Add to ChromeHow they compare
VisBug is the OG of in-browser visual editing — small toolbar, quick edits, no persistence. Design Mode is the version of that idea built for the AI-coding-agent era.
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Design Mode | VisBug |
|---|---|---|
| Visual editing of any live website | Yes — full design surface (typography, colour, layout, spacing, motion, effects) | Yes — toolbar-based |
| 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-session, not exportable |
| Open source | Yes (MIT) | Apache 2.0 |
| Price | Free forever | Free |
| Markdown / JSON export of the diff | Yes | Copy CSS |
| Best fit for | Designers, developers, QA, PMs, content, indie hackers, agencies, vibe coders | Quick in-browser tweaks |
When to pick Design Mode
- You want edits that persist and export to a structured diff.
- You want to ship the diff to an AI agent.
- You need the full design surface (motion, effects, contrast checker, layers).
When to pick VisBug
- You want a tiny zero-config toolbar and nothing more.
Honest take
VisBug is fantastic and influential. Design Mode is closest in spirit to it but built for a different era and a different handoff target.