There are hundreds of wireframe tools available on the market and finding the best one for ipad is not an easy task. Software market and mobile app stores and websites offer a great number of tool kits and apps to help out with building your mobile prototypes and web application prototypes.
Here are a good number to get your hands on.
Miro — Top Pick
As mentioned above, many of the mobile apps offered by wireframe tool providers only allow you to preview designs that you created with the desktop version of their program. That’s far from the case with Miro. On smartphones, you can use Miro to scan post-it notes and convert them into editable digital notes, share boards publicly, or invite others to edit, and add or resolve comments. And with the tablet version of Miro, you can even create and edit wireframes directly in the app with a stylus.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Help Center, Forum, Live Support, Tickets
| Miro Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Feature-rich wireframe tool | Smartphone version is somewhat limited |
| All mobile features included for free |
Adobe XD — Best Support
In addition to wireframing, Adobe XD offers features for animation and prototyping. This solution is an especially good option for those who are planning to collaborate with others, as it includes features such as comments, document history, private invites, and password protection. With this free app for Android and iOS, you can review what your Adobe XD designs look like on mobile devices. All users can upload designs from the cloud, while iOS users can also review design changes in real-time via USB. Also, the iOS version allows you to purchase 20 GB of additional storage space for $1.99.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- In-app purchases: $1.99
- Support available: Chat, Forum, Knowledge Base, Email/Help Desk
| Adobe XD Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Variety of support options | Mobile app only offers preview feature |
UXPin Mirror — Best Performance
UXPin allows you to create prototypes with advanced interactions and animations, and it also includes features such as version history, stakeholder approval, and password-protected preview. The UXPin Mirror app, available on both Android and iOS, makes it easy to experience your design on mobile devices. Instead of connecting via USB or using a wireless network, you simply need to scan the QR code that’s displayed on the desktop version of UXPin to see the design on your mobile device. It’s also notable that UXPin Mirror is a relatively lightweight app, and their previews load exceptionally fast.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Chat, Email, Training
| UXPin Mirror Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Exceptional performance | Mobile app only offers preview feature |
| All mobile features included for free |
Justinmind — Best for Offline Previews
Some of the biggest tech companies in the world use Justinmind for their wireframing needs, including Google, Cisco, Verizon, and Adobe. Their drag-and-drop editor and library of interactive UI elements makes it easy to create custom wireframes from scratch with no coding required. Justinmind’s mobile app allows you to test fully functional prototypes and share prototypes over the cloud. And one of the biggest benefits of the Justinmind mobile app is that it works offline, so you’ll never need to worry about a sudden loss of connectivity ruining a prototype demonstration.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Email, Tickets, Help Center
| Justinmind Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Mobile app works offline | Can’t draw wireframes in mobile app |
| All mobile features included for free |
Figma Mirror — Best for Reviewing Changes in Real-Time
With Figma, you can turn static design files into interactive experiences. Their Smart Animate feature allows you to easily animate objects and create detailed transitions. You can also use animated GIFs to represent motion designs and video elements. And the Figma app allows you to check out live previews of the designs you create on the desktop version of Figma. There’s no need to connect via USB or use a particular Wi-Fi network, just log in to your Figma account and you’ll be able to see every edit made in real-time on your mobile device.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Help Center, Forum, Online Chat, Email, Tickets
| Figma Mirror Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| All mobile features included for free | Mobile app only offers preview feature |
| Edits displayed in real-time |
Marvel — Best for Scanning Sketches
Do you prefer to create your first drafts of wireframes using pen and paper? If so, you should strongly consider Marvel. This app allows you to take pictures of multiple sketches drawn on a whiteboard, notebook paper, a napkin, or any other surface and link them together digitally. From the app, you can also share your prototypes over email, SMS, or Twitter. And everything is automatically backed up with a sync to Dropbox, so you won’t need to worry about losing any work.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Help Center, Tickets, Online Chat
| Marvel Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Scanning feature | Can’t draw wireframes in mobile app |
| Collaboration tools | |
| All mobile features included for free |
OmniGraffle — Best Interface
Download: iOS
OmniGraffle allows you to create mockups from scratch using a Mac, iPad, or iPhone. It’s not always easy to design a wireframe using the small screen of a mobile device, but OmniGraffle’s interface is especially intuitive. The app offers thousands of searchable objects for you to drag and drop into place, and there are built-in guides that make it easy to lay out the objects exactly how you want them. The only downside is that Android users will need to find another option.
