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UX and UI are two parts of web design that work together to help ensure the user interface provides a pleasant experience to the user. Whether web designers need to create mockups, accurate hi-fi frames, or prototypes, the right software will help deliver top-quality results. Learn about the best UX/UI design software to provide the information, tools, and structures designers need.

What is UX/UI Design Software?

UX/UI design software is a tool that helps you create a product's prototype, mockup, layout, wireframe, and any other design deliverable that focuses on how the user interacts with a product.

While UX focuses on the overall user experience, including response times and how they feel about their interaction, UI focuses on the user interface (buttons, icons, and other visual elements) and how it helps make navigation intuitive.

Overviews Of The 10 Best UX/UI Design Software

Here’s a brief description of each UX/UI design software that showcases the tool’s best use case and standout features. Feel free to check out how I picked the software on this list at any time.

1

Figma

Best for collaborative UX/UI design

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.7
997 reviews

Free plan available

From $15/editor/month

Figma is a collaborative design platform that provides a shared workspace where people across various teams and departments can come together to brainstorm, prototype, and build solutions in real time.

In addition to automatically responsive design layouts for websites, Figma also touts tools they say you won’t find anywhere else, including a modern pen tool that helps users draw in any direction; instant arc designs to design clocks, pie charts, and watch screens; and OpenType for advanced font features to explore branding through text.

Figma hopes their real-time collaboration platform will help team members align early in the project and stay in sync throughout — no matter the scope of the project or industry they’re in. To aid businesses in finding a solution for their needs, they offer several tiers that may support freelancers, startups, and small businesses, as well as larger organizations.

Figma Standout Features and Integrations

Features include advanced drawing tools, plug-ins and widgets, interactive prototypes, sketch import, advanced animations, unlimited viewers, shareable links, and team libraries. Figma offers Mac, PC, and Linux compatibility.

Integrations include Axure, Bubble, Flinto, Framer Web, Maze, Pendo, Principle, ProtoPie, Sprig, and UXtweak. Figma offers integrations for prototyping, user testing, developer handoff, collaboration, and productivity.

Pros

  • Powerful option for software developers
  • Continuous upgrades for collaboration
  • Stable and fun to work with

Cons

  • Navigation to plug-ins is complex
  • Limited offline functionality
2

Balsamiq

Best for quick and easy wireframing

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.2
477 reviews

30-day free trial

From $9/month

Balsamiq is design software used for rapid wireframing that combines the simplicity of a paper sketch with the power of digital tools. All wireframe designs look like sketches to ensure that stakeholders don’t get distracted by the little details and focus on the overall picture instead.

With Balsamiq, wireframing is more accessible at every level, including for business owners, project managers, business analysts, developers, agencies, and anyone interested in entering the UX field. They offer comprehensive wireframing resources through their Wireframing Academy so anyone can learn the software.

Balsamiq also increases accessibility with a cloud-based app, web-accessible portal, and downloadable desktop version (Mac and Windows). This platform offers support for businesses working on as many as 200 projects at a time.

Balsamiq Standout Features and Integrations

Features include UI components and icons, export to PNG or PDF, drag and drop capabilities, optimized for speed, re-usable symbols, and interactive prototypes.

Integrations include Confluence, Google Drive, Jira, Shift, and Trello.

Pros

  • No learning curve
  • Quick and easy tools
  • Workflow simulation options

Cons

  • Single-task platform
  • Limited integrations
3

InVision Studio

Best all-in-one whiteboard solution for design teams

Free plan available

Plans start from $4.95/user/month

As a digital product design to development software, InVision supports design and developer teams with high-fidelity web and mobile prototypes, as users can connect every element of the design workflow — from brainstorming and feedback to in-progress design sharing.

One tool many InVision Studio users applaud is vector-based drawing with flexible layers. This feature allows teams to turn ideas into designs on-screen to prototype, review, refine, and test digital products without using a single line of code. Users can also collaborate and collect feedback in real time to move projects forward quickly.

InVision Studio supports digital design for businesses of all sizes, including solo operations and enterprise-level organizations. They claim that every single company listed in the Fortune 100 collaborates with the InVision UI/UX tools.

InVision Studio Standout Features and Integrations

Features include premade and custom templates, micro-interactions like voting, usability testing, version history, and guest permissions. Advanced team management and security features are only included in enterprise plans.

