Creating a wireframe for a new website design can be an intimidating task, but it doesn’t have to be. Wireframes are important because they can help your website design communicate your message more effectively. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to create a good web design with this guide on the best website wireframe tools.
It’s not a secret that a wireframe is a blueprint of a website, a tool for those responsible for the design of the site. More often then not, the “desk engineers” prefer to work with wireframes as it gives them pixel perfect control. In this post I will share with you the best website wireframe tools I have found for both web designers and developers.
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.
Framer
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.
Sketch
For macOS
Price:
- $9 per month or $99 per year
Hot Features in Sketch:
- Intuitive vector editing tools
- Iterate your work with non-destructive Boolean operations
- A variety of exporting options, including drag-and-share
Sketch was first released in 2010 and has made a name for itself as a lightweight vector design tool. While it’s a fairly basic tool for modern UI and icon vector design, it integrates with other design tools and promotes the building of integration plugins.
Sketch costs $99/year for an individual license. If you don’t renew your subscription, you can continue to use the tool, but you won’t receive software updates or be able to save files to the cloud.
Canva
For web
Price:
- Starter Plan: $0
- Pro: $119.99 per year
- Enterprise: $30 per person, per month
Hot Features in Canva:
- Canva teams lets groups design mockups together in real time
- Create precise compositions with Canva’s crop tool
- Create charts easily with numerical and percentage-based editable charts and graphs
Canva helps non-designers create simple, high-quality graphics — and you can also use it to create wireframes. It features drag-and-drop illustrations, photos, charts, and other ready-made templates and shapes for quick mockups.
Cacoo
A diagramming software for designers, freelancers, and students to brainstorm flowcharts, mind maps, mockups, wireframes, and more.
Price breakdown
- Free 2-week trial
- $6 per user, per month (paid monthly); or $5 per user, per month (paid annually—2 months free!)
What’s great about Cacoo
Cacoo is a great wireframing tool for creating both low- and mid-fidelity wires. It’s cloud based and heavy on team collaboration with quality presentation tools and ways to share your ideas with colleagues. There’s a good amount of templates to choose from as well as other features for creating user flows, prototypes, and diagrams.
The free trial is on the shorter side but it offers unlimited users and up to 25 pages or projects— pretty generous! Especially since Cacoo can be a great tool for design tasks other than wireframes, such as flowcharts or user testing.
The downsides to using Cacoo to wireframe
The free version is a bit more limited than the subscription and you can only export projects as PNG files. You also can’t access your work once your free trial ends so you must back it up elsewhere in order to save it. Some users have reported its cloud-based nature to be a bit frustrating as it can lag or malfunction if they’re not using a very up-to-date computer.
Furthermore, there is a bit of a learning curve to using Cacoo as the keyboard shortcuts are not as intuitive as desired.
What are other designers saying about Cacoo
- “Easy to learn and use. Cacoo lets you make fast and great diagrams for many usages.”
- “Using a good computer is needed for flawless function.”
Wireframe.CC
User-review rating: 3.8/5
Type: Web-based, Freemium
Overview: Wireframe.cc is a browser-based free wireframing solution for designers on the go. Accessible anywhere through a browser, it’s a simple and cluster free tool with a sleek UI. The free version allows for users to create one simple wireframe at a time and is equipped with tools to customize the grid layout, typography, canvas size, and more.
The next level for premium pricing is $16/mo per user and allows for unlimited projects and revisions, custom branding, and exporting directly into PNG format.
Conclusion
Are you making your web designs online through the use of wireframe tools? This is very common when web designing, which is why many providers have come up with their own unique ways to provide their services. If you are in need of a simple way to design your website, then wireframe tools are something that you should consider using.