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Framer vs Figma: Which One is Better in 2025?

Choosing between Framer and Figma? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your design and frontend needs.

In the world of design tools, Framer and Figma stand out as two of the most popular options. Both platforms offer unique features and capabilities, making the choice between them a matter of specific needs and preferences.

This article delves into a detailed comparison of Framer and Figma, covering aspects such as features, pricing, and limitations. By the end, you'll have a clearer understanding of which tool might be the best fit for your design projects.

Overview of Framer and Figma

What is Framer?

Framer

Framer is a web builder tool that allows users to design and publish modern, responsive websites. It provides an intuitive interface for creating visually appealing sites and includes features for design, collaboration, layout, effects, navigation, and more.

Key features of Framer include real-time collaboration, flexible layout tools, and the ability to add visual effects without coding. Additionally, it offers built-in CMS, AI tools for translation and text rewriting, and supports plugins for extended functionality.

What is Figma?

Figma

Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that helps design and development teams build products together. It allows for designing, prototyping, and refining products in one shared design file, facilitating seamless collaboration among team members.

Main features of Figma include the ability to design and prototype in one place, collaborate with a digital whiteboard called FigJam, and translate designs into code with Dev Mode. Additionally, it offers AI features for generating simple UI, Auto Layout for consistent design, and embedded prototypes for high-fidelity presentations.

Features of Framer & Figma

Similarities

Framer and Figma share several key features that make them popular choices for design and collaboration.

  • Real-time Collaboration: Both platforms allow team members to work together in real-time, enhancing productivity and communication.
  • Design and Prototyping: Each tool offers robust design and prototyping capabilities, enabling users to create and test interactive designs seamlessly.
  • AI Tools: Framer and Figma incorporate AI features to simplify tasks such as UI generation and text rewriting.
  • Responsive Design: Both tools support responsive design, allowing users to create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.
  • Plugins and Extensions: Users can extend the functionality of both platforms through a variety of plugins and extensions available in their respective marketplaces.

Differences

Here are the biggest differences in features between Framer and Figma:

  • Web Publishing: Framer allows users to design and publish websites directly, while Figma focuses on interface design and prototyping without direct publishing capabilities.
  • Built-in CMS: Framer includes a built-in content management system for dynamic content, whereas Figma does not offer this feature.
  • SEO Optimization: Framer provides tools for SEO optimization to enhance website visibility, a feature not available in Figma.
  • Dev Mode: Figma offers a Dev Mode to translate designs into code, which is not a feature in Framer.
  • FigJam: Figma includes FigJam, a digital whiteboard for collaboration, a feature that Framer lacks.

Pricing of Framer & Figma

Framer Pricing

Framer offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different business needs, from startups to large enterprises.

  • Startup Plan: $75/month (billed yearly) - Includes 15,000 pages, 200 GB bandwidth, and 20 CMS collections.
  • Scaleup Plan: $200/month (billed yearly) - Includes 30,000 pages, 500 GB bandwidth, and 30 CMS collections.
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing and billing terms - Features custom limits, custom security, and Slack support. Contact Framer's support for specific pricing details.

Figma Pricing

Figma offers a variety of pricing plans designed to meet the needs of different teams and organizations.

  • Starter Team: Free - Includes Figma editor, 3 collaborative design files, unlimited personal drafts, and basic file inspection.
  • Professional Team: $15/full seat/month (Save 20% when billed annually) - Includes everything in Starter, plus unlimited Figma files, team libraries, advanced prototyping, view annotations, advanced inspection, VS Code extension, unlimited version history, and shared and private projects.
  • Organization: $45/full seat/month or $25/month for Dev Mode only (Billed annually) - Includes everything in Professional, plus org-wide libraries, design system analytics, branching and merging, private plugins, centralized file management, unified admin and billing, and single sign-on.
  • Enterprise: $75/full seat/month or $35/month for Dev Mode only (Billed annually) - Includes everything in Organization, plus advanced design system theming, sync variables to code via REST API, default libraries by workspace, set default code language, pin and auto-run plugins, dedicated workspaces for teams, guest access controls, seat management via SCIM, idle session timeout, and advanced link sharing controls.

For the Organization and Enterprise plans, users are encouraged to contact sales for more details.

