How A Free Open-source Figma Clone Covers Everything I Actually Use
AIThis post was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).

TL;DR

Buying for a business?Offer from Amazon

Get business pricing on monitors, keyboards and dev gear

  • Business-only prices and quantity discounts
  • Tax-exempt purchasing
  • Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

ArtCraft’s FigCraft is a free, open-source design app that resembles Figma and works offline without an account. It includes design, prototyping and developer handoff tools, but remains in alpha, lacks Figma’s plugins and cloud sharing, and has limitations in importing and exporting Figma files.

ArtCraft’s FigCraft, a free, open-source design app modeled on Figma, brings interface design, prototyping and developer handoff tools into a native app that works offline without an account. The app is still in alpha, however, and lacks features including Figma’s community plugins, hosted prototype sharing and video in prototypes, so it is not yet a full replacement for established workflows.

In a November 1 review for XDA Developers, writer Nolen described FigCraft as familiar to people who already use Figma. Its layout follows a similar pattern: a toolbar along the bottom, layers on the left and adjustable properties on the right. The app includes frames, shapes, effects, auto layout, components and variants, along with color and text styles and variables that can support light and dark themes. Nolen said the auto-layout controls appeared to include wrapping and grid mode.

FigCraft also has a separate prototyping panel. Users can connect buttons to frames, set triggers and animations, and use Smart Animate to move or resize elements with matching names between screens. The review says prototypes can use variables and conditional logic. Present mode opens a prototype inside the app, but there is no hosted link for sharing it with others. Video is not supported in prototypes, and the app cannot mirror them to a phone.

The app stores work locally in .figcraft files and can open Figma’s .fig files. The review describes that import as best effort: components, variables and prototype links can be rebuilt, but the transfer may not be exact. FigCraft can also export to .fig, though that feature is marked experimental. It supports SVG, PNG, JPG, WebP and PDF, with print options such as bleed and crop marks for PDF. The review also describes a developer handoff mode with inspectable properties and code output; it does not establish that this output is equivalent to every part of Figma’s Dev Mode.

At a glance
reportWhen: Published November 1, 2026; FigCraft is…
The developmentArtCraft has released FigCraft, an open-source Figma-style app that supports offline work and local files while remaining an alpha product.
How a Free Open-Source Figma Clone Covers Everything I Actually Use

DESIGN TOOLS / FIELD REPORT / NOV 01, 2026

How a Free Open-Source Figma Clone Covers Everything I Actually Use

FigCraft brings interface design, prototyping, and developer handoff into a free, open-source app that works offline and saves locally. Its familiar Figma-style workspace is promising, while alpha status and missing collaboration features make it a developing alternative rather than a proven replacement.

PRICEFreeOpen-source app
WORK MODEOfflineNo account required
MATURITYAlphaStill developing
ROADMAP~50%ArtCraft’s estimate for real work readiness
01 / THE WORKSPACE

Familiar tools, in a standalone app

According to the review, the layout follows a recognizable pattern: toolbar below, layers at left, and adjustable properties at right.

DESIGN SYSTEM

Build the interface

Frames, shapes, effects, auto layout, components, variants, color and text styles, plus variables for themes. The reviewer noted wrapping and grid mode in the auto-layout controls.

PROTOTYPING

Connect the screens

Link buttons to frames, set triggers and animations, and use Smart Animate to move or resize matching elements. Prototypes can use variables and conditional logic.

HANDOFF

Inspect and export

Developer handoff includes inspectable properties and code output. The review does not establish that this matches every part of Figma’s Dev Mode.

01

Design

Arrange frames, components, and styles.

02

Prototype

Connect screens and define behavior.

03

Present

Preview inside the app on your screen.

04

Hand off

Inspect properties and generate code output.

02 / FILES & SHARING

Useful formats, with transfer caveats

FigCraft stores work locally in .figcraft files. Figma file support exists, but the review describes import as best effort and export as experimental.

