Lunacy vs Figma: Free Desktop Design Tool or Cloud Collaboration?

Compare Lunacy and Figma on pricing, collaboration, features, and offline support to decide which design tool fits your team.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Lunacy

Free desktop design tool with built-in AI and Sketch file support

Freeforever

Strengths

+Completely free with no paid tier or seat limits
+Works fully offline as a native desktop app (Windows, Mac, Linux)
+Opens and edits Sketch (.sketch) files natively

Weaknesses

-No real-time multiplayer collaboration like Figma
-Smaller plugin ecosystem and community
-Less mature dev handoff / inspect tooling

Best for

Solo designers or small teams who want a free, offline-capable tool and don't need live collaboration.

Figma

Browser-based collaborative design tool and industry standard

$0 (Free) / $15editor/month (Professional, billed monthly)

Strengths

+Real-time multiplayer editing and commenting
+Huge plugin and community template ecosystem
+Strong dev handoff with Inspect panel and auto-generated CSS/code

Weaknesses

-Free tier limits to 3 collaborative files per team
-Paid seats add up fast for larger teams
-Requires internet connection for full functionality

Best for

Teams that need real-time collaboration, dev handoff, and a large plugin ecosystem.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Lunacy	Figma
Price	Free, unlimited	Free tier (3 files); $15/editor/mo Professional
Offline use	Full offline desktop app	Requires internet (desktop app caches but syncs online)
Real-time collaboration	Not supported	Full multiplayer editing and cursors
Sketch file import	Native, built-in	Supported via plugin/import
AI tools	Background removal, upscaling, image generation	Figma AI features (limited, rolling out)
Dev handoff / inspect	Basic CSS export	Detailed inspect panel, code snippets
Prototyping	Basic prototyping	Advanced interactive prototyping
Plugins/ecosystem	Small, growing	Thousands of community plugins
Whiteboarding	Not built-in	FigJam included/integrated
Platform	Windows, Mac, Linux desktop	Browser + Mac/Windows desktop app
Version history	Basic local history	Full cloud version history

The Verdict

If you're a solo designer or tiny team that wants a genuinely free, offline tool with decent AI extras, Lunacy is hard to beat on price. But if your team needs real-time collaboration, dev handoff, and a mature plugin ecosystem, Figma's free tier or Professional plan is worth paying for — Lunacy simply isn't built for multiplayer workflows.

How to switch from Lunacy to Figma

1In Lunacy, open each project and use File > Export > Sketch File (.sketch) to save your designs in Sketch format, since Lunacy has no native Figma export.
2Alternatively, export individual assets as SVG or PNG via File > Export if you only need static images rather than editable layers.
3In Figma, create a new project and use File > Import, then select the exported .sketch files to bring your layers, frames, and styles into Figma.
4Review imported files for font mismatches or missing plugins/assets from Icons8, since Lunacy's bundled icon library won't carry over automatically.
5Recreate any AI-generated assets (background removal, upscaled images) manually in Figma or via Figma plugins, since those Lunacy-specific tools don't transfer.
6Invite your team to the new Figma workspace, set up shared libraries and components, and archive the old Lunacy files once everyone confirms the migrated designs are correct.

Lunacy vs Figma: common questions

How do I export my files from Lunacy to use in Figma?+

Lunacy saves files in its own format but can export to .sketch, which Figma can import directly via File > Import in the Figma web or desktop app. You can also export individual assets as SVG or PNG if you just need static assets rather than editable layers.

What features do I lose moving from Lunacy to Figma?+

You lose full offline editing since Figma requires an internet connection to sync changes. You also lose Lunacy's free unlimited usage — Figma's free plan caps you at 3 editable files per team, so you may need to pay for Professional to keep working past that.

Is Figma's free plan enough for a small team?+

Figma's free tier gives unlimited files for personal use but only 3 collaborative team files, which is tight for an active small team. Most teams past 1-2 active projects end up needing the $15/editor/month Professional plan to unlock unlimited files and version history.

Does Figma integrate with the tools my team already uses?+

Yes, Figma has native or plugin integrations with tools like Slack, Jira, Notion, GitHub, and Zoom, plus a large plugin marketplace for design systems and automation. Lunacy has far fewer third-party integrations since its ecosystem is smaller.

Will switching from Lunacy to Figma cost more over time?+

Yes — Lunacy is free indefinitely, while Figma's Professional plan runs $15/editor/month billed monthly (or $12/editor/month billed annually), which adds up for teams of 5+ designers. Budget for ongoing per-seat costs if you move past Figma's free 3-file limit.