27 Best Tools for Creating Wireframes

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There's something exceptional about seeing something before it becomes real. The blueprints to a house, the recipe to a delicious meal, or the game plan of a basketball coach – they all give us a glimpse into what's possible.

In the world of website and app development, wireframes are the blueprints for success. They're the first step in turning a great idea into a user-friendly digital experience. As this first step in the design process becomes more important and widely used, software has been developed to help create wireframes more efficiently and effectively.

If you want to learn more about why wireframes are so important, HubSpot sums it up best in their blog post section titled "Why Create a Website Wireframe?" As for this post, we will explore the 27 best wireframe tools for creating wireframes.

Pen & Paper

Before we jump into the high-tech world of wireframing software, let's take a step back and look at where it all began: good old pen and paper. This might seem too simple, but many UX/UI experts still start their wireframing process this way. They often use dot grid paper to draw freehand wireframes. So why choose this instead of a fancy app with tons of features?

Here's how it works: grab a piece of paper (dot grid if you have it) and your favorite pen or pencil. Start sketching out your ideas for the website or app layout. Don't worry about making it perfect – the goal is to get your ideas down quickly.

Let's look at why pen and paper are still an excellent choice for growth-driven website design:

Faster than using software: No need to boot up a computer or learn a new program. Just grab your tools and start drawing!
Best used when your team does not work remotely: If you're all in the same room, it's easy to pass around sketches and get quick feedback.
A great way to work through ideas and solutions quickly: You can draw, erase, and redraw without any tech getting in the way.
Free outside of the cost of paper and pencil/pens: You probably already have these supplies, so there's no extra cost to get started.

Sketch

Now, we move on to software explicitly built for wireframe design. First up is what is arguably the most widely-used wireframing platform out there: Sketch. This powerful tool has made a name for itself in the industry and is a favorite because of its vector-based design features. It's one of the best tools to create high-fidelity mockups, wireframes, and prototypes.

Sketch has an incredibly intuitive user interface. It's easy to use and learn, so your whole team can get on board quickly. That's important because, as you'll see, some apps on this list aren't made just for wireframing. They have other uses, so the focus isn't on wireframing like Sketch is.

One neat feature is the innovative layout. It automatically adjusts the size and position of elements based on their content. So, if you change the text in a button, the button will resize to fit. Sketch also gives you more customization and flexibility options. You can tweak just about everything to get your design exactly how you want it.

There's also a mirror feature you can use with your mobile phone. It lets you see how your design will look on an actual device, which is helpful. Sketch has more plugins and extensions that enhance its functionality and compatibility with other wireframing tools, such as Figma, InVision, and Zeplin. These add-ons can boost what you can do with Sketch.

See how other users rate Sketch.

Pros

Ease of use: Sketch's interface is clean and intuitive.
Collaboration features: Sketch makes it easy to hand off designs between teams. For example, you could create a wireframe and easily share it with developers, who can turn it into a working website.
Helpful community: There's a large, active Sketch community online. If you ever get stuck or need inspiration, you can find help and wireframe resources from other Sketch users.
1000+ plugins: With such a wide range of plugins available, you can customize Sketch to fit your specific needs and workflow.
Symbols library: Sketch lets you create reusable design elements called Symbols. It is great for keeping your designs consistent and saving time. For instance, you could make a Symbol for a navigation bar and use it across all your wireframes.

Cons

Mac-only: Sketch is only available for Mac, and a third-party app or plugin is required to preview and test your designs on other devices. That can be a problem if you or your team use Windows or Linux.
Expensive monthly pricing: While Sketch isn't the most expensive option, its pricing can add up, especially for larger teams or freelancers just starting.
Power-hungry: Though it shouldn't be a problem with a new Mac, older computers might struggle with the requirements. This could lead to slow performance or crashes, which is frustrating when you're in the middle of a wireframe design session.

Pricing

Free version: 30 Day free trial only
Paid to start at $12/mo per editor monthly billing or $10/mo per editor annual billing
Mac-only license: $120 per seat
Business subscription: $22/month per editor. Yearly billing only.

Figma

Figma is relatively new to the space, but its growth has been nothing short of incredible. In fact, it was recently acquired by none other than Adobe. This web-based wireframe software enables high-fidelity prototypes. Even after you've published the prototype, you can make changes that automatically apply to your live website or application.

The fact that it's browser-based is a major plus. It means you can use Cross-Platform, whether on a Mac, PC, or even Chromebook. No need to worry about compatibility issues or installing software on different machines.

You can also import files from Dropbox or Google Drive into your project so that everyone can access them at any time without having to download anything. Artboards in Figma are easy to create and share. They're like individual canvases for each screen or page in your design, and you can easily send a link to stakeholders to get feedback.

Communication is made even easier with the integrated chat app powered by Slack. Slack is a popular messaging platform used by many businesses, so chances are your team is already familiar with it. Figma also integrates with various plugins to add functionality. For instance, there's Unsplash for stock photos, Remove BG to remove backgrounds from images, and many more.

See how other users rate Figma.

Pros

Web-based: Being in the cloud means you can access your designs from anywhere with an internet connection. No need to worry about syncing files or carrying your work computer everywhere.
Prototyping Capabilities: Figma allows you to create interactive prototypes easily, helping you test and refine your designs before moving to development.
Collaboration: Figma's easy file-sharing and real-time collaboration features make it a dream for teams. You can work on the same file simultaneously, leave comments, and see changes as they happen.

Cons

Requires a stable Internet connection: Because Figma is web-based, you need to be online to use it fully.
Cloud security: While the cloud brings convenience, it opens up potential security threats. You'll need to be extra careful about who has access to your files.
Power intensive: Even though it's online, Figma needs 4GB of RAM and an Intel HD 3000 (or similar) Graphic Card.

Pricing

Starter Team: Free
Professional Team: $15/full seat/mo. Save 20% when billed annually.
Organization: $45/full seat/mo or $25/mo for Dev Mode only. Annual plans only.
Enterprise: $75/full seat/mo or $35/mo for Dev Mode only. Annual plans only.

Uxpin

UXPin is a software that places great emphasis on collaboration. It wants to be the only tool you need to communicate and work at the same time. That's a big goal, but UXPin has some features that help it get there.

One of the ways UXPin makes collaboration easier is through automatic notifications and comments. When someone makes a change to a design or leaves a comment, you'll know right away. This keeps everyone on the same page and helps avoid confusion. UXPin offers real-time collaboration with permissions. It also integrates with other tools like Sketch, Google Fonts, and Slack, which many teams already use.

You'll find that UXPin is not the most feature-rich platform because it doesn't want to clutter the interface with useless features. You'll find that everything serves a purpose and is there for a reason. This focus on essential features helps keep the tool easy to use and learn. But that doesn't mean it sacrifices usability. It's robust. For instance, you can add custom code snippets to any element. As you reuse the element, the code follows along for contextual documentation.

One of the great things about UXPin is how quickly you can get started. The tool gives you thousands of ready responsive components for iOS, Material Design, Bootstrap, and a few big sets of icons ready to drag and drop into your design.

Finally, UXPin is speeding things up even more with cutting-edge AI features. They've added AI-powered interactive prototyping with seamless access to reusable UI Patterns and an AI Component Creator. The wireframe software can help suggest design elements or create some for you based on your work.

See how other users rate UXPin.

Pros

Scalable: UXPin lets you create a reusable toolkit. You can have your custom assets and code follow you from project to project.
High-fidelity designs: UXPin allows you to create very detailed, realistic designs.
Collaborative features: UXPin has solid wireframing tools for team collaboration. You can easily share designs, get feedback, and work together in real-time.
Expansive font library: UXPin gives you access to a wide range of fonts.
Free tier: UXPin offers a free plan, which is great for trying out the tool or for small projects.

Cons

Needs a birds-eye view of prototype screens: Some users find it hard to get an overview of all the screens in their prototype. This can make it tricky to understand the overall flow of a design.
Learning curve: Because UXPin has so many features, learning how to use it effectively can take time. It might be frustrating for beginners or people needing to start quickly.
Lacks specific integrations: While UXPin does integrate with some tools, it could have more integrations. For example, it doesn't directly integrate with Illustrator, which some designers often use.

Pricing

Free Plan
Essentials: $8 per editor/month or $6/month when billed annually
Advanced: $39 per editor/month or $29 per editor/month when billed annually
Merge AI: $49 per editor/month or $39 per editor/month when billed annually.
Company: $149 per editor/month Or $119 per editor/month when billed annually.

Mockflow

MockFlow aims to be an all-in-one solution. So yes, there's wireframing, but also so much more. This versatile tool allows you to create architecture diagrams, UI flows, product graphics, and sitemaps, including user testing functionalities. The user-friendly interface works even for non-designers. It has a drag-and-drop interface, which means you can easily place elements where you want them without needing to know complex design software.

MockFlow comes with pre-built UI Kits, UI templates, and UI components. You'll find buttons, menus, icons, and more that users can drag and drop onto their wireframes. Instead of creating every element from scratch, you can use these pre-built components as a starting point and customize them to fit your needs. You can use it to develop high-fidelity clickable prototypes of wireframes to share with stakeholders.

MockFlow also allows you to add dynamic effects like slide-in, zoom, and fade. These animations can help bring your wireframes to life and give stakeholders a better idea of how the final product will look and feel. It's a great way to add some polish to your presentations without spending too much time on details.

When it comes to collaboration, MockFlow has you covered. It has Video chat and Live Presentation features, which you can record with Loom.com integration. With it, you can walk your team or clients through your designs in real-time, explaining your thought process and getting immediate feedback. And with the recording feature, you can share these presentations with team members who couldn't attend the live session.

See how other users rate MockFlow.

Pros

No experience necessary: MockFlow is designed to be easy to use, even if you're not a professional designer.
Permission-based sharing: MockFlow lets you control who can see and edit your designs. It also has password-protected preview links and a built-in team chat.
Caters to every stage: MockFlow has tools for many parts of the design process, from early planning to user testing.
Exporting options: MockFlow lets you export your designs in different formats, including PNG.
Photoshop plugin: If you use Photoshop, MockFlow has a plugin that lets you work between the two programs.

Cons

No real-time collaboration: Unlike other wireframing tools, MockFlow doesn't let multiple people work on the same design simultaneously.
Limited features: MockFlow tries to do a lot of different things, which means it might not have as many advanced features for each specific task. If you need very detailed or specialized tools, you might find MockFlow a bit basic.
Missing shortcuts: Some users find that MockFlow lacks keyboard shortcuts for everyday actions.

Pricing

Basic: Free
Premium: $19/month per editor or $14/month annually
Business: $57/month for 3 editors or $45/month annually
Enterprise: $160 per year. Annual plans only.

Justinmind

Justinmind is a powerful tool that brings a lot to the table when it comes to wireframing and prototyping. In terms of collaboration, Justinmind has all you need for you and your team. However, you'll want to look at higher tiers for maximum usage. And that might cost more. While fundamental collaboration is possible with lower-priced plans, you'll get the most out of Justinmind's team features if you're willing to pay more.

Still, Justinmind remains versatile. The range of features means it's suitable for simple and complex projects. One of the great things about Justinmind is how well it plays with others. It integrates well with other popular tools like Sketch and Adobe XD. Convenience is further enhanced with pre-built components and templates. Instead of starting from scratch every time, you can use these pre-made pieces to speed up your work.

Justinmind also has built-in usability testing facilities. This is a big deal because it means you can test how user-friendly your designs are within the tool you used to create them. You can see how people interact with your designs and make improvements based on accurate user data.

See how other users rate Justinmind.

Pros

Extensive library of UI elements: Justinmind comes with a wide range of pre-made design elements.
User testing: The built-in user testing features let you see how people interact with your designs.
Integrations: Justinmind works well with other design tools. You can easily use it as part of your existing design workflow.

Cons

Learning curve: Because Justinmind has so many features, learning how to use it effectively can take some time. This might be frustrating if you need to get started quickly.
Paywalled features: Some more advanced features are only available in the more expensive plans.
Resource-intensive: Justinmind can use a lot of your computer's resources.

Pricing

Free Plan
Standard: $9 per editor/month when billed annually or $19 monthly. There is also a perpetual license for $295.
Professional: $19 per editor/month when billed annually or $29 monthly. There is also a perpetual license for $455.
Enterprise: $39 per editor/month billed annually or $59 month-to-month.

Moqups

Moqups is a tool that allows for prototypes and wireframes like the others, but what makes it different is that it also has flowcharts and diagrams. These are great for illustrating the customer journey.

One of the first things you'll notice about Moqups is that it has an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. This means you can quickly move things around in your wireframe design just by clicking on them with your mouse and dragging them where you want them to go. Moqups lets you add interactivity to your website or app wireframes, which makes them better to present. Instead of just showing static images, you can create designs that people can actually click through, almost like using a real website or app.

Another great feature of Moqups is its massive library of fonts, icon sets, stencils, and objects. This means you have lots of design elements to choose from when creating your wireframes. As for teamwork, it has both live editing and online whiteboard features. There's also a real-time brainstorming feature.

See how other users rate Moqups.

Pros

Flowcharts and Graphs: Moqups lets you create flowcharts and graphs alongside your wireframes.
Online Whiteboard: The online whiteboard feature makes it easy to brainstorm and share ideas with your team, even if you're not all in the same place.
Easy to use: Moqups has a simple, intuitive interface that's easy to learn. You can start creating designs quickly without spending a lot of time learning how to use the tool.
Integrations with Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox: Moqups works well with other tools you might already be using.

Cons

Limited customization: Some users find that Moqups doesn't offer as many options for customizing designs.
No offline mode: Moqups is a web-based tool, which means you need to be connected to the internet to use it.
Possible performance issues: Some users have reported lagging, especially with rich media. That means the tool might slow down if you're working with complex designs or lots of images.

Pricing

Free Plan
Solo: $13/month for one seat or $9/month when paid annually
Team: $23/month for five seats or $15/month when paid annually
Unlimited: $47/month for unlimited seats or $40/month when paid annually
40% off all yearly plans applied at checkout.

Uizard

Uizard is taking wireframing to the next level by making full use of the power of AI. You can create UI designs from text prompts, hand-drawn sketches, or screenshots. In other words, you can start with a simple idea – maybe just a few words describing what you want – and Uizard will help turn that into a wireframe design. It's like magic! With one of these inputs (or prompts), you can create a design in seconds.

But it gets even better. You can pick a style like dark, artsy, or modern and watch the magic happen. Uizard will adjust your design to fit the style you've chosen. Note that this platform can help with more than just visuals. You can use it to generate creative text for designs, helping you with copywriting and messaging. This is great if you're not sure what words to use in your design – Uizard can suggest some options for you.

Of course, the AI-generated design might not be exactly how you envisioned it in your head, but that's why there's an editor as well. You can start with what the AI puts out and then refine and iterate on it. Another notable Uizard feature is the Focus Predictor. This tool generates attention heatmaps to help you understand user interaction and optimize design elements. You'll be able to see where users are most likely to look on your page, which can help you place essential elements in the right spots.

We call this Data-driven Website Design.

It's also worth mentioning that even though Uizard uses AI to help create designs, you retain sole ownership of your work. This means you don't have to worry about any copyright issues with the designs you create using Uizard.

See how other users rate Uizard.

Pros

Save time with AI: Uizard's AI features can help you create designs much faster than traditional methods.
Build from a screenshot or hand-drawn sketch: Being able to start from a screenshot or sketch means you can quickly digitize your ideas.
Attentive support staff: Users report that Uizard's support team is very helpful.
Easy-to-use editor: Even after the AI generates a design, Uizard provides an easy-to-use editor for making changes.

Cons

Lacks flexibility for complex projects: While Uizard is ideal for quick designs, some users find it less suitable for very complex or detailed projects. If you need a lot of precise control over every element, you might find Uizard a bit limiting.
Missing features: Some users note that Uizard is missing features like the ability to fix something on the screen or create different screen shapes.
Mobile-focused: Uizard seems to be mainly focused on designing mobile apps. While this is great if you're working on mobile projects, it might not be ideal if you're primarily designing for a desktop.

Pricing

Free Plan available
Pro: $19/month for one user or $12/month billed annually.
Business: $39/month billed annually per user.
Enterprise: Contact the company for more information

Balsamiq

Balsamiq is the opposite of the previous tool, which brings fancy features. Instead, Balsamiq keeps things simple and straightforward. It's a traditional wireframing tool that does it well. Balsamiq offers three types of platforms: Cloud, Desktop, and Google Drive. This means you can choose the version that works best for you, whether you prefer to work online or on your computer.

One thing that makes Balsamiq easier to use is its curated templates, controls, and icons. These are like building blocks that you can use to quickly put together your wireframes. Instead of starting from scratch every time, you can use these pre-made pieces to speed up your work.

But Balsamiq isn't just about using pre-made items. You can also create your own templates and masters and develop reusable components. This is great if you have specific design elements that you use often – you can make them once and then reuse them in different projects.

Balsamiq also offers a collection of wireframe resources for its users. These cover everything from tutorials to direct support. It's like having a helpful guide that can answer your questions and show you how to get the most out of the tool.

See how other users rate Balsamiq.

Pros

Simple to use: Balsamiq has a drag-and-drop design interface, which means you can easily move elements around your wireframe just by clicking and dragging with your mouse. This makes it very easy to use, even for beginners.
Decent template library: Balsamiq comes with a good selection of pre-made design elements and templates.
Collaboration: While not as advanced as other wireframing tools, Balsamiq does offer ways for teams to work together on projects. It can be helpful when you're working with others on a wireframe design.

Cons

Poor prototyping: Balsamiq is great for creating basic wireframes, but it's not as good for creating interactive prototypes. If you need to show how your design will actually work (not just how it will look), you might find Balsamiq a bit limited.
Not much for visuals: Balsamiq deliberately uses a sketchy, hand-drawn style for its wireframes. While this can be good for focusing on layout and structure, it might not be suitable if you need to create more polished, realistic-looking designs.
Relatively expensive and complex pricing structure: Some users find Balsamiq's pricing to be on the high side, especially compared to more popular wireframing tools. The pricing structure can also be a bit confusing, with different prices for different versions of the tool.

Pricing

Balsamiq pricing is relatively more complex than others. It depends on the platform you choose and the number of projects you plan on completing per month.