Integrations include Adobe Creative Cloud, Asana, Azure DevOps, Coda, Figma, Google, Jira, Loom, Mode, and Photoshop. Google tools include Calendar, Docs, and Maps.

Pros

  • Entire team is notified when designs change
  • Access to multiple libraries
  • Free plan is available

Cons

  • Workflow between demo and prototype isn’t intuitive
  • No responsive UI option when designing
4

Flowmapp

Best for collaboration between UX, strategy, design and development, and clients

14-day free trial available

Plans start at $9/month for a single user

FlowMapp is a UX platform that offers full-stack capabilities to design websites, apps, and products through an online collaborative tool that includes a flowchart, sitemap, customer journey map, and user personas.

Users can integrate FlowMapp at nearly every stage of development, starting with pre-sale and working their way through to content creation. With a unified location, FlowMapp allows users to collect and organize information for UX and development, planning, teamwork, content, client communication, and sales strategy.

FlowMapp can support a variety of businesses tiered pricing for small organizations and agencies, as well as enterprise teams. They also offer special discounts for students and academic institutions.

FlowMapp Standout Features and Integrations

Features include flowchart diagrams, sitemap creation tools, user flow diagrams, collaboration tools, project sharing and transfer, and project archiving.

Integrations include Figma. When using Slickplan, WordPress, Joomla, concrete5, Drupal, and ExpressEngine are available as plugins.

Pros

  • Powerful information architecture tool
  • Easy and intuitive to use
  • Low barrier for entry

Cons

  • Limited ability to create/customize templates
  • No SERP information text block
5

Sketch

Best design and prototyping app for Macs

30-day free trial

From $9/user/month

Sketch is a Mac-based app that offers prototyping tools, website-building tools, illustration tools, feedback tools, and design systems for adaptive workflows and scalability.

While users within your organization may all be operating on Macs, third parties and test users may not, so Sketch created versatile collaboration features viewable with other devices and operating systems. Windows and other non-Mac users in charge of handoff, inspecting, or providing feedback about products can get access to Sketch through the web in any browser.

Sketch offers support for small and medium-sized organizations with two tiers — one for teams of up to 25 users and the other for teams of over 25 users. The platform is also free for all students and educators, including accessibility through Mac, iPhone, and web.

Sketch Standout Features and Integrations

Features include CAD tools, collaboration tools, design management, prototype creation, image library, visual modeling, data import and export, drag and drop, and customizable templates.

Integrations include Abstract, Avocode, Crystal, Drafta, Flinto, Flow, Lingo, Origami, Overlay, and Plant. In addition to integrations, Sketch offers assistant apps and plugins.

Pros

  • Offline design functionality
  • Simple transition to Sketch
  • Easy learning curve

Cons

  • Not available on iPad
  • Sketch files only open within Sketch
6

Webflow

Best for taking control of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS in a visual canvas

Free trial + free plan available

From $18/month

This visual web development platform is built to allow users to design, create, and launch a custom website without writing any code. With its completely visual canvas, Webflow translates any design into CSS3, HTML5, and Javascript once it’s ready for publishing or handoff.

Webflow is optimized for more than just building websites, it can also connect with essential marketing tools so teams can collaborate on content, optimize SEO, and build flows with logic. This design platform also offers tons of support and training, as well as the ability to hire a Webflow-endorsed partner to help with any project.

Webflow offers support for both general and ecommerce websites with plans that are ideal for businesses of all sizes. In addition to free plans for solo operations and low-cost plans for small businesses, Webflow also offers custom solutions for those that anticipate massive scaling.

Webflow Standout Features and Integrations

Features include website-building tools, optimization tools, and scaling tools. Website-building tools include no-code design, interactions, CMS, ecommerce, and membership content.

Integrations include accessiBe, BoomTown, CloudFlare, Cognito Forms, Ecwid, Fomo, HubSpot Marketing Hub, LiveAgent, LiveChat, and Shippo.

Pros

  • Very user friendly
  • No coding needed
  • Translates into code after building

Cons

  • Confusing pricing structure
  • A bit of a learning curve
7

Origami Studio

Best for free design prototyping and building in Mac

Free to use (open source)

Free to use (open source)

The all-in-one animation, design, and prototyping tool from Facebook, Origami Studio 3 is the newest iteration of the original Origami. This UX/UI design software offers features built to make user interfaces and interactions easier and more intuitive. Users can leverage audio and photos, build logic behind apps with the patch editor, and use dynamic layouts.

