In short
Paper is a design tool built on HTML and CSS: what is on its canvas is real web layout, it exports React, and agents read and write designs through its MCP server. It has real-time multiplayer, and a free plan with 100 MCP tool calls a week (Pro raises that for $20 an editor a month, $16 billed yearly).
vDesign is a design tool built on its own text format, .vd, written for models to author
and patch a line at a time. It covers print, slides, brand, social and video as well as web
pages, works with any model, and is free for individuals.
Where each one wins
Choose Paper for product interfaces headed for code: an HTML and CSS canvas, React export, multiplayer for a team, and a growing set of design tools from shaders to P3 colour.
Choose vDesign for everything else people look at, designed by an assistant on any model: posters, brochures, menus, decks, brand guidelines and video, kept as small text files any model can read.
Side by side
| vDesign | Paper | |
|---|---|---|
| The document | .vd, a line-based design format |
HTML and CSS |
| Best at | Print, marketing, slides, brand, video | Product UI, web, design-to-code |
| Agent access | Remote and local MCP, plus vDesign AI on your own key | MCP server |
| Cost for individuals | Free | Free plan with 100 MCP calls a week; Pro $20 per editor a month |
| Collaboration | Single-user today | Real-time multiplayer |
| Exports | PNG, JPEG, WebP, SVG, PDF, Illustrator, HTML, PowerPoint, GIF, MP4 | Code and images, video on Pro |
| Platforms | Browser, Mac, Windows | Browser, Mac |