Either way, you get a free 30-day trial.

The following prices are for 1-2 projects:

Business: $12/month
Enterprise: $18/month
Buy Balsamiq for Desktop: $149 one-time fee for the license.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD comes from a giant in the world of design – a name that everybody is familiar with. If you've ever used Photoshop or Illustrator, you'll recognize the Adobe brand. Adobe XD is considered 'advanced' in the world of interface and prototyping apps. It lets you design websites, mobile apps, and more. You can get feedback, collaborate, and iterate on your experiences for any screen. It's also great for designing for different screen sizes, which is vital in today's world, where people use all sorts of devices.

Users will love Adobe XD's repeat grid tool. This allows you to duplicate and edit multiple elements at once. You can also create reusable components. Adobe XD also lets you quickly build interactive carousels. These are those slideshows of images or content that you often see on websites.

More than that, you can design UIs and interactions and then make components that sync any changes across your designs. This means if you update one button, for example, that change can automatically apply to all similar buttons in your design.

Adobe XD also has a voice prototyping feature that lets you add voice commands and responses to your designs. This is really neat for designing voice-controlled interfaces. This platform is also known for its contextual property inspector, which changes based on the selected element. This means the tools you see will be relevant to whatever you're working on at the moment, which can make your workflow more efficient.

One significant advantage of Adobe XD is its ability to integrate with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. If you're already using these tools, XD can fit seamlessly into your workflow.

See how other users rate Adobe XD.

Pros

Starting point: As soon as you open XD, you will see that it offers you canvas sizes that match the devices you are designing for. It also provides you with UI kits for Apple iOS, Material Design, and Microsoft Windows.
Cross-platform: Adobe XD is available for both Windows and Mac and has a mobile app.
Integrations with Adobe ecosystem: If you use other Adobe products, XD works really well with them.
Incredible community support: There's a large community of XD users who share tips, tricks, and resources.
Great UI: Many users find XD's interface to be clean and intuitive, making it easy to find the tools you need.

Cons

Difficult animations: Some users find it challenging to create complex animations in XD. If you need to develop very detailed, animated prototypes, you might discover that XD is a bit limiting.
Steep learning curve: While XD is powerful, it can take some time to learn all its features. This might be frustrating if you need to get up and running quickly.

Pricing

$9.99/user per month.

Wireframe.cc

Wireframe.cc is a minimal wireframe software with a grid that makes it feel like you're using pen and paper, which some people will love. It doesn't slow you down with features that can be distracting. For instance, the limited color palette allows you to focus on layout and structure rather than visuals.

That simplicity makes it great for low-fidelity wireframes. These are rough, basic outlines of your design that focus on layout and functionality rather than detailed visuals. It's perfect for when you're just starting to plan out your wireframe design.

Using Wireframe.cc is super easy. Just click and drag to draw. Then, add images, boxes, text, or buttons. Once you've completed your first draft, you can share the wireframes easily through unique URLs. Plus, with cloud-based storage, your creations are safe and accessible from anywhere.

See how other users rate Wireframe.cc.

Pros

Free version available: You can start using Wireframe.cc without paying anything. This is great if you're just starting out or working on a small project.
Fast and efficient: Because it's so simple, you can create wireframes very quickly with Wireframe.cc. It can be really helpful when you're trying to get ideas down fast.
Ease of use: The simple interface means there's not much to learn. You can start creating wireframes almost immediately without needing to spend time figuring out how to use the tool.

Cons

Low-fidelity: While great for basic layouts, Wireframe.cc isn't suitable for creating detailed, high-fidelity designs. If you need to create more polished mockups, you might need a different tool.
Limited customization: The simplicity of Wireframe.cc means you don't have as many options for customizing your designs.
Fewer collaboration features: Compared to other wireframing tools, Wireframe.cc doesn't offer as many features for team collaboration.

Pricing

Freelance: $12/month for one user or $9/month when billed annually.
Team: $32/month for 3 users or $24/month when billed annually.
Enterprise: $99/month for unlimited users or $83/month when billed annually.

Framer

Framer is known for its detailed animations and interactions, as well as its focus on teamwork. It has robust collaboration features that make it ideal for teams and agencies of all sizes. For instance, there's a CMS feature that an agency can use for client projects. One of the best features of Framer is that it allows you to use code for even more customization. But don't worry if you're not a coder! You absolutely don't need to know how to code to use Framer because it comes with AI.

Framer's AI-powered design capabilities are really impressive. This innovative tool empowers users to create responsive, professional-looking websites without delving into the complexities of code. Another great thing about Framer is that the websites you build with it are optimized for fast loading times. This enhances user experience and is good for SEO (search engine optimization). So not only will your designs look good, but they'll perform well, too.

Framer also offers plugins, which let you add extra functionality to the tool. You can download additional plugins to make Framer do even more. It's like being able to upgrade your tool as you need new features.

See how other users rate Framer.

Pros

Plugin selection: Framer offers a wide range of plugins that can add extra features to the tool. You can customize Framer to fit your specific needs.
AI-powered: The AI features in Framer can help you create wireframe designs more quickly and easily. Framer can be a big time-saver, especially for complex projects.
Affordable: Many users find Framer to be reasonably priced, especially considering all the features it offers.
Integration with Figma: If you're already using Figma, Framer works well with it.

Cons

Steep learning curve: Because Framer has so many features, it can take some time to learn how to use it effectively.
Plugins required for full functionality: While the plugin system is flexible, it means you might need to install several plugins to get all the features you want.
Complex pricing: Some users find Framer's pricing structure confusing, mainly because you need to pay for both the site itself and the workspace.

Pricing

Pricing for Framer is a bit complicated, as you also have to pay for the site itself. It will give you a custom domain, staging environment, form submission, and a fixed number of visitors per month. Prices range from Free forever to $40/month or $30/month with an annual discount.

Then, you have to pay an additional fee on top of that for the workspace, where you'll be doing collaborative wireframing.

Basic: $25/month per editor (up to five editors) or $20/month when paid annually
Pro: $50/month per editor (up to 10 editors) or $40/month when paid annually.

