Codex Design vs Figma Make.
Figma Make and Codex Design both use AI to turn a description into a working interface. Figma Make does it inside Figma and can publish the result as a web app. Codex Design adds a canvas to Codex, so you can explore and compare designs right where your code is written.
Updated November 6, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer
If your team designs in Figma, Figma Make is the natural choice: it works from your existing frames and libraries and publishes working prototypes at a shareable URL. If you build with Codex, Codex Design keeps the design step in the same place as the code, with screens as live HTML on a local canvas.
- Choose Figma Make if your designs and design system already live in Figma, you want a working prototype others can open in a browser, or your team collaborates in Figma files.
- Choose Codex Design if you already use Codex, want to compare several directions side by side before building, and want the design to end up in your own codebase rather than in a hosted app.
What each tool is
Figma Make is Figma’s prompt-to-app tool. You chat with an AI agent, paste in frames and components from your Figma designs, and it builds an interactive app. You can edit the generated code in Make, download it, add a backend to store data, and publish the result as a web app on a figma.site address or your own domain. Make kits bring your design system’s packages, variables, and styles into the loop.
Codex Design is our independent plugin for Codex. It adds a local canvas where Codex places the screens it designs as live HTML pages, next to mockup images and your references. Select an element to change its font, color, or spacing in a sidebar, or keep refining by asking Codex. Your canvas projects are stored on your computer.
Side by side
| Figma Make | Codex Design | |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | Interactive apps and working prototypes, from prompts and existing Figma designs | Website and app mockups as live HTML pages, plus mockup images |
| Where it runs | Inside Figma | Inside Codex, with the canvas on your computer (macOS and Linux) |
| Output and code | Editable code you can download as a .zip; publish to a figma.site URL or a custom domain; copy a preview into Figma Design | HTML pages and images in a local project; Codex can then build the chosen design in your code |
| Pricing | Free Starter plan with up to 500 AI credits a month; Professional from $16 a month per Full seat, with 3,000 AI credits | Free for one canvas project; Pro is $5 a month for unlimited projects. Codex usage is separate |
| Best for | Teams that design in Figma and want shareable, working prototypes | Codex users who want to compare and refine UI directions before they build |
Figma’s AI credits are shared across all its AI features, and some Make features depend on your plan and seat. This comparison reflects both products’ official sites and docs as of November 6, 2026.
When to choose Figma Make
Figma Make is the better pick in these cases:
- Your designs already live in Figma. Paste frames and components into the chat or add design URLs as context, and Make builds from them.
- You need something people can click through today. Publish a Make file as a web app with its own URL, add a custom domain, and add a backend when the prototype needs to store data.
- Your design system is in Figma. Make kits can include npm packages plus variables and styles from your design library, with guidelines for how to use them.
- You want to get back to layers. On eligible plans, you can copy a snapshot of a preview as layers and paste them into Figma Design.
- Your team works together in Figma. Teammates can share the same Make conversations, leave comments, and change the generated code at the same time.
When to choose Codex Design
- You already build with Codex. The canvas sits inside the agent that writes your code, so there is no download or handoff between design and build. Ask Codex to implement the direction you picked in your existing project.
- You want to explore before you commit. Codex Design is built for putting several directions side by side on one canvas and comparing them, next to your references and mockup images.
- You want quick visual tweaks. Select an element in an HTML mockup and adjust its font, color, spacing, and other properties in the sidebar.
- You want your work on your own machine. Canvas projects are stored locally, not in a hosted file.
- You don’t want another credit system. Codex Design has no AI credits or token wallet of its own. One canvas project is free and Pro is $5 a month; Codex usage counts against your Codex plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codex Design a Figma Make alternative?
For the design stage, yes, if you use Codex. Both turn a description into a working interface. Figma Make lives in Figma and can publish apps; Codex Design lives in Codex and focuses on exploring and refining designs that Codex then builds in your codebase. If your team works in Figma and needs published prototypes, Figma Make fits better.
Can I use my Figma designs with Codex Design?
The canvas holds images and live HTML pages, so you can export frames from Figma as images and place them next to the screens Codex designs, as references to compare against. Codex Design doesn’t import Figma files directly.
Is Figma Make included in Figma’s free plan?
Figma lists Make on its Starter plan as well as paid plans, and it uses Figma AI credits. Starter includes up to 500 AI credits a month. Some features, such as viewing and downloading code or publishing on paid plans, depend on your seat type.