Native Figma Features vs Dedicated Audit Tools
Figma has powerful built-in features for design systems: components, variants, variables, and library publishing. But there are gaps that dedicated audit tools fill. Here's what Figma handles natively vs where plugins add value.
The Verdict
Figma's native features are excellent for building and using design systems. Dedicated tools add value for monitoring, auditing, and maintaining system health over time.
| Aspect | Manual | Automated | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component library | Excellent native support | Leverages Figma's system | Tie |
| Find detached instances | No native feature | Automated scanning | Automated |
| Token violation detection | No native feature | Compares against token library | Automated |
| Library update notifications | Basic update indicator | Detailed tracking across files | Automated |
| Health score tracking | Not available | Weighted scoring over time | Automated |
| Cross-file consistency | No unified view | Single dashboard for all files | Automated |
Manual Approach
Pros
- No additional cost
- Deeply integrated with design workflow
- Familiar to all Figma users
- Constant improvements from Figma team
Cons
- No way to find detached instances
- Can't detect token violations
- No health metrics or trending
- No cross-file visibility
- No alerting when issues appear
Automated Tools
Pros
- Fills gaps Figma doesn't cover
- Automated issue detection
- Historical health tracking
- Cross-file unified view
- Actionable deep links to issues
Cons
- Additional tool to learn
- Subscription cost
- Depends on Figma API access
Our Recommendation
Use Figma's native features for building your design system—they're excellent. Add a dedicated audit tool when you need to monitor system health, catch detached instances, or track consistency across multiple consumer files.