{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "framer", "name": "Framer Server API", "vendor": "Framer", "vendorUrl": "https://www.framer.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "design", "summary": "Framer is a website builder with a design canvas.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/framer", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/framer.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/framer.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/framer.json", "license": "proprietary", "transports": [ "http" ], "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "framer-api" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@framer/agent" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "One API key per project, created under Site Settings, General. Pass it with the project URL to `connect()`. `@framer/agent` instead asks the user to grant access to each project in the browser, and its changes land on a branch.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "The Server API is free during the open beta on all plans. Framer says it'll likely charge per use with a monthly free allowance, and estimates a full hour of processing at a few dollars. Site plans are Free, Basic $10 a month and Pro $30 a month billed yearly, with extra editors at $20 a month and custom Enterprise pricing (https://www.framer.com/pricing).", "priceSummary": "$10 / mo", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No payment support in the Server API docs.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": 335756, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://www.framer.com/developers/server-api-introduction", "llmsTxt": "https://www.framer.com/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "design.files", "design.components", "design.canvas", "design.code" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "freemium", "free-tier", "closed-source", "typescript", "llms-txt" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-24", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 52.6, "grade": "D", "agentReady": false, "rank": 650, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 842, "categoryRank": 4, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 47, "maintenance": 77, "payments": 25, "reliability": 43, "schema": 69, "security": 50, "transparency": 75 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Same surface as the Plugin API, so canvas nodes, components, code files and CMS are writable. No REST endpoints and no official MCP server. You need Node 22 and the `framer-api` package.", "bestFor": "Coding agents that build or update Framer sites, CMS content and code components and can run Node.", "strengths": [ "Same surface as the Plugin API, so canvas nodes, components, code files and CMS are writable", "`@framer/agent` puts every agent change on a branch and limits it to the projects you connect", "Publish makes a preview deployment that a separate `deploy` promotes", "Free on every plan during the beta", "Dated changelog with breaking changes flagged by major version" ], "weaknesses": [ "No REST endpoints and no official MCP server. You need Node 22 and the `framer-api` package", "Open beta with no published rate limits, price or SLA", "Not transactional, so failures can leave partial edits", "API keys can publish and deploy directly, with no read-only option", "framer.com's security.txt expired on 1 August 2026" ], "agentNotes": [ "`connect(projectUrl, process.env.FRAMER_API_KEY)` then call Plugin API methods, and close the connection when done", "Publish creates a preview deployment. Promote it with `deploy()` only after checking it", "Keep batches small and idempotent, since a dropped connection can stop a run halfway", "For interactive work from a coding agent, `npx @framer/agent setup` is the supported route and keeps changes on a branch", "Check the changelog before upgrading. v5.0.0 changed CMS array fields and requires stable `id` values" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "D", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 52.6 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 47, "maintenance": 77, "payments": 25, "reliability": 43, "schema": 69, "security": 50, "transparency": 58 }, "provenanceScore": 91 }, "connect": { "install": "npm install framer-api", "claudeCode": "npx @framer/agent setup" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/design.files", "tool": "https://letme.dev/framer" }, "area": "design-diagrams", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Basic site plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 10, "note": "billed yearly" }, { "item": "Pro site plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 30, "note": "billed yearly" }, { "item": "Additional editor", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 20 } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Framer B.V.", "domain": "framer.com", "domainRegistered": "1996-12-30", "domainNote": "framer.com was registered in 1996, long before Framer B.V. acquired it.", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.framer.com/legal/terms-of-service/", "privacy": "https://www.framer.com/legal/privacy-statement/", "statusPage": "https://www.framerstatus.com", "changelog": "https://www.framer.com/developers/changelog", "securityTxt": "expired", "checked": "2026-09-30", "score": 91 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/framer.json", "live": { "slug": "framer", "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://www.framerstatus.com", "indicator": "unknown", "summary": "no machine-readable status found", "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T07:57:56.471821053Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@framer/agent", "version": "0.0.46", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:12:17.105970374Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "framer-api", "version": "5.1.0", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:12:13.420092009Z" } ], "npmWeekly": 286003, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://framer.