Top 9 time-saving Figma plugins for designers

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Figma is a powerful tool for designers of all skill levels. While it already includes the necessary capabilities for creating attractive, dynamic designs, figma plugins allow designers to take their process to the next level.

This article will look at the best Figma plugins for saving time and energy during the design process. It will include a summary of their capabilities and benefits, how-to instructions, and our recommendations for the ideal stage of the design cycle to employ them.

What is Figma?

Figma has come a long way since its initial launch in 2016. This cloud-based app lets you create apps, websites, and other minor UI components that may be used in different projects.

Figma plugins are apps that extend the capabilities of Figma and FigJam. They allow users to conduct actions that go beyond Figma’s primary functionality.

Essentially, these plugins bring new tools, automation, and customization possibilities, improving the design process and increasing productivity.

Best Figma plugins for time-saving

Wireframe

The Wireframe plugin for Figma allows you to develop wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and other fundamental frameworks for your ideas without starting from scratch. 

It is an excellent plugin for time-crunched designers. It includes a free collection of 350+ custom-built graphics for web and mobile. In addition, you can utilize the plugin to collaborate with coworkers in real-time.

How it works:

• Install the plugin from the Figma Community and use it in your Figma design project.
• Start dragging and dropping wireframes onto Figma—that is it.

Pricing:

Free.

Illustration

Illustration Libraries for Figma is a free plugin that allows you to include high-quality illustrations in your projects. All of the illustrations are licensed under Creative Commons. 

To make your designs look excellent, you do not need to develop illustrations from scratch; simply pick and select from the library.

How it works:

• Install the plugin from the Figma Community and use it in your Figma project.
• Scroll through the library or use the search function to select an illustration you like, then drag & drop it into your project.

Pricing:

Free.

Protopie

Using Figma alone can be challenging in creating interactive, high-fidelity prototypes that function and look exactly like the final product. Still, the ProtoPie plugin for Figma makes it simple to export your concepts.

If Figma is your preferred UI design tool, ProtoPie can help you advance your prototypes with dynamic interactions like conditions, formulas, and variables. 

Text input, a camera, speech, and media playback can all be added, and prototypes can even talk to one another.

How it works:

• Make sure ProtoPie is installed first.
• Launch ProtoPie and the Figma version of the ProtoPie plugin (get it here).
• Click Export after selecting any frame or object.
• In ProtoPie, add robust interactions.

Pricing:

Free and paid

Autoflow

Autoflow is a Figma plugin that allows you to quickly create user flows, diagrams, and visuals in a hand-drawn or minimalist manner. 

Create sophisticated flowcharts fast and effortlessly using Autoflow’s clever obstacle recognition, text annotations, and custom path routing, among other capabilities.

How it works:

• Install the plugin from the Figma Community and use it in your Figma project.
• Holding Shift while selecting two objects causes Autoflow to draw an arrow connecting them.

Pricing:

Free and paid

Pitchdeck Presentation Studio

The Pitchdeck Presentation Studio plugin for Figma makes it simple to create presentations on Figma. It includes support for animations and real-time previews. 

You can export your presentations to various file formats, including PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, and PDFs, and you can include content from Loom, Canva, Lottie, Spotify, and others.

Pricing:

Free and paid.

Related News: 2024 Lilac Creative Design Competition is Open!

Protopie Genie

The ProtoPie Genie plugin lets you quickly add realistic interactions to your Figma prototypes.

The plugin’s interactions will take your Figma prototypes to new heights, improving communication and user testing with unrivaled quality.

In its beta release, the plugin allows you to add interactive input areas to your prototypes. 

How it works:

• Open the ProtoPie Genie plugin in your Figma project.
• Select the Figma object to which you want to add an interaction, then add it.
• Select the Figma flow in which the interaction is included and click the preview/publish button.
• Test out the Figma prototype with the interactions included.

Pricing:

Free

UIHUT

UIHUT is a Figma plugin that offers a vast library of resources to individual designers and design teams, including thousands of UI kits, web templates, graphics, 3D assets, and icons. 

With this plugin, you may speed up your process and identify components for any design need.

How it works:

• Create an account with UIHUT and sign in.
• Use the categories or search option to find a design you like, then copy and paste it to your Figma design board.

Pricing:

Free (professional and team versions available).

Draw Connector

Draw Connector is a top Figma plugin that lets you create ideal orthogonal connectors between layers by modifying borders, connector terminals, stroke color, width, style, and more. 

With sophisticated pathfinding, this plugin automatically updates as related layers change, making designing and maintaining correct diagrams simple.

How it works:

• Install the plugin from the Figma Community and use it in your Figma design project.
• Select two levels and join them.

Pricing: 

Users get five free runs per Figma design file, with the option to permanently unlock the Draw Connector for $39 per user.

Unsplash

Unsplash is a Figma plugin that gives you access to over 3 million free high-resolution photos to use directly in your creations. 

The Unsplash license permits photos to be freely used in commercial and personal applications. Instead of inputting random photographs, you can select one appropriate for your design job.

How it works:

• Install the plugin and use it in your Figma project.
• Find a photo you like and click to add it to your file.

Pricing: Free.

Conclusion

These Figma plugins make it simple to produce stunning ideas ready for development. By including AI-powered features such as icons, text, and backgrounds, they can save time and decrease the need for bespoke coding. 

As the Figma platform evolves, so will its plugin library, which implies that new features will be released regularly!

Frequently asked questions

What is Figma used for?

Figma is a cloud-based design tool used primarily for UI and UX design. It allows teams to collaborate on projects like website and mobile app design in real time. 

It provides features for wireframing, prototyping, and creating design systems, making it a versatile platform for individual designers and design teams.

How many Figma plugins are there?

Over 1,000 Figma plugins are currently available in the Figma Community. These plugins enhance Figma’s capabilities by adding functionalities such as design automation, accessibility checks, stock photo integration, and more. The number of plugins may continue to grow as developers create new tools.

What is the best graphics plugin for Figma?

The best graphics plugin can vary based on individual needs, but popular choices include:

• Unsplash: Provides access to a vast library of high-quality stock photos.
• Icons8: Offers a wide range of icons and illustrations.
• Blush: Allows users to create and customize illustrations directly within Figma.
• Figmotion: Enables the creation of animations and motion designs within Figma.

How do I deploy plugins in Figma?

To deploy plugins in Figma, follow these steps:

1. Open a Figma file.
2. Click on the Menu icon in the top-left corner.
3. Navigate to Plugins > Manage Plugins.
4. You can browse and search for plugins in the Figma Community in the Plugins panel.
5. Once you find a plugin you want to install, click on the Install button.

After installation, you can access the plugin anytime by going to Menu > Plugins and selecting the desired plugin.