CapabilityFigCraft supportWhat the review says
Local projects✓ SupportedSaved on the device in .figcraft format; offline use, no account needed.
Open Figma .fig~ Best effortComponents, variables, and prototype links may need rebuilding; transfer may not be exact.
Export to .fig~ ExperimentalAvailable, but not established as a reliable round trip.
Image & document export✓ SupportedSVG, PNG, JPG, WebP, and PDF; PDF includes bleed and crop mark options.
Hosted prototype link✗ Not availablePresent mode runs in the app; there is no hosted link for sharing.
Phone mirroring / video✗ Not supportedThe review reports no phone mirroring and no video in prototypes.

The XDA Developers review is an individual assessment, not a controlled comparison or reliability test.

03 / PROMISE & LIMITS

A lower-barrier route—with clear trade-offs

For solo work that does not rely on cloud collaboration or third-party plugins, the combination may be appealing. Team workflows have more gaps to weigh.

WHY TRY IT

Local-first design, without a paid account

FigCraft is free, open source, offline-capable, and saves projects locally. A Figma-like interface may shorten the learning curve for existing Figma users. It could suit individual designers or students testing a self-contained workflow.

Design tools
Broad
Prototyping
Core
File transfer
Caution
Collaboration
Preview

Qualitative summary of the review’s reported capabilities; not a benchmark or feature-parity score.

“The app came together in about 25 hours with a handful of agents working in parallel.”

FigCraft roadmap, as described by XDA Developers

“FigCraft is still in alpha at the time of writing…”

Nolen, XDA Developers reviewer

Figma’s community plugins and hosted prototype sharing remain gaps.

Limits identified in the review
04 / WHAT TO WATCH

Test the workflow before you move

The roadmap and product are still evolving. The review does not provide independent reliability testing or evidence about large production projects.

FILE FIDELITY

Check real projects

Try copies of existing work. Check components, variables, prototype links, and exported files before relying on transfers for client or shared work.

TEAM NEEDS

Map the missing pieces

Consider whether hosted links, phone mirroring, video demonstrations, or Figma community plugins are essential to your current process.

ROADMAP

Track alpha progress

Collaboration is in preview. Built-in AI is listed at zero percent on the roadmap; AI-agent control through MCP requires configuration.

05 / QUICK ANSWERS

Key questions

What the review says—and where its evidence stops.

Is FigCraft free and open source?

Yes. The review describes it as free and open source, but does not provide license details or information about paid services.

Can it open Figma projects?

It can open .fig files as a best-effort import. Export back to .fig is marked experimental.

Can people collaborate or share prototypes online?

There are no hosted prototype links. Collaboration is in preview; users can present prototypes locally in the app.

Does it support Figma plugins and AI?

Figma community plugins do not run in FigCraft, and built-in AI is absent. MCP-based AI-agent control requires configuration.

Is it ready to replace Figma professionally?

It remains in alpha. Fit depends on needs such as plugins, collaboration, mobile mirroring, and dependable file transfer.

What is the fairest way to describe it?

A promising local design tool with familiar workflows and developing capabilities—not a demonstrated one-for-one substitute.

A Lower-Barrier Route to Design Work

FigCraft addresses several practical barriers for designers who want to work without a paid account or cloud service: it is free, open source, offline-capable and saves projects locally. Its Figma-like interface may also reduce the time needed to learn a new tool for people already comfortable with Figma. For individual designers, students or teams evaluating software options, that combination could make it useful for work that does not depend on collaboration or third-party plugins.

The limits matter just as much as the similarities. Teams that depend on shared prototype links, phone mirroring, video demonstrations or Figma’s plugin ecosystem may not be able to move their workflow over. The review is an individual assessment of the app, not a controlled comparison or proof that FigCraft can handle every production project. Its value for readers is therefore as a promising, self-contained alternative to try—not yet a demonstrated one-for-one substitute.