Cacoo

Despite having a funny-sounding name, Cacoo is a very serious wireframing tool that does its job well. It's a web app accessed through your web browser, with projects stored in the cloud. Plus, you can use it for more than just wireframes. You can also create mind maps, sitemaps, and flowcharts. This makes it a versatile tool that can help with different aspects of your project planning and design.

Cacoo offers real-time collaboration from anywhere in the world, which is nice. There is also a commenting feature so all communication can be done on the platform. This means you don't have to switch between different tools to discuss your designs – you can do it all right there in Cacoo.

When you're creating a design in Cacoo, you can start from scratch or use one of their templates, which are pre-populated with assets. Cacoo offers a broader range of design capabilities. Its cloud-based nature also makes it similar to tools like Figma in terms of accessibility and collaboration.

See how other users rate Cacoo.

Pros

Price: Many users find Cacoo to be reasonably priced, especially considering all the features it offers.
Ease of use: Cacoo has a user-friendly interface that's easy to learn.
Diagram creation: In addition to wireframes, Cacoo is great for creating various types of diagrams.
Cloud storage: Because Cacoo stores your work in the cloud, you can access your designs from any device with an internet connection. This can be really convenient, especially if you work from different locations.

Cons

Fewer templates: Some users note that Cacoo doesn't offer as many pre-made templates.
Not as user-friendly: While generally easy to use, some users report occasional difficulties. For example, you might experience some lag or difficulty connecting objects together.

Pricing

Free Plan
Pro: $6/month for one user or $60/year
Team $6/month for additional users (up to 1,000 users) or $60/year/user.

Whimsical

Whimsical is another browser-based application that doesn't require you to download anything locally. However, be advised that it works only on the Google Chrome browser. The company's motto is "Whimsical lets you focus on the idea rather than formatting." This really sums up what Whimsical is all about – making it easy for you to get your ideas down without getting bogged down in details.

One of the first things you'll notice about Whimsical is that the app works very quickly. As long as you have a decent Internet connection, there is no lag or delay in loading diagrams. This speed is impressive, considering how feature-rich Whimsical is.

You can do more than just wireframing with Whimsical. It also has capabilities for flowcharts and mind maps. That makes it ideal for easy early-stage planning. You can map out your ideas and the structure of your project before diving into the detailed design.

When it comes to collaboration, Whimsical makes things easy. You can quickly share your diagram, and anyone can edit it. This is great for remote teams who want to contribute their thoughts. It's like having a virtual whiteboard that your whole team can work on together.

You can also add a ChatGPT plugin to add AI functionality and collaborate that way. This can help generate ideas or even assist with design elements.

See how other users rate Whimsical.

Pros

Beginner-friendly: The interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy for newcomers to get started. You don't need to be a design expert to use Whimsical effectively.
Real-time editing: Multiple team members can work on the same document simultaneously, making collaboration easy and efficient.
Integration with project management tools: Whimsical works well with tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira. You can easily incorporate your Whimsical designs into your overall project workflow.

Cons

Lacking some features: Whimsical is good for quick, simple designs, but it lacks some advanced features. For instance, it doesn't have the advanced prototyping features that the bigger names offer.
Expensive for larger teams: While reasonably priced for individuals or small teams, the cost can add up for larger organizations.

Pricing

Free Plan
Pro: $12/month/editor or $10/month when billed annually.
Org: $20/month/editor. Annual billing only.

Gliffy

Gliffy is another option for those wanting to create diagrams, flowcharts, wireframes, and more. It offers collaboration features for real-time teamwork. It's a cloud-based tool that ensures seamless access and collaboration from any device with an internet connection. Gliffy integrates well with other tools you might be using, like Confluence, Jira, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office.

Another important feature is its extensive library of shapes. You can use this to quickly add common elements to your designs. Besides that, there's a collection of pre-designed templates and examples. These can be great starting points for your projects, saving you time and effort.

Gliffy also has some valuable features like version control. This means you can keep track of changes to your designs and even go back to earlier versions if needed. When it comes to sharing your work, Gliffy offers multiple export options like PNG, JPEG, SVG, and PDF. This makes it easy to share your designs with others, even if they don't use Gliffy themselves.

See how other users rate Gliffy.

Pros

Quick results: Many users find that they can create diagrams and wireframes quickly with Gliffy.
Drag-and-drop interface: Gliffy's interface is easy to use, allowing you to simply drag and drop elements onto your canvas.
Customization: Gliffy offers a good range of options for customizing your designs, including choices for colors, fonts, and shapes.

Cons

Performance issues: Some users report that Gliffy can get slow when you add more objects to your diagram.
Limited in scope: While great for diagrams and simple wireframes, Gliffy might not be suitable for more complex wireframe design tasks.
Paywalled features: Some users find that certain useful features are only available in the more expensive plans.

Pricing

Professional Plan with 1-9 users: $8 per user/month, billed annually Or $10 per user, billed monthly.
Professional Plan with 10 to 50 Users: $6 per user/month, billed annually Or $8 per user, billed monthly.
Enterprise Plan: Contact their sales team.

Axure

Axure, or Axure RP, is excellent for both wireframing and prototyping, but it's a powerful tool geared toward commercial use. You can use it for various purposes like sitemaps, personas, user workflows, and customer journey maps. The great thing is that you don't need coding knowledge to use Axure. However, if you do know how to code, you can make changes by editing the code and instantly refreshing the prototype. This flexibility makes it suitable for both designers and developers.

One of the things that makes Axure easier to use is its pre-built widgets and libraries, which were built by designers. These can be easily customized and incorporated into your designs. Axure also provides default device boards for mobile and web projects. This makes it effortless to get started with the right dimensions for whatever type of device you're designing for.

When it comes to collaboration, Axure offers a public link feature. This allows clients and team members to review and provide feedback on your designs. Axure also tracks edits on a page level, and notes can be submitted when changes are checked in.

See how other users rate Axure.

Pros

Detailed design documentation: Axure automatically generates specifications for your designs, which can be really helpful when handing them off to developers.
Version control support: This feature helps you keep track of changes and collaborate with team members more effectively.
Quick iterative design: Axure makes it easy to quickly create and test changes to your designs.
User testing: Axure has built-in features for conducting user tests on your prototypes, which can help you improve your designs.

