Voice Typing for Figma: Add Text to Designs by Voice

How Scrybapp Works with Figma

Scrybapp is a macOS system-level voice typing app powered by Whisper AI. It does not require a Figma plugin, a browser extension, or any configuration inside Figma. Because it operates at the operating system level, Scrybapp types text wherever your cursor is focused -- and that includes every text input field in Figma, whether you use the desktop app or the browser version.

Here is how it works in three simple steps:

1. Place your cursor in any text field inside Figma -- a text layer in edit mode, a layer name field, a comment thread, the search bar, or a FigJam sticky note.
2. Press your Scrybapp hotkey (customizable) to start recording. A small indicator appears so you know dictation is active.
3. Speak naturally and your words are transcribed locally by Whisper AI and typed into Figma in real-time. Press the hotkey again to stop.

There is no internet dependency for the transcription itself. Scrybapp runs Whisper AI entirely on your Mac, so your spoken words and design content stay private. It works alongside any Figma plugins you already use without conflicts, and it follows you when you switch between Figma, Slack, Notion, or any other app on your Mac.

Why Designers Need Voice Typing in Figma

Design work in Figma is intensely visual, but it involves a surprising amount of text. Button labels, headings, body copy, placeholder text, error messages, tooltips, onboarding flows, and microcopy all need to be written and placed inside your designs. Beyond the canvas, there are layer names to organize, comments to leave for teammates, design spec annotations, and handoff documentation to prepare for developers.

Most designers type at 40 to 60 words per minute. Speaking is 3 to 4 times faster at 130 to 160 words per minute. That speed difference matters when you are writing a dozen button labels, filling a prototype with realistic copy, or leaving detailed feedback on a teammate's design. A comment that takes 30 seconds to type can be dictated in 8 seconds. A full design spec paragraph that takes 2 minutes to write can be spoken in 30 seconds.

Voice typing also reduces the context switching between visual thinking and text composition. When you are arranging elements on a frame and need to write a heading, switching to typing mode disrupts your spatial focus. Speaking the text feels more natural and keeps your creative flow intact. You describe what the heading should say as if you were explaining it to someone, and Scrybapp turns your spoken words into clean, punctuated text right inside the text layer.

For designers dealing with repetitive strain from long hours of mouse and keyboard work, voice typing provides genuine ergonomic relief. Alternating between mouse-driven layout work and voice-driven text entry distributes the physical load more evenly across your body, reducing strain on your wrists and fingers over the course of a full workday.

Use Cases for Voice Typing in Figma

Adding Text to Design Layers

The most direct use case is filling text layers with content. Double-click a text layer on your Figma canvas to enter edit mode, press your Scrybapp hotkey, and speak the text you want. Whether it is a headline, a paragraph of body copy, a call-to-action button label, or placeholder content for a prototype, your spoken words appear inside the text layer instantly. This is especially useful when you are populating multiple screens of a prototype with realistic copy -- instead of typing the same kinds of phrases over and over, you simply speak them at conversational speed.

Renaming Layers and Components

Well-organized layer names are essential for maintainable Figma files, especially in team projects. But renaming dozens of layers is tedious keyboard work. With Scrybapp, double-click a layer name in the layers panel, press the hotkey, and speak the new name. This is particularly helpful when establishing consistent naming conventions across a large file. You can rename components, frames, groups, and variants much faster by voice than by carefully typing each name with the correct casing and separators.

Writing Design Specs and Annotations

Design handoff requires detailed annotations that explain spacing decisions, interaction behaviors, responsive breakpoints, and edge cases. These annotations are pure prose, making them a perfect fit for voice typing. Create a text layer or sticky note next to your design, press your hotkey, and explain the design decision as if you were walking a developer through it in person. Scrybapp transcribes your explanation with proper punctuation and capitalization, giving you a clean first draft of your spec note in seconds rather than minutes.

Leaving Comments and Feedback

Figma's comment system is essential for design collaboration, but typing detailed feedback takes time. Click to place a comment pin, press your Scrybapp hotkey, and speak your feedback naturally. The conversational tone that comes from speaking often makes design feedback feel more constructive and nuanced than terse typed comments. You can explain why a spacing choice feels off, suggest an alternative interaction pattern, or ask a clarifying question -- all at speaking speed.

FigJam Brainstorming and Sticky Notes

FigJam is built around quick ideation, and voice typing accelerates that process significantly. When brainstorming on a FigJam board, you can create a sticky note and dictate your idea instead of typing it. This keeps the creative momentum going because speaking an idea is faster and more natural than composing it on a keyboard. During a brainstorming session, the speed difference between typing and speaking can mean the difference between capturing a fleeting idea and losing it.

Scrybapp vs. Other Dictation Options for Figma

Apple's built-in macOS dictation can work in Figma, but it sends your audio to Apple's servers for processing. For designers working on unreleased products, client projects under NDA, or proprietary brand materials, sending design context to a cloud service raises privacy concerns. Scrybapp processes everything locally using Whisper AI, so your design content, layer names, and annotations never leave your machine.

There are no Figma plugins specifically built for voice typing. The plugin ecosystem focuses on visual tools, asset management, and design tokens -- not text input. Scrybapp fills this gap by working at the macOS level, which means it works in Figma without needing Figma-specific integration. It also means you do not need to install, update, or manage a plugin inside Figma.

Because Scrybapp operates system-wide, it follows you between apps seamlessly. When you switch from Figma to Slack to discuss a design, to Notion to update project documentation, or to your email to respond to a client, Scrybapp is already there. One tool, one hotkey, every app on your Mac. A one-time payment of 39 euros gives you unlimited voice typing for life -- no subscriptions, no per-word pricing, no monthly invoices.

Getting Started with Voice Typing in Figma

Setup takes less than two minutes. Download Scrybapp from the website, drag it to your Applications folder, and launch it. Grant microphone permission when macOS asks, choose your preferred hotkey, and you are ready to dictate.

Open Figma, double-click a text layer or click into a comment field, press your hotkey, and start speaking. Your words appear as text instantly. Try it with a design annotation, a button label, or a comment on a teammate's work. The free trial includes 3 minutes of transcription so you can test it in your actual design workflow before committing.

After the trial, a one-time payment of 39 euros unlocks unlimited voice typing for life. No subscriptions, no word limits, no monthly invoices. Just fast, private, accurate dictation in Figma and every other app on your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions