Imagine this: You've just wrapped up a brilliant design in Figma. Your team loves it, and you're ready to bring it to life. But alas! The excitement of a smooth transition from design to code quickly fades as you confront the realities of handing off your design to the developers. Will they understand your vision? Will they have the right questions? Will they be able to recreate your design strictly as intended? The process of transferring designs to code can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. Advanced design-to-code tools allow you to generate high-quality code from your design files quickly, streamline the handoff process, and create a smoother experience for designers and developers.
In this article, we'll look closer at the value of design-to-code tools, focusing on figma-to-react solutions. You'll also learn about Ion's design-to-code tool and how it can help you achieve your design-to-code goals.
Ion transforms your Figma designs into production-ready code that aligns perfectly with your existing codebase and business needs. The platform bridges the gap between design and development by automatically generating functional code that matches your specific components, styles, and design system.
With Ion, non-technical team members can implement visual changes without engineering intervention. The tool understands:
Ensuring that generated code fits seamlessly into your workflow.
Whether you're updating design elements or creating new features, Ion helps unlock engineering resources by letting designers and product teams contribute directly to the codebase in a safe, controlled way.
Start building your application for free today with our design-to-code tool.
Figma2Flutter, which ICS and our design studio Boston UX developed in-house, is one of the market's most comprehensive, no-cost code generators.
Designed to appeal to designers and developers, Figma2Flutter is user-friendly and offers some of the fastest code-generation speeds on the market today. The latest version converts to code in just a few seconds.
Our straightforward program is easy to follow and was developed with the needs of the Figma community and professional designers and developers. It is one of the rare plugins that preserves Figma’s prototyping settings, generating code that easily transitions between screens.
If you have questions, we offer substantial customer support, including a library of helpful, free video tutorials and our handy ‘get in touch’ feature on the Figma2Flutter website.
Figma2Flutter features:
Regular Updates: Frequently updated based on community feedback to enhance functionality.
Locofy is a powerful design-to-code platform transforming Figma and Adobe XD designs into production-ready front-end code.
Locofy.ai is a well-rounded code generator that’s especially easy for newer developers to use since it’s currently in a free beta phase. Generated code is easy to access, and you can preview the results of the compiled code before you download it from their website.
But there are issues. Locofy.ai often struggles with accuracy on large projects. Using auto layout throughout the Figma file helps with this. Still, it’s too easy to generate code with, for example, screens that have the wrong proportions. We rate the code itself as just average. As far as machine-generated code goes, it’s not terrible but suffers from repetition.
Locofy.ai generated an average of 200 lines of code per screen and around 2,000 for the whole project on the Figma file we gave. Its status as a free program will eventually expire as the company moves out of testing.
Key features:
Drag and drop UI components: Users can drag and drop pre-built Material UI, Bootstrap, Ant Design, and Chakra UI components into Figma Canvas or import the Storybook components into the plugin and drag them onto the design.
Figma to Code by DhiWise is one of the leading plugins for generating Flutter code. With it, you can generate source code within seconds. You can also open your project on their website and select from several architectural frameworks for compiling code.
Their website simplifies app editing, displaying each screen’s associated file names. Troubleshooting is seamless with this application, and a comprehensive tutorial and prompt customer support are available.
There are some drawbacks. The generated code suffers from redundancy, with an average of ~200 lines per file page and 5,000 lines of source code for the project. The DhiWise website also struggled to compile code for previewing within your browser, leaving the loading wheel running indefinitely for most screens.
Even so, the successfully loaded applications demonstrated high accuracy, with formatting and interactive components similar to those of the original Figma file.
This program won’t always be free; like Locofy’s plugin, it will transition into a paid subscription service when phased out of testing. This free program is worth testing out for your specific needs. Just beware of the sheer size of your generated code.
DhiWise Figma plugin key features:
Supports clean code architectures: The plugin supports clean code generation, making your UI code highly scalable and easy to maintain.
While a problematic UI limits it, Anima is undoubtedly one of the highest-power code generators currently available in the Figma plugin community. What sets Anima apart from the crowd is its power and accuracy.
Anima is one of the only code generators that can access Figma’s built-in prototype feature, and the code Anima generates replicates the ability to click a component and take you to another screen. It also allows for numerous other effects, including:
Its annual subscription charges $39/user per month for its most popular ‘Pro’ plan, while its premium ‘Business’ plan is $150/month for the first user and $49/month for each additional user. It’s not perfect, though.
Unfortunately, Anima’s code quality is average, as it suffers from the same repetition issues plaguing other plugins on this list. And Anima’s UI can be pretty frustrating to navigate – the code appears in tiny boxes and is inconveniently located at the bottom of the screen.