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "expired", "expires": "2026-08-01T16:00:00.000Z", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:39:03.987724429Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://www.framer.com/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T14:00:26.981453873Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "framer.com", "registered": "1996-12-30", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/framer.com", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:07:02.946028331Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://www.framer.com/developers/changelog", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:27:46.004706992Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:02:35.805295472Z", "fingerprint": "93e79958cdaa" }, { "url": "https://www.framer.com/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:27:52.685323635Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:02:42.052662384Z", "fingerprint": "8d1b7afe27b5" }, { "url": "https://www.framer.com/legal/privacy-statement/", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:27:48.090743557Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:02:38.076328968Z", "fingerprint": "39b96bc79c3e" }, { "url": "https://www.framer.com/legal/terms-of-service/", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:27:50.289644939Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:02:40.090636579Z", "fingerprint": "9d88d5666651" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-09T07:57:56.471821053Z" } }, "answer": "Framer Server API scores 52.6 (D) on agent readiness against pen.dev's 47.6 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. pen.dev leads on agent ergonomics and payments \u0026 pricing.", "b": { "slug": "pen-dev", "name": "pen.dev", "vendor": "High Agency, Inc.", "vendorUrl": "https://pen.dev", "kind": "mcp", "category": "design", "summary": "Design canvas from High Agency, Inc. that stores designs as JSON `.pen` files. Agents edit them through a local MCP server in the desktop app or IDE extension, or through a headless CLI. It was called Pencil until 2026.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pen-dev", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pen-dev.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pen-dev.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/pen-dev.json", "repo": "https://github.com/highagency/pen-desktop-releases", "license": "Proprietary. The CLI package on npm carries a proprietary licence file, and the apps fall under the vendor's EULA", "transports": [ "stdio" ], "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@pen.dev/cli" } ], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "A pen.dev account is required for the desktop app, the extension and the CLI. The MCP server takes no credential of its own and reaches the signed-in app over a local socket, after the owner enables each client in Settings, MCP. The CLI signs in with `pen login` (email with password or one-time code) or with `PEN_CLI_KEY`, an organisation-scoped key created in Developer Keys on the web app. No key scopes are documented. Access is self-serve.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free plan at $0 with 5 agent days and 25 image or SVG generations a month, including the CLI, MCP access and personal developer keys, so an agent's owner can start without a contract. Pro is $16 and Ultra $48 a user a month, and Enterprise is priced on request. Model usage on the user's own provider key is billed by that provider (https://pen.dev/pricing, checked 2026-10-08).", "priceSummary": "$16 / seat-mo", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the pricing page or the CLI reference (checked 2026-10-08).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": 6, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": 3548, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.pen.dev", "capabilities": [ "design.files", "design.canvas", "design.components", "design.code" ], "tags": [ "local", "desktop", "cli", "headless", "mcp", "stdio", "closed-source", "freemium", "free-tier", "vscode", "design-to-code" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-08", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 47.6, "grade": "D", "agentReady": false, "rank": 740, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 842, "categoryRank": 5, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 66, "maintenance": 59, "payments": 38, "reliability": 33, "schema": 61, "security": 33, "transparency": 53 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-08" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "An agent can create, edit and export `.pen` designs without a GUI through the `pen` CLI, with four compact MCP tools that carry annotations and a documented JSON format. The software is closed and needs a pen.dev account. No changelog, status page or security contact was found, and 14 public issue reports had no reply on 8 October 2026.", "bestFor": "A coding agent that designs screens beside the code and keeps them in Git, including in CI.", "strengths": [ "Headless CLI (`@pen.dev/cli`) runs the same editor engine as the desktop app and exports PNG, JPEG, WEBP, PDF and HTML", "Four standard MCP tools with typed inputs and readOnlyHint and destructiveHint annotations, plus two conditional tools", "The `.pen` format is JSON with a published TypeScript schema, so designs sit in Git beside code", "Free plan includes the CLI, MCP access and personal developer keys, with five agent days a month", "Privacy policy has a retention table and says prompts sent with the user's own provider key never reach the vendor's servers" ], "weaknesses": [ "No changelog. The three desktop releases on GitHub have empty