Best (free) Figma Plugins 2021
By: Christine Vallaure
Tags: Figma, UI, Plugins, Workflow, UX

UX/UI Design + Figma

Best (free) Figma Plugins 2021

Figma, by now, has an extensive list of plugins to get lost in. Quality and update vary greatly. However, once you got the right set, they will improve your UX/UI Design significantly. So to save yourself some time, here is a selection of my favorite plugins worth your while.

Vectary 3D

source: Vectary 3D promo image, Figma community

I love the Vectary 3D Plugin for a quick mockup! With one click, you add your frame to a 3D canvas. They offer anything from mobile to desktop, apple watch to T-shirts for free. Vectary.com is generally impressive if you are looking for a tool to add some 3D to your designs. Highly recommend it!!!

GiffyCanvas

source: GiffyCanvas image, Figma community

Yes, you can make animated GIFs directly in Figma! Just set up a row of artboards with the steps of the animation you want. Select, activate the GiffyCanvas plugin, tweak the speed a little if you wish, and download! Ready is your Gif!

💡Tip: You can add that Gif you exported into Figma again and use it as part of your layout. It will play in your prototype when you activate presentation mode.

Breakpoints

source: Breakpoint image, Figma community

Now, this one is still Beta. However I love the idea, and it is something I am missing in my workflow. Once (or while) you set up all your designs for different breakpoints, you activate the Breakpoint plugin, set your breakpoints, and then assign a frame for each range (takes 5 seconds). It creates a new dynamic frame showing you the actual resizing behavior. AMAZING!

Google Sheets Sync

source: Google Sheets Sync image, Figma community

Working with real data. The Google Sheets Sync Plugin helps me to use real data from the start without copy and paste. As it updates in real-time, I always see right away when text length or image dimensions might cause trouble.

Stark

source: Stark Plugin image, Figma community

So so important and often forgotten (guilty as charged): Checking your designs for accessibility! Stark Plugin features include a contrast checker, smart color suggestions as well as a colorblind generator. It comes with a free basic plan; for more info, visit the Stark website. You might also like the Able plugin for just color contrast checking and Adee for checking the full range from typo to colors.

Redlines

source: Redlines image, Figma community

I love using Redlines when I prepare my component specs for handoff — a total time saver for all those annotations in my Specs.

Interplay

source: Interplay image, Figma community

You can connect to your code repository with the Interplay plugin and design with “real” components in Figma.

Blush

source: Blush image, Figma community

Blush is an excellent plugin for illustration by Pablo Stanley I like it so much that I wrote a separate article about it. You can choose from a selection of high-quality illustrations and mix and match them right in Figma. Free basic plan, for more info, visit the blush website.

Unsplash

source: Unsplash image, Figma community

Been around for a while, but nevertheless, the one I use probably the most. With Unsplash you can search and insert all Unsplash images (free, high-res, and amazing in case you do not know it!) directly in your design.

Iconify

source: Iconify image, Figma community

Iconify you can choose from over 40 000 free icons (FontAwesome, Material design, etc.) and insert them directly into your Figma file.

Morph

source: Morph image, Figma community

Morph has quickly become one of my favorites to mess around. You can make shapes glow like neon, add crazy glitch effects, or simply change a surface into glass.

Lorem ipsum

source:Lorem ipsum image, Figma community

Googling lorem ipsum to find a page to copy it and then go back to your design file to paste it? Yup, I have been there. The Lorem ipsum plugin will help you add dummy text with one click to your designs in precisely the correct quantity.

Mapsicle

source:Mapsicle image, Figma community

No more screenshotting google maps and adding it to your design. With Mapsicle you can add maps directly and even style them. You can also try MapMaker, which is pretty similar.

Autoflow

source:Autoflow image, Figma community

Autoflow creates simple arrows to show a flow. Handy for a quick, simple flowchart. It is a little limited when you want to show more detail or complex interactions (like arrows going backward or splitting or pointing to a specific area).

Wireframe

source:Wireframe image, Figma community

I prefer making my own wireframes, but the Wireframe Plugin works just great for a reeeely quick and standardized one. You can choose from different sizes (mobile, desktop) and stages, anything from walkthrough to forms.

Image Palette

source:Image Palette image, Figma community

I never thought much of those palette creators, but this one works surprisingly well. Choose an image, click, and done. You obviously need to add some structure to the colors, but Image Palette gives you a very harmonious palette to start.

Blobs

source:Blob image, Figma community

If you want to create those popular organic shapes you see around quite a bit lately, Blob is your plugin.

Chart

source:Chart image, Figma community

Chart uses actual data to create graphs. The best part is you can connect it with Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets (real-time connection!) and remote JSON (REST API), local CSV, and JSON files. It’s free for two chart types. For more info, visit the chart website.Find and Replace

Find and Replace

source:Find and Replace image, Figma community

The Find and Replace plugin is really basic but handy. It lets you find words and replace them across your whole project.

Super Tidy

source:Tidy image, Figma community

Jup, sometimes my files are messy, and I love a clean layers panel, so Super Tidy helps me get things back in order. You organize your frames visually and then run them through the plugin, which sorts them accordingly in the layers panel, and you can also name them (in bulk).

TinyImage Compressor

source:TinyImage image, Figma community

TinyImage Compressor helps you to compress and export JPG, PNG, SVG, WebP, GIF, WebM, AVIF, and PDF from Figma. However, only in edit mode! So if you are sharing on a “view” mode (as you would with development), that will not work.

SPELLL — Spell Checking for Figma

source: Spelll image, Figma community

Boy, do I need the Spelll plugin. I am dyslexic, and there is no autocorrect in Figma, which kills me! You need to activate Spell with a license, but it is free. The only annoying part is that it is scanning your whole document (including all dummy text). If you prefer checking single paragraphs, you might like Spellchecker. I use both. If you still see typos then be kind and email me :)

Thank you!

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first published at: moonlearning.io