Prototyping Tools: From Quick and Dirty Wireframes to Functional Prototypes

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Every designer and developer know that detailed wireframes are the backbone of any digital project. Whether you take a pencil and quickly sketch on paper or take your high fidelity mockups and code the first interactive prototype, wireframing and prototyping tools are going to save you from headaches, sleepless nights and budget overage.

Every project is unique and comes in all shapes and sizes. The best part is that prototyping tools can help you with any task at hand.

Today, I’ve listed some of the best prototyping tools in the industry. All these tools together cover a variety of different prototyping methods. These tools will save you time and will help you create the best functional prototype.

Tools for Wireframes and Prototypes

InVision

InVision will help you with any web or mobile projects you have. It doesn’t matter if it’s Android or iOS project, it works with both systems. You can create clickable, interactive prototypes and mockups. Also, InVision is a team friendly tool. It’s easy to share and collaborate with your team members.

InVision

Marvel

Marvel is another big player in prototyping game. It helps you to turn all your mockups, designs and sketches for the web, mobile or even Apple Watch app prototypes.

Marvel

Proto

Proto.io is a great prototyping tool to create fully interactive mobile app prototypes. You will be able to create fully-interactive high-fidelity prototypes that look and work exactly like your app should. Don’t require to know or have any coding skills.

Proto

Moqups

Moqups is another well-known prototyping tool. But it’s a little bit different. The platform is based on HTML5. It’s a perfect tool for creating resolution-independent SVG mockups & wireframes for your next project.

Moqups

Fluid

Fluid is a mobile app prototyping tool. There are many reviews about this online tool, and many users say that it’s very fast, user-friendly and very intuitive. Its browser-based wireframing is used to design mobile touch interfaces.

Fluid

Prott

Prott is rapid prototyping and basic collaboration tool. It takes your ideas from the first sketch to interactive prototype that works like a real app. Also, Prott is the perfect design and communication tool for those interested in working together with other team members.

Prott

Flinto

Flinto is a fast and easy to create prototypes that look just like the real things and works properly. It doesn’t disrupt your current workflow because it uses the screens you’ve already designed. Flinto strikes the perfect balance between fast prototyping and realism.

Flinto

POP

If you like old school methods like making hand-drawn wireframes POP is the right tool for you. Just easily sketch the app ideas in your notebook, take pictures of it and add links between the mockups. After that just sync your app prototypes with Dropbox and simulate with a mobile phone.

Pop

Pixate

Pixate is a quite new player in the game. This platform is for mobile interaction design. It’s pretty straightforward how to use it. Just upload the layers, add interaction or animation with a few clicks.

Pixate

Axure

Axure is a prototyping and wireframing tool. This software aimed at desktop and web applications. I like the fact that it offers drag and drops placement, formatting and resizing of widgets.

Axure

Framer

Framer is another well-known prototyping tool. It can be used to create Android, iOS, desktop or web prototypes. You can invent interactions and animation by using Framer. You can integrate it with Photoshop or Sketch app.

Framer

Webflow

If you want to design your prototypes fast, Webflow is not the best option. But it shines when the prototype is all finished. Quickly turn the finished prototype into a working product with few simple clicks. Also, it offers CMS for your prototypes.

Webflow

Mockplus

Mockplus has one excellent feature; it’s fast! Mainly Mockplus is a desktop based application, but it can easily be used for mobile and web projects too. The clean interface allows you improve your efficiency by focusing on the design itself and less on the functions.

Mockplus

Justinmind

Justinmind is one of the oldest prototyping tools in the market. It was created in 2008. During that extended period, the team behind this project did a great job. It works nicely! It’s a great option if you need to create websites, mobile apps or other web projects.

Justinmind

Vectr

Vectr is a new player and it’s still in beta. With Vectr, you can design your web or desktop apps for Mac and Windows. And it’s totally free. All the prototypes can be shared and integrated into apps like Slack.

Vectr

Principle

Principle prototyping tool is only available for Mac. It comes with an iOS app to reflect live prototypes. Principle allows you to export prototypes to a video or GIF format. The interface is familiar with Sketch app. If you tried Sketch app before, it’s going to be pretty easy to use it.

Principle

PowerMockup

PowerMockup is way different than other apps. It’s a Microsoft PowerPoint add-in that turns the app into a full-feature prototyping tool. With this extension, you can create wireframes or mockups of any web and desktop applications.

Power Mockup

Atomic

Atomic is a stunning prototyping tool. It makes a great first impression. Atomic is a web application which requires Google Chrome to use it. If you’re using Safari, Firefox or Windows browsers, it can be annoying. It can be used to prototype for Apple Watch, Android, iOS, and the web projects.

Atomic

Balsamiq

Balsamiq is one of the simplest tools. It allows you to drag and drop any element onto a black canvas. It can be integrated with Google Docs to import your prototypes and design files. It’s available as a Mac or Windows app, and also as a web-based application.

Balsamiq

Adobe Comp CC

Adobe Comp CC is another great and powerful tool by Adobe. It allows you to create the web, mobile and print layouts. Which can be easily integrated with Adobe design tools. Like Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign. Also, Adobe Comp CC works with Adobe Stock, which is providing hundred of fonts, images and graphics.

Adobe Comp CC

For more useful web design and development tools check out these posts:

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