Reviews of Framer & Figma

Framer Reviews

Overall, users have given Framer a rating of 3.8 out of 5. While some found the tool's interface helpful, others were frustrated by its steep learning curve and occasional performance issues.

"The interface is not very intuitive, and it took me a while to get used to it. The performance can be sluggish at times, which is frustrating." - Alex, 3/5

"I found the learning curve to be quite steep, and the documentation wasn't very helpful in resolving my issues." - Jamie, 2.5/5

Figma Reviews

Overall, users have given Figma a rating of 3.9 out of 5. While some appreciated its collaborative features, others found the tool's performance and learning curve to be challenging.

"The performance can be sluggish, especially with larger files, which hampers productivity." - Taylor, 3.5/5

"The learning curve is steep, and it takes time to get accustomed to all the features." - Jordan, 3/5

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Framer and Figma

Subframe

Subframe is a code-first design tool for building user interfaces quickly and efficiently. It features beautifully crafted components, a drag-and-drop visual editor, and generates pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code, making it a favorite among designers and developers alike.

Pros of Subframe

Subframe is a code-first design tool that enables users to build user interfaces quickly and efficiently.

  • Design with Real Components: Subframe's visual UI editor allows users to drag-and-drop on an intuitive, responsive canvas, ensuring pixel-perfect UI every time.
  • Stunning UI Templates: The platform offers hundreds of UI templates inspired by world-class products, hand-crafted by designers, and built with reusable components, so you never start from scratch.
  • High-Quality Code Generation: Subframe generates pixel-perfect React and Tailwind code, allowing users to copy and paste front-end code and add business logic in their codebase, saving time on CSS.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: The tool supports real-time collaboration, making it easy for designers and developers to work together seamlessly.
  • Free to Start: Users can start building UI visually for free, with no credit card required, making it accessible for everyone to try.

Subframe's Pricing

At Subframe, we offer a range of pricing options to suit different needs:

  • Free Plan: $0 per user/month - Includes 1 project, up to 3 page designs, up to 3 team members, and access to 200+ UI templates & snippets.
  • Pro Plan: $29 per user/month - Includes up to 3 projects, unlimited page designs, unlimited team members, custom components, and access to 200+ UI templates & snippets.
  • Custom Plan: Pricing upon request - Includes unlimited projects, unlimited page designs, custom fonts, integration of your own components, dedicated Slack support, and a Figma plugin.

For more details, visit our Subframe Pricing page. We encourage you to book a demo with us to explore how Subframe can elevate your design process.

What Are Others Saying?

Users have given Subframe an overall rating of 5 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, time-saving features, and high-quality code generation.

  • "I love how easy this is to get started, especially with templates." - Dakota
  • "Turning ideas into code is one of the most critical tasks I've ever had. Subframe is super useful and user-friendly." - Germán Merlo
  • "Finally something that's not just a mockup. Would give you 5 upvotes, if I could!" - Aris Nakos

Why Choose Framer, Figma or Subframe?

If you're a web designer or developer looking for an intuitive and powerful web builder, Framer might be the right choice for you. Its built-in CMS, AI tools, and SEO optimization features make it ideal for those aiming to create responsive, SEO-optimized websites without extensive coding.

On the other hand, if you are part of a design team that needs a collaborative environment to create and iterate on designs, Figma could be your go-to tool. Its integrated prototyping, Dev Mode for seamless design-to-code translation, and extensive community support make it perfect for cross-functional teams and large organizations.

As part of Subframe, we believe our platform is the best choice for designers and developers who need to build user interfaces quickly and efficiently. With our code-first approach, pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code generation, and hundreds of stunning UI templates, Subframe is ideal for those who want to skip the handoff and directly get high-quality code, saving time on pixel-pushing CSS.

Framer, Figma, or Subframe: Which is The Best Tool For You?

Choosing between Framer, Figma, and Subframe ultimately depends on your specific needs and workflow. Each tool offers unique features that cater to different aspects of design and development, making any of them a solid choice for your projects.

However, if you're looking for a code-first approach that seamlessly integrates design and development, we recommend giving Subframe a try. With its pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code generation, stunning UI templates, and real-time collaboration, Subframe is designed to make your design process faster and more efficient. Explore Subframe today and see how it can elevate your design projects to the next level.

Join thousands of happy builders.

Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.