The best prototyping tools and software for designers

Prototyping tools are often undervalued in the design process, when in reality they are incredibly valuable, serving as a bridge between concept and implementation in design and development. These tools help with creating interactive and visual prototypes, allowing designers to experiment, refine details, and communicate how various design elements will function together. Prototyping is an essential part of the UX design process.

Beyond their value in the creative process, prototypes provide something tangible to convey ideas to stakeholders and decision-makers. Ensuring that concepts can be tested and refined before further development.

In this blog, we’ll explore the key features found in the best prototyping software, the pros and cons of our favorite platforms, and how an online proofing tool can help.

Features of prototyping software

When you’re in the market for prototyping software, there are a number of key features to look out for. 

1. Drag-and-drop interface: first of all, a good prototyping tool should have an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface that makes it simple to create interactive elements.
2. Drafting capability: creating a rough sketch, blueprint, or wireframe of a design is important to see how it will look and be arranged. This helps in building the design with a strong starting point.
3. Collaborative functionality: working together is important, and tools that allow people to give feedback and comments directly on the prototype are essential for getting input from everyone involved, like stakeholders and team members.
4. Responsive design: ensure that your prototyping tools can preview your designs on different devices, like your phone or computer, so the layout and experience adjusts accordingly.
5. Flow diagrams: a prototyping tool should allow you to create flow diagrams that show how users move through a website or app. This makes it easier to see and plan out the paths people will take when using the design.

When evaluating a prototyping tool also consider factors such as user interface (UI), usability, integrations, and pricing to ensure it aligns with your specific needs and workflow.

UX Tools carried out a survey in 2023 to see what tools are most commonly used by developers and design professionals, with prototyping tools being used by a strong majority.

The best prototyping tools

Selecting a prototyping tool isn’t a straightforward choice. It can depend on personal preference, your needs, and how big your organization is. Some of the most popular tools are Figma, Adobe XD, Invision, and Sketch. These tools offer a range of features, but they are often chosen for their ability to integrate approval workflows into the prototyping process, boosting the success rate of design projects.

Figma

Figma is a versatile prototyping software that stands out as an all-in-one design tool. It’s great for planning and creating prototypes bundled into a single package. Figma lets you sketch out ideas, design user interfaces, and collaborate with your team all in one place.

One of its features is the ability to test device responsiveness including a mobile app view.. It’s not just for designers – it’s useful for product managers, copywriters, and developers too.

With its user-friendly interface and real-time collaboration, Figma allows teams to contribute, provide feedback, and make informed decisions quickly, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of the entire design process.

The pros of using Figma

• Real-time collaboration: Figma lets team members work together simultaneously, ensuring everyone stays on the same page during the design process.

• Platform agnostic: accessible through a web browser, Figma works seamlessly across different operating systems and devices, eliminating the need for software installations and compatibility concerns, making it user-friendly for diverse teams.

• Version control: Figma automatically saves and tracks design changes, simplifying the management of design iterations and reducing the risk of losing work by allowing easy access to previous versions.

• Integration with other tools: Figma’s integrations with tools like Slack, Trello, and Jira enhance team communication and streamline the design process, making it simple to share updates and discuss design changes with the entire team.

• Scalability: Figma’s design system features help with the easy scaling of projects, ensuring consistent design elements across an organization by creating a centralized library of reusable assets and styles.

• Accessibility: Figma’s web-based platform and user-friendly interface make it accessible to both designers and non-designers, promoting cross-functional collaboration and allowing team members from various disciplines to contribute to the design process.

• Customizable plugins: Figma’s support for plugins allows users to personalize their design experience by automating tasks, improving workflows, and integrating with external services, making the design environment more efficient and tailored to specific needs.

The cons of using Figma

• Internet dependency: Figma relies on a stable internet connection, so if your internet drops completely accessing Figma and its features becomes difficult, causing potential delays in your design work.

• Limited offline support: Figma does have an offline mode, but it doesn’t offer the full range of features that are available online, restricting access to collaboration tools and other advanced features when you don’t have an internet connection, limiting its usefulness in such situations.

• Learning curve: if you’re new to design software, Figma’s interface might be overwhelming at first, requiring time and effort to get the hang of it. This learning curve could lead to initial frustration and slower adoption among team members who are new to the platform.

• Performance issues: when working on large projects, Figma might encounter performance problems like slow loading, occasional crashes, or lag, impacting the user experience and slowing down the design process, especially for teams handling extensive designs.

• Compatibility: Figma is designed for modern hardware and operating systems, so it might not work well on older devices or outdated systems, potentially limiting accessibility and usability for some team members who haven’t upgraded their hardware or operating systems.

