Design tools are powerful. Yet they can feel plain after a while. You open Figma or Sketch. You stare at the canvas. You wish things were faster, smarter, and more fun. That is where plugins shine. The best part? Many great ones are cheap or free.
TLDR
Figma and Sketch have hidden plugins that save time and boost creativity.
Most of them are free or cost very little.
This article covers nine under‑the‑radar plugins that speed up your workflow.
You will design faster, cleaner, and with less stress.
Why plugins matter more than you think
Design is not just art. It is also mechanics. You repeat tasks all day. You resize frames. You rename layers. You check contrast. Plugins remove friction. They do small jobs really well.
Many designers only use the popular tools. That is fine. But hidden plugins often solve very specific problems. They feel like tiny helpers. They whisper, “I got this.”
Now let us explore nine of them.
1. Autoflow
Flows are hard to explain. They are easy to mess up. Autoflow fixes that.
This plugin lets you draw arrows between frames. The arrows snap nicely. They stay clean. They update when you move things.
- Great for user flows
- Perfect for quick client demos
- Free to use
You stop fighting lines. You start telling stories.
Image not found in postmeta2. Iconify
Icons are everywhere. Searching for them wastes time.
Iconify gives you thousands of icons inside your design tool. No browser tabs. No downloads. Just click and drop.
- Supports many icon sets
- Works in Figma and Sketch
- Mostly free
The hidden win? Consistency. Your icons finally look like a family.
3. Batch Styler
Ever update twenty buttons one by one? Painful.
Batch Styler lets you change colors, text styles, and effects in bulk. You tweak once. Everything updates.
- Great for late design changes
- Saves hours over time
- Free and lightweight
This plugin feels boring at first. Then you cannot live without it.
4. Content Reel
Lorem ipsum is fine. Real content is better.
Content Reel lets you insert names, photos, addresses, and text strings. It feels real. It looks real.
- Prebuilt content libraries
- Custom content support
- Free with optional upgrades
Your mockups stop feeling fake. Stakeholders notice.
5. Contrast
Accessibility matters. But checking it is tedious.
Contrast shows color contrast ratios instantly. It tells you if your text passes standards.
- Supports WCAG rules
- Live feedback
- Completely free
This plugin quietly saves you from future bugs and angry emails.
6. Blush
Illustrations are expensive. Stock art feels generic.
Blush gives you customizable illustrations. You change colors, poses, and styles. Right inside your file.
- Unique illustration packs
- Highly customizable
- Free tier available
Your designs feel friendly. And not copied from everywhere else.
7. Layer Cleaner
Messy layers kill productivity.
Layer Cleaner removes hidden layers. It deletes unused styles. It renames things smartly.
- Keeps files light
- Makes handoff easier
- Free or very cheap
It is like tidying your desk. Everything feels better after.
8. Figmotion
Motion explains ideas better than static screens.
Figmotion lets you animate inside Figma. You add keyframes. You preview instantly.
- No external tools needed
- Great for micro interactions
- Free to use
You show how things feel. Not just how they look.
9. Measure
Developers love clarity.
Measure creates specs automatically. It shows spacing, sizes, and notes.
- One click documentation
- Easy export
- Free or low cost
This plugin reduces back‑and‑forth. Everyone wins.
How to choose the right plugins
You do not need all of them.
Start with pain points. Ask simple questions.
- Where do I waste time?
- What do I repeat daily?
- What confuses teammates?
Pick one plugin. Use it for a week. Then add another.
Figma vs Sketch notes
Most plugins listed work in Figma. Many also support Sketch.
Figma’s community updates faster. Sketch plugins feel more niche. Both have gems.
The key is not the tool. It is the habit of improving your workflow.
Final thoughts
Great design is not about suffering. It is about flow.
Hidden plugins remove tiny annoyances. Those add up. Soon you design faster. You think clearer. You enjoy the process again.
And the best part? You did not break the bank.
Try one today. Your future self will smile.
