FontAwesome, Jam Icons, EmojiOne, Twitter Emoji, and many other icons to Figma documents as vector shapes.

How does it save you time?

Iconify has a very flexible policy that allows you to have more freedom. You can pick from thousands of icons without worrying about compatibility with third-party plug-ins.

This not only saves your time but also saves your energy and money and enables you to work carefree.

When to use it?

When you want to skip the whole drama called vendor lock-in while creating icons in your app and just work in peace enjoying the variety of choices and the ease of the process, oh, and the time you saved.

How much does this service cost you?

Just recently, Iconofy switched to open-sourced operation mode, so it is currently free for use.

4. Figmoji

What does this plugin do?

Figmoji enables you to add seamless emojis to your design by simply selecting the one that you want, and it’s done.

How does it save you time?

The process of picking the emoji you want and taping it to place it on your design sounds pretty time-saving to us. No copy-paste, range changing, or manual creation is involved.

When to use it?

When you want to express emotions about something related to the user experience in your app, or any other part of the design.

How much does this service cost you?

Figmoji is open-sourced and available for free-range use.

5. Spelll

What does this plugin do?

Spell doesn’t let you make any spelling mistakes that can jeopardize your design. This means you’ll let your mind flow and your fingers type without worrying about possible mistakes. Yours is to focus on the message you want to transmit to the user.

How does it save you time?

It constantly checks your typing and informs you of spelling errors. The best part is that with just one click, you'll be able to fix it.

Spelll knows 43 languages from around the world. Thanks to that, it provides amazing service to countless human beings, saving them enormous amounts of time.

When to use it?

When you want to design without fear of mistakes. Spelll will automatically remember your language and start immediate tracking.

Avoiding spelling mistakes that sometimes can be embarrassing will contribute to your professional reputation and seriousness.

How much does this service cost you?

Spell has a trial period of seven days. After that, you’ll need to either choose a pricing plan that suits your needs or deal with the limitation to Figma files with 100 text layers or less

6. Wireframe

What does this plugin do?

Wireframe enables you to create beautiful wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and basic structures. All are listed without other kits, files, or skills required.

How does it save you time?

With this rich library, you can find what you need and just drag and drop to add it on Figma, and that’s it. You don’t need anything else. Sounds like child’s play.

When to use it?

When you want access to more than 350 custom build cards that cover most web and mobile elements and interactions. They have multiple use cases covered.

How much does this service cost you?

Wireframe is currently not billing for its services.

7. Mapsicle

What does this plugin do?

Mapsicle frees you from hoarding endless counts of map screenshots on your computer. You’ll be able to place maps wherever you need them in just a few clicks. Simply as that.

How does it save you time?

It allows you to import a map from the Mapbox database and adjust the location, style, zoom level, and other needed details.

When to use it?

When you want to simplify an unnecessarily complicated process. The bonus is that you have more customized options to get the most accurate location.

How much does this service cost you?

While Mapsicle is currently not charging for the usage of their plugin, Mapbox has a wide range of free and paid plans, so the usage of this plugin can lead to eventual costs.

8. Breakpoints

What does this plugin do?

Breakpoints plugin enables you to preview a responsive layout inside a Figma frame and to share animated prototypes.

How does it save you time?

You can open the plugin window, and anyone in your team can resize the frame without the installed plugin. Also, you can just share an animation prototype for the rest.

When to use it?

When your app, software, or website needs to be responsive. In 2023 that means whenever you're creating any digital product.

How much does this service cost you?

Breakpoints have a pay-once-use-forever policy. This policy guarantees you a lifetime license with all future plugin updates. They also have different licenses; you can check here and find the most suitable one for you.

9. Chart

What does this plugin do?

Chart uses real or random data to create the most popular charts, as the name says obviously. And who doesn’t like charts?

How does it save you time?

It allows you to bring data from editors like Excel, Numbers, and Google Sheets. Plus, it has a live connection with Google Sheets and also remote JSON (REST API), local CSV, and JSON files

When to use it?

When it’s important to show data and research results for users in your app, if you do it through charts, it makes a better and more professional impression. Also, pictorial representation is more striking and attracts more attention.

How much does this service cost you?

Chart offers some of its services for free, but if you need more for a very decent price you can choose other options.

10. LottieFiles

What does this plugin do?

LottieFilles enables you to convert a static design into a GIF. Something like giving life and movement to your design.

How does it save you time?

You get access to a library of thousands of free animations. Once you start using it, you’ll always have all your animations previewed on LottieFiles. Yours is only to pick the right one for you, then simply drag and drop, that’s it.

When to use it?

When you want to spice things up a bit but don’t want to risk changes in the design and style with tools switch. The process is simple, and the best thing is that all animations are of high quality.

How much does this service cost you?

Lottie Files currently offers its services for free.

11. Arrow auto

What does this plugin do?

Arrow plugin allows you to draw arrows smoothly and consistently. It’ll connect your cards, remember their position, and keep connection automatically even if you move the cards.

How does it save you time?

With the option called "Update Positions," you don’t need to worry when moving the elements around. When you turn this option on, all the arrows will auto-track the elements’ position. Easy peasy!

When to use it?

When you want to adjust the color, opacity, and stroke width of all arrows together. Consistency has never been simpler with this plugin, and the whole draw arrow work can be done with no hustle.

How much does this service cost you?

You can point the arrows and draw them free of charge with Arrow auto.

12. Styler

What does this plugin do?

Styler generates styles based on selected layers, which allows you to control your style and keep it the same throughout your design.

How does it save you time?

You can manage multiple styles at once, which means you can faster achieve and maintain the desired style.

When to use it?

When you want to create, remove, rename and update styles. Or even when you want to move them from one file to another, it can be done by simply extracting them.

How much does this service cost you?

Basic options for individuals and teams are free, but if you need advanced services, check Styler's pricing here.

13. Contrast

What does this plugin do?

With the Contrast plugin, it’s extremely easy to check the contrast ratios of colors as you work.

How does it save you time?

By scanning entire pages, you’ll be able to receive reports of all text-based contrast issues. This will facilitate the process of their optimization.

When to use it?

When you want to find the color behind selected elements or to see all text-layer color issues on entire pages, and you want it fast.

How much does this service cost you?

Contrast is made by the Maark design team, and it’s free of charge.

14. Content Reel

What does this plugin do?

Content Reel optimizes your workflow if you’re repetitively using certain strings of texts, images, and design cards through development.

How does it save you time?

You can import strings of existing texts, images, and icons from their database, or you can create custom content and share it with other Figma users. You can then pin the content you often use to your home screen, and with single click access, drag and drop them to the current design you’re working on.

When to use it?

When you’re working on an app, software, or website with multiple pages with nearly repetitive design layouts but with little mixes and switches.

How much does this service cost you?

Made by Microsoft and Eugene Gavriloff, and you can use it for free on Figma.

Amplify your design

Feel free to use all the plugins above. Figma is bringing them to you for a better experience, easier work, automated processes, and saving precious time.

With all these aids, you have everything you need just in front of you, usually only a few clicks away, so take advantage of it and enjoy the process.