Have you ever wondered how a website is made? Before a pretty screen appears, designers draw a prototype of the site. A prototype shows what a website will look like before it’s actually made. Prototypes are also called wireframes. Many people use prototyping tools to create their protoypes. They do this because it’s easy and quick to use them.
Below are list of online wireframe tools that are very essental to your business.
Fluid UI
For web, macOS, Windows, and Linux
Price:
- Solo: $0
- Basic: $8.25 per month or $99 per year
- Pro: $19.08 per month or $229 per year
- Team: $41.58 per month or $499 per year
Hot Features in Fluid UI:
- More than 2,000 desktop and mobile elements to choose from
- Mockup screen transition options for visual flair
- Collaborate efficiently with built-in collaboration tools
Figma
Figma takes our top spot because of its combination of powerful cloud-based design software and the fact that users can build three projects for free before you have to select one of their payment plans.
Using Figma is as simple and straightforward as you could want it to be. While Figma doesn’t have its own built-in UI components, it does come with the option to upload your own or use a pre-designed kit.
It is, however, remarkably easy to create artboards, add in basic shapes and text, and do a certain level of prototyping.
All of the design organization is handled in one panel, allowing you to quickly move between different artboards, layers, and pages without getting overwhelmed.
The built-in Figma constraints show you how each element will respond on different sized screens, making it much easier to optimize your user experience for mobile devices.
When it comes to collaborative working, Figma allows multiple team members to access and edit the design and leave comments. Once the mockup is completed, you can access the CSS code and export individual elements.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a vector-based design tool that is designed to work in concert with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Stock, and it’s one of the best paid tools on the market.
Adobe XD’s focus is on making the wireframing process as streamlined and easy as possible for the designers, with simple to use tools for creating site maps, flowcharts, and storyboards, as well as a full suite of prototyping tools.
As part of Adobe XD’s focus on giving designers tools that make rapid design possible, the platform also includes a repeat grid option, auto-animation and voice triggers, and a full set of collaborative working tools.
It’s also available for both Microsoft Windows and macOS.
The only downside to Adobe XD is that it requires an Adobe subscription to access all of its functionality.
Justinmind
Justinmind is a wireframing tool available for Mac and Windows designed specifically for less techy designers. The platform is easy to learn and somewhat less complicated than other options like Figma or Sketch.
Just because the UI is more simplistic, however, does not mean that Justinmind lacks functionality. The platform is built to allow you to create wireframes that can be tested as prototypes right from the beginning and includes a range of interactive prototype elements.
Justinmind also includes a range of built-in UI elements, as well as a range of widgets for iOS, SAP, and Android. You can use custom styling options to edit the included elements or import your own.
Once you’re done, the prototype can be exported as HTML.
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Lucidchart
Lucidchart is an excellent wireframe software choice for diagramming and data visualization that comes with an effective range of collaboration features.
The drag-and-drop functionality of the interface is set up to allow you to arrange elements so they work on mobile devices and websites. Lucidchart also includes a full UI shape library with all the basic elements you need, including search boxes, site map icons, and text editors.
If you’re new to wireframing, Lucidchart also has an extensive range of templates that are all sized and styled for both mobile and desktop — ideal for a faster design process.
To help you and your team work together, Lucidchart has an excellent set of real-time collaboration tools. You can create your own URL and use it to allow collaborators, stakeholders, and clients to comment on or edit your mockups.
When it comes to presenting your work, Lucidchart also includes a presentation mode and is fully compatible with Google Slides.
MockFlow
Available for both Mac and Windows, MockFlow functions as a digital whiteboard. The web-based platform comes with a huge range of components for a vast number of user interfaces, including iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Apple Watch, and Android watch.
One of the major benefits of MockFlow is its large user community and the sheer range of wireframe templates and UI packs that have been created and uploaded by them.
Once created, these wireframes can easily be exported as an expansive range of formats, from HTML and wire to Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF.
MockFlow also comes with a suite of collaborative tools, such as real-time editing options and iterative annotated comments.
The basic version of MockFlow is entirely free, but paid options are available that include greater functionality.
Moqups
Moqups is a web app that allows users to create wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. A cloud-based platform that allows you and your team to collaborate from anywhere, Moqups has a single easy-to-learn and intuitive interface.
The primary benefit of using Moqups is that it allows users to switch between diagrams, wireframes, and prototypes without needing to switch platforms.
Moqups also comes with a huge library of templates, stencils, icon sets, fonts, and objects that are fully customizable.
The main aim of Moqups is to create a single unified workflow without the barrier of constantly switching between a range of single-use apps.
Moqups doesn’t offer a free option, but the only difference between the pro and unlimited pricing plans is the number of users it can support.
Framer
Available on W
Available on Windows and Mac, Framer is a web-based tool that comes with a fairly comprehensive free option that is ideal as a professional prototyping tool.
Framer’s insert menu comes with a huge selection of components that can be quickly and easily added to your wireframe through the simple drag-and-drop interface.
The prototyping components included with Framer display different visual states so you can see exactly how the actual components would look. You can also customize the included elements to control how they animate across screen transitions.
When it comes to sharing and presenting your work, all you need to do is share one link. The presentation mode also lets you use custom backgrounds, device frames, and device hands.
With the ability to add up to two editions and create three projects, Framer is one of the best free wireframe tools on the market.
Mockplus
Mockplus lets you create interactive wireframe designs that look like fully functional prototypes.
Available on both Windows and macOS, Mockplus has a library of more than 3,000 built-in icons, components, and templates, allowing you to use the simple drag-and-drop interface to quickly create wireframes.
Mockplus’ wireframes work for both desktop and mobile devices, supporting both iOS and Android.
When it comes to testing your design, Mockplus offers eight ways to preview and test your interactive wireframes, making it ideal for user testing your UI design and UX design. Feedback can then be left directly on your designs.
The free version of Mockplus limits the number of users and projects you can have running but is still a viable option for smaller teams.
Webflow: Vireflow
Our bonus addition to this list is the Vireflow wireframing device. Created by Anton Balitsky on Webflow, Vireflow is a simple but effective wireframing software that is hosted on Webflow.
Balitsky’s creation is simple and you’ll need to upload your own UI library and objects, but it is entirely free, making it ideal for those wanting to get into web design without spending any money upfront.
Concclusion
There are a lot of tools in the market. The best wireframe tool should efficiently achieve what you want. Like for UI designers, they want a free wireframe tool that is easy to learn and brings the amazing capability to get ideas out of their mind and onto the screen. For wireframing tools, they look for a wireframe tool with an acceptable price after comparing the relative merits and demerits of each product.