The layout feature comes from the new addition of the Canvas tool and delivers a dynamic control system that creates adaptive layouts that integrate design elements more cohesively. Designs will automatically change and update when making changes for faster creation and iteration of work.

Origami Studio is for everyone. Because this software is free, it’s accessible to individuals and freelancers. While it may not have all the tools and features a big team needs, such as collaboration and CRM tools, Facebook is constantly updating the platform.

Origami Studio Standout Features and Integrations

Features include downloadable prototypes for mobile and desktop, downloadable interaction and scroll patterns, dynamic layout, patch editor, concepts, animation, and workflow.

Integrations include Figma and Sketch. More integrations coming soon.

Pros

  • Completely free software
  • Easy and fun to use

Cons

  • Limited integrations
  • Only available for Mac
8

VisualSitemaps

Best for auto generating visual sitemaps in seconds

Free plan available

From $19/user/month

VisualSitemaps does exactly what their name implies, generating visual sitemaps with high-resolution screenshots of any site or web-based app. This makes it easier for designers and developers to perform site audits for SEO, UX, UI, and marketing needs.

To get a visual sitemap, users simply enter a URL, and the cloud-automated software will generate a thumbnail-based architecture of the whole site. Users can then annotate pages for feedback and edit a sitemap based on the original. VisualSitemaps also allows for crawling password-protected websites safely.

VisualSitemaps supports the work of web design directors, UI designers, UX designers, developers, strategists, marketers, and product owners. The software can visualize up to 20,000 pages per month.

VisualSitemaps Standout Features and Integrations

Features include cloud-automated crawling, sitemap editing, visual QA and scheduled crawls, screenshot annotations, export to PDF, crawling password-protected sites, and custom tags. Crawling password-protected sites works through VisualSitemaps' encrypted credentials.

Integrations include Sketch.

Pros

  • Easy to get started
  • Very sleek UI
  • Ideal for checking out competitors

Cons

  • Specialized tool
  • Scraping large websites is time consuming
9

Framer

Best for no-code website building with simple publishing

Free plan available

From $10 /site/month

Framer offers an all-in-one website-building platform that simplifies design through tools that eliminate coding, like pre-designed effects, drag and drop, design and layout templates, and freeform canvases.

Whether users are building scalable websites for eCommerce or launching a big brand with a small team, Framer offers a streamlined solution with single-click publishing. Once the website is completely built, designers click to publish, with no rebuilding and no code required. Framer tools also allow users to ship, host, and maintain sites from one place.

Framer is designed to support freelancers, startups, agencies, marketing teams, and scaleups with versatile, flexible tools for every aspect of web design. Additionally, Framer supports building desktop and mobile navigation with a single component.

FramerX Standout Features and Integrations

Features include themed templates, design and layout tools, code-free effects (animations, scroll speed, interactive components), navigation structure, content management, SEO and performance management, and site management. 

Integrations include Formspark, Google Optimize, Hubspot, Intercom, Logo, Lottie, Mailchimp, Typeform, and YouTube. These are all website plugins.

Pros

  • Free site building
  • No-code website design
  • Intuitive tools

Cons

  • Limited integrations
  • Sites may go out of sync with updates
10

Axure

Best for building realistic, functional prototypes

30-day free trial

From $29/user/month

As a downloadable design platform, Axure offers users unlimited interactive design possibilities through Axure RP widgets that provide users the ability to experiment with sortable grids, working forms, adaptive views, and dynamic interfaces. 

Anyone testing dynamic content for realistic UX prototypes can use Azure to ensure functionality across a variety of devices — no matter what type of containers they make. Users can make sure pop-ups, scrolling, and swiping all work on everything from desktop to Android devices through multi-state dynamic panels.

Axure can provide solutions for small businesses, medium-sized companies, and massive organizations with tiered pricing plans. Large teams can work together on this platform to co-author and contribute through intentional collaboration.

Axure Standout Features and Integrations

Features include software prototyping, rapid prototyping for UX/UI, mockup creation, collaboration tools, presentation tools, change management, and configurable workflows. All features are available offline.

