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Balsamiq

Balsamiq

Overview

What is Balsamiq?

Balsamiq is a wireframing tool that allows users to sketch out user interfaces for websites and web and and mobile apps.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Balsamiq has proven to be a valuable tool for various departments and teams within organizations. Users have found that Balsamiq is …
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Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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What is Balsamiq?

Balsamiq is a wireframing tool that allows users to sketch out user interfaces for websites and web and and mobile apps.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Figma, headquartered in San Francisco, offers their collaborative design and prototyping application to support digital product and UI development.

What is Optimal Workshop?

Optimal Workshop, a company in New Zealand, offers their suite of user research tools on a subscription basis, including the Treejack information architecture tool, OptimalSort card sorting test, Chalkmark first-click testing, and other tools.

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Product Demos

Demo website penjualan laptop dan komputer menggunakan mockup belsamiq

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Balsamiq demo

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Demo for using Balsamiq to design a login interface for a healthcare app

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Balsamiq Demo Smidig2009

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Rapid Wireframing – LIVE Demo using Balsamiq

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Balsamiq Mockups in XPages

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Product Details

What is Balsamiq?

Balsamiq is a wireframing tool that allows users to sketch out user interfaces for websites and web and and mobile apps.

Balsamiq Video

Balsamiq Cloud is the industry-leading solution for fast, approachable, collaborative wireframing. Check it out at https://balsamiq.cloud

Balsamiq Technical Details

Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(105)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Balsamiq has proven to be a valuable tool for various departments and teams within organizations. Users have found that Balsamiq is particularly useful for creating wireframes and low fidelity prototypes in the early stages of the design process. This helps teams and clients focus on user flows and on-page content, allowing for quick iterations based on user feedback. Balsamiq has also been utilized by product management departments as an alternative to more complex design software like Photoshop or Illustrator, enabling the quick mocking up of layouts and workflows. Additionally, Balsamiq has been used by software development teams to visualize new feature enhancements and refine requirements based on customer feedback. Multiple departments across organizations have found value in Balsamiq's ability to set up mockups quickly, refine requirements, and gain approval for project planning. The software has also helped standardize the design process and improve communication between marketing and design channels. Overall, users appreciate Balsamiq for its ability to create low fidelity wireframes early in the design process, allowing for a focus on layout before getting distracted by colors and other design elements.

Based on user reviews, here are the three most common recommendations for Balsamiq:

  1. Use Balsamiq for quick prototypes and wireframes. It is recommended for creating talking points and drafting design concepts. The software is particularly useful for rapid low-fi comps and prototypes, making it a great choice for beginners learning about user experience design.

  2. When working on more complex applications, consider exploring other options in addition to Balsamiq. While Balsamiq is suggested for wireframing needs and offers a free trial, users also recommend checking out alternative wireframe tools that may better meet specific UI element needs or pricing requirements. They suggest considering other tools after the initial design sprint.

  3. Reach out to Balsamiq's support team for any questions or assistance. Many users appreciate the helpfulness of the support team and find it beneficial to have access to assistance while using the software.

Overall, users find Balsamiq to be an easy-to-use tool for wireframing, especially for quick prototyping and creating basic wireframe concepts. It is considered a good option for beginner designers and teams working with difficult stakeholders. However, some users mention that as users progress in their careers and require more advanced prototyping tools, they may need to explore alternatives to Balsamiq.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 27)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Balsamiq is lagging a lot as compared to Figma but it's comparable with respect to MockFlow.

Also, Figma is a full stack solution in designing and hence it was an overkill of my role. Balsamiq is easier to use & know in the industry and hence that helped in decision making.




Ming Hon | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Balsamic for ideation, discussion, collaboration and proposals. It is super fast and easy to just drag UI components onto the canvas and move things around or delete things as you need. Its alignment tools are basic and good enough to get the job done. I would use Figma when I get to the prototype stage where colors, precise layouts and looks matter more.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
In the past I have just used HTML to mock up UIs, but as I've previously mentioned this can cause problems with user's thinking that the system is already built. Balsamiq is far quicker and easier to create wireframes, it is more collaborative and the resulting wireframes cannot be confused with a real system as they have a hand drawn feel to them.
March 02, 2020

