A Figma plugin is a tool you run to perform a task; a widget is an object you add to a Figma or FigJam canvas so collaborators can see and interact with it. Choose a plugin for an individual action or workflow, and a widget when the result should stay on the canvas as part of shared work.
How plugins and widgets behave differently
| Question | Plugin | Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Where does it appear? | As a tool or action that you launch in a file. | As an object placed on a Figma or FigJam canvas. |
| Who sees or uses it? | Only the person who ran the plugin sees its running interface. | Collaborators can see and interact with it in the file, provided they have edit access. |
| What is it best for? | Performing a task, transformation, or workflow step. | Keeping shared information or an activity visible and usable on the canvas. |
| Typical examples | Generating content, cleaning layers, or connecting to an external tool. | Polls, voting, tables, visualizations, timelines, mind maps, and games. |
| How does it run? | You invoke it manually; it does not run in the background. Figma says one plugin can run at a time. | You add it to a file and interact with it as a canvas object; it can be repositioned like other objects. |
These differences follow Figma’s Community guide, widget usage guide, and plugin usage guide.
Can other people see a plugin you ran?
No. Figma says only the person who ran a plugin can see it, and plugins cannot keep working in the background. If the plugin changes the file—for example, by generating or reorganizing content—collaborators may see that resulting file content. They do not thereby see the plugin’s running interface or share its execution.
Can your team interact with a widget?
Yes, when team members have edit access to the file. A widget remains on the canvas, where collaborators can see and interact with it; it can also be moved like another object. For example, a voting widget can provide a shared activity, while a table widget can keep information visible alongside the work it relates to. Widget availability may be limited by organizational controls, and Figma says edit access is needed to add or use widgets. See Use widgets in files.
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Which should you choose for a workflow?
Choose a plugin for a task or transformation
Use a plugin when someone needs to trigger an operation—such as generating content, cleaning up layers, or connecting Figma to an external tool. It is suited to work that happens because a person runs the tool, rather than an interface that needs to stay present for the whole team.
Choose a widget for shared canvas activity
Use a widget when the team needs a persistent element on a design or FigJam board: a poll, voting counter, shared table, visualization, timeline, mind map, or game. The widget is part of the canvas, so collaborators with edit access can engage with it there.
Check access before standardizing on either
Plugin use can depend on plan and seat, and an organization administrator may restrict plugins to approved options. Widgets can also be restricted to organization-approved widgets. Figma’s rules can change, so check the current plugin access guidance, widget guidance, and your organization’s settings rather than assuming every teammate has identical access.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What developers should consider
The key design choice is whether the extension should perform an action or become an interactive object on the canvas. The development options and constraints differ:
- Plugins: Figma describes classic plugins, developed against its Plugin API, and generative plugins created by prompting Figma’s agent in Design. Its current overview says classic plugins support third-party API calls and optional monetization, while generative plugins do not support those options. Treat this as the current documented distinction, not a permanent guarantee. Classic plugin development and publishing require the desktop app. See About building plugins in Figma and Build classic plugins for the Figma Community.
- Widgets: Figma documents widgets as JavaScript built on its Plugin API; it recommends JSX and TypeScript, as well as Visual Studio Code. Widget development and publishing require the Figma desktop app on macOS or Windows. See Make widgets for the Figma Community.
Both kinds of extension undergo Figma review before Community listing. The review guidelines address official API use, usability, privacy and security, and business fit. They prohibit displaying ads; they also describe cases where Figma may reject extensions that recreate native or paid functionality or overlap with specified Figma AI capabilities. Read the current plugin and widget review guidelines before building for publication. Figma documents optional monetization for classic plugins and paid widgets subject to its publishing conditions; see Publish widgets to the Figma Community.
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