Sketch

Sketch is a Mac app for designers. It combines all the tools designers need in one place, making it easy to create digital designs. The main goal is to make the design process smooth and simple.

Sketch doesn’t just focus on the design part; it also helps people work together. It lets designers, developers, project managers, and clients collaborate on design work. This way, everyone can give input and work together to create the best digital designs.

The pros of using Sketch

• Reusable components: With Sketch, you can easily create reusable design elements called components, which are like building blocks for your design projects. When a component is updated, it automatically changes everywhere it is used, saving time and keeping everything consistent.

• Community: Sketch boasts a rapidly growing community. Countless free resources and plugins are available, with forums and Facebook groups offering valuable advice to users. 

• Responsive dev team: the team at Sketch excels at incorporating user feedback into their development process. As the user-centered design’s favorite application, Sketch sees frequent updates that not only address bugs but also introduce fantastic core features. 

• Freedom in growth: Sketch’s independent organizational structure allows them to steer the product’s growth freely and in any direction they choose. This flexibility contrasts with Adobe’s complex suite of interconnected tools, making Sketch more nimble and adaptable to new markets.

The cons of using Sketch

• Buggy performance: despite numerous updates, Sketch can still be buggy at times. While major issues have been addressed, there are lingering bugs that need attention to enhance the overall user experience.

• Feature-centric updates: Sketch tends to prioritize introducing new and interesting features over refining basic functionalities. This focus on innovation might leave users wanting more improvements in fundamental aspects, potentially affecting the overall usability of the software.

• Resource intensive: Sketch can be demanding on computer resources, particularly slowing down older machines significantly. Even on high-performance Macs, it may struggle with file handling compared to rival software like Adobe. 

• Dependency on plugins: while Sketch encourages a thriving developer community, the reliance on plugins for basic actions can be a drawback. Some essential functionalities may require third-party plugins, leading to a somewhat fragmented user experience. 

Adobe XD

If you’re a fan of Adobe, try Adobe XD, made for designers in the Creative Cloud ecosystem.

Adobe XD helps designers make and test digital designs easily. The software allows for creating interactive models for websites and mobile apps using a simple interface. A particular standout feature is Auto-Animate, which makes designs come to life with just a few clicks. Allowing you to create and test visual transitions for your designs.

Whether you’re a pro with Creative Cloud or new to Adobe, Adobe XD is a user-friendly tool for making digital content. 

The pros of using Adobe XD

• Integration with Creative Cloud: Adobe XD effortlessly integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, helping you save time. Allowing you to bring files in from Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign or reuse assets from your Creative Cloud library.

• Development workflows: Adobe XD is tailored for larger organizations, offering a structured design-to-development workflow – from creating and sharing design specs to downloading assets in the right format.

• Prototyping tools: Adobe XD boasts a comprehensive toolkit featuring vector networks, grids, and reusable components, empowering designers with a robust set of tools for creating interactive and engaging user experiences.

• Accessibility: Adobe XD includes advanced features specifically designed for accessibility and voice prototyping, enabling designers to create inclusive and interactive designs for diverse user experiences.

• Version control: Adobe XD prioritizes version control, allowing designers to easily manage and revert to previous design versions, ensuring a reliable and secure design process.

The cons of using Adobe XD

• Maintenance mode: Adobe XD was recently placed into ‘maintenance mode’ by Adobe. This mean’s that they are not investing in any ongoing development for this service.

• Less emphasis on collaboration: Adobe XD’s collaboration features, while available, lack the real-time efficiency seen in Figma, potentially posing challenges for agile and collaborative design teams.

• Cost: Adobe XD’s pricing structure may be viewed unfavorably in comparison to other prototyping products, especially for users seeking a free plan or more budget-friendly options.

• Local installation: in contrast to Figma’s cloud-based accessibility, Adobe XD requires installation on a local device, limiting the flexibility of collaborative work.

• Complex interface: Adobe XD’s interface can be seen as complex and cluttered by beginners, potentially making it less user-friendly.

• Performance: some users have reported slower performance in Adobe XD, particularly when dealing with large or intricate projects, raising concerns about its efficiency compared to other design tools.

InVision

InVision is a tool made by designers, specifically for designers. It’s a must-have for anyone involved in designing websites, apps, and other digital assets. 

InVision makes it easy to create and share interactive drafts of designs, helping teams work together smoothly. It’s all about making the design process clear, collaborative, and giving users precise control. 

With InVision, you can easily share your design ideas with your team or clients and get helpful feedback to improve and refine your work.

