Best UX/UI Design Prototyping Tools

This is a list of the top prototyping tools on the market used by designers in the field of UX and UI Design. Each tool has a summary of features and what to consider when gauging whether it is the right fit for your project. The tools below are displayed in no particular order and it will be updated regularly to account for new feature updates and tools.

Invision

Cost

Free plan with 1 active project

Feature highlights

• Build click-through prototype with imported screenshots
• Simulate in-page overlays, anchors, hover, and fixed header/footer
• Create hotspot templates to apply to multiple screens
• Easy prototype sharing options

Should you use Invision for prototyping?

• It has low learning curve
• Best for prototyping experiences with minimal interactivity
• Fast workflow especially when you utilize plugins to update screenshots and template to manage global hotspot

Framer

Cost

$15/month with 14-days free trial

Feature highlights

• Has design editor with responsive layout
• Import existing design from other design tools
• Code interaction or use UI panels(Auto-Code)
• Real-time preview
• Utilize pattern snippets, external data, and plugins
• Upload prototype to cloud and share publicly

Should you use Framer for prototyping?

• Learning curve is high for someone without any coding background
• You can design and prototype in one tool
• You can prototype highly complex animation and interactions based on various user inputs
• Has great documentation, tutorials, and online communities for support when you need it

Principle

Cost

$129 with 14-days free trial

Feature highlights

• Design editor with layers and artboards
• Import existing designs from Sketch
• Add transition and animation visually by interacting with layers, artboards, and timeline
• Record and export interaction as GIF to share
• Mirror design on devices for preview

Should you use Principle for prototyping?

• Semi-low learning curve due to having familiar interface with popular design tools
• Great for rapidly prototyping multi-page experience with detail level interactions and animations
• Lacking support for allowing real user input such as typing
• Has good documentation and support

Axure

Cost

$29 per user/month Pro Plan with 30-days free trial

Feature highlights

• All-in-one tool from low-fidelity wireframe to high-fidelity prototypes
• Modular workflow to create re-usable component for multiple pages
• Use dynamic content, create animations and conditional logic
• Publish prototype to cloud for sharing

Should you use Axure for prototyping?

• Medium learning curve due to the amount of features to utilize and master
• Prototypes are not very mobile friendly
• Great for creating low-fidelity interactive wireframe with conditional logic
• It can be time-consuming to create high-fidelity prototypes due to the interface complexity

Adobe XD (Beta)

Cost

Free while it’s in beta

Feature highlights

• All-in-one tool from design to prototype
• Prototype multi-page transitions with animation effects by drawing connections
• Live preview and real-time collaboration

Should you use Adobe XD for prototyping?

• It is easy to learn and master
• Great for creating design and high-fidelity interactive prototype with simple transitions without switching between tools
• Not suitable for creating custom animation sequences

Do you prefer other tools over the ones listed here? I love to hear about it and potentially add that to the list.