The 10 Best Alternatives to Backstage in 2025

In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, finding the right tools to streamline workflows and enhance productivity is crucial. While Backstage has gained traction, there are numerous other platforms that offer unique features and capabilities.

This article explores ten alternatives to Backstage, each providing distinct advantages tailored to various development needs. Whether you're seeking better integration, more customization, or specific functionalities, these options are worth considering.

What is Backstage?

Backstage is an open platform designed to help developers manage and streamline their software development processes. It offers a centralized hub where teams can organize their services, tools, and documentation.

Some features of Backstage include a service catalog, software templates, and a plugin system that allows for extensive customization. This tool aims to simplify the complexities of managing multiple services and tools within a development environment.

What to Consider When Selecting a Backstage Alternative?

1. Ease of Use: The tool should be intuitive and user-friendly, allowing both designers and developers to navigate and utilize its features without a steep learning curve.
2. Collaboration Features: Real-time collaboration capabilities are essential for team projects, enabling multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously and efficiently.
3. Customization: The ability to create and modify custom components and templates is crucial for tailoring the tool to specific project needs and preferences.
4. Integration: Compatibility with other tools and platforms, such as Figma, Slack, and various development frameworks, ensures a seamless workflow and enhances productivity.
5. Support and Resources: Availability of customer support, comprehensive documentation, and community forums is vital for troubleshooting issues and maximizing the tool's potential.

Best Alternatives to Backstage in 2025

1) Subframe

Subframe is a code-first design tool that empowers users to build UI swiftly using a drag-and-drop visual editor. It generates pixel-perfect React and Tailwind CSS code, ensuring high-quality front-end development. With features like real-time collaboration, responsive design, and pre-built UI templates, Subframe is designed to enhance the efficiency of both designers and developers.

Pros of Using Subframe

Subframe offers a range of features that make it a compelling choice for UI development.

• Design with real components: Subframe's visual UI editor allows designers and developers to drag-and-drop on an intuitive, responsive canvas, ensuring pixel-perfect UI every time.
• Stunning UI templates: Inspired by world-class products and built with reusable components, Subframe's templates mean you never have to start from scratch.
• High-quality code: Skip the handoff process by copying and pasting front-end code directly into your codebase, allowing you to focus more on building and less on pixel-pushing CSS.
• Free UI building: Start building visually without any upfront costs or credit card requirements, making it accessible for everyone.
• Real-time collaboration: Work simultaneously with your team on the same project, enhancing productivity and ensuring seamless integration of ideas.

These are just a few of Subframe's many features. Check them out here to learn more.

Who Should Use Subframe?

Subframe primarily targets founders, designers, and developers who need to build high-quality UI quickly and efficiently. It is also ideal for startups, agencies, and large companies that require a streamlined, code-first design tool to enhance their frontend development processes.

Subframe Pricing

Subframe offers three pricing options:

• Free Plan: $0 per user/month
• Pro Plan: $29 per user/month
• Custom Plan: Pricing is not public; please contact support for details.

Subframe Reviews

Subframe has received a stellar rating of 5 out of 5 on Product Hunt. Users consistently praise its ease of use, especially for non-designers, and its ability to quickly turn ideas into production-ready UI. The support from the Subframe team is also highly regarded.

2) Module

Module is a comprehensive design system for Figma that enables users to build, prototype, and customize designs effortlessly, featuring over 2,000 components and smart styles for easy global changes.

Pros of Using Module

• Atomic Design: The design system is made up of well-structured building blocks, allowing for a modular and scalable approach to design.
• Flexible Layout: The complete auto layout feature ensures that components respond correctly to different inputs and resizing needs.
• Baseline Grid – 4px: This feature allows for the creation of pixel-perfect interfaces, ensuring high precision and consistency in design.

Cons of Using Module

• Steep Learning Curve: Despite its powerful features, Module can be challenging for beginners to master. The extensive array of components and customization options may overwhelm new users, requiring a significant time investment to become proficient.
• Performance Issues: Some users have reported that the design system can be slow to load, especially when working with large files or complex prototypes. This can hinder productivity and make the design process less efficient.

Module Pricing

• 3 months access: $68
• Forever access: $98

Module Reviews

Module has received a rating of 3.5 out of 5. Users generally find the design system comprehensive but note that it can be challenging for beginners and may experience performance issues with large files.

3) Reshaped

Reshaped is a component library designed for creating beautiful products or starting your own design system with the latest Figma features support. It integrates seamlessly with Figma and React, offering a robust and flexible design system that includes core components, design utilities, and synchronization with the Reshaped React library.

Pros of Using Reshaped

• Figma Variables and Properties Integration: Reshaped leverages Figma variables and properties to ensure seamless design and development synchronization, making it easier to maintain and hand off designs.
• Semantic Theming with Automatic Dark Mode Support: The design system uses role-based design tokens to automatically apply themes, including dark mode, ensuring consistent and accessible user interfaces.
• Synchronization with Reshaped React Library: Reshaped offers perfect synchronization with its React library, allowing for simultaneous releases and ensuring that design and code are always in sync.

