You might have considered showcasing your thoughts and ideas in front of your clients and must be thinking about the best approach to do so. There is a wide range of tools available across the web that can transform your flow of ideas into interactive designs. Wireframing or Prototyping also opens the doors for development/designing and enhances operational efficiency with less effort. Due to the variety within these tools, you might get a bit confused in choosing one to design your website. Thus, I have handpicked the most trending wireframing and prototyping tools for you.
Table of Contents
Fluid
The fluid is mainly a tool for web-based wireframing. If you want to develop any mobile app prototype, for Android, iOS, and any wearable device then it is the best tool to have for the execution of this purpose. Prototypes can be devised from pre-existing mocks or through structuring screens out in UI widgets of Fluid. Moreover, it enables you to devise screen flows to track your concept and then reveal your whole project on a single page. This seems to be quite intuitive while screening the page link.
Pros
The best advantage of this sort of tool is that it is easy to learn and use with an intuitive and simple interface. It possesses built-in libraries for Android, iOS, Windows, and wearables. It provides support for incorporating transitions and features between pages.
Cons
There is no support available for merging interactivity to discrete elements and the properties for modification of widgets are quite limited. Lastly, it is only utilized to develop static wireframes.
UXPin
This is a web-based prototyping tool for mobile or web apps. It possesses a coherent interface along with multiple libraries and items required in designing while making it simpler and faster to devise wireframe mockups. Most importantly it can be utilized for developing both interactive prototypes and static wireframes.
Pros
It has a UI elements library for a wide range of devices and a particularly drag-and-drop interface which makes it the best of all. Moreover, it offers support for trading layered designs from Photoshop and Sketch. It also has good tools for collaboration purposes.
Cons
A basic drawback to this tool is its high learning curve; not easy to use for a beginner. Secondly, the interactivity settings for widgets are not very intuitive.
Mockplus
It helps the user to get started right away with the help of its various libraries and vector icons. Moving towards the interaction appearance in Mockplus, I must say it is completely visualized, that’s WYSIWYG. It enables you to incorporate page interaction and links for the components by its drag-and-drop specification.
Pros
It has a low learning curve which means it is quite easy to learn and use. It provides fast prototyping with a huge library of vector icons and components. As well as the interaction design tends to be highly visualized, incorporating interactivity to every element through simple drop and drag features. There are many methods to share and preview your project such as exporting it to the demo package, exporting it to HTML, exporting the entire project tree, and exporting it to images, you can also publish to the cloud, and then scan the QR code.
Cons
It has very limited assistance documents and the comment/collaboration option requires improvement.
Proto.io
Just like UXPin, Proto.io is also an online wireframe tool. Because of my personal experience with this tool, I must say that it is an amazing software for mobile prototyping and wireframing as it enables you to preview prototypes offline as well as it comes with a variety of mobile widgets.
Pros
It offers a great deal of support for the import of designs from Dropbox. It provides sustenance for Photoshop and Sketch plugins.
Cons
It requires adequate technical proficiencies to be operated as well and it is quite difficult to allocate interactions for every single widget.
Framer
Unlike others previously listed, it is a code-based tool being used for prototyping. If you have some experience with JavaScript or any similar language then Framer is the best option for you. As it offers complex interactions or high-fidelity animations for mobile apps and desktops. Moreover, it offers a great deal of flexibility but again coding skills are required for it.
Pros
It is an amazing tool along with robust specifications such as high-fidelity yield for interactions and animations. As well as it offers advanced provision for interactions that are gesture-based.
Cons
You need sufficient programming or coding knowledge to operate it which means a steep learning curve.
Axure
It is said to be the favorite prototyping tool for professional designers and developers. It is said to be the best desktop software or web app which includes complex interactions. Comprehensive background knowledge is required for devising interactive prototypes.
Pros
It has many built-in widgets and many other third-party widgets. As well as you can structure an interactive prototype with a delicate interaction. It offers professional training and support documentation.
Cons
It is not easy to operate for beginners and it has an archaic /clunky user interface. If you want to prototype mobile apps then it is not recommended.
Balsamiq Mockups
It is said to be the inventor of the hand-drawn style of wireframing tools and restructured sketching on a whiteboard. It comprises a drag-and-drop interface, it is the best option for any static wireframe.
Pros
It is quite easy to learn with a simple user interface which means it can produce a wireframe quickly.
Cons
When it comes to mobile wireframes, Balsamiq is not competitive as it does not support app prototype design and previewing on mobile. It is just utilized for static wireframes.
Pixate
It is termed to be a desktop-based tool used for prototyping, enabling you to develop interactions and animations. As you know prototypes tend to be structured with imageries from pre-existing mocks which need to be imported within Pixate. It only contains actions, layers, and animations. It is only used for structuring mobile prototypes that are previewed on mobiles only.
Pros
It has a demonstrated capacity to incorporate animations and interactivity into any element.
Cons
There are no features available for generating and editing elements within the application.
Marvel
It is one of the most popular prototyping tools for simple designs, collaboration, and prototyping. By making some clicks, you can link screens altogether and transform your conceptual designs into attractive web and mobile prototypes.
Pros
It is intuitive and quick to incorporate screens and create hotspots and It facilitates high-level support for loading images from Dropbox, local, Box, and Google Drive. It also gives provision for specifications and transitions.
Cons
It only functions with pre-existing mocks.
InVision
Within InVision, a picture can be exported from Google Drive, local, Box, and Dropbox. According to me the most amazing specification of InVision is its strong capability to share prototype links with multiple users using text messages. It seems to be very supportive of feedback and collaboration.
Pros
Its commenting and sharing system functions to collect reviews and testimonials. It is straightforward to operate and fast in adding screens and creating hotspots. It supports transitions and gestures.
Cons
It can only be used for pre-existing mocks.
Balsamiq
Balsamiq Cloud is a web-based user-interface designing tool to compose attractive wireframes. It gives you the power to create your idea’s digital sketches for any website or application, facilitating understanding and discussion before code composition. Balsamiq has been around since 2008
Pros
It is available as both a desktop and web application and it assists in creating wireframes quickly. All that you are required to do is add the basic elements you require after that resize, position, and then customize it as needed. The wireframes that are created with Balsamiq will appear a bit rough but know that it is planned.
Cons
The wireframes that are created with Balsamiq will appear a bit rough but know that it is planned.
Prott
Even though Prott is marked as a prototyping device, it may also include a wireframing specification as well. If your application idea is minimal more than generally drawn representations, you can take a photo of your portrayals and import them straightforwardly into the application. These portrayals would then be able to be enlivened, or utilized as the establishment for your wireframe.
Pros
Prott incorporates an enormous number of UI elements for an assortment of machines, from iOS to web and Android. In any case, you can likewise make your very own library of interface components.
Cons
It’s a bit clunky due to the steep learning curve, but it’s a good way to make quick mockups
Flinto — The App Design Apps
Flinto mainly comes in 2 renditions — as an iOS application and a web application. The best thing about this prototyping device is that software architects can construct both basic snap-throughs and complex intuitive models with no programming aptitudes required. You can reuse changes, control all layers, and fluctuate intricacy. The application utilizes a straightforward simplified framework for prototyping.
Pros
It is highly organized along with a better focus on specific animations
Cons
There is no timeline in it.
In this article, I have shared with you some most effective wireframing and prototyping tools that would help you in designing and developing your website.
Hammad Mohsin
Some people may prefer the good old fashioned method of pencil and paper for coming up with a quick wireframe design. I like to save a few trees and use a decided wireframing app instead. I have picked out a few of my favorites to share with you today.