The pros of using InVision

• Effortless design: InVision simplifies the design and prototyping process by providing easy-to-use features and tools, allowing users to create functional prototypes effortlessly.

• Revision tracking: InVision’s history mode lets designers easily look back at earlier versions of their project screens, making it simple to compare changes over time.

• Design integration: users benefit from a user-friendly drag-and-drop feature in InVision, enabling quick integration of images, sketches, and designs into their work. Additionally, designers can easily import designs from online storage applications like Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox.

• Collaboration: InVision features robust collaboration features, allowing designers to work seamlessly on their own or communicate effortlessly with team members and clients. The platform allows for quick exchanging of ideas, suggestions, and feedback, with the option to share links for instant comments, streamlining the collaborative design process.

The cons of using InVision

• Too costly: the cost of using InVision may make it a bit restrictive for some users, potentially limiting its accessibility for those who are looking for more budget-friendly design collaboration tools.

• Primitive prototypes: InVision’s prototypes are somewhat basic, lacking the interactive elements found in more advanced tools. Users can only click through the mockups like they’re going through a presentation, which may limit the depth of user feedback and testing. If you’re looking for a tool that provides highly interactive and dynamic prototypes, InVision’s more simplistic approach might be a drawback, especially for projects that require a more advanced level of prototyping and user engagement.

• Discontinuation: Despite being a front-runner in the industry since 2011, InVision is being discontinued at the end of 2024. So, you may not want to invest your time and resources into a platform that is being retired soon.

Alternative prototyping tools

With InVision on the way out, and Adobe XD no longer being actively developed, you may want to be on the lookout for some more prototyping alternatives. 

Here are some other prototyping software options to look into: 

• Miro: create click-through prototypes swiftly and visualize your design ideas for web or mobile apps. Miro’s prototyping tool streamlines planning efforts and facilitates instant feedback.
• UXpin: utilize Merge technology to scale your design operations. This innovative feature enables both UI designers and developers to create consistent interfaces using shared building blocks, expediting the product development process.
• Marvel: transform your digital product creation process with rapid prototyping, testing, and handoff capabilities. Marvel empowers design teams to bring ideas to life efficiently, putting the power of design into everyone’s hands.
• Axure RP: as the sole UX tool empowering professionals to construct realistic, functional prototypes, Axure RP offers unparalleled capabilities for prototyping.
• Justinmind: equipping UX professionals with the tools to build authentic, functional prototypes, Justinmind enables seamless prototyping experiences.
• Lucidchart: it’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface simplifies prototype creation, and one-click theme addition ensures a polished, professional finish.
• ProtoPie: elevate your UI/UX design ideas into highly interactive prototypes across various platforms, including mobile, desktop, web, and IoT, with ProtoPie’s comprehensive prototyping capabilities.
• Framer: seamlessly integrate design and development with Framer. Whether you’re a designer exploring coding or a developer delving into design, Framer provides an ideal platform for crafting website designs and prototypes.

Considerations when choosing a prototyping tool

Before making any quick decisions based on price alone, there are a number of other considerations when choosing your organization’s prototyping tool. 

The success of a prototyping design project relies not only on affordability but also on factors such as:

• Number of users involved
• Scale of the project
• Compatibility with your existing toolkit
• Operating system requirements.

It’s important to check if the tool you choose for creating prototypes fits well with your project’s specific requirements. 

Designers and businesses should use the free trials provided to try out the features and functions of the tool. During this trial period, designers can see if the tool meets their needs and also explore the available support resources like tutorials, help staff, documentation, and community forums to make the learning process easier. 

By thinking about these factors and checking the resources, design teams can make smart decisions that will help their design projects succeed.

Feedback tools for prototyping

The functionality of these tools is primarily aimed at prototyping, so their limited features may pose challenges in collecting comprehensive feedback efficiently. 

Designers can tackle these challenges by exploring PageProof’s solution, which provides online proofing for collecting feedback and streamlining workflows.

PageProof supports popular prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, and more, enhancing the collaboration experience for designers. Simply create a web proof of the prototype design share link. Reviewers can markup and comment directly on the proof.

By incorporating PageProof, which offers automated workflows with reminders, designers can overcome the constraints of traditional feedback methods, ensuring a more productive and collaborative design process.

Decided on a prototyping tool yet? 

This article aims to help you identify a prototyping tool that meets your needs. Selecting the right prototyping tool is an important part of the design process. Especially for organizations dealing with numerous projects, gathering feedback, assessing usability, and refining designs through iterative testing can be transformative for your project and key to its success.

Book a demo with PageProof to see how we can streamline your prototype review and approval process and enhance overall efficiency.