Cons of Using Reshaped

• Steep Learning Curve: Despite its powerful features, Reshaped can be challenging for beginners to master. The extensive array of components and customization options may overwhelm new users, requiring a significant time investment to become proficient.
• Performance Issues: Some users have reported that the design system can be slow to load, especially when working with large files or complex prototypes. This can hinder productivity and make the design process less efficient.

Reshaped Pricing

• Design License: $89
• Pro License: $999
• Enterprise License: Contact us

Reshaped Reviews

Reshaped has received a rating of 3 out of 5. Users generally find the design system comprehensive but note that it can be challenging for beginners and may experience performance issues with large files.

4) Microsoft Fluent for Figma

Microsoft Fluent for Figma is a comprehensive design system that integrates seamlessly with Figma, offering a wide range of components and styles to create consistent and visually appealing user interfaces.

Pros of Using Microsoft Fluent for Figma

• Comprehensive Design System: Microsoft Fluent for Figma offers a complete set of design tools and components that align with Microsoft's Fluent Design principles, ensuring a cohesive and professional look for your projects.
• Predefined Styles and Components: The system includes a wide range of predefined styles and components, making it easy to maintain consistency across different projects and reducing the time needed to create user interfaces from scratch.
• Seamless Integration with Figma: Designed to work flawlessly within Figma's environment, Microsoft Fluent for Figma leverages Figma's collaborative features, facilitating teamwork and enhancing productivity.

Cons of Using Microsoft Fluent for Figma

• Inconsistencies and Fragmentation: Users mention that Microsoft's design efforts are often isolated and lack a unified vision, leading to inconsistencies across products.
• Performance Issues: Several users report that the Fluent 2 Design System lags on various devices, including high-end hardware.

Microsoft Fluent for Figma Pricing

• Microsoft Fluent for Figma's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.

Microsoft Fluent for Figma Reviews

Microsoft Fluent for Figma has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally criticize Microsoft's design efforts for being inconsistent and poorly implemented across its products.

5) daisyUI

daisyUI is a versatile component library for Tailwind CSS, offering a wide range of templates and components designed to streamline web development projects. It supports various frameworks like HTML, React, Vue, Svelte, and Astro, making it a valuable resource for developers seeking ready-to-use solutions.

Pros of Using daisyUI

• Fully Functional Templates: daisyUI offers a variety of ready-to-use templates for online stores, dashboards, blogs, and more, saving significant development time.
• Framework Compatibility: The library supports multiple frameworks including HTML, React, Vue, Svelte, Astro, and Next.js, making it versatile for different project needs.
• Figma Integration: daisyUI includes a comprehensive Figma library with all components, themes, and variants, facilitating seamless design and development collaboration.

Cons of Using daisyUI

• Limited Customization Options: While daisyUI offers a wide range of templates and components, some users find the customization options to be limited. This can be restrictive for developers who need more flexibility to tailor components to their specific project requirements.
• Performance Issues: Users have reported that daisyUI can experience performance issues, particularly when working with large files or complex projects. This can slow down the development process and affect overall productivity.

daisyUI Pricing

daisyUI's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.

daisyUI Reviews

daisyUI has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally find the customization options limited and report performance issues, particularly with large files or complex projects.

6) Preline

Preline is a comprehensive design system for Figma, offering over 5,000 components and variants, adaptable designs with variables and dark mode, and a 12-column grid system to streamline the creation of websites, apps, and software.

Pros of Using Preline

• Extensive Component Library: Preline offers over 5,000 components and variants, making it one of the most comprehensive design systems available for Figma.
• Auto Layout and Constraints: Components automatically adapt to the size of their contents, saving time and ensuring a responsive design.
• Tailwind CSS Integration: Preline is crafted with Tailwind CSS styles, providing multiple font sizes and color styles to choose from, enhancing design flexibility.

Cons of Using Preline

• Overwhelming Number of Variables and Properties: For smaller projects, the extensive array of variables and properties can be daunting and may complicate the design process, making it less efficient for quick iterations.
• Manual Updates Required for Tailwind CSS Components: Keeping the Tailwind CSS components up-to-date requires manual intervention, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors, potentially disrupting the workflow.

Preline Pricing

Preline's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.

Preline Reviews

Preline has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally find the extensive array of variables and properties overwhelming and note that manual updates for Tailwind CSS components can be time-consuming and error-prone.

7) Segment UI

Segment UI is a comprehensive UI kit and design system for Figma and Framer, offering consistent styles, components, and layouts. It includes over 500 mobile screens, various components, and sections, and provides lifetime updates for a one-time payment.

Pros of Using Segment UI

• Comprehensive Design System: Segment UI covers mobile, web apps, and websites, providing a unified solution for various design needs.
• Dynamic Color Tokens: Utilizes the LCH color model to create realistic and vibrant color palettes, enhancing the visual appeal of designs.
• Lifetime of Free Updates: Offers continuous updates without additional costs, ensuring users always have access to the latest features and improvements.