notes, and the format docs reserve the right to make breaking changes", "14 issues opened between 28 July and 6 October 2026 in highagency/pen-desktop-releases had no comment or closure on 8 October", "No status page, security.txt, disclosure policy, bug bounty or certification was found", "`execute` takes one JavaScript snippet and carries destructiveHint true, with no read-only mode for an external MCP client", "Closed source under a proprietary licence that forbids reverse engineering, and every surface needs a pen.dev account" ], "agentNotes": [ "Call `read_skill()`, then `read_skill({ path: \"pen-schema.md\" })` and `read_skill({ path: \"execute.md\" })` before the first `execute`. The tool description alone doesn't document the operations", "Call `get_app_state()` and confirm the active document before editing. The MCP server works on whichever `.pen` file is open in the app", "In headless `pen interactive`, call `save()` before `exit()`, and keep `--in` and `--out` on different paths to preserve the source", "Check that an export file exists. The docs say an export failure can print an error without a nonzero exit status", "In CI set `PEN_CLI_KEY` plus a provider key such as `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`. Run `pen version`, since `pen --version` is not a flag" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "D", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 47.6 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 66, "maintenance": 59, "payments": 38, "reliability": 33, "schema": 61, "security": 33, "transparency": 54 }, "provenanceScore": 51 }, "connect": { "install": "npm install -g @pen.dev/cli", "headless": { "command": "pen --out design.pen --prompt \"$TASK\"", "env": { "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "\u003ckey\u003e", "PEN_CLI_KEY": "\u003ckey starting pencil_cli_\u003e" } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/design.files", "tool": "https://letme.dev/pen-dev" }, "area": "design-diagrams", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Pro plan", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 16, "note": "unlimited agent days, 350 image or SVG generations a month, up to 3 agents in parallel" }, { "item": "Ultra plan", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 48, "note": "750 image or SVG generations a month, up to 6 agents in parallel" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "High Agency, Inc.", "domain": "pen.dev", "domainRegistered": "2025-09-10", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://pen.dev/terms-of-use", "privacy": "https://pen.dev/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "The terms of use, EULA and privacy policy, each effective 6 October 2026, name High Agency, Inc., 440 N Barranca Ave #2993, Covina, CA 91723, USA, and choose Delaware law.", "The terms of use cover the desktop app, web app, extensions and CLI and hold the billing terms. A separate EULA at https://pen.dev/eula governs the installed software and prevails for it where the two conflict.", "The MCP server is local. The CLI and app sign in against https://api.pen.dev, and the web app is app.pen.dev.", "RDAP gives pen.dev a registration date of 2025-09-10 with Name.com, and pencil.dev the same day with GoDaddy. www.pencil.dev now answers with the pen.dev site.", "pen.dev/.well-known/security.txt and /security.txt return 404. status.pen.dev, pen.dev/changelog and pen.dev/security return 404.", "The footer says the company is backed by a16z speedrun." ], "score": 51 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pen-dev.json" }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "MCP server", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Framer", "b": "High Agency, Inc.", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "no (local only)", "b": "no (local only)", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP", "b": "stdio", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "API key", "b": "OAuth or key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "proprietary", "b": "Proprietary. The CLI package on npm carries a proprietary licence file, and the apps fall under the vendor's EULA", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "none", "b": "6", "name": "Tools exposed" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-09-24", "b": "2026-10-08", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "no date given", "b": "2026-10-06", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "no date given", "b": "2026-10-06", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "336k npm/wk", "b": "3.5k npm/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "3/5 (2)", "b": "none", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Framer Server API scores 52.6 (D) on agent readiness against pen.dev's 47.6 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. pen.dev leads on agent ergonomics and payments \u0026 pricing.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Framer Server API or pen.dev?" }, { "answer": "Framer Server API needs an API key. pen.dev takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.", "question": "Do Framer Server API and pen.dev need an API key?" }, { "answer": "No hosted endpoint is listed for Framer Server API. pen.dev runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed.", "question": "Can an agent call Framer Server API and pen.dev without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 43 against 33", "Schema \u0026 documentation, 69 against 61", "Security \u0026 auth, 50 against 33", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 77 against 59", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 75 against 53" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Coding agents that build or update Framer sites, CMS content and code components and can run Node.", "slug": "framer", "watchFor": "No REST endpoints and no official MCP server. You need Node 22 and