Top 13 Wireframing & Prototyping Tools Every Web Developer and Designer Should Know | Temok Hosting Blog

You might have considered to showcase your thoughts and ideas in front of your clients and must be thinking for 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 opens the doors for development/designing as well as they enhance operational efficiency with lesser efforts. 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.

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. As 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 in order 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.

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.

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 basically is a web-based prototyping tool for mobile or web apps. And 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.

It has a UI elements library for a wide range device and a particularly a 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.

A basic drawback to this tool is its high learning curve; not much easy to use for a beginner. Secondly, the interactivity settings for widgets is not much 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 link for the components by its drag-and-drop specification.

It has a low learning curve that 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 feature. There are many methods to share and preview your project such as export it to the demo package, export it to HTML, export the entire project tree, export it to images, you can also publish to the cloud and then scan the QR code.

It has very limited assistance documents and 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 verity of mobile widgets.

It offers a great deal of support for the import of designs from a Dropbox. It provides sustenance for Photoshop and Sketch plugins.

It requires adequate technical proficiencies to be operated as well as 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 desktop. Moreover, it offers a great deal of flexibility but again coding skills are required for it.

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.

You need sufficient programming or coding knowledge to operate it which means a steep learning curve.

Axure

It is said to be the most favourite prototyping tool for professional designers and developers. It is said to be the best desktop software or web apps which include complex interactions. Comprehensive background knowledge is required for devising interactive prototypes.

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.

It is not easy to operate for the beginners and it has an archaic /clunky user interface. If you want to prototypes 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 restructures sketching on a whiteboard. It comprises a drag-and-drop interface, it is the best option for any static wireframe.

It is quite easy to learn with a simple user-interface which means it can produce a wireframe quickly.

When it comes to mobile wireframe, 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 that 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.

It has a demonstrated capacity to incorporate animations and interactivity to any elements.

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 are able to link screens altogether and transform your conceptual designs into attractive web and mobile prototypes.

It is intuitive and quick to incorporate screens and creating hotspots. It facilitates high-level support for loading images from Dropbox, local, Box and Google Drive. It gives provision for specifications and transitions.

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 link with multiple users by means of text messages. It seems to be very supportive of feedbacks and collaboration.

Its commenting and sharing system functions to collect reviews and testimonials. It is very easy to operate. It is fast in adding screens and creating hotspots. It supports transitions and gestures.

It can only be used for pre-existing mocks.

Balsamiq

Balsamiq Cloud is termed to be 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 prior to code composition. Balsamiq has been around since 2008

It is available as both 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.

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.

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.

It’s a bit clunky due to 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 for 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.

It is highly organized along with a better focus on specific animations

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 developing and designing your website.

Originally published at https://www.temok.com.