Bose QuietComfort True Wireless Noise-Cancelling Earbuds, Black

Bose QuietComfort True Wireless Noise-Cancelling Earbuds, Black

Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum, HV301, Gray/Orange

Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum, HV301, Gray/Orange

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Built as a Standalone Figma Lookalike

According to the source review, ArtCraft is a studio founded by Brandon Thomas, who previously worked as CEO of Storyteller.ai and as a software engineer at Square. The studio has been releasing free, open-source recreations of commercial applications since early October. The review says these apps are written from scratch in Rust and that Thomas used Claude Opus 5.5 in developing them. Those are details attributed to the source, not an independent assessment of the development process.

FigCraft’s roadmap reportedly says the app took about 25 hours to build, with several agents working in parallel, and estimates it at roughly halfway to being ready for real work. That figure is the roadmap’s characterization, not a measure of feature parity or reliability. The product remains in alpha; collaboration is in preview, and the roadmap lists built-in AI features at zero percent. Although an AI agent can operate FigCraft through an MCP server, the review says doing so requires configuration rather than a built-in interface.

“The app came together in about 25 hours with a handful of agents working in parallel.”

— FigCraft’s roadmap, as described in the XDA Developers review

Alpha Status Leaves Gaps Open

It is not clear when FigCraft will leave alpha, when collaboration will move beyond preview or whether planned features will close the gaps identified in the review. The available material does not provide independent reliability testing, a detailed comparison with Figma, or evidence about how FigCraft performs on larger production projects. Importing a .fig file may not preserve every detail, while exporting back to that format remains experimental.

It is also unclear how broad FigCraft’s own plugin ecosystem will become. The review confirms that Figma community plugins are not available in FigCraft and that built-in AI is absent; it does not establish whether or when either capability might change. The roadmap’s progress figures and development timeline are ArtCraft’s own descriptions.

Watch the Roadmap and File Support

The next useful milestones for prospective users are updates to FigCraft’s alpha roadmap, collaboration features and the reliability of its Figma file import and export. Anyone considering a move can test the app with copies of existing projects, checking components, variables, prototype links and exported files before relying on it for shared or client work. Until hosted sharing, phone mirroring and plugin support are available—or users decide those features are unnecessary—FigCraft is best treated as a local design tool whose capabilities are still developing.

Key Questions

Is FigCraft free and open source?

Yes. The source review describes FigCraft as a free, open-source app. It does not provide details here about its license or any paid services.

Can FigCraft open Figma projects?

It can open a Figma .fig file, but the review describes the import as best effort, so some details may not transfer perfectly. Exporting from FigCraft back to .fig is marked experimental.

Can people collaborate or share prototypes online?

Not through hosted prototype links, according to the review. Collaboration is in preview, and the app has no account or cloud hosting for sharing prototypes; users can present from their own screen.

Does FigCraft support Figma plugins and AI features?

No built-in AI feature is available, and Figma’s community plugins do not run in FigCraft. The review says FigCraft uses its own plugins and that AI-agent control is possible through an MCP server that requires configuration.

Is FigCraft ready to replace Figma for professional work?

The review calls FigCraft usable but still in alpha, and its roadmap reportedly describes it as about halfway ready for real work. Whether it fits a particular workflow depends on needs such as plugin access, collaboration, mobile mirroring and reliable file transfer.

Source: XDA Developers

You May Also Like

Ultrawide vs Dual Monitors: The Trade-Off Nobody Explains Clearly

Here’s a clear comparison of ultrawide versus dual monitors, but understanding the trade-offs can be more complex than it seems.

Glass vs Melamine Whiteboards: Which Surface Actually Lasts?

Nothing lasts quite like glass whiteboards, but discover which surface truly stands the test of time and why it matters for your space.

Show HN: Agent Draw: An agent draws while you talk, built on TLDraw

A new tool called Agent Draw enables an AI agent to draw in real-time while users talk, built on the TLDraw SDK. The project was shared on Show HN.

A Look At 10 Studio Condenser Microphones For Home Recording In 2026

A 2026 buyer’s guide compares 10 condenser microphones by connection type, included gear and fit for different home recording setups.