Overview
The March 18, 2026 Stitch update evolves Google Labs' AI UI design tool into an AI-native software design canvas. Where the original Stitch converted prompts and images into screens, version 2.0 replaces that single-turn workflow with an AI-native infinite canvas — a persistent workspace where you can think out loud, iterate with voice, and build complete interactive flows without switching to another tool.
The March 18, 2026 update officially centers on vibe design, a redesigned AI-native infinite canvas, voice capabilities, DESIGN.md, and deeper design-agent workflows. Together, they push Stitch by Google closer to a full design environment rather than a generation widget — while keeping it completely free.
What's New
Vibe Design
Vibe design lets you start a UI project with an intent or an emotion rather than a specific prompt or wireframe. You might describe what you want users to feel when they land on the page, cite a business objective, or paste a link to something that's inspiring you. Stitch then generates multiple distinct design directions matching that vibe, letting you explore broadly before committing to a direction.
This is a meaningful shift from v1.x: previously, the quality of output depended heavily on how precisely you phrased your prompt. With vibe design, early-stage ideation becomes conversation rather than prompt engineering.
Voice Canvas
The canvas now accepts spoken input through an AI agent. You can critique a design aloud, request variations ("show me three different nav bar layouts"), or ask Stitch to interview you about what you need — the agent will surface design decisions as the conversation progresses.
Voice updates happen in real time, making iteration feel more like working with a collaborator than submitting requests to a generation queue. This was unavailable in any prior version of Stitch.
Infinite AI-Native Canvas
Instead of a single-screen workspace, Stitch 2.0 opens onto an infinite canvas where multiple screens coexist. The redesigned canvas lets you connect screens into flows, preview interactions with Play, and generate logical next screens — expanding Stitch's prototyping workflow rather than introducing flow preview for the first time. The canvas persists across sessions, making it viable for longer-running design projects rather than quick one-off mockups.
Direct Edits
This release makes refinement faster inside the canvas, letting you iterate on individual elements or broader flows without restarting the project from scratch. This gives designers precise control over generated output without losing the ability to return to AI-driven iteration.
DESIGN.md and MCP Server
DESIGN.md is a new agent-friendly markdown format that captures your design system: typography, color tokens, component rules, spacing conventions. You can extract a design system from any live URL and save it as DESIGN.md, then import those rules into other tools.
Stitch also ships an SDK and MCP server, enabling direct integration with coding environments including Gemini CLI, Claude Code, Cursor, and Antigravity IDE. This closes the loop between vibe design and vibe coding — a designer generates UI in Stitch, exports DESIGN.md, and a developer's AI coding assistant reads those rules to produce matching frontend code.
Availability & Access
Stitch 2.0 is free to access at stitch.withgoogle.com with a Google account. No subscription or credit card is required.
Usage Limits
| Access | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Available with a Google account; usage quotas apply — check the current limits at stitch.withgoogle.com as Google may update them without notice |
Stitch is a Google Labs experiment with no paid tier at this time.
Pricing & Plans
Stitch 2.0 is completely free. Google Labs offers no paid plan for Stitch; the tool is available as an experimental product under Google Labs.
| Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All features, 350 Standard + 50 Experimental generations/month |
For teams needing higher generation volumes or enterprise SLAs, no official upgrade path is available as of March 2026. Contact Google for enterprise AI arrangements.
Best For
- Product designers and PMs who want to explore UI directions quickly without committing to a wireframe first
- Indie developers and startup founders building AI app builder projects who need UI without hiring a designer
- Teams using Claude Code, Cursor, or Gemini CLI who want to connect design and code through a shared MCP layer
- Designers who prefer verbal iteration — describing what feels wrong rather than specifying exact changes
- Anyone exploring the best AI design tools space looking for a free, no-setup starting point
FAQ
Is Stitch 2.0 still free?
Yes. As of the March 18, 2026 release, Stitch remains completely free with a Google account. You receive 350 generations per month in Standard mode and 50 in Experimental mode. No credit card or subscription is required.
How is vibe design different from regular prompting?
Standard prompting in v1.x required a structured description of what you wanted. Vibe design accepts looser inputs — a business goal, an emotion, or a visual reference — and generates multiple distinct design directions for you to react to. It's better for early exploration; standard prompting is better when you know exactly what you want.
Can I use Stitch 2.0 with my existing coding tools?
Yes. Stitch now has an official MCP server and SDK, with Google highlighting exports to tools like AI Studio and Antigravity; compatibility with Gemini CLI, Claude Code, and Cursor is supported via the Stitch Skills workflow. You can export your design system as DESIGN.md and import those rules directly into your AI coding environment, aligning the visual and code layers without manual translation.
Does Stitch 2.0 replace Figma?
Not for professional design teams. Stitch excels at AI-assisted exploration and rapid prototyping but lacks Figma's component libraries, plugin ecosystem, real-time collaboration, and design token management at scale. Based on the official March 2026 feature set, Stitch is best understood as an AI-native design canvas for ideation, prototyping, and handoff rather than a one-for-one Figma replacement.
What happened to the Figma export and code export from v1.0?
Earlier official Stitch materials documented Figma and frontend-code export paths, but Google's March 18, 2026 announcement focuses on the new canvas, voice, DESIGN.md, and MCP/SDK workflow. Check stitch.withgoogle.com for the current state of export options.
