The Best Wireframe Tools Shortlist
Here’s the list of the best wireframe apps I’ll cover in this article.
It’s one thing to have a product idea, but quite another to visualize that idea in a way others can understand. That’s where wireframing saves the day. Wireframe tools bridge the gap between concept and prototype, bringing ideas to life and setting on the long journey to the finished product.
Back in the day, these initial conceptualizations were typically pencil sketches. But in today’s SaaS-driven world, there are many software tools that do a much better job.
What are Wireframe tools?
Wireframe tools are software that helps a design team create high-level blueprints of a product that facilitate component and high-level functionality conversations. Wireframe tools make it possible for the entire design team to work together on a project, regardless of where they are. Additionally, it provides visibility to all stakeholders who receive access to the tool.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Wireframing Software Solutions
Here’s a brief description of each wireframing system to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
Lucidchart
Best diagramming application for building app and website wireframes
Lucidchart is a web-based wireframe app that helps you visualize complex ideas and drive alignment across your stakeholders.
Why I picked Lucidchart: The tool has a vast library of shapes that can help you build almost any wireframe you can think of. These wireframes can go from a website to a mobile app and, if you need help getting started, there are many templates that are ready to go.
Lucidchart has collaboration features that will help your team keep the conversation within the canvas and focus on their work. They can comment, highlight elements for each other, and co-create in an interactive environment.
Lucidchart Standout Features & Integrations
Features include a large library of wireframe templates, drag-and-drop functionality across an infinite canvas, real-time collaboration, in-app chat, and automatic sync and save. Comments, tasks, sharing, revision history, and embedding make collaboration simpler and easier for remote and hybrid teams.
Integrations include free add-ons for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides and integrates with Microsoft Office, Atlassian, Salesforce, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Slack, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Jive, GitHub, BambooHR, Quip and more—including many apps through Zapier. Lucidchart also integrates well with Lucid's virtual whiteboarding application, Lucidspark, to boost collaboration throughout the entirety of your workflow.
Pros
- Data linking for metrics overlay on diagrams
- Real-time co-authoring
- Enterprise plan available
Cons
- Getting around all toolbars takes time
Invision
Best for cross-collaborative teams needing infinite whiteboard spaces
InVision is a real-time workspace centralizes workflows so that designers can collaborate through a project life cycle. The design software includes over 100 templates from partners such as Microsoft and Atlassian to help you get results faster. You can also embed editable Google Docs, Mode dashboards, Jira issues, and Kanban boards.
Why I picked Invision: Invision combines the power of whiteboard collaboration with the clarity of wireframes for design prototyping. Team members can offer feedback in a way that’s easy for everyone to share and participate in voting to decide on the best options.
Their collaborative canvas empowers teams to create low-fidelity prototypes early in the product design process and iterate rapidly as the project evolves.
Invision Standout Features & Integrations
Features include 100+ templates, voting, version history, live chat, and smart widgets.
Integrations include professional design tools such as Adobe XD, Confluence, and Jira. Also, Loom, Zoom, Figma, Microsoft Teams, and Slack.
Invision Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $4.95/user/month, and a limited free version is also available.
Pros
- Available templates from world renowned companies
- Co-creation and collaboration happen in real time
- Member & guest accounts have separate permissions
Cons
- Not a wireframe dedicated tool
Mockplus
Best for turning low-fidelity designs into interactive wireframes
Mockplus is a cloud-based design platform for rapid prototyping and wireframing that focuses on team collaboration and an intuitive design experience.
Why I picked Mockplus: You can use the pre-built components, icons, and drag-and-drop functions to implement realistic screen designs. Team members can test the website design in eight different ways, then provide their feedback through the commenting feature.
This tool aims to help you turn low-fidelity UI design into interactive wireframes. These act like fully-functional prototypes, giving stakeholders an understanding of the concepts in action. You can also select from a library of over 3000 built-in icons, components, and templates.
Mockplus Standout Features & Integrations
Features include vector tools to customize graphics, templates, a vast collection of icons and UI elements, instant review and commenting, and animation.
