How to Connect Figma to Claude or Any AI Agent
Every way to connect Figma to an AI: Figma's Dev Mode MCP server, Claude's connector, and the zero-setup option that needs no paid seat.
Option 1: Figma's Dev Mode MCP server (official)
Figma ships a local MCP server inside the desktop app:
- Open the Figma desktop app, go to the menu → Preferences → Enable Dev Mode MCP Server.
- This runs a local server at
http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp. - Add it to your MCP client, e.g. in Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http figma http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp
The catch: Dev Mode MCP requires a paid Dev or Full seat on a Professional/Organization/Enterprise plan, and the desktop app must be running. There's also a remote hosted MCP endpoint for the same features.
Option 2: Claude's Figma connector
Claude's Connectors directory includes Figma: Customize → Connectors → Figma → authorize. Simpler than the local server and doesn't require the desktop app running, though a paid Figma seat still governs what Dev Mode data you can read.
Option 3: ChatGPT
No official Figma app in ChatGPT as of October 2026. The path there is a bridge, an export, or a platform that has Figma integrated already.
What connecting Figma unlocks
- "Build this frame" — the agent reads layout, spacing, colors and components directly.
- Design-to-code with fewer screenshots and less guessing.
- Spec questions: "what's the border radius on the card component?" without opening Figma.
- Design tokens exported into code reviews automatically.
The zero-setup version: Krater
Figma is one of 40+ apps integrated into Krater's agent. Connect it once, then tasks like "turn this Figma frame into a landing page" work without Dev Mode servers or seat gymnastics. See the Figma integration.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid Figma plan?
For the official Dev Mode MCP server, yes: a Dev or Full seat on a paid plan. Third-party read tools can sometimes work around this but with narrower access.
Can the AI edit designs?
Today it's mostly read: the agent reads structure and specs, generates code and assets, and reports back. Editing designs directly is still limited.