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Figma Sites vs Detachless – Which Tool Truly Streamlines Website Design and Publishing?
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May 9, 1997
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced digital world, streamlining the process from website design to publishing is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Designers and developers are constantly seeking tools that make this transition smoother, faster, and more integrated.
Figma, a frontrunner in UI/UX design, has revolutionized collaborative design with its cloud-based approach. Building on its powerful design foundation, two standout solutions—Figma Sites and Detachless—are emerging to bridge the gap between design and live deployment. But which one truly optimizes your workflow? Let’s explore how they compare.
Figma Sites vs Detachless
Both tools aim to shorten the path from design to live website, but they do so in very different ways. Let’s take a closer look at each.

What Are Figma Sites and Detachless?
Figma Sites is a new offering by Figma that lets designers not only build responsive web layouts but also publish them directly. It merges design, prototyping, animation, and publishing in a single workspace. With tools like auto layout, responsive design grids, animations, and direct publishing, it’s ideal for designers who want everything under one roof.
Detachless, on the other hand, is a powerful third-party plugin that transforms Figma designs into live, static websites with just one click. It strips down complexity, making it easy to go live without exporting to other platforms or writing code. Although limited in advanced animations, it shines in fast deployment and continuous updates from Figma to web.
Core Features Comparison
Feature | Figma Sites | Detachless |
---|---|---|
Design & Prototyping | Full design and prototyping with responsive layout and animation tools. | Uses Figma’s interface; lacks built-in animations or interactions. |
Publishing Workflow | Integrated publishing directly from Figma Sites. | One-click publishing with continuous sync. |
Animations & Interactions | Advanced support for hover effects, animations, and interactions. | No animation or interactivity support. |
Collaboration | Real-time collaboration through Figma’s native cloud tools. | Collaboration through Figma; publishing via plugin. |
Custom Domain Support | Yes, fully supported. | Yes, via Detachless settings. |
Design System Integration | Uses Figma’s component-based system and tokens. | Mirrors Figma’s component system for static sites. |
Custom Code Capabilities | AI-assisted code editing in development. | Limited to custom CSS only. |
SEO Capabilities | Basic SEO tools built-in. | Basic SEO included. |
CMS Support | Not available (static site focus). | No CMS; only static content supported. |
Benefits of Using Figma Sites
Figma Sites empowers designers by offering a complete design-to-publish ecosystem within a single tool. Here’s why it stands out:
All-in-one environment: Everything from wireframes to live sites happens in one place, reducing context switching.
Rich interaction support: From smooth hover animations to advanced scroll behaviors, Figma Sites brings static designs to life.
Responsive design: Auto layout ensures your site adapts beautifully across screen sizes.
Future-ready features: AI-assisted code customization is on the way, opening doors for advanced custom logic and flexibility.
If your goal is a stunning, animated website that aligns tightly with your design intentions, Figma Sites is a compelling solution.
Benefits of Using Detachless
While it doesn’t boast all the bells and whistles of Figma Sites, Detachless is a focused tool that delivers speed, simplicity, and reliability:
Fast deployment: Go from mockup to live site in seconds—literally.
Continuous sync: Update your Figma design, and your live site updates automatically.
Zero-code publishing: No need to mess with HTML, hosting, or third-party tools.
Perfect for static sites: Great for landing pages, portfolios, and presentation-style websites.
Custom domains supported: Maintain brand identity with your own domain.
Detachless is perfect for designers who want to publish quickly without worrying about technical complexity.
Limitations and Considerations
Each tool has its downsides depending on your needs.
Figma Sites:
Requires a paid plan for full access.
Some features, like AI code customization and CMS support, are still in development.
Limited to static or lightly interactive websites for now.
Detachless:
Lacks animation, interactivity, and advanced design control.
No CMS or content editing functionality beyond Figma itself.
In both cases, these tools are best suited for simpler web projects—not full-blown dynamic apps or large-scale CMS-driven websites.
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Figma Sites if:
You want a seamless, integrated design-publish workflow.
Rich animations and interactions are important to your site.
You work heavily within the Figma ecosystem and value design precision.
Choose Detachless if:
Speed and simplicity are your top priorities.
You need a static site up and running with minimal effort.
Continuous syncing and hands-off publishing appeal to your workflow.
Figma Sites vs Detachless
When comparing Figma Sites vs Detachless, it’s clear they cater to different priorities. Figma Sites excels with built-in animation, prototyping, and integrated design environments—perfect for full-fidelity web experiences. Detachless, meanwhile, wins with its lightning-fast publishing and “what you design is what goes live” philosophy.
FAQs
Can I use Figma Sites for free?
Figma Sites is part of Figma’s premium offering, so some features may be locked behind paid plans.
Is Detachless an official Figma tool?
No, Detachless is a third-party plugin developed independently but integrates seamlessly with Figma.
Does either tool support blogging or CMS functionality?
As of now, both tools are focused on static websites and do not support CMS features or blogging platforms.
Which tool is better for animation and interactivity?
Figma Sites clearly leads in this area with built-in support for hover states, scroll effects, and more.
Can I use my own domain with either Figma Sites or Detachless?
Yes, both platforms allow you to connect custom domains to your published sites.
Is there any coding required for publishing with these tools?
No. Both Figma Sites and Detachless aim to be no-code solutions, though Figma Sites will soon include optional AI-powered code editing.
Conclusion
Figma Sites and Detachless represent the future of no-code web publishing directly from design environments. By reducing the barriers between design and deployment, they save time, eliminate unnecessary steps, and let creators focus on what they do best—designing beautiful, effective websites.
Figma Sites is ideal for those who crave creative control, rich interactions, and an all-in-one interface. Detachless is perfect for users who want speed, ease, and efficiency without sacrificing visual quality.
As these platforms continue to evolve, expect even more powerful, streamlined ways to bring your Figma designs to life on the web. Your design-to-deploy process just got a whole lot easier.