the `framer-api` package" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Agent ergonomics, 66 against 47", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 38 against 25" ], "also": [ "Runs on your own machine" ], "goodFor": "A coding agent that designs screens beside the code and keeps them in Git, including in CI.", "slug": "pen-dev", "watchFor": "No changelog. The three desktop releases on GitHub have empty notes, and the format docs reserve the right to make breaking changes" } ], "job": { "capability": "design.files", "name": "Design files" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/figma-mcp-vs-framer.json", "title": "Figma API + MCP vs Framer Server API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/figma-mcp-vs-framer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/figma-mcp-vs-pen-dev.json", "title": "Figma API + MCP vs pen.dev", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/figma-mcp-vs-pen-dev" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-melius.json", "title": "Framer Server API vs Melius", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-melius" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-miro.json", "title": "Framer Server API vs Miro API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-miro" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-penpot.json", "title": "Framer Server API vs Penpot API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-penpot" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/miro-vs-pen-dev.json", "title": "Miro API + MCP vs pen.dev", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/miro-vs-pen-dev" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pen-dev-vs-penpot.json", "title": "pen.dev vs Penpot API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pen-dev-vs-penpot" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/melius-vs-pen-dev.json", "title": "Melius vs pen.dev", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/melius-vs-pen-dev" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 10, "edge": "framer", "framer": 43, "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "pen-dev": 33, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 8, "edge": "framer", "framer": 69, "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "pen-dev": 61, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 19, "edge": "pen-dev", "framer": 47, "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "pen-dev": 66, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 17, "edge": "framer", "framer": 50, "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "pen-dev": 33, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 13, "edge": "pen-dev", "framer": 25, "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "pen-dev": 38, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 18, "edge": "framer", "framer": 77, "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "pen-dev": 59, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 22, "edge": "framer", "framer": 75, "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "pen-dev": 53, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Framer Server API scores 52.6 (D) on agent readiness against pen.dev's 47.6 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. pen.dev leads on agent ergonomics and payments \u0026 pricing. Both do design files.", "verdicts": { "framer": "Same surface as the Plugin API, so canvas nodes, components, code files and CMS are writable. No REST endpoints and no official MCP server. You need Node 22 and the `framer-api` package.", "pen-dev": "An agent can create, edit and export `.pen` designs without a GUI through the `pen` CLI, with four compact MCP tools that carry annotations and a documented JSON format. The software is closed and needs a pen.dev account. No changelog, status page or security contact was found, and 14 public issue reports had no reply on 8 October 2026." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev.min.md" }, "markdown": "Framer Server API scores 52.6 (D) on agent readiness against pen.dev's 47.6 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. pen.dev leads on agent ergonomics and payments \u0026 pricing. Both do design files.\n\n- Framer Server API: grade D, 52.6/100, rank #650 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/framer.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/framer.json\n- pen.dev: grade D, 47.6/100, rank #740 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/pen-dev.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/pen-dev.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Framer Server API (D)\n\nGood for: Coding agents that build or update Framer sites, CMS content and code components and can run Node.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 43 against 33\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 69 against 61\n- Security \u0026 auth, 50 against 33\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 77 against 59\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 75 against 53\n\nWatch for: No REST endpoints and no official MCP server. You need Node 22 and the `framer-api` package\n\n### pen.dev (D)\n\nGood for: A coding agent that designs screens beside the code and keeps them in Git, including in CI.