Plugin stack · Designers setting up Figma for the first time

The Figma starter stack: 8 plugins to install first

If you only install a handful of plugins, make it these. Each one covers a job that comes up in nearly every file: icons, photos, placeholder text, background removal, fonts, colour, contrast and mockups. All of them are free to start, and most are among the most-used plugins on the Figma Community.

8 plugins8 free to startPicked by figmaplugins.co

Iconify

4.6M users

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The stack

8 plugins, one job each

1
Iconify
by Vjacheslav Trushkin
4.6M users34KFree
Best forIcons
One search box over 200+ open-source icon sets, so you rarely need a second icon plugin. Icons land as editable vectors.
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2
Unsplash
by Unsplash
3.8M users33KFree
Best forPhotos
Drops Unsplash photos straight into frames and shapes. The Unsplash License covers commercial work, which makes it safe for client files.
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3
Lorem Ipsum
by divRIOTS
1.2M users11KFree
Best forPlaceholder content
Fills text layers with lorem ipsum, shapes with photos, and cards with fake names and company data in one click.
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4
Remove BG
by Aaron Iker
1.7M users17KFree + paid features
Best forBackground removal
Cuts the background out of a selected image without leaving Figma. You need a remove.bg account, and full-resolution results use their paid credits.
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5
Better Font Picker
by Nitin Gupta
485K users6KFree
Best forFonts
Previews every font installed on your computer as you scroll, instead of Figma's list of names. It only shows installed fonts.
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6
Coolors
by Coolors
259K users7.3KFree
Best forColour
Generates random palettes in one click. Lock the colours you like and keep generating around them.
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7
Contrast
by Alex Carr
527K users8.5KFree
Best forContrast checks
Checks text contrast against WCAG as you work, including text on gradients and images, which simpler checkers can't measure.
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8
Mockup Plugin
by ls.graphics
1.6M users20KFree + paid features
Best forMockups
Puts a frame onto a phone, laptop or branding mockup in a few clicks. A good share of the library is free; the rest is premium.
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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What Figma plugins should a beginner install first?

Start with one plugin per everyday job: Iconify for icons, Unsplash for photos, Lorem Ipsum for placeholder content, Better Font Picker for fonts, Coolors for palettes, Contrast for accessibility checks and Mockup Plugin for presentation. Add specialist plugins once you hit a job these don't cover.

Are these Figma plugins free?

All eight are free to install and use. Remove BG, Mockup Plugin and a few others sell extra credits or premium content, but the free tier is enough to learn Figma. See the best free Figma plugins for more.

How do I install a plugin from this stack?

Open any plugin's page and use the Figma link, or in a Figma file press Cmd + K (Ctrl + K on Windows), switch to Plugins & widgets and search by name. The install guide walks through it.

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