Balsamiq is Sweet

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We think Balsamiq does a good job compared to Visio and we do go to Balsamiq first. We typically know after trying to put together the first wireframe if it will work well in Balsamiq. And we are familiar enough with both tools to get an idea. If it is not working right away in Balsamiq, we go over to Visio.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
While I love these other tools for many different reasons, Balsamiq is the tool I use for low-fidelity wireframing every time. It’s the most simple and easy-to-use out of the bunch, and it gets the job done without a ton of effort and time required. In the early stages of design, our team does not want to spend a ton of time using a complicated tool to create a design that is likely to change a ton anyway. Balsamiq enables us to quickly design and iterate so we can move onto the build phase fully informed and prepared with plenty of feedback.
John Rougeux | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
OmniGraffle can get you to the same place as Balsamiq will, but it will take you longer. Balsamiq has more built-in elements that help you create mockups very quickly. With OmniGraffle, though, you'll be spending more time creating elements by hand. And because OmniGraffle is so precise, it encourages you to create more exact mockups. But with Balsamiq, it feels more appropriate to create something fast and loose.
Craig Orser | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
InVision integrates well with Photoshop but Balsamiq has a much more intuitive pick-up-and-play quality that makes it a useful entry tool to marketing teams just getting their feet wet in the design process. The standardized layout and methodology also gives it an edge if you work in a team with multiple designers.
Elizabeth Coppinger | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Creating digital wireframes in Photoshop is a nightmare. Photoshop was not really designed for this purpose. It doesn't have good collaboration options and it doesn't allow pattern libraries, which are essential for consistency and efficiency. We use UXPin and Axure for some time, but found that these platforms were a bit bloated. Balsamiq is much simpler than any of these options. It's a perfect wireframing platform for non-designers or for designers that want to focus on content and element-placement prior to design.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • It is very much user-friendly.
  • It reproduces the experience of sketching on a whiteboard but using a computer.
  • The handwritten design is unique which lets designer focus on the design.
  • It allows the designer to arrange pre-built widgets using a drag-and-drop editor.
Miguelangel Nuñez | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We select Balsamiq for product cost and quality. It is intuitive, so it does not require much support or courses to start using it. It does not take up much space on the server, it is very light. It can be used in several operating systems. You can load the Bootstrap library which makes the screens look as similar as possible to the final presentation.
Alexis Medvedeff | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have used some other alternatives and Balsamiq is the best one for fastest results.
InVision and Justinmind both work very well and have great tools for collaboration and making interactive mockups. With Justinmind, I have done some app mockups that felt almost functional because I even used real assets. But unfortunately, a lot of time and dedication is needed. It can be good if your application isn't too big.
In this case, I mention powerpoint because we have also used it to make some mockups based on assets we already had. Just by cutting, pasting and cropping different images and assets.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Balsamiq is the only wireframing software I've used. The only other thing that I've used for any wireframing is Microsoft Powerpoint, which does actually increase some customization options, but takes much longer to make a quality wireframe. I've also used Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for more finalized designs. These have a large advantage for anything that you want to look like the final product but also take significantly more time.
Eliz Marvic Melicio Carvajal | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Sketch
Balsamiq is selected for cost and product quality. It is inductive, so it does not require much support or courses to start using it, it does not take up much space on the server, it is very light. It can be used in several operating systems. You can load the Bootstrap library, which makes it a good option to see the screens as close to the final presentation. Functional users find it very easy to make comments or create changes in the presented models.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Balsamiq is a quite simple tool; but does exactly what was designed for, it helps with creating mockups, wireframes, and flows. Its simplicity works great for people who are not designers but need to visually represent their ideas. Low-fidelity wireframes work really well in development teams, for example when there is no need for sophisticated designs like wireframes of admin screens.
February 01, 2018

Balsamiq - Easy Peasy

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I just searched free trials and did a test run of Balsamiq for 30 days at no cost. I didn't even look at another product - this one met the immediate need to get a bunch of drawings done and out the door. At the end of the 30 days my manager didn't care, either, just wanted a decision so I made it: tried one, bought one.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Paper App
The Pen tool in Paper is definitely a happy middle between Balsamiq and actual paper prototyping. It has the advantage of being able to copy/paste a section that has already been designed - but even there selecting a specific section is hard - balsamiq's sections are more clearly defined/layered. Paper is used with an external touch pen tool with provides fidelity familiar to sketching and doesn't require a mouse/clicking and dragging gestures, in essence, to "sketch" a prototype.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Balsamiq is very simple and easy, select and drag program for wireframing and prototyping for websites and software. It's really meant for beginners and people who put more weight into the workflow rather than design as there aren't very many options for making it personalized or showing off your creativity. However, for a beginner, it's a really amazing and simple way to get the idea across to the whole team. The graphic designers can then work on top of that wireframe to get it personalized.
February 24, 2017

Cooking Up Quick Mockups

Grant Wilkins | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We also have Adobe Illustrator. Balsamiq is a great choice when you value speed and want to use the pre-built icons to put together an interface. It is also a slimmed down feature set versus Illustrator and gives you just the essentials. Balsamiq is easier for non-graphic designers to pick up and learn quickly.
Pooja Sawant | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Axure vs Balsamiq. I would pick Axure over Balsamiq. The only con is there could be a learning curve to Axure.
Sketch gives more interactivity over Balsamiq but is limited to Mac users.
UXPin has easier palettes to move around than Balsamiq but Balsamiq is easier to use than UXPin. Balsamiq is easier to check in and check out to the branch since its offline.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Axure
I have also used Axure. I feel both these tools have different features to offer. So, it depends on the use case you want to implement.

Key features:
  • Interactive prototypes
  • JQuery Widget libraries for website and mobile applications
  • Masters which allow for updating of every page of your website wireframe from a single location similar to how CSS changes run right through the whole site.
  • Produce functional specifications in Microsoft Word format that document the interactions, annotations, and even content in your design.
Abbie Cataldo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I think the learning curve for all of the other tools is much greater than that of Balsamiq. PhotoShop, I think, is a poor tool for UX, but is often used by members of my team for its overall prevalence in their past education (many graphics folks). I have found that Illustrator is better in UX, as its layout capabilities are more robust. However, neither of these tools are optimized for linking and showing interaction without the use of a third tool like Acrobat hotspotting or InVision. Axure is good, but the learning curve usually leads me to fall back to Balsamiq with my teams.
March 11, 2016

Balsamiq FTW!

Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • Axure
Axure is basically a direct copy of Balsamiq for 4x the price.
Moqups is painful to use and it's a monthly subscription.
Although I have not used Adobe Comp, the learning curve is so high, it cannot even come close to the ease of Balsamiq. And Illustrator and Photoshop for mockups is a joke if you are a designer AND a developer. I don't have time for all that nonsense!
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