Prototyping Tools

Top Rated Prototyping Tools include: OmniGraffle, Adobe XD, InVision, Proto.io, and Sketch.
Other Prototyping Tools on the TrustMap include: Marvel, Axure RP, iRise, and UXPin.
A complete list of Prototyping Tools is available here.

TrustMaps are two-dimensional charts that compare products based on satisfaction ratings and research frequency by prospective buyers. Products must have 10 or more ratings to appear on this TrustMap, and those above the median line are considered Top Rated.

Prototyping Tools Overview

What is Prototyping?

Prototyping is a part of the design process that allows team members to review concepts, share feedback and collaborate during the early stages of a design project. Designers create an interactive mockup of a website, software product or mobile app in order to test concepts before designing the full project. Often UX designers use wireframes to evaluate the flow and usability of the concept before investing too much time in the actual design, and so prototyping platforms may also contain wireframing tools. Some tools also offer usability testing programs wherein real users will test and provide feedback on your design concept.

Prototypes, as opposed to wireframes, are working models or mockups of websites or web apps, designed to present a closer to finalized experience for user testing than a wireframe. Prototypes include animations and graphics to exemplify the aesthetic and functional qualities of the web application or website.

Prototyping Features & Capabilities

Prototyping tools may include some of the following functionalities:

Image editing capabilities
Drag-and-drop design tool
Direct uploading of various file types (PSD, GIF, JPG, etc.)
Interactive mockups
Advanced animations and transitions
Photoshop sync
Sharing features
Collaboration features such as commenting and threading
Version control
User testing

Pricing Information

There are a wide range of tools to help designers create and test prototypes. The simplest tools may be free and support small teams or single individuals managing a single project. Enterprise level tools brand themselves as collaborative design platforms and allow teams to build workflows and collaborate, with features such as commenting, threading, version control, etc. Many tools offer free plans with no collaboration features, and paid versions that allow multiple users to interact.

84 Ratings

InVision is a collaborative design and prototyping platform with features such as freehand drafting mode and interactive mockups, collaboration, idea management, user testing, and integration with Slack and other collaboration tools. According to the vendor, 1 million designers are using the free...

57 Ratings

Axure RP is a software prototyping tool used by UX designers, from Axure Software Solutions in San Diego.

32 Ratings

OmniGraffle is a wireframing tool for Mac users.

22 Ratings

Sketch is a visual design tool of use for application prototyping, coming with a wide variety of extensions, plugins, and an active user community.

11 Ratings

iRise offers a prototyping and design platform for software development.

13 Ratings

UXPin is a UX design platform with wireframing, prototyping and interactive mockup features.

11 Ratings

Marvel is a prototyping and wireframing app.

17 Ratings

Proto.io is a prototyping tool for creating interactive mobile apps.

13 Ratings

Adobe XD is a prototyping and UX/UI option for website and mobile application design, featuring a range of UI tools and and templates, a versatile artboard and contextual layer panels, and deep integration with Adobe's creative suite of products for fast import of objects from these applications.

3 Ratings

Frontify is brand management software in the cloud. The purpose of Frontify is to gather all essential brand tools in one place, such as style guides, UI patterns, media assets, etc., with the goal of making brand information more accessible and simplifying the life of everyone working with a bra...

3 Ratings

Pixate is an obsolete prototyping platform acquired by Google in 2015 and End-of-Life in October 2016.

9 Ratings

Justinmind offer prototyping and interactive mockups for web and mobile apps, supporting interactive graphics, animations, and user testing, collaboration and feedback sharing, and requirements management.