Every design process needs building blocks to go from problem to solution — otherwise, you can easily move from problem to chaos.
Wireframe tools let you map out the user journey, organize information, and identify issues early on, preventing costly changes later in your project. You can use them to create effective product roadmaps, sketch a website or app, and even redesign an existing interface. But finding the right solution depends on the level of fidelity you want, budget, functionalities, collaboration needs, integration capabilities, and much more.
To help you find the one that fits your project requirements, take a look at our guide. We reviewed the best wireframe tools for designers and teams, explaining their benefits, and how they can streamline your design process. Let’s dive in!
What are wireframe tools?
Wireframe tools help designers create blueprints of interfaces for websites, landing pages, or mobile apps. These plans, the wireframes, focus on how digital products work instead of design elements like colors, fonts, or annoying pop-ups you never get rid of.
By creating wireframes, designers plan and organize user interfaces (UI), outlining the basic framework of elements like menus, buttons, and content areas. This practice helps spot and fix usability issues early on, so you can avoid rework in the design or development stages.
Why you should use tools for wireframing
You can significantly save time and money in the wireframing process with a platform — instead of using pen and paper like web designers did in the distant past, when we shared the earth with megafauna like the wooly rhinoceros and the giant ground sloth (OK, maybe not that long ago). Here are the key benefits of using tools for wireframing:
- Enable human-centered design: Wireframing is about understanding what's best for user experience. With tools and templates, you can easily build persona profiles and user flows, ensuring your design is intuitive and addresses your audience's needs.
- Increase efficiency: You can try pen and paper to sketch a v1 if you like to keep things simple. But creating the whole information architecture (IA) without tools? Seriously, don't do that to yourself. Leverage options with drag-and-drop functionalities and library integrations to assemble wireframes in a flash.
- Foster visual collaboration and feedback: Research by Nielsen Norman Group shows that 82% of UX professionals collaborate with other team members on the deliverables they produce. With collaborative features, you share ideas, get feedback, and iterate in real time, so everyone is on the same page. Literally.
What to know before getting a product design or website wireframe tool
Let's take a closer look at the basic factors to consider when selecting a wireframe tool:
The level of detail in your wireframes matters
The million-dollar question: low-fi or high-fi? While low-fidelity wireframes are basically sketches, high-fidelity mockups bring your design to life with a polished and slick look. When picking your wireframe tool, consider your project's goals. Do you need basic building blocks or advanced features? The best tool is the one that aligns with your design direction.
And remember: Wireframing and prototyping are two sides of the UX design coin. Wireframes focus on what the product will do. Prototypes incorporate visual design elements and basic interactions to simulate how the final product might work. If you need prototyping components to test user interactions, go for a tool that offers this functionality.
Ease of use pays off in the long run
If your team is new to wireframing, prioritize a tool with a gentle learning curve. User-friendly platforms:
- Reduce onboarding time: Intuitive interfaces and pre-built UI kits allow designers to jump right into building wireframes, learning through practice.
- Streamline creation: Wireframe design tools facilitate creation with templates and version control, saving designers from the torture of creating everything from scratch.
- Facilitate sharing with clients: Encouraging client feedback is like opening Pandora's box — you never know what’s going to come out of it. But easy-to-use tools fuel creative teamwork with your clients. They could ask for a few more changes, but at least they'll be in a good mood.
Related: How to collect feedback from stakeholders effectively
Free trials are a wise choice before grabbing paid tools for wireframing
Be budget-savvy! Try free wireframe tools and freemium options before grabbing the best fit for your wallet. If you are considering paying for a subscription, compare the pricing and features of your favorite tools and analyze how they add value to your project needs.
Collaboration platforms streamline workflows with multiple stakeholders
Approving a wireframe in a 20-person meeting? Sorry, I gotta go. And never come back.
Mural’s 2024 Teamwork Research Report shows that 71% of knowledge workers believe meetings aren't the best way to collaborate and align on work. And truth be told, design by committee isn’t the best idea for approving a product design wireframe. But platforms with real-time tools boost collaboration and streamline team alignment, speeding up the design process.
Related: 5 ways to make meetings more collaborative
The best wireframe tools to level up your design process
Here are the 11 best wireframing tools for product managers and visual designers:
1. Mural
There's a popular UX design quote that says: "User interface is like a joke. If you have to explain, it's not that good." Mural took this principle to heart. It's super easy to use, collaborate, and create low-fi wireframes.
Mural's features include an infinite canvas with wireframe templates and a set of visual tools for brainstorming with your team and getting things done faster. Video chat enables co-creation sessions from anywhere, making it the best solution for remote or hybrid teams.
With Mural, you can:
- Start wireframing with Mural's templates and pre-built components for quick sketches, making it one of the best wireframe tools for beginners
- Have a digital whiteboard to get alignment faster and give everyone a single source of truth
- Encourage your team to bring their best ideas to the table with brainstorming tools
- Streamline feedback meetings with templates for evaluation
- Take advantage of responsible AI-powered capabilities to speed up your creative workflows while maintaining your wireframes secure
- Keep your meetings moving, stay on task, and gather more authentic feedback using facilitation superpowers
Related: How to get your team started with Mural
2. Uizard
For non-professional designers, Uizard can be a time-saver. What sets this wireframe tool apart is its user-friendly interface, which lets you create clean, functional sketches and prototypes with ease. With AI capabilities, pre-designed components, and handy drag-and-drop functionality, it’s perfect for early-stage projects that need to move quickly.
