Muzli Review: The Daily Design Tab That Spun Out of InVision
Most browser extensions fight for your attention with popups or notification badges. Muzli takes a simpler path: it claims your new tab page. Every time you open a tab, instead of a blank search bar, you get a visual grid of trending design projects from Dribbble, Behance, Awwwards, and over 160 other creative publications.
It is a passive habit tool rather than a working canvas. You will not build wireframes, export SVG code, or hand off components inside Muzli. What it does instead is automate visual research for over 800,000 working designers, product managers, and developers.
From InVision Subsidiary to Independent Feed
Muzli has been around for over a decade. In 2016, prototyping platform InVision acquired the tool to anchor its content ecosystem. When InVision shut down its services in 2024, Muzli survived by spinning off into an independent entity operating as Muzli X Ltd.
That independence shapes how the product runs today. The core extension remains free, unburdened by intrusive ad banners. Revenue comes from two sources: job board listings for hiring design teams, and Muzli Pro (also integrated with Muzli Me).
The free tier gives you full access to the curated new-tab feed, discipline filters (graphic, UX, motion, brand, product), and search across its 12-year archive of indexed work. Upgrading to Muzli Pro costs $9 a month, $60 per year on an annual discount, or a $350 lifetime plan for buyers who refuse recurring subscriptions. Pro adds custom personal profiles, portfolio showcase links, and the ability to submit original work directly into the nomination queue for the global feed.
Where It Fits in a Designer's Routine
For visual designers who start their morning looking for layout ideas, Muzli eliminates the manual chore of checking Dribbble, Behance, and Awwwards individually. The human curation layer filters out low-effort submissions, leaving a steady stream of website launches, typography concepts, and mobile UI patterns.
Beyond the main feed, Muzli packs a few built-in utilities:
- A Color Palette Generator and color naming tool for fast palette building.
- A searchable archive covering 12 years of web design trends for moodboards and client pitch decks.
- Integrated design job listings directly inside the extension sidebar.
A common sentiment across Reddit subreddits like r/UXDesign and r/graphic_design is that Muzli works best as a background discovery tool. Designers describe it as a digital coffee break: something to glance at between tasks rather than a structured research database.
The Friction Points: Permissions and Distraction
Muzli has two main drawbacks that come up regularly among working professionals.
First, installing the browser extension requires permission to manage your new tab page and read site data. On subreddits like r/UI_Design, privacy-conscious developers and engineers routinely raise concerns over broad extension permissions. While Muzli relies on these permissions to render its custom landing page and user preferences, security-strict corporate environments often block new-tab extensions altogether.
Second, putting a dense visual feed inside every new tab creates constant potential for distraction. If you open a new tab intending to look up an API reference or check a GitHub issue, you might easily get sidetracked by a 3D render or an Awwwards winner. For focused technical execution, having an inspiration engine trigger fifty times a day can break deep work.
The Verdict
Muzli is worth installing if you want effortless exposure to current visual design trends without maintaining dozens of bookmarks. The free tier is genuinely complete, and the $350 lifetime license is a welcome option if you dislike monthly subscriptions. However, if you are easily distracted or work under strict extension privacy policies, sticking to manual visits or a bookmarked folder remains the safer option.