Wireframes are a crucial part of the UX design process, helping designers ideate user experience design for digital products such as websites, mobile apps, or software. By putting observations and user research into ideal shapes, wireframes allow for validating designs before creating high-fidelity ones. While wireframes used to be drawn on paper, there are now wireframe software and tools available, such as Balsamiq, Adobe XD, Sketch App, Figma, and InVision Studio. Unqode’s design team uses these tools due to their simplicity and ease of iteration, saving time and effort in the design process.
Balsamiq
The Balsamiq Wireframes tool is designed to sketch out user interfaces for websites, web/desktop, and mobile applications during the ideation phase. It prioritizes structure over colors and icons, providing a clean interface that keeps you focused. Wireframes offer enough interactivity to replace prototypes, enabling easy collaboration and feedback. Balsamiq is available as a web or desktop application and integrates with various wikis and bug trackers. You can try Balsamiq Cloud for free, download a free desktop trial, or access older versions with ease.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is an all-in-one UX design app for creating digital products, from wireframing to basic prototyping. It features a minimalist interface and easy onboarding for new users. With Adobe XD, you can design, animate, prototype, collaborate, and create designs that look and feel like the real thing.
Sketch App
In 2010, Pieter Omvlee and Emanuel Sá founded Sketch App with the goal of providing designers with better tools. Initially, they created a native Mac app specifically for UI design. Today, Sketch is a full-featured design platform that includes a Mac app and powerful browser-based collaboration tools. With Sketch, you can create, prototype, collaborate, and bring your ideas to life. Over one million people, from freelancers to the world’s largest teams, use Sketch to design their products.
Figma
Figma is a cloud-based design tool that offers real-time collaboration and a wide range of design features. It allows you to work seamlessly with your team, without needing to stop to install, save, or export your work. Figma rivals other wireframe tools, such as Sketch, Adobe XD, and Studio, and offers a cost-effective solution for individual designers and design teams. With Figma’s free version, you can work on up to three projects and collaborate with two editors while enjoying unlimited cloud storage.
InVision Studio
InVision Studio, created by the makers of the popular online prototyping tool InVision App, is a powerful screen design tool for creating wireframes and prototypes. With advanced animation and frictionless rapid prototyping, InVision Studio empowers designers to unlock new dimensions of screen design. It’s designed to help designers determine how humans interact with technology in the rapidly evolving digital world. The free version of InVision Studio is perfect for individuals and small design teams, allowing up to three active users and three documents.