Integrations include Adobe XD, Avion, Confluence, Figma, Jira, Miro, MS Teams, Sketch, Slack, and UserZoom. Users can embed prototypes directly into Jira and Confluence for testing.

Pros

  • Offline functionality
  • No-code prototyping
  • Easy to build high and low-fidelity prototypes

Cons

  • One of the more expensive options
  • Limited collaboration tools

The Best UX/UI Design Software Comparison Chart

Here is a table where you can compare all the tools we just covered in the overviews.

Tool Trial Info Price
1
Figma

Best for collaborative UX/UI design

Free plan available

From $15/editor/month Website
2
Balsamiq

Best for quick and easy wireframing

30-day free trial

From $9/month Website
3
InVision Studio

Best all-in-one whiteboard solution for design teams

Free plan available

Plans start from $4.95/user/month Website
4
Flowmapp

Best for collaboration between UX, strategy, design and development, and clients

14-day free trial available

Plans start at $9/month for a single user Website
5
Sketch

Best design and prototyping app for Macs

30-day free trial

From $9/user/month Website
6
Webflow

Best for taking control of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS in a visual canvas

Free trial + free plan available

From $18/month Website
7
Origami Studio

Best for free design prototyping and building in Mac

Free to use (open source)

Free to use (open source) Website
8
VisualSitemaps

Best for auto generating visual sitemaps in seconds

Free plan available

From $19/user/month Website
9
Framer

Best for no-code website building with simple publishing

Free plan available

From $10 /site/month Website
10
Axure

Best for building realistic, functional prototypes

30-day free trial

From $29/user/month Website

Other Options

Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best UX/UI design software list but are worth your consideration.

  1. Maze

    Best for customer feedback and insights

  2. Miro

    Best for online collaborative whiteboard for teams

  3. Craft.io

    Best for managing the entire product life cycle

  4. UXPin

    Best for component-driven prototyping and product design

  5. Justinmind

    Best for responsive design and event interactions

  6. MockFlow

    Best for small businesses with end-to-end product design needs

  7. Marvel

    Best for prototyping and wireframing of multi-device apps

  8. Optimal Workshop

    Best for qualitative research and information architecture

  9. Treejack

    Best for evaluating content findability

  10. Proto.io

    Best for creating fully interactive web and mobile prototypes

How I Picked The Best UX/UI Design Software

When I started building this top 10 list, the first thing I did was pick software options with high user ratings. I then narrowed down what was left using the selection criteria below to compare them to one another.

Seeing how each platform stacked up against the next allowed me to hone my list of best user interface design software to those most versatile and comprehensive options. I also drew on my years of product manager experience to pinpoint those features that added the most value.

Selection Criteria

Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best UX/UI design software for this article.

Usability

Whether you’re designing a product or a website, time is always limited. You need a UX/UI design tool that’s easy to learn and use. Many of the platforms on this list feature drag-and-drop tools and no-code capabilities for a simpler design experience. I also looked for solutions that offered online training and guidance for new users.

Standout Features

In design, there are a number of features and tools that really push some platforms above the rest. I made sure the tools on this list offered UI design kits and editable templates. These are helpful to get product managers and designers up and running right away.

Software Integrations 

While you might not think that your UX/UI design needs to share data or integrate with third-party tools, there are tons of collaboration and design tools that make your job easier. I chose tools with integrations that help businesses connect across all teams with add-on design tools specific to your company needs.

Pricing

There is no one-size-fits-all pricing structure for UX/UI design software. Every company has different needs and a unique budget. To ensure there’s a UI tool for everyone, I included options for small businesses and startups. I also included scalable pricing models and custom creations for enterprise-level organizations.

UX/UI Design Software FAQs

Find answers to common questions other people ask about this topic.

Find Ways to Learn More

Good design can be the difference between success and failure for websites and products. Learn how product managers should be using wireframes and how wireframes are different from prototypes.

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By Hannah Clark

Hannah Clark is the Editor of The Product Manager. Following six years of experience in the tech industry, she pivoted into the content space where she's had the pleasure of working with some of the most brilliant voices in the product world. Driven by insatiable curiosity and a love of bringing people together, her mission is to foster a fun, vibrant, and inspiring community of product people.