Figma’s Dev Mode has become a go-to tool for bridging the gap between designers and developers. It streamlines handoff, displays variables and tokens clearly, and gives developers everything they need — minus the visual design noise.
But if you’re wondering, “Is Figma Dev Mode free?”, the answer is both yes and no — depending on what you need and what role you play.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s included for free, what’s behind a paywall, and how to decide if it’s worth upgrading.
✅ What Is Figma Dev Mode?
Dev Mode is a dedicated view within Figma built specifically for developers. It allows devs to:
- View specs, measurements, and variables
- Inspect tokens and component properties
- Read design documentation
- Copy production-ready code snippets (CSS, iOS, Android, etc.)
- Navigate designs without disturbing layers
Dev Mode helps reduce miscommunication and makes development smoother — especially in complex design systems.
🆓 Is Dev Mode Free?
Figma offers a free tier of Dev Mode with limited functionality.
Here’s what’s included for free:
| Feature | Free Tier | Paid Tier |
|---|---|---|
| View specs & inspect layers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Comment in Dev Mode | ✅ | ✅ |
| Use plugins & inspect tokens | ❌ | ✅ |
| Access to code generation | ❌ | ✅ |
| View component documentation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Use Dev Mode with variables | ❌ | ✅ |
💡 In short: View-only Dev Mode is free, but to unlock its real power (tokens, docs, code snippets), your team needs to be on a paid plan.
💼 Who Gets Full Dev Mode Access?
Figma offers role-based pricing under the Organization and Enterprise plans:
- Free for developers if your org assigns them the Dev seat (cheaper than full editor)
- Full Dev Mode access is granted without needing full design-edit permissions
- Designers still need the Editor seat for full design access
This lets companies save costs while giving devs what they need.
🤔 Should You Upgrade?
Upgrade if:
- You work in a design-to-dev pipeline with many handoffs
- Your developers want to inspect tokens, variables, and grab code
- You use Figma for production-ready design systems
Stick to the free tier if:
- You’re a solo designer or dev occasionally reviewing designs
- You don’t need code export, token inspection, or internal docs
🔍 Summary: Is Dev Mode Free?
| Role | Free Access | Full Access (Paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Viewer | ✅ View-only | ❌ |
| Developer | ✅ Basic | ✅ via Dev seat |
| Designer | ✅ Basic | ✅ via Editor seat |
Figma Dev Mode offers enough for quick reviews, but its real value comes alive with full access to tokens, documentation, and production-ready code.
Bottom line: Yes, Figma Dev Mode is partially free — but if you’re serious about bridging design and development, the paid version pays for itself in clarity and speed.
Want more smart workflows like this? Explore full Dev Mode guides, variables tips, and handoff checklists at Designilo.com.
Designilo 