Onlook
Visual editor for designers to build and edit real front-end projects in the browser, pairing a design-like canvas with live code.
Onlook positions itself as a design-forward way to work on real codebases: a visual canvas where designers and builders edit UI that maps to actual front-end projects rather than disposable mockups. Teams use Onlook to iterate on layout, typography, and components while staying close to implementation, bridging the gap between Figma exploration and shipping product UI. It suits UX professionals learning to build, small teams without heavy handoff, and designers who want immediate feedback from running code. Success depends on project setup and framework support; verify compatibility with your stack before adopting for production workflows.
Score Breakdown
AI Features
- Visual editing mapped to live code
- AI-assisted UI changes in context
- Component-level updates in real projects
- Design-like canvas on production codebases
UX Use Cases
- Designers editing shipped UI visually
- Reducing mockup-to-code gap
- UX engineer learning by building in context
- Rapid UI iteration on real apps
- Small-team workflows without heavy handoff
Pros
- Edits real projects, not throwaway exports
- Strong story for designer-to-builder transition
- Visual feedback from live code
- Open-source angle lowers entry barrier
- Complements Figma for exploration
Cons
- Framework and project setup requirements
- Still requires code literacy for edge cases
- Evolving product; verify stack support