15 Top Prototyping Tools Go Head-to-Head

Major changes in the market for prototyping tools: from 2015 to 2019

The market for prototyping tools has undergone earth-shaking changes since 2015, with increasing emphasis on stakeholder feedback and user testing in UI design. Tools like UXPin are now able to handle the work of the wireframe phase, while tools like InVision App bridge the gap between designers and developers with design delivery tools.

There is a clear difference between desktop tools and cloud sharing (such as Adobe XD, Axure, Balsamiq, Sketch InVision) and online collaboration tools (such as Figma, UXPin, Fluid UI, Proto.io). The functionality of many tools seems to be converