Is Figma GDPR Compliant?
Verdict: Yes — on paid plans with DPA in place
Figma is GDPR compliant for business use on paid plans. A Data Processing Agreement is available, and Figma does not sell personal data. Figma AI features have specific considerations worth understanding.
Key Compliance Facts
Data Processing Agreement: Available for Professional, Organisation, and Enterprise plans. Request it through Figma's privacy portal or your account manager.
EU Data Hosting: Figma processes data in the US but uses Standard Contractual Clauses for EU-US transfers. Full EU data residency is not currently available — this is a limitation for organisations with strict data sovereignty requirements.
Figma AI (Make Designs, First Draft): Figma's AI features generate designs from prompts. Figma does not train AI models on your design files without explicit consent. AI features are covered under the existing DPA for paid plans.
Adobe Acquisition: Figma's acquisition by Adobe was blocked by EU regulators in 2023. Figma remains independent. Adobe's privacy infrastructure does not apply to Figma.
When Figma Processes Personal Data
Most design work doesn't involve personal data — but there are cases where it does:
- User research files: Interview recordings, usability test results, user photos stored in Figma
- Prototype testing: If you run prototype tests with real user data embedded
- Client assets: Real customer data used in design mockups
In these cases, ensure your DPA is in place and consider whether Figma is the right tool for storing sensitive user research data.
Figma vs Local Design Tools for Maximum Privacy
If your organisation requires complete data sovereignty — for example, designing for government clients or in regulated industries — local tools like Sketch (Mac) or Penpot (EU-based, open source, self-hostable) offer alternatives where design files never leave your infrastructure.
Penpot specifically is worth noting: it's Spanish-built, EU-based, open source, and fully self-hostable — making it the most GDPR-safe design tool available.
Practical Steps
- Ensure you're on a paid plan before storing any client personal data in Figma
- Request and sign the DPA
- Avoid embedding real personal data in design files — use placeholder data instead
- Review your Figma plugin list — each plugin may be a separate data processor
[Browse GDPR-compliant design tools on stckfndr →](/?category=image&compliance=gdpr)