Notable features:
- 14-day free trial
- In-app purchases: $12.49 – $119.99 per item
- Support available: Email, Phone, Help, Downloads & Manuals, Videos
| OmniGraffle Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Easy-to-use interface | Not available on Android |
| Can create wireframes in the app |
Proto.io — Best for Recording Prototype Tests
With 250+ UI components, 1,000+ templates, and 6,000+ digital assets (animated icons, stock images, sound effects, etc.), Proto.io certainly gives you everything you need to create custom wireframes. The Proto.io mobile app allows you to log in and access all the projects in your Proto.io account, and you can preview projects that are shared with you by others as well. Whenever you preview a design, the app will save the project to your device’s cache. This makes it possible to access the preview in the future even when you don’t have an internet connection. Proto.io also allows you to record and share your interactions with a prototype, which should improve collaboration.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Online Chat, Help Center, Tickets, User Guide & Video Tutorials
| Proto.io Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Ability to record interactions with prototypes | Can’t draw wireframes in mobile app |
| All mobile features included for free |
Canva — Most Popular
With over 100 million downloads on Android devices alone, Canva stands out as the most popular wireframe tool covered in this guide. This is the best option for users who plan to tackle other design projects in addition to wireframing. The features of this mobile app include photo editing, video editing, transition effects, a GIF maker, and a logo maker. You can also upgrade to a premium version of Canva to access even more features, such as a background remover, one-click graphics resize, and much more.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- In-app purchases: $1.49 – $119.99 per item
- Support available: Help Center
| Canva Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Wide range of design capabilities | Some features cost extra |
iMockups
The app is generally designed for mocking up on iPads. All the helpful stencils you are going to need are included in this software that is the main reason it is known as one of the best iPad app for wireframing. It also allows aligning various elements in a pixel-perfect fashion. Easy usable feature allows you to make the design more interesting and attractive.
OmniGraffle
It is a popular choice to create wireframes on iPad. Its big library various third party stencils that allow you to make your design more attractive. The iPad version of the software consists all the features at it was in desktop version with improved customer experience. This is the good news for the customers who were facing difficulty in using desktop now they can create their design on their fingertip.
Pros
- The software greatly helps in designing the diagrams.
- Useful features allow you to create powerful documents.
Cons
- Finding the advanced features is too hard for new users.
- Difficulties in manipulating the connection lines.
SketchyPad
It is the software that is designed particularly for app interface and web layout wireframing in mind. It can be used in both Mac, Android and windows without creating attractive designs. It also helps you to link your multiple mockups together with the layouts. It comes with more than 50 utensils that can greatly make your designs interactive.
Penultimate
This iPad wireframe is designed with the sketching concept instead of stencils idea as like various other apps on different platforms. The best thing about the app is that it allows you to pick a paper type according to your needs and preference. You can also customize the color and thickness of the pen according to your diagram or sketch. The text content can be enhanced with the various designs and format.
Pros
- Helps in syncing the designed screen for iPads quickly.
- Also help in previewing the wireframe in mobile devices, computer easily.
Cons
- Though the content is handwritten in iPads it takes to search text
- Sometimes features may take time to function.
Cacoo: Check versions of your diagrams to track changes
Cacoo gives you an option to share and edit a diagram together in real-time. You can track changes to review the versions of your design copy and choose the one that suits you better. Collaborate with your teammates through comment, in-app chat, and video chat to discuss diagrams.
Cacoo offers wireframe templates for websites, Android, and iOS. These templates allow you to design according to the size of the device. You can determine your layout through boxes, shapes, and images to visualize better.