That said, Uizard does have a couple of limitations. If you’re looking for advanced features for detailed prototypes, you might find it a bit lacking. For example, it doesn’t have strong vector editing or animation tools. These tools are often needed for making high-quality prototypes or creating more complex interactive elements. Still, when it comes to fast, low-fidelity sketches, Uizard gets the job done.
3. Balsamiq
Balsamiq is known for its simplicity, featuring a drag-and-drop interface and a library of pre-built UI elements designed for low-fidelity wireframing.
This wireframe software is ideal for beginners and those who want to avoid complex design software. But its simplicity can also be a limitation for more advanced projects. It lacks collaboration tools, which can be a drawback for dynamic teams. Plus, Balsamiq doesn't offer a free plan, only a 30-day trial, so if you're looking for free tools, it might not be the best pick.
4. Cacoo
Whether you’re sketching out a new product or mapping out workflows, Cacoo is up to the task. This wireframe software offers a variety of templates and diagramming tools that enable collaborative design while keeping track of changes along the way.
Cacoo offers a library of shapes, connectors, and integrations with other tools, which makes it quite versatile. However, it does have some limitations when it comes to more advanced wireframing features. If you’re looking for intricate prototyping or comprehensive design systems, you may find it simpler than some other options. Still, for teams that need to create quick wireframes, Cacoo is a good choice.
5. Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a platform that offers features for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design. The real strength of this tool lies in how well it integrates with Adobe’s Creative Cloud, making it a good fit for teams already using apps like Photoshop and Illustrator.
Adobe XD comes packed with features such as vector design tools, repeat grids, and the ability to create responsive designs. However, with its complex set of features, it can be tough to know where to start, as the platform requires some learning upfront.
Plus, XD doesn’t provide the real-time collaboration ease found in other tools for wireframing. But if you’re already part of the Adobe ecosystem, it’s definitely an option worth considering.
6. Figma
Figma is one of the most popular wireframe platforms, widely used for complex projects. It offers a large set of features such as vector editing, prototyping, and extensive plugin support, making it a good option for seamless workflows with other design tools.
While Figma allows for low-fidelity wireframing, some users prefer a dedicated tool for that stage. Another aspect of Figma is that, as a beginner, you may struggle with so many tools and capabilities. And you'll need the best internet connection to take full advantage of it.
7. UXPin
UXPin is a wireframing and prototyping tool designed for teams that focus on interactivity, allowing you to create functional prototypes without writing code. This platform's main features include drag-and-drop components and advanced interactions, making it ideal for teams working on projects where you need to test usability early on.
The downside of UXPin is its complexity. It has a steeper learning curve than some other tools, which can be a hurdle if you’re just starting out or looking for simpler wireframe solutions.
8. Sketch
Sketch offers a clean interface with intuitive vector editing tools — a nice option for both wireframing and prototyping. Its symbol and style systems allow you to maintain consistency across large projects, streamlining the design-to-development process.
Just keep in mind that Sketch is a Mac-only application, limiting its accessibility for PC users. While it's a strong option for design, it lacks built-in collaboration features that are becoming standard in other tools. To collaborate effectively, users often rely on third-party integrations or design canvas platforms.
9. Axure
Axure is a robust tool for advanced wireframing and prototyping, suitable for projects that require detailed and interactive designs. It offers features like dynamic content, conditional logic, and adaptive views, allowing designers to create mockups and prototypes with a high level of detail.
But Axure's learning curve can be steeper compared to other tools on this list. Its focus on advanced prototyping and interactivity might be overkill for straightforward projects, making it less versatile for all project types.
10. MockFlow
When looking for tools to create wireframes, you may come across good reviews about MockFlow. That’s because this platform is known for its simplicity, making it one of the best low-fidelity wireframe tools. You can use it to kickstart your design process without the steep learning curve often associated with more advanced software.
The platform includes a robust design system manager, allowing users to easily create and manage design components. While the collaboration features are helpful, they may not be as comprehensive as those offered by other platforms. Overall, MockFlow is a great fit for teams in need of a straightforward, user-friendly tool for early-stage design, but it may not fully meet the needs of those looking for more complex design capabilities.
11. Wireframe.cc
Wireframe.cc is a minimalist design solution for those who want to simplify the wireframing process. The platform features a clean, user-friendly interface where you can quickly sketch ideas and layouts without unnecessary distractions. This simplicity makes it a nice option for teams looking to create low-fi wireframes without feeling overwhelmed by complex features or settings.
Wireframe.cc provides pre-defined UI elements, a flexible canvas for arranging designs, and sharing capabilities for instant feedback. However, one limitation is the platform's lack of advanced design capabilities. If you're seeking high-fidelity prototypes or extensive customization options, you may find it somewhat restrictive. The platform doesn’t have tools to make interactive prototypes. This can be a problem for teams who want to test how easy it is to use during the design process.
Create sketches in minutes with the best wireframe software
Ready to ditch pen and paper? Mural is the best wireframing software to get you up and running quickly, bring in key stakeholders, and track your progress over time:
- Get a library with customizable frameworks to wireframe desktop web pages and outline sketches for mobile devices
- Project collaboration software: Keep track of the progress of tasks and centralize wireframes in one place, eliminating the need to email them back and forth
- Integrate unlimited murals with tools you already use like Slack, Trello, Figma, and Adobe
- Improve team participation — break free from boring meetings... forever
Start with Mural for free and get the best tools to design wireframes in collaboration with your team.
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