---
title: "Framelink Figma MCP vs Talk to Figma: Which to Use"
url: "https://mcpshelf.co/compare/framelink-figma-vs-talk-to-figma"
description: "Framelink reads Figma frames for coding agents; Talk to Figma edits the file through a plugin. Setup, safety and which one fits your job."
updated: "2026-10-27"
site: "MCP Shelf"
---

# Framelink Figma MCP vs Talk to Figma

Framelink is for turning a design into code: it reads a frame through the Figma API and never touches the file. Talk to Figma is for changing the design itself, through a plugin running in the Figma app. If you only build UI from mockups, Framelink is the simpler and safer pick.

## Side by side

|  | Framelink Figma MCP | Talk to Figma |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Made by | Framelink (Graham Lipsman and contributors) | Sonny Lazuardi and contributors |
| Main job | Design to code | Editing the Figma file |
| Can it change designs? | No, read only | Yes: create, move, restyle, delete layers |
| How it connects | Figma REST API with a personal access token | A Figma plugin plus a local WebSocket relay |
| Figma app open? | Not needed | Yes, with the plugin running |
| Setup | One config block and a token | Three parts: relay, plugin, config |
| Runs on | Your computer | Your computer |
| You need | A Figma personal access token; Node.js 18 or newer | The Figma desktop app; Bun (for the relay); Node.js 18 or newer |
| GitHub stars | 16.1K | 7.1K |

## Pick Framelink Figma MCP if

- You paste Figma links into Cursor or Claude Code and want components that match
- You want an assistant that cannot change your designs, even by mistake
- You do not want to keep the Figma app and a plugin running

## Pick Talk to Figma if

- You want the assistant to make edits in Figma: rename layers, swap text in bulk, set auto-layout
- You want rough layouts generated in the file so a designer can refine them
- You work from the current selection rather than from a link

## Can you run both?

They do not overlap much, so running both is reasonable: Framelink in your coding client for implementation, Talk to Figma when you want the assistant working inside the file. Give each its own client if you want to be sure the coding agent never edits designs.

Setup for each: [Framelink Figma MCP](https://mcpshelf.co/servers/framelink-figma), [Talk to Figma](https://mcpshelf.co/servers/talk-to-figma).

---

From [MCP Shelf](https://mcpshelf.co/): A short shelf of MCP servers that are worth installing. Index for agents: https://mcpshelf.co/llms.txt