Each team has its own dedicated functionalities so that teams can give their inputs in their desired way. For example, the development team can use Unified Modeling Language (UML), and network diagrams; the marketing team can leverage marketing funnels, and SWOT analysis; and project managers can create GANT, and PERT charts.Cacoo4.7 (137) Read reviews
Key Features:
- Brainstorming
- Collaboration tools
- Commenting/Notes
- Data import/export
- Data linking
- Mobile interface
Trial/Free Version:Free TrialFree Version.
Screenshot:
Creately: Use a variety of templates for diagramming
Creately is an online diagramming and design tool that offers templates for different teams such as marketing, HR, product, engineering, etc. Its drag and drop functionality enables users to add templates, shapes, images, icons, and elements through Google search.
You can add emails of stakeholders to share your design copy with them or place a video call to show your design in real-time and collaborate with your teammates. Creately also allows you to download the design copy in PDF, PNG, JPG, and SVG format.
You can collaborate by adding comments on precise locations on the design copy to let designers know which part to alter. The free wireframe tool also allows threaded discussions for participants to grasp the overall conversation.MOST AFFORDABLECreately4.4 (147)Read reviewsVIEW PROFILE
Key Features:
- Desktop interface
- Diagramming
- Document management
- Drag & drop
- Feedback management
- Mind maps
Trial/Free Version:Free TrialFree VersionDevice Compatibility:
Screenshot:
InVision App: Design and develop on one platform
InVision App translates your design copies into detailed specs for easier development and allows developers to take measurements of each element from the design copy itself. The software solution shows developers the design elements that are already coded so that they can focus on elements that need to be built from scratch.
InVision App is also a mockup tool that can transform static prototypes into a realistic design by enabling users to move the screen in different directions, switch from one screen to another, and create overlays. Your team members and stakeholders can provide feedback through commenting directly on the prototype.
The wireframe design tool can also integrate with multiple collaboration, and task management software to streamline your design and development process.InVision App4.6 (653)Read reviewsVIEW PROFILE
Key Features:
- Desktop interface
- Digital canvas
- Feedback management
- Idea management
- Interactive management
- Mobile interface
Trial/Free Version:Free TrialFree VersionDevice Compatibility:
Screenshot:
Storyboard That: Provides templates for digital storytelling
Storyboard That offers a specialized version for teachers that enables educators to create stories, plot lines, templates, infographics, and posters. Teachers can give assignments to students to create stories through the tool. There is a business and individual-specific version along with the free version.
The drag and drop whiteboard allows users to add icons, wireframes on different devices, hand gestures, and emoticons. The tool provides templates for different pages such as settings, login, features, sign up, product page, etc.
You can start designing without creating an account on the software. The software application also offers enterprise-class file encryption for business editions to ensure secure designs. Storyboard That allows collaboration with multi-user accounts to share designs.Storyboard That4.4 (26)Read reviewsVIEW PROFILE
Key Features:
- Mockup creation
- Mobile interface
- Revision history
- Screen capture
- Wireframe creation
- Data linking
Trial/Free Version:Free TrialFree VersionDevice Compatibility:
Screenshot:
User flow creation in Storyboard That8
Whimsical: Create custom color themes across boards
Whimsical allows creation through five formats: flowcharts, wireframes, mind maps, sticky notes, and docs. You can leverage community templates to create designs. The tool gives an option to use color themes to match your brand requirements.
Whimsical gives a pre-built design system to create wireframes. The design system prevents you from creating icons that can be easily found in the template. You can also use shortcuts for frequently used options.
The tool lets you focus on content and page layout without worrying about the high-fidelity design. That’s why most of the icons are in grey and white. Only actionable items such as buttons and links are colored to display navigation.Whimsical4.6 (39)Read reviewsVIEW PROFILE
Key Features:
- Brainstorming
- Project management
- Real-time editing
- Wireframe creation
- Drag & drop editor
Trial/Free Version:Free TrialFree VersionDevice Compatibility:
Screenshot:
Conclusion
Designers around the world use wireframes to streamline their workflow, save time and cut down on programing costs. With the right tools, they’ll create clearer wireframes with ease.