If you can get past those minor annoyances, Anima’s accuracy and power make this plugin worth a try.
Anima Figma plugin key features:
TeleportHQ shines through competency. Unlike most of the plugins mentioned above, TeleportHQ is entirely accurate. While it sometimes has trouble resizing elements to match different screen sizes, it generates an application that looks familiar to the Figma file you feed it.
At the same time, it does so while being remarkably easy to use. It’s as simple as selecting and exporting every frame to a new project. Its yearly fee is on the lower side at €15/user per month (~$17) for the professional plan, while fees for larger agencies are negotiable.
On the downside, the code it generates is nothing special and suffers a bit from repetition. It generated an average of 150 lines per screen and about 2,000 for the project.
In addition, it lacks some of the high-end features that other plugins on our list possess, such as the ability to use Figma’s prototype feature to code transitions between screens automatically. Yet despite this limited functionality, TeleportHQ is a very accurate and user-friendly plugin worth a look.
Key features of the TeleportHQ Figma plugin:
While its code generator is nothing special – it’s about average in terms of accuracy, ease of use, and code quality – what sets Builder.io apart is that it’s one of the few automatic design generators available today. By simply describing the design you need, Builder.io will create it via AI.
Its middle-of-the-road ‘Growth’ plan charges an annual rate of $404/month for eight users, with additional seats at $39 each, while its maximum ‘Enterprise’ plan offers a custom payment plan. It also offers a free, limited plan to small-scale users, providing an excellent opportunity to test the program before committing.
While Builder.io is still in beta and not impressive quite yet, it has the potential to automate some of the most repetitive parts of the design process. And that makes it notable. We’re curious to see how this program will perform in the future, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
The key features of the Builder.io Figma plugin:
Zeplin functions as a complete platform for collaboration, going above and beyond the typical plugin experience. It converts your Figma designs into practical snippets of HTML and CSS code.
Zeplin is well-known for improving developer handoff by offering pixel-perfect specs, graphics, and code snippets. This makes it easier to convert designs into code and guarantees that every aspect is considered during the development stage.
The best aspect is that you don’t need manual editing—you can just use the generated code immediately in your development process. Using Zeplin is a more reliable way to make your development process more effective and productive.
Zeplin Features:
pxCode is a Design to Code tool that facilitates the creation of code from designs by allowing you to export from Figma into pxCode.
They have created a helpful plugin that transforms standalone components or Figma templates into their flexible, well-formatted, pixel-perfect, and developer-friendly functional HTML/CSS counterparts. It also helps convert mockups into fully customizable, developer-friendly HTML and CSS code.
With Xcode, you can create amazing designs that come to life. This tool is also appropriate if you require code snippets that work with WordPress, React, Vue, or Tailwind.
pxCode features:
Framer Web is a three-in-one solution tool that combines three crucial aspects into a single plugin. It can assist designers in creating and prototyping the model, while developers can quickly turn it into executable HTML and CSS code.
Without leaving Figma and Framer Web, you may complete all these operations in a single interface. This application improves your design process by allowing interactive prototyping and exporting these designs as production-ready HTML and CSS.
This comprehensive tool makes it a priceless tool for teams trying to optimize their process from the beginning stages of design to the end of development.
Framer Web features:
Auto-Layout to HTML Figma plugin is a powerful tool for responsive design within the Figma environment. By harnessing the features of Figma’s Auto Layout feature, this plugin helps seamlessly convert design elements into flexible CSS Grid or Flexbox layouts.
This integration with Figma’s Auto Layout functionality ensures that the generated layouts adapt fluidly to various screen sizes and device orientations. It helps you dynamically resize buttons according to the text and maintains a consistent appearance.
Auto-Layout to HTML features:
If full-fledged solutions that turn Figma layouts into workable HTML templates are out of reach, you may always start small. Try using Seme Mojube’s HTML generator for this. This plugin generated pure code snippets and expedited the conversion process.
It functions with independent units, converting every design choice into the HTML equivalent supported by the carefully planned style sheet. Moreover, it ensures consistency and efficiency in the development workflow.
This solution also allows users to evaluate a selection in real-time before exporting to determine whether it looks and functions properly as an HTML version. Moreover, it provides immediate feedback, enhancing the user experience and ensuring high-quality output.
Consequently, users can make necessary adjustments quickly, leading to more accurate and efficient results.
It’s some of the notable features includes:
Ion isn’t just another AI-powered design-to-code tool—it’s built with top-tier AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 & o1-mini, plus Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 3.5, alongside custom models fine-tuned for design engineering.