\n\nAhead on:\n- Agent ergonomics, 66 against 47\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 38 against 25\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Runs on your own machine\n\nWatch for: No changelog. The three desktop releases on GitHub have empty notes, and the format docs reserve the right to make breaking changes\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Framer Server API | pen.dev | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 43 | 33 | Framer Server API +10 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 69 | 61 | Framer Server API +8 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 47 | 66 | pen.dev +19 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 50 | 33 | Framer Server API +17 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 25 | 38 | pen.dev +13 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 77 | 59 | Framer Server API +18 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 75 | 53 | Framer Server API +22 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **52.6 · D** | **47.6 · D** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Framer Server API | pen.dev |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | MCP server |\n| Vendor | Framer | High Agency, Inc. |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |\n| Transports | HTTP | stdio |\n| Auth | API key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | proprietary | Proprietary. The CLI package on npm carries a proprietary licence file, and the apps fall under the vendor's EULA |\n| Tools exposed | none | 6 |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | no |\n| Last release | 2026-09-24 | 2026-10-08 |\n| Terms last updated | no date given | 2026-10-06 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 2026-10-06 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Popularity | 336k npm/wk | 3.5k npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Framer Server API.** Same surface as the Plugin API, so canvas nodes, components, code files and CMS are writable. No REST endpoints and no official MCP server. You need Node 22 and the `framer-api` package.\n\n**pen.dev.** An agent can create, edit and export `.pen` designs without a GUI through the `pen` CLI, with four compact MCP tools that carry annotations and a documented JSON format. The software is closed and needs a pen.dev account. No changelog, status page or security contact was found, and 14 public issue reports had no reply on 8 October 2026.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Framer Server API\n\n1. `connect(projectUrl, process.env.FRAMER_API_KEY)` then call Plugin API methods, and close the connection when done\n2. Publish creates a preview deployment. Promote it with `deploy()` only after checking it\n3. Keep batches small and idempotent, since a dropped connection can stop a run halfway\n4. For interactive work from a coding agent, `npx @framer/agent setup` is the supported route and keeps changes on a branch\n5. Check the changelog before upgrading. v5.0.0 changed CMS array fields and requires stable `id` values\n\n### pen.dev\n\n1. Call `read_skill()`, then `read_skill({ path: \"pen-schema.md\" })` and `read_skill({ path: \"execute.md\" })` before the first `execute`. The tool description alone doesn't document the operations\n2. Call `get_app_state()` and confirm the active document before editing. The MCP server works on whichever `.pen` file is open in the app\n3. In headless `pen interactive`, call `save()` before `exit()`, and keep `--in` and `--out` on different paths to preserve the source\n4. Check that an export file exists. The docs say an export failure can print an error without a nonzero exit status\n5. In CI set `PEN_CLI_KEY` plus a provider key such as `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`. Run `pen version`, since `pen --version` is not a flag\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Framer Server API or pen.dev?\n\nFramer Server API scores 52.6 (D) on agent readiness against pen.dev's 47.6 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. pen.dev leads on agent ergonomics and payments \u0026 pricing.\n\n### Do Framer Server API and pen.dev need an API key?\n\nFramer Server API needs an API key. pen.dev takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.\n\n### Can an agent call Framer Server API and pen.dev without installing anything?\n\nNo hosted endpoint is listed for Framer Server API. pen.dev runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"framer\", \"b\": \"pen-dev\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare framer pen-dev`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/framer.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/pen-dev.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Framer Server API or pen.dev\n\n- [Figma API + MCP vs Framer Server API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/figma-mcp-vs-framer.md)\n- [Figma API + MCP vs pen.dev](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/figma-mcp-vs-pen-dev.md)\n- [Framer Server API vs Melius](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-melius.md)\n- [Framer Server API vs Miro API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-miro.md)\n- [Framer Server API vs Penpot API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-penpot.md)\n- [Miro API + MCP vs pen.dev](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/miro-vs-pen-dev.md)\n- [pen.dev vs Penpot API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pen-dev-vs-penpot.md)\n- [Melius vs pen.dev](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/melius-vs-pen-dev.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-09", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Framer Server API vs pen.dev", "url": "" } ], "description": "Framer Server API scores 52.6 (D) on agent readiness against pen.dev's 47.6 (D), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. pen.dev leads on agent ergonomics and payments \u0026 pricing. Both do design files. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Framer Server API D 52.6", "pen.dev D 47.6", "scores" ], "h1": "Framer Server API vs pen.dev", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-framer-vs-pen-dev.png", "path": "/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Framer Server API vs pen.dev for AI agents, D 52.6 vs D 47.6", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-09", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/framer-vs-pen-dev" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2000, "slim": 630 }, "version": 1 }