Cons

Dated interface: Some users find Axure's interface to be less modern and intuitive compared to newer tools.
Expensive: Axure can be pricier than some other wireframing tools, which might be a barrier for smaller teams or individual designers.

Pricing

Axure RP Pro: $29 per month/per user billed annually or $34 for month-to-month.
Axure RP Team: $49 per month/per user billed annually or $57 month-to-month.

Visily

We're returning to AI for this one. Visily is yet another platform that integrates this new technology into its offering. Once again, with Visily you can use screenshots, sketches, or text prompts to start your design. This flexibility means you can begin your design process in whatever way feels most natural to you.

Beyond that, you can choose from 1,500 pre-built templates for web and mobile designs to jumpstart projects. Then, there's the Magic Theme feature. It can automatically generate cohesive design themes tailored to user preferences. There's also a Design Assistant. This feature provides intelligent suggestions and guidance throughout the design journey.

Visily offers some impressive automation capabilities. Designers can automate tasks like creating smart tables, switching between low-fi and hi-fi modes, generating color variations, and applying design rules consistently across projects.

As with most AI tools, Visily works online in the cloud, so it's accessible from a browser, making collaboration possible from anywhere in the world.

See how other users rate Visily.

Pros

High-fidelity wireframes: Visily can create detailed, realistic-looking designs quickly.
Beginner-friendly: The AI assistance makes it easier for non-designers to create professional-looking wireframe designs.
AI features: The AI-powered design suggestions and automation can save a lot of time and effort.
Extensive template library: With 1,500 pre-built templates, you have a lot of starting points to choose from.

Cons

Missing advanced features: Some users might find that Visily lacks some of the more advanced design features found in traditional design tools.
Less creative control: With AI creation, there's a risk that designs might feel less unique or personalized. It could potentially hinder your creativity if you rely too heavily on AI suggestions.

Pricing

Starter: Free
Pro: $14/editor/month or $11/month when purchased annually.

Lucidhart

LucidChart is a diagramming software. It doesn't necessarily market itself as a wireframing solution, but you can definitely use it for that purpose. It's like having a digital whiteboard that you can use for all sorts of visual planning. Lucid Chart has plenty of templates and an expansive object library. You have plenty of pre-made elements to work with, which can save you time when creating your designs.

Recently, LucidChart has added new AI features, making it even more user-friendly. You can use text prompts and data imports to tell the AI what you want and watch it take shape. Lucid Chart also has automation features like conditional formatting. You can set up your diagrams to automatically change based on certain conditions.

When it comes to collaboration, LucidChart has a virtual whiteboarding feature.

See how other users rate LucidChart.

Pros

Good performance: Many users find that LucidChart runs smoothly, even when working with complex diagrams.
Collaborative features: The real-time collaboration features make it easy for teams to work together.
Ease of use: Most users find LucidChart intuitive and easy to learn.
Decent integrations: LucidChart works well with many other tools, which can make it easier to incorporate into your workflow.

Cons

Online-only: LucidChart requires an internet connection to use, which might be inconvenient in some situations.
Not focused on wireframing: While you can create wireframes with LucidChart, that is not its primary purpose. This means it might lack some specific wireframing features.
Low-fidelity: The wireframes you create with LucidChart might not be as detailed or visually polished as those created with dedicated wireframing tools.

Pricing

Free Plan
Pro Plan: From $10.00/user

Visio

Visio is a solution that comes from none other than Microsoft. Technically speaking, it is flowchart software, but you can use it for so much more than that. With Visio, you can choose from the cloud-based Visio Online, the desktop version of Visio Professional, or the flexible Visio Plan 2 for a bit of both.

If you're not sure if Visio is right for you, they offer a free 30-day trial you can try. This gives you a chance to test it out before committing. One nice thing about Visio is that if you're used to other Microsoft tools, you'll feel at home with its interface. It has a similar look and feel to programs like Word or Excel.

Visio has all the standard shapes and templates built in, so you don't have to start from scratch. As for collaboration, Visio allows team members to work on the same document from different devices and communicate there too.

See how other users rate Visio.

Pros

Training resources and community support: Microsoft offers plenty of resources to help you learn how to use Visio effectively.
User-friendly interface: If you're familiar with other Microsoft products, you'll likely find Visio easy to use.
Microsoft 365 integrations: Visio works well with other Microsoft tools like Office, which can be very convenient if you already use these programs.
Good selection of tools: Visio offers a wide range of shapes and templates for creating various types of diagrams.

Cons

Designed for Windows: Since it's a Microsoft product, Visio works best on Windows. This might be inconvenient if you use a Mac or other operating system.
Desktop app is better: While there is an online version, many users find the desktop app to be more powerful and easier to use.
No phone or live chat support: If you need help, you'll need to rely on community forums or email support.

Pricing

Online Plan 1: $5/user/month (billed annually) or $6/user/month (billed monthly).
Online Plan 2: $15/user/month (billed annually) or $18/user/month (billed monthly).
Standard: $280 one-time purchase.
Professional: $530 one-time purchase.

Canva

Canva is famous and a household name by now. It's mainly used by visual content creators, like graphic designers or marketers. What many people don't know is that you can also use it for wireframing.

Canva has all the necessary features you need for basic wireframing. First, it has an easy drag-and-drop interface that allows you to quickly create wireframes with thousands of pre-made templates and then move elements around. Canva comes with a whiteboard with unlimited space, giving you plenty of room to work.

And second, because it's mainly a graphic design tool, it has millions of free images, icons, fonts, colors, and graphics. This means you have a vast library of visual elements to work with when creating your wireframes. Canva also has a crop tool, which lets you easily resize and position elements to create a clean and organized wireframe.

Finally, you'll love the Smart Draw feature. This lets you sketch by hand and then brings your sketch to life as a digital design.

See how other users rate Canva.

Pros

Collaboration: Canva teams let groups design mockups together in real time.
AI features: Canva has AI features like Magic Write to add text and AI image creation.
Easy sharing and exports: It's simple to share your designs with others or export them in various formats.
Multi-purpose: You can use Canva for much more than just wireframing, which can be convenient if you have various design needs.

Cons

No interactive features: Unlike some dedicated wireframing tools, Canva doesn't allow you to create interactive prototypes.
Limited advanced design features: While great for basic designs, Canva might lack some of the more advanced features that professional designers need.
Somewhat generic templates: Because Canva is used by so many people, designs created with it can sometimes look a bit generic or similar to others.

Pricing

Canva Free
Canva Pro: $15/month for one user or $120/year
Canva Teams: $10/month or $100/year per person (minimum three users)
Canva Enterprise: Contact sales

Miro

Miro is more of a visual workspace tool. With it, you can organize not only your projects but also your website or app pages. You can decide what will be on each page by dragging and dropping colored workspace "post-it style" notes so you can visualize the relationship between them. It's basically a giant digital bulletin board!

Miro comes with a library of pre-built templates and widgets. Like previous mentions, Miro has an infinite canvas. You can just keep adding and adding and let your imagination run wild. Miro has some good team features. There's TalkTrack to record process explanation videos, as well as voting and polling features. These can be really helpful for team projects where you need to explain your ideas or make decisions as a group.

Miro also has access control and permissions management. You can control who can see and edit different parts of your project, which can be important for larger teams or sensitive projects.

See how other users rate Miro.

Pros

Easy real-time collab: Miro makes it simple for teams to work together on the same board in real-time.
Very easy to use: Most users find Miro intuitive and quick to learn.
Pre-built library of templates: Miro offers many templates to help you get started quickly.
Ideal for Agile workflows: Miro works well for teams using Agile methodologies.
Project management integrations: Miro integrates with tools like JIRA, Asana, Zoom, and Azure, which can be very convenient if you're already using these tools.

Cons

Restrictive Free Plan: The free version of Miro limits the number of boards you can create, which might not be enough for some users.
Smaller community of users: Miro has a smaller user community, which might mean fewer resources or plugins available.
Poor offline functionality: Miro works best when you're connected to the internet. Its offline capabilities are limited.

Pricing

Free Plan
Starter: $8 /month per member billed annually or $10 monthly.
Business: $16/month per member billed annually or $20 monthly.

Penpot

Penpot is interesting because it is open-source. Open-source means that the code used to create the wireframe software is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. Anybody can contribute to making the program better. Also, many people don't want to support big corporations and do not trust the privacy or security of their data with closed-source software.

Despite being open-source, Penpot still does the same as those big names, though. You can create wireframes, prototypes, and design systems and visuals for websites, apps, or any sort of digital interfaces and products.

Penpot has incredible features like CSS Grid, Flex Layout, and the Code Inspect tab. CSS Grid and Flex Layout are ways to arrange elements on a web page, and the Code Inspect tab lets you see the code behind your designs. These features can be beneficial if you're designing something that will eventually become a concrete website.

One nice thing about Penpot is that it's web-based for quick and easy access. You can use it from any computer with an internet connection without needing to install anything. But if you need more control, Penpot can also be self-hosted. This means you can run it on your own servers if you want even more control over your data and customization options.

See how other users rate Penpot.

Pros

Prototyping: Penpot allows you to create interactive prototypes, which can be really helpful for testing your designs.
Open-source: Being open-source means Penpot is free to use and can be modified by its community. This can lead to rapid improvements and new features.
Low learning curve: Many users find Penpot easy to learn and use, even if they're new to design tools.

Cons

Slow performance: Some users report that Penpot can lag and have slow loading times, especially with larger projects.
Improvable UX: Some features, like zooming in and out, don't always work as smoothly as users would like.
Not enough coding features: While Penpot does offer some coding-related features, some users feel it could offer more in this area.

Pricing

Being open-source, you can get by just fine on the free version. However, there are also paid plans for teams.

Premium: $175 per month for the whole team or $150 per month, billed yearly. It gives you Premium support and lock-in pricing.
Enterprise: Starts at $950 per month for the whole team and adds team access controls, advanced security, cloud hosting, and more.

If it's just wireframing, go for the free version since it's open-source.

Jumpchart

Jumpchart is more of an organizational tool for larger projects. We wouldn't recommend it for high-fidelity wireframes with complex navigation, but it's a good starting point. You can get started with Jumpchart and collect feedback from other people working on the wireframe design project. This makes it a good tool for the early stages of a project when you're still figuring out the overall structure.

Jumpchart works by adding pages and subpages, essentially creating the website hierarchy. It uses a simplified markup language called Textile for content. One of Jumpchart's main selling

Essentially, Jumpchart helps you create a blueprint or sitemap. It's a good option for smaller projects where you need to plan out the structure of a website or app.

See how other users rate Jumpchart.

Pros

Intuitive UI: Users generally find Jumpchart easy to understand and use.
API: Jumpchart offers an API, which can be useful if you want to integrate it with other tools.
Collaborate with writers: You can leave notes for content writers right in the wireframe. This can be really helpful for coordinating design and content creation.
Roles and Permissions: Jumpchart allows you to set different levels of access for different team members.

Cons

Limited free Plan: After the open-source options we just saw, Jumpchart's limited free Plan might be disappointing for some users.
Organizational-only: There are no tools for creating your site's actual interface. Jumpchart is focused on planning and organizing, not on visual design.
Missing features: Jumpchart lacks support for complicated navigation structures, which might be a problem for more complex projects.

Pricing

Free Plan for 1 project and 2 users
Simple: $5/month for 5 projects and 5 users. Annual cost is $55.
Freelancer: $15/month, 2 projects but 10 GBs and 100 pages instead of 1GB and 25 pages per project. Annual cost is $165.
Super: $25/month, 10 projects, and unlimited users. Yearly cost is $250.
Deluxe: $50/month, 30 projects, 100 gigs of storage. Annual cost is $400.

Wirefy

Wirefy is a bit different in that you will need to download the application from the GitHub repository to get started. This means it's not as quick to get up and running as some of the web-based tools we've looked at.

Wirefy allows you to code with HTML and CSS, which can be helpful when building wireframes. This makes it a powerful tool for those who are comfortable with these coding languages.

Because of its coding focus, Wirefy is less beginner-friendly but more robust than other options. If you're comfortable with HTML and CSS, you might find that Wirefy gives you more control over your wireframes.

