UX prototyping tools

Choosing the right tool for the job is key for any project, and it’s certainly key when it comes to rapid prototyping. But with so many UX prototyping tools out there how do you decide which tool to choose? Well don’t worry because help is at hand. To complement my guide to choosing the right UX prototyping tool I’ve listed 35 (yes thirty five!) different UX prototyping tools. You can also view and download a Google spreadsheet with all the tools listed using the link below.

Types of UX prototyping tools

UX prototyping tools come in all shapes and sizes. For the purposes of categorising different tools I’ve defined the following types:

• UI editors & prototypers
• Mock-up prototypers
• Mobile app prototypes
• Website builders

The type of UX prototyping tool that is most suitable will depend on the type of prototype that you need (see how to choose the right UX prototyping tool) and whether you want to create the UI using the tool, or just use it to create an interactive prototype.

UI editors and prototypers

UI editors and prototypers allow you to create and edit a UI, along with creating an interactive prototype. Most tools come with an extensive library of UI widgets and components and support dynamic content and interactions.

Adobe Experience Design (XD)

They say: Design and prototype websites and mobile apps with Adobe Experience Design (XD), the first all-in-one tool for UX. Adobe XD is made for fast, fluid UX design with innovative tools that eliminate speed bumps and deliver breakthrough performance. Switch from design to prototype in a single click. Quickly create wireframes and visual designs, preview changes in real time, and share prototypes with your team for instant feedback.

Axure RP

They say: Create Prototypes of websites & apps without coding. Over 60% of the Fortune 100 Use Axure RP.

Balsamiq

They say: Balsamiq Mockups is a rapid wireframing tool that helps you Work Faster & Smarter. It reproduces the experience of sketching on a whiteboard, but using a computer.

Briefs

They say: Create a brief with Briefs and you can hand your designs to people in a way they can play with. You can quickly incorporate their feedback and create new iterations quickly for them to retest.

Framer

They say: Framer – The design tool that does it all. Design. Prototype. Collaborate. Framer powers the product teams at Dropbox, Pinterest, Twitter, and thousands more.

Fluid

They say: Join 300,000 designers in 204 countries who use Fluid UI to visualise the flow of their mobile apps.

HotGloo

They say: HotGloo is a better way to create wireframes and prototypes for web & mobile.

Indigo Studio

They say: With our rapid prototyping tool, Indigo Studio, let your users and stakeholders experience your Web, desktop, or mobile application idea and find the right design – all without writing a single line of code.

InVision Studio

They say: InVision Studio – Screen design. Redesigned. A new platform, inspired by the world’s best design teams. Design, prototype, and animate—all in one place.

JustInMind

They say: Justinmind Prototyper provides you with the best design solution to prototype feature-rich mobile apps, websites, web products and/or enterprise applications, and more.

Keynotopia

They say: Keynotopia transforms Keynote and PowerPoint into the best rapid prototyping tools for creating mobile, web and desktop app mockups.

MockFlow RP

They say: MockFlow RP  is a fast and free online prototyping tool that makes your ideas fly. You can create from sketches, diagrams, wireframes to hi-fi prototypes, and test your design ideas early on, all in one place.

Mockingbird

They say: Mock up an application with Mockingbird and show what’s important: the idea, the information, the interaction.

Mockplus

They say: Mockplus is an all-in-one tool which allows you to create prototypes for mobile apps, desktop apps and web apps. Link your pages together with a drag-and-drop option. Create interactive pages and components effortlessly with simple drag-and-drop.

Phase

They say: Phase – Digital design reinvented. Design and prototype websites and apps intuitively, in a new product reworked for the digital age.

proto.io

They say: Create fully-interactive high-fidelity prototypes with proto.io that look and work exactly like your app should. No coding required.

ProtoShare

They say: ProtoShare is an easy-to-use, collaborative prototyping tool that helps teams visualize requirements with website wireframes and interactive software and mobile prototypes while working together in real-time.

Sketch

They say: Sketch is a digital design toolkit built to help you create your best work — from early ideas, through to final assets.

UXPin

They say: Manage your entire UX design process within UXPin, even if you use Sketch or Photoshop. Always work with your layered design files — not flat files.

Mock-up prototypers

Mock-up prototypers allow you to create an interactive prototype from existing screens and UI elements. Mock-ups will need to have been created beforehand in a tool such as Adobe PhotoShop and then imported into the tool.

Atomic

They say: Atomic is the fastest way to design beautiful interactions. Work your way up from a blank canvas, or pull in designs from Photoshop or Sketch. Share your prototypes with anyone or view on any device via a humble URL. Lay out your states and instantly animate between them, without coding a thing.

Concept.ly

They say: Create fully interactive prototypes with Concept.ly that look & work exactly like your app.

Flinto

They say: Flinto makes it quick and easy to create prototypes that look just like the real thing. And Flinto doesn’t disrupt your current workflow because it uses the screens you’ve already designed.

Hype

They say: Create beautiful HTML5 web content. Interactive web content and animations made with Tumult Hype 3 work on desktops, smartphones and iPads. No coding required.

InVision

They say: InVision is the world’s leading prototyping, collaboration and workflow platform. Just upload your designs and add hotspots to transform your static screens into clickable, interactive prototypes complete with gestures, transitions, and animations.

Koncept

They say: Stop guessing and start making interactive prototypes that feel real with Koncept. Use powerful analytics tools to get objective and measurable usage insights.

Savah

They say: Savah lets you transform your static screens into code-free, quick interactive prototypes for web and mobile. Build quick interactive high-fidelity prototypes for any device without writing a single line of code. With Savah everyone can transform their designs into attractive interactive prototypes.

Solidify

They say: Solidify lets you create clickable prototypes from sketches, wireframe, or mockup. Validate user flows on any device by performing user tests in person, remotely or on your testers own time to get the feedback you need.

Mobile app prototypers

Mobile app prototypers allow you to create a native mobile app prototype. Like mock-up prototypers screens and UI elements will need to have been created beforehand and then imported into a tool.

Form

They say: Build and customize native prototypes directly on a device with Form.

Origami

They say: Origami is a free tool for designing modern user interfaces. Quickly put together a prototype, run it on your iPhone or iPad, iterate on it, and export code snippets your engineers can use.

Pixate

They say: Experience Real, Native Prototyping. Pixate generates 100% native prototypes, so you can experience your ideas on device as if they’re completely real.

Principle

They say: Principle makes it easy to create animated and interactive user interface designs. Whether you’re designing the flow of a multi-screen app, or new interactions and animations.

Website builders

Website builders allow you to create responsive websites using a drag and drop GUI interface.

Webflow

They say: Webflow is a website builder that automatically generates clean code as you design. You don’t have to rely on a developer to write code for you.

Webydo

They say: Bring any web design to life with pixel-by-pixel accuracy, independently. Webydo will automatically convert your design into an updated HTML code + CMS (Content Management System) for your client.

Weld

They say: You want to build your own website or app. Your options are either programming tools, or template-based tools that will never look or behave as you envisioned it. Weld adds a third option: a visual tool where YOU control the design and the interactivity.

See also

• How to choose the right UX prototyping tool (UX for the Masses)
• UX Design tools (UXdesign.cc)
• Designer’s Toolkit: Prototyping Tools (Cooper)
• Five app prototyping tools compared: Proto.io, Pixate, Origami, Framer & Form (Tes Mat)
• Three more prototyping tools compared: Principle, Flinto for Mac, and Tumult Hype (Tes Mat)