File vs Figma Context MCP
A side-by-side look at the File and Figma Context MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose File for file systems work; choose Figma Context MCP for architecture & design as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose File when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You want tools like
dir_tree, file_stats, duplicate_finder.
Choose Figma Context MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
FIGMA_API_KEY, PORT. - You want tools like
get_figma_data, download_figma_images.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 39/100 · Fair | 71/100 · Great |
| Install command | Not confirmed yet | Confirmed |
| Transport | — | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | FIGMA_API_KEYPORT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 16,064 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 10 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 5 | 2 |
| Full listing | View File | View Figma Context MCP |
Tools & capabilities
File tools 5
dir_treeGenerate a visual directory tree structure with configurable depth and ignore patternsfile_statsAnalyze a directory: total files, size breakdown by extension, largest/newest/oldest filesduplicate_finderFind duplicate files by size + MD5 hash, report wasted spacecode_counterCount lines of code by language: code, comments, and blank lines (like cloc/scc)file_searchSearch files by name glob, content regex, size range, and date range
Figma Context MCP tools 2
get_figma_dataGet comprehensive Figma file data including layout, content, visuals, and component informationdownload_figma_imagesDownload SVG and PNG images used in a Figma file based on the IDs of image or icon nodes. Images will be saved relative to the server's image directory: /home/user
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
File
No confirmed install command for File yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Figma Context MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"glips-figma-context-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"figma-developer-mcp"
],
"env": {
"FIGMA_API_KEY": "YOUR_FIGMA_API_KEY_HERE",
"PORT": "YOUR_PORT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
File is categorized under File Systems and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Figma Context MCP belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick File for file systems work and Figma Context MCP for architecture & design.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client. File has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
File has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Figma Context MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add file and glips-figma-context-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, File has a quality signal of 39/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Figma Context MCP has 71/100 (Great) with 10 views, 0 installs and 16,064 GitHub stars.
