Add to ChromeHow they compare
pls-fix is a specialised tool for filing visual bug reports with annotations. Design Mode is a broader design surface — comment pins are one feature among many (Layers tree, Design controls, Changes tab, MCP).
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Design Mode | pls-fix |
|---|---|---|
| Visual editing of any live website | Yes — full design surface (typography, colour, layout, spacing, motion, effects) | Comment / pin only |
| MCP (Model Context Protocol) handoff to AI agents | Yes — Cloud, Local, and Self-hosted modes; eight MCP tools | No |
| Persistent change history (Changes tab) | Yes — searchable, filterable, exportable | Per-comment threads |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Check current licence |
| Price | Free forever | Check current pricing |
| Markdown / JSON export of the diff | Yes | Comments / links |
| Best fit for | Designers, developers, QA, PMs, content, indie hackers, agencies, vibe coders | Bug reporting & feedback |
When to pick Design Mode
- You want to fix the bug, not just annotate it.
- You want to ship the structured diff to an AI agent.
- You want one tool for designers, developers, QA, PMs, and content.
When to pick pls-fix
- All you need is comment pins on screenshots.
- You don't need to edit the page itself.
Honest take
If you only need to pin comments on a deployed page, pls-fix is purpose-built. If you also want to make the fix, ship the spec to engineering, or run a full design review, Design Mode covers more ground.