The tradeoff here is that Wirefy is entirely free. That's right, it's another open-source project. And the dev support behind it is serious, offering constant updates and making it better. This means you get a powerful tool without having to pay, and it's continually improving thanks to its community of developers.

See how other users rate Wirefy.

Pros

Free: Being open-source, Wirefy doesn't cost anything to use.
Dev support: The developer community behind Wirefy provides updates and improvements.
Code-friendly: If you're comfortable with HTML and CSS, Wirefy gives you a lot of control over your wireframes.
Cross-platform: Wirefy works on both macOS and Windows.

Cons

No online version: You need to download and install Wirefy, which might be inconvenient for some users.
Limited features: Compared to some more comprehensive design tools, Wirefy has a more focused feature set.
Learning curve: If you're not familiar with HTML and CSS, Wirefy might be challenging to use.

Pricing

Being open-source, Wirefy is free.

Draw.io

Draw.io is yet another open-source application, and this one is for diagramming. You can use it for visuals, flowcharts, and network diagrams. Draw.io is browser-based. This means you can use it right in your web browser without needing to download or install anything.

One of the best things about Draw.io is that it doesn't ask you to register or log in. You can just go to the website and start creating right away. This can be really convenient if you just want to quickly create a diagram without any fuss.

Draw.io has a decent selection of shapes and templates. It has thousands of built-in SVG shapes and icons. This gives you a lot of options to work with when creating your diagrams or wireframes. Like many of the tools we've looked at, Draw.io has a drag-and-drop interface.

Once you're finished with your design in Draw.io, you can save your files in XML format on your Google Drive, Dropbox, or GitHub. This gives you flexibility in where you store your work. Draw.io takes data ownership and privacy very seriously. You're the only one with access to your designs.

See how other users rate Draw.io.

Pros

Robust data privacy and security measures: Draw.io takes your privacy seriously, which can be necessary for sensitive projects.
Quick Start: No account, no payment, just start. This makes it really easy to get going with Draw.io.
Open-source: Being open-source means it is free and can be improved by its community.
Intuitive interface: You'll get the hang of it in no time.

Cons

No auto-save: Draw.io doesn't automatically save your work. That could be a problem if you forget to save it manually.
Limited features: Compared to some more comprehensive design tools, Draw.io has a more focused feature set.
Slower performance: Some users report that it can be slow, especially with larger diagrams.
Poor collaboration: While the platform has recently introduced some collaboration features, they're not as robust as those found in tools like Figma.

Pricing

Being open source, Draw.io is completely free.

Mydraft.cc

MyDraft.cc is a closer alternative to Figma, giving you the tools for Prototyping and Wireframing. It's like having a simplified version of some of the more complex wireframe design tools we've looked at. MyDraft.cc is open source and completely free. It's also browser-based, which means you can use it right in your web browser without needing to download or install a program.

When you start using MyDraft.cc, you'll be presented with a blank canvas that is clean and easy to use. There are hundreds of free shapes and icons that have a simple-to-use search bar. The platform is continuously being updated by its community of developers. New features and improvements are constantly being added.

Collaboration in MyDraft.cc is simple and straightforward. Your files live online, and you will need to save the URL of your projects to retrieve them. You can easily share your work with others by sending them the URL.

See how other users rate MyDraft.cc.

Pros

No account needed: You can start using MyDraft.cc right away without needing to create an account.
Free: MyDraft.cc is open-source and completely free to use.
Easy to use: MyDraft.cc is intuitive and straightforward.
Always getting better: The community of developers is constantly improving MyDraft.cc.

Cons

Limited features: Compared to some more comprehensive design tools, MyDraft.cc has a more focused feature set.
Small libraries: The selection of pre-made elements might be smaller than what you'd find in more established wireframing tools.
Poor collaboration: The collaboration aspect of MyDraft.cc is quite basic.

Pricing

MyDraft.cc is free because it's open-source.

Pencil Project

Pencil Project is an open-source GUI prototyping tool. It does the same thing as other open-source projects we saw, providing a free option for creating wireframes and prototypes.

Unlike some of the browser-based tools we've looked at, Pencil Project has to be installed locally. It's available on most desktop platforms, including Linux, Mac, and Windows. One nice feature of Pencil Project is that you can export your final product in various formats like PNG, SVG, and PDF.

Pencil Project comes with a good selection of built-in shape collections. The list of built-in collections now includes more general shapes, everything you need for flowcharts, as well as desktop/web UI shapes. Of course, it also comes with Google and Apple GUI shapes for mobile use. This gives you a lot of options to work with when creating your designs.

See how other users rate Pencil Project.

Pros

Free and open-source: Like several other tools we've looked at, Pencil Project is completely free to use.
Cross-platform: Pencil Project works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, giving you flexibility in what computer you use it on.
Ease of use: Nothing is reinventing the wheel here. This is a straightforward program.

Cons

Limited features: It has fewer features than more prominent names and paid options.
Best for small projects: Some users may find that Pencil Project works well for smaller projects but can be limiting for larger, more complex designs.
Could be more updates: Some users feel that Pencil Project isn't updated as frequently as they'd like.

Pricing

Since it's open source, Pencil Project is free.

Etch-A-Sketch

We kept the best wireframe tool for last! If you have the skill and loads of time on your hands, you can actually create wireframes with an Etch-a-sketch. Just keep in mind a bumpy car ride or a hard sneeze can erase all of your hard work. Beautiful, but very fragile!

On a more serious note, the point is that you can do a wireframe with anything at your disposal. The idea is in your head, and that's all you need. After that, it's up to personal preference which medium works best. Whether it's a high-tech AI-powered tool or a childhood toy, the most important thing is getting your ideas out there!

Conclusion

That's all there is to it! Wireframing is a crucial part of the web design process, and using the right tools can make all the difference.

As we've seen, there are countless options to choose from in the range of AI-powered tools to traditional pen and paper. It's important to choose a tool that feels comfortable and efficient for your specific project. Some tools, like Sketch or Figma, offer powerful features for detailed design work. Others, like Balsamiq or Wireframe.cc, focus on quick, simple wireframing.

We suggest trying a few of the wireframe tools to see which addresses your wireframing needs. Platforms with free trials might be a good starting point. That way, you can get a feel for different tools and find the one that works best for you.