Cons of Using Segment UI

• Overwhelming Number of Components: Segment UI offers an extensive array of over 500 mobile screens and numerous components, which can be overwhelming for users. This abundance can complicate the design process, making it difficult to find and select the right components quickly.
• Steep Learning Curve: Despite its comprehensive features, Segment UI can be challenging for beginners to master. The extensive customization options and dynamic color tokens require a significant time investment to become proficient, potentially slowing down the initial design process.

Segment UI Pricing

• Pro Package: $99
• Pro Creator Package: $199

Segment UI Reviews

Segment UI has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally find the extensive array of components overwhelming and note that the steep learning curve can slow down the initial design process.

8) Onx UI

Onx UI offers a collection of pre-designed components for Figma and Webflow, aimed at speeding up the website development process. It is designed to be customizable, scalable, and suitable for real projects.

Pros of Using Onx UI

• Proper HTML5 Semantics: Ensures clean, standards-compliant code that enhances both accessibility and SEO performance.
• Designed for Real Projects: Offers practical features and components specifically tailored for production-ready applications, making it suitable for real-world use.
• Completely Customizable: Provides a flexible framework that allows full control over styling, enabling users to match the UI to their unique needs.

Cons of Using Onx UI

• Overwhelming Number of Components: Onx UI offers an extensive array of pre-designed components, which can be overwhelming for users. This abundance can complicate the design process, making it difficult to find and select the right components quickly.
• Steep Learning Curve: Despite its powerful features, Onx UI can be challenging for beginners to master. The extensive customization options and dynamic color tokens require a significant time investment to become proficient, potentially slowing down the initial design process.

Onx UI Pricing

• Personal Plan: $5 per month per seat, billed annually ($60).
• Team Plan: $19 per month for 25 seats, billed annually ($228).

Onx UI Reviews

Onx UI has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally find the product lacking in features and support, with some mentioning that it does not meet their expectations for a comprehensive UI kit.

9) Detachless

Detachless is a free Figma UI kit that provides a comprehensive set of themes, styles, components, and templates designed to streamline web design and development processes.

Pros of Using Detachless

• Direct Publishing from Figma: Detachless allows users to publish websites directly from Figma, eliminating the need for multiple tools and streamlining the web design workflow.
• Three Distinct Styles: The UI kit offers three unique styles—Clean, Soft, and Round—providing designers with versatile options to match different project aesthetics.
• Comprehensive Core Components: Detachless includes essential components like Auto layout, Color system, Typography system, Global styles, and Grid and spacing, ensuring a robust and flexible design foundation.

Cons of Using Detachless

• Limited Customization Options: While Detachless offers a variety of themes and styles, some users find the customization options to be limited. This can be restrictive for developers who need more flexibility to tailor components to their specific project requirements.
• Performance Issues: Users have reported that Detachless can experience performance issues, particularly when working with large files or complex projects. This can slow down the development process and affect overall productivity.

Detachless Pricing

• Free Plan: $0
• Personal Plan: $6 monthly per site or $76 billed yearly
• Standard Plan: $10 monthly per site or $118 billed yearly
• Pro Plan: $13 monthly per site or $160 billed yearly

Detachless Reviews

Detachless has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally find the product lacking in features and support, with some mentioning that it does not meet their expectations for a comprehensive UI kit.

10) Tetrisly

Tetrisly is a design system that integrates with Figma and React, offering perfectly crafted components, design tokens, auto-layout features, and a unique grid system to help designers and developers create and ship products faster.

Pros of Using Tetrisly

• Perfectly Crafted Components: Users can easily adjust parts, switch between items, and change words, making it accessible even for those new to design.
• Design Tokens as Variables: These tokens save favorite design details like colors and spacing, ensuring cohesive and clean-cut designs across all instances of use.
• Auto Layout 5.0: This feature allows designs to adjust as content changes, making buttons resize with text, lists adapt to items, and whole interfaces evolve easily.

Cons of Using Tetrisly

• Overwhelming Number of Components: Tetrisly offers an extensive array of components, which can be overwhelming for users. This abundance can complicate the design process, making it difficult to find and select the right components quickly.
• Steep Learning Curve: Despite its powerful features, Tetrisly can be challenging for beginners to master. The extensive customization options and dynamic color tokens require a significant time investment to become proficient, potentially slowing down the initial design process.

Tetrisly Pricing

• Individual: $99 annually
• For Team: $299 annually
• For Enterprise: $999 annually

Tetrisly Reviews

Tetrisly has received a rating of 2 out of 5. Users generally find the product lacking in features and support, with some mentioning that it does not meet their expectations for a comprehensive UI kit.

Which One Should You Go With?

Choosing the right tool for your development needs can be challenging, given the variety of options available. Each of the alternatives to Backstage offers unique features and capabilities that can enhance your workflow and productivity. Whether you prioritize ease of use, customization, or integration, there's a tool out there that fits your requirements.

If you're looking for a versatile and efficient solution, we recommend Subframe. Its code-first approach, real-time collaboration, and high-quality code generation make it an excellent choice for both designers and developers. However, any of the tools mentioned can be a great fit depending on your specific needs and preferences.