Integrations are available for Adobe Photoshop, Figma, Axure, Adobe XD and Sketch.
Mockplus Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $12.95/user/month, and a free version of the software is available.
Pros
- Components can be shared across wireframes
- Co-wireframing in real time
- Easy to create popups, modals, alerts and other dynamic content
Cons
- Proper prototyping requires extra cost
Justinmind
Best for turning clickable wireframes to functional simulations, fast
Justinmind is a free wireframe tool for web and mobile that helps you create interactive wireframes that you can preview and test.
Why I picked Justinmind: Justinmind helps with the wireframing and design of web (Windows/MacOS) or mobile products. The design options cover everything from navigation to animations and transitions. For mobile devices, designers may choose from a library of gestures for rotating, tapping, swiping, scrolling, and pinching.
Using these features, designers rapidly progress from prototypes to functional simulations without entering a single line of code. Sequences of actions and conditions can be included in the interactions, giving testers a realistic experience.
Justinmind Standout Features & Integrations
Features include a drag and drop work area, 4000+ pre-built UI elements, device emulators, align elements on canvas, templates, and conditional navigation.
Integrations include popular platforms such as JIRA, Sketch, and Adobe.
Justinmind Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $19/user/month, and a free plan is also available.
Pros
- App to emulate designs
- Frequently updated UI elements
- Robust free version of the tool
Cons
- Co-editing available until the Professional plan
Pencil Project
Best for free, open-source wireframing
Pencil Project is a free GUI prototyping tool that provides free prototyping in an open-source platform.
Why I picked Pencil Project: It includes a library of pre-built shapes for drawing different user interfaces. Both Android and iOS user interface stencils are pre-installed, along with tools for web development.
The template collections include general-purpose shapes, flowchart elements, desktop/web designs, and shapes for mobile. Collections can be dragged and dropped into the wireframe in progress. Connectors may be used to link shapes in a logical flowchart. This tool integrates with design apps such as Flamory.
Pencil Project Standout Features & Integrations
Features include various built-in shapes and stencils, connectors to support flowcharts and diagrams, multiple export formats, and page linking.
Integrations are not mentioned in their documentation.
Pencil Project Plans & Pricing
Pencil Project is available free of charge as an open-source application.
Pros
- Color picker within software
- Shape collections can be installed using drag and drop
- Available for all platforms
Cons
- Last updated in 2019
Framer
Best for an interactive-by-default wireframing workflow
Framer is a web builder for creative professionals that provides an intuitive experience where you can build wireframes for free and pay until you are ready to ship.
Why I picked Framer: Framer provides ready-made starter kits and UI components to accelerate the wireframing process. You can arrange layouts with grids and use stacks to space elements evenly. You can also reuse components to speed up iterations. A key feature is flexible templates that you can customize for your project.
From the start, you can click buttons, move elements and customize transitions. You can link between screens to design, test and iterate until you find the optimal user workflow.
Framer Standout Features & Integrations
Features include real-time collaboration and chat, templates, resizable layouts, scroll-based animations, copy-paste function from Figma, and SEO automated optimization.
Integrations are called plugins and include many popular applications, including YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps, and ProductHunt.
Framer Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $30/editor/month.
Pros
- It supports website creation rather than just wireframes
- Pay only when you want to export
- Freeform canvas
Cons
- Complex pricing structure
FluidUI
Best for prototyping and sharing wireframes fast
FluidUI is a cloud-based platform for creating web app and mobile design prototypes.
Why I picked FluidUI: Multiple designers and stakeholders can review and annotate wireframes, then provide their feedback through comments. Animations and interactive gestures can be added to demonstrate features. Later, these animations can be used as a screenflow map to show how navigation occurs within your prototype.
Another feature I like is the remote testing that you can do with the user. This makes it easier to receive feedback based on your latest development. The software allows wireframes to be created with a short learning curve. Pre-built UI kits are offered for material design, iOS, and wireframing. Designs can then be shared instantly with others on the team.
FluidUI Standout Features & Integrations
Features include personal graphic asset libraries, 2000+ built-in components, interactive prototype animations, video calls within the platform, and reviewer mode.
