Starry

Starry is a design editor for turning natural-language prompts into editable interface designs and production code. It is best suited to designers and developers who want to move between design work and implementation. Its main appeal is that designs can remain local and travel into code or Figma; its main caveat is that AI chat requires your own provider API key.

Overview

Starry links interface design to implementation rather than treating a mockup as the final destination. Prompt-based editing, code exports, Figma file support and Git-friendly local files make it a plausible fit for people shaping an interface alongside the app that will use it. That breadth comes with a setup trade-off: users bring an API key for AI chat instead of getting provider access bundled with the free download.

Key features

Prompt-based interface design

The canvas AI, powered by ACP, can create and modify auto-layout designs from natural-language prompts. Design-system support and editable layers make the workflow relevant to interface iteration, not just generating a picture. It is less compelling for anyone who wants a ready-made AI service without configuring a provider key.

Code, Figma and local files

Starry exports React JSX, HTML, SVG and design tokens, as well as PNG, JPG and WEBP. It reads native Figma .fig files and supports copying and pasting selections in both directions. Designs can be saved as local .pen and .fig files and committed to Git, which suits workflows that value portable project files. The docs describe collaboration as peer-to-peer over WebRTC, without a server or account.

Developer connections and privacy

An MCP server connects Starry to AI coding tools and editors including Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code and OpenAI Codex. A headless CLI can export documents and automate design operations, including in CI workflows. Users supply a key for a supported AI provider, or configure a custom OpenAI- or Anthropic-format endpoint. Starry says keys remain local and prompts go directly to the chosen provider, rather than through Starry’s servers.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and is free to download and use with no subscription required. AI chat still needs your own provider API key, so the free price does not mean bundled AI usage.

Pro costs $29 a month. It is the paid option for users who want Pro, but the plan’s inclusions and limits are not defined, making it difficult to judge what the monthly charge adds. Custom pricing is available for the Custom plan. There are no published seat counts, quotas or trial terms to weigh against these prices.

Platforms

Starry supports Linux, macOS, Windows and the web. Documented desktop requirements are macOS 12 or later, Windows 10 or later, or Linux, with about 150 MB of free disk space.

Who it's for

Starry makes most sense for designers, engineers and teams moving between an idea and a running app, particularly when editable layouts, Figma exchange, code output or Git-managed files matter. Its MCP server and CLI also give it a role in developer workflows. It is a weaker fit for people who do not want to supply an AI provider key or who need clear paid-plan limits before choosing a subscription. A Discord community is available for connecting with Starry.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Exports span editable-code formats, design tokens and raster images, supporting both implementation and visual handoff.
• Pros: Native Figma file support, local project files and peer-to-peer collaboration cover several ways teams can exchange or retain work.
• Pros: The MCP server and headless CLI extend the workflow into coding tools and CI automation.
• Cons: AI chat requires a user-supplied provider key, adding configuration and leaving provider usage outside the free download.
• Cons: Pro costs $29 a month, while its included features and limits are not defined, so buyers cannot readily assess the upgrade.

Alternatives

AI UI Design Generators is a directory-wide starting point for comparing tools in this category.

Choose UXPin if its free trial and post-trial option of 2 prototypes and 50 AI credits better suit a limited evaluation. Paper may suit teams that prioritize unlimited viewers and editors and 100 weekly MCP tool calls on its free plan, though image generation is limited and images max out at 25 MB.

pen.dev is worth comparing if its free plan’s 5 Agent days and 25 image and SVG generations per month fit the work; it allows one agent at a time. Coherent is the alternative to consider for a free, open-source option with unlimited projects and a bring-your-own-LLM-key model.

Figma Make is another option for readers comparing prompt-driven design tools. Relume is another alternative. UX Pilot is another alternative. Visily is another alternative.

Verdict

Choose Starry if you want prompt-driven, editable interface design connected to code exports, Figma and local Git-friendly files. Its strongest case is that it spans design and implementation while offering developer integrations and local-first workflows. Look elsewhere if you expect AI chat to come bundled or need a clearly defined Pro allowance before paying $29 a month.