Ion doesn’t just convert Figma files into code; it translates design intent into high-quality, reusable components developers want to work with.
Most Figma-to-code tools fall short because they lack context about your codebase. Ion takes a different approach by understanding your specific stack—whether it’s Vue, React, or another framework—so the output seamlessly integrates with your existing system.
This results in cleaner, more maintainable code that matches your project’s structure and best practices.
Unlike generic AI-powered app builders, Ion is explicitly designed for designers. It integrates directly with Figma, working within your existing workflow, so you don’t have to change your design.
Instead of forcing you into a rigid process, Ion meets you where you are and makes turning your designs into code as effortless as possible.
At its core, Ion isn’t just about automation—it’s about transforming the design-to-development process. By enabling designers to produce high-quality code with minimal effort, Ion is helping bridge the gap between design and engineering, making it easier for teams to collaborate and ship faster.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by Figma-to-code tools that produce generic, bloated code, it’s time to try Ion. It’s the only tool that genuinely understands your designs, workflow, and codebase. Start building your application for free today with our design-to-code tool.
Manually converting designs into code can be a tedious and time-consuming process. With the right Figma-to-code tools, this process is automated, reducing the need for hours of HTML and CSS work.
Instead of starting from scratch, designers can generate production-ready code within seconds, speeding up project timelines and allowing teams to focus on refining user experiences rather than repetitive coding tasks.
Manual coding often leads to discrepancies between the original design and the final product. Design-to-code tools help eliminate human error by generating pixel-perfect code that stays true to the designer’s intent.
They follow predefined rules and ensure precise implementation of spacing, typography, colors, and responsive behavior, minimizing inconsistencies.
Maintaining design consistency across various screens and platforms can be challenging when coding manually. These tools ensure that generated code adheres to best practices and responsive design standards, making it easier to deliver a seamless user experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
Additionally, teams working on multiple projects can reuse standardized components, keeping branding and UI elements uniform.
One of product development's most significant friction points is the handoff between designers and developers. Design-to-code tools bridge this gap by providing a shared language—code that is structured, editable, and easy to implement.
Designers can ensure their vision translates accurately into code, while developers can refine and customize it without rebuilding from scratch. This streamlines feedback loops and improves project execution.
Designers can focus on what they do best by automating technical tasks—designing innovative and engaging experiences. Many tools also offer interactive prototyping features, allowing designers to test and iterate faster.
Plus, with access to customizable code outputs, designers can push creative boundaries without being restricted by coding limitations.
Turning Figma designs into code is helpful, but many design-to-code tools generate messy, bloated, or unstructured code. This output isn’t immediately sound for developers, who often must spend extra time cleaning it up. This creates more work for developers rather than saving time.
Ion solves this problem by producing the highest quality code from Figma designs. The generated code is clean, optimized, and follows best practices. Unlike other tools that output generic code, Ion understands the project’s structure and context. This allows it to create maintainable, scalable code that is ready for deployment.
Most design-to-code tools generate code in isolation without understanding how different components interact within a more extensive system. This results in inconsistent design elements, broken layouts, and non-reusable code. Ion is built with deep design-to-code intelligence.
It contextually analyzes the design and generates component-based, reusable code. It understands the design's structure and outputs code that aligns with existing frameworks like React, Next.js, and Tailwind, making integration seamless.
Many Figma-to-code tools provide a one-size-fits-all solution, making it difficult for teams to customize the output to fit their tech stack, frameworks, or design system. This often forces developers to rewrite large portions of the code.
Ion provides highly customizable code outputs, allowing teams to generate code that matches their preferred stack. Whether you need React components, Vue, or fully responsive layouts, Ion adapts to your workflow rather than forcing you to conform to rigid code structures.
A significant bottleneck in design-to-code conversion is the gap between designers and developers. Miscommunications, unclear specifications, and rigid handoff processes often result in extra revisions, delays, and frustration.
Ion is explicitly built so that designers and developers can collaborate seamlessly. It integrates directly with Figma, allowing designers to generate production-ready code within their design workflow, reducing handoff issues and enabling developers to refine and implement the code more efficiently.
Figma is a potent design tool for creating application interfaces, and React is one of the most popular frameworks for building those applications. But what happens when you finish a visual design in Figma? While developers will appreciate the effort and documentation, they must start from scratch to build the app's UI using React.
This is where Figma to React conversion tools come into play. Using these tools, developers can generate production-ready code that resembles the design created in Figma.
In other words, they act as a bridge between design and development, automatically generating code that matches the specific components, styles, and design systems of both Figma and React.