Integrations are not disclosed.
FluidUI Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $15/user/month, and a free trial is available.
Pros
- Unlimited users and prototypes
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Installable desktop client
Cons
- 5 user limit in top plan
Adobe XD
Best wireframe tool with templates optimized for user experience design
Adobe XD is a popular, vector-based design tool that is part of the Adobe Creative Suite. Created for UI and UX design, it can be used to develop anything from apps to websites.
Why I picked Adobe XD: Designers can create fluid and dynamic designs that you can’t achieve with traditional design tools. This platform includes a range of wireframing templates that can quickly get you started on your work. The platform will support the entire process from wireframing to delivering to the development team.
Adobe XD supports web design, app design, brand design, and game design. Using online features it makes real-time collaboration possible, and teams can engage in co-creation and conversations in a single place. If your designers already work with Adobe products, they will love using XD, as they can import their work and streamline their creative process.
Adobe XD Standout Features & Integrations
Features include link sharing, co-editing, animations, video exports (MacOS only), document history, and unlimited linked libraries.
Integrations in Adobe XD include a range of apps and services across the Creative Cloud suite. Also, plugins with Zeplin, unDraw, Overflow, Miro, Stark, Anima, and Frontify to boost your workflows.
Adobe XD Plans & Pricing
Adobe XD costs from $9.99/user/month, and there is a 7-day free trial.
Pros
- Loads of documentation, training videos, and community templates
- One of the most popular tools on the market
- Part of the Adobe suite
Cons
- Works best when you purchase more Adobe products
Figma
Best for drag-and-drop wireframe kits
Figma is a design platform for web and graphic design. It is focused on the future of web, and because of it, they strive to create new and exciting features that will help take you from design to development faster.
Why I picked Figma: It provides wireframe kits to help you validate ideas and accelerate design workflow. You can go from wireframe to clickable prototype in a few steps and add interactivity without the need for code. Out-of-the-box website components include navigation bars, features, headers, and buttons.
The drag-and-drop interface means anyone can create wireframes from the provided kits. Components can be customized to suit the required style, directly from the browser.
Figma Standout Features & Integrations
Features include vector drawing, OpenTypes for personalized fonts, automatic element resizing, auto animation, on-canvas commenting, and audio conversations.
Integrations include tools such as Jira, Zeplin, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, Slack, ProtoPie, and Axure.
Figma Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $15/user/month and is free for students and educators.
Pros
- Connects to FigJam for brainstorming
- Rollout of updates every week
- Unlimited viewers for improved collaboration
Cons
- FigJam comes at an extra cost
Sketch
Best for wireframe kits and resources
Sketch is a Mac native digital design tool that helps you progress from brainstorming ideas to playable prototypes. It supports rapid design, real-time collaboration features, and planned handover to developers.
Why I picked Sketch: This tool is a powerful editor that provides all the tools, from design to coding, to link your design and development teams. Sketch is planned to make work happen faster. Therefore, its Artboard templates allow you to start a project quickly in an editable document that you can later save to make it your own template. You can also replicate elements across projects thanks to Smart Layout, which maintains the padding and spacing between layers in a Symbol when an override changes its size.
Once you finish a prototype, Libraries and Color Tokens will help developers understand what the design team did and an iPhone app can be used to test the prototype as you edit in your Mac.
Sketch Standout Features & Integrations
Features include real-time collaboration, Artboard templates, on-Canvas annotations, a testing app for iPhone, and a free Sketch 101 course for beginners.
Integrations include a range of design tools, including Protopie, Maze, Flinto, Abstract, and Zeplin. You can also find over 700 plugins that will add extra functionality to the tool, and you can share links to your specs directly to tools like Jira and GitHub.
Sketch Plans & Pricing
Pricing starts at $9/user/month and offers a 30-day free trial.
Pros
- Tools built to smoothen developer handoffs
- Unlimited viewers and guests
- The editor works offline
Cons
- Made exclusively for Mac
Need expert help selecting the right Mockup & Prototyping Software?
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The 10 Best Wireframe Software Comparison Chart
Here is a table you can use to compare the software we just covered in the overviews.
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucidchart Best diagramming application for building app and website wireframes | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $7.95/user/month | Visit Website |
| 2 | Invision Best for cross-collaborative teams needing infinite whiteboard spaces | Free plan available | From $7.95/user/month | Visit Website |
| 3 | Mockplus Best for turning low-fidelity designs into interactive wireframes | Free plan available | From $5.95/user/month | Visit Website |
| 4 | Justinmind Best for turning clickable wireframes to functional simulations, fast | Free plan available | From $19/user/month | Visit Website |
| 5 |  Pencil Project Best for free, open-source wireframing | Free | Free | Visit Website |
| 6 |  Framer Best for an interactive-by-default wireframing workflow | Free plan available | From $30/editor/month (Team package) | Visit Website |
| 7 |  FluidUI Best for prototyping and sharing wireframes fast | Free Trial | From $15/user/month | Visit Website |
| 8 |  Adobe XD Best wireframe tool with templates optimized for user experience design | 7-day free trial | From $9.99/user/month | Visit Website |
| 9 |  Figma Best for drag-and-drop wireframe kits | Free plan available | From $15/user/month | Visit Website |
| 10 |  Sketch Best for wireframe kits and resources | 30-day free trial | From $9/user/month | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list but is worth your consideration.
- UXPin - Best for real-time collaboration
- Axure RP - Best for realistic usability testing
- Balsamiq Wireframes - Great for low-fidelity wireframing
- Photoshop - Wireframing in the Adobe ecosystem
- InDesign - For high-level design quality
- Wireframe.cc - Best for simple wireframing with no distractions
- MockFlow - Optimized for rapidly sketching interface layouts
- Moqups - Best for wireframe and template mockups
- Miro - Wireframing on a collaborative online whiteboard platform
- NinjaMock - Helps you create wireframes in minutes
- Cacoo - Best for collaborative wireframing in the cloud
Related Read: 10 Best ALM Software For Managing Digital Product Life Cycles
How I Picked the Best Wireframing Tools
If you're wondering how I selected the best wireframing tools, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with wireframe website tools that have high user review and satisfaction ratings. Then, using my experience in product management, I discerned what key criteria were most important for website wireframe tools and compared how each of them stacked up against the rest.
I empathize with how much time it takes to source the right software for a job. I do this work so that you don't have to. I've been using and reviewing wireframe website tools for years so you can trust me to do the heavy lifting and compile all the facts you need to make your final decision.
If you have more general questions about the best app for wireframing, you can skip to our FAQ at the bottom of the page. Or, you can jump right to the best wireframing tool overviews if you're ready to start comparing.
Selection Criteria
After careful consideration, I've determined that these are the most important criteria when selecting the best website wireframes tools. Here's a brief list outlining the whats and whys of my selection.
User Interface (UI)
This is very important as we are talking about a visual representation of concepts. The UI has to be intuitive, preferably drag and drop, and have an adjustable canvas.
Available elements
I looked at the variety of graphical elements that we can add to our wireframes. As you know, we need to insert logos, multimedia boxes, navigation, text, buttons and a number of visual stuff to represent what we want to convey.
Integrations
I researched the different ways in which the tools on this list can expand their functionality. This could be a way to share our work, import or export data, or feed other tools.
Pricing
I’m looking mostly at SaaS tools that have monthly plans and weighed the amount of features against the price.
Wireframe Tools FAQs
Here are the answers to common questions other people ask about this topic.
What is a wireframe?
What are the benefits of using wireframe tools?
What are the key features of wireframe tools?
When should I make a wireframe?
What is the difference between a wireframe and a prototype?
What's Next?
The right wireframing tool can make all the difference when it comes to building an efficient, user-friendly app or website. Discover how product managers use wireframes to understand complex user flows and how they can use wireframes effectively.
From low-fidelity tools to comprehensive packages with advanced features, you have plenty of options to choose from. Remember, whichever wireframing tool you decide on, should provide a collaborative platform for developers, designers and stakeholders alike.
Related tool lists:
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