Faster Friendlier tool - Balsamiq
February 15, 2017

Faster Friendlier tool - Balsamiq

Pooja Sawant | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Balsamiq

Balsamiq is used in our organization for creating wireframes usually in the early stages of the design phase. Whenever there is a need to create rapid prototyping and/or getting feedback. We use it in our creative department. Mainly, during collaborative sessions where the creative team works on them and we need feedback from our clients. It typically addresses any redesign problems that we may have or could face.
  • Balsamiq is good when you have to use a low fidelity prototype and want to make wireframes which need to be done quickly or have a lot of changes.
  • Balsamiq is easier for collaborators to work together. The easy drag and drop options, website site like looking templates makes it easy to create wireframes.
  • It is easier to save and do check in and check out since it's offline.
  • There could be more interactivity added to it, sometimes clients need to see interactivity and the distinction between a wireframe and prototype are difficult to explain.
  • UI component library is there but it's limited when compared to other tools like Axure RP that could be improved
  • It is not as versatile as other tools and things you can add becomes limited after certain point
  • It has improved collaboration within our team. We communicate ideas with it faster
  • It is a good tool for initial design phase or redesign phase and helped our company with the same
  • But we did purchase different tools for more interactivity
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.
Balsamiq is best suited for creating rapid prototypes or wireframes within the team for collaborative work. It is also suited for getting approval from the clients for the initial design phase. It is not suited or is less appropriate if you have a high fidelity prototype and need to add more interactions. If you have the need to create more robust prototype I would not recommend Balsamiq