Figma Console MCP compared with FigmaMCP
If you are looking at figma console mcp, you want an agent that can read and change a Figma file through a plugin. Figma Console MCP is a project by southleft with a wide tool set and many client options. FigmaMCP is a free Mac app for Claude Code and Codex. This page compares them. Facts about Figma Console MCP come from its own README, checked 2026-11-13.
| Figma Console MCP | FigmaMCP | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An MCP server for Figma; MIT license listed in its repository | A free Mac app with a local server and a Figma plugin |
| Connects through | The Figma Desktop Bridge plugin, over WebSocket | A plugin in the Figma desktop app; the Mac app sets it up |
| Access token | Local setups need a Figma personal access token (FIGMA_ACCESS_TOKEN) | No API token |
| Clients | Any MCP client; README lists Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Desktop | Claude Code and Codex |
| Reads and writes | Both; the remote SSE mode is read-only | Both, in the file open in Figma desktop |
| Tool count | README lists 130 tools for local setups | See the tools page |
| Platform | Local setups need Node.js 18+ and Figma Desktop; README covers macOS and Windows | macOS only |
| Edit guardrails | Not covered here | An “AI can edit this file” switch; each edit names its target layer and the name must match |
Source: Figma Console MCP README, checked 2026-11-13. These may change.
Which one to choose
- Figma Console MCP: you use a client other than Claude Code or Codex, you are not on a Mac, or you want its larger tool set and cloud modes. Its README says remote SSE mode “Cannot create or modify designs,” so check which mode you need.
- FigmaMCP: you use a Mac with Claude Code or Codex and want no API token, no call quota from FigmaMCP, and a per-file switch for edits.
Both approaches work with the Figma desktop app. FigmaMCP reads and edits through a local server and a plugin, so there is nothing to put in an environment variable. Each edit must name its target layer, and the name has to match, which stops an agent from changing the wrong layer by accident. Batches are validated before they run, and failures come back as structured errors your agent can act on.
If your team already uses Figma Console MCP and it works, there is no need to switch. Do not point two tools at the same file at once.
Download for Mac Version 0.1.10
See also other Figma MCP alternatives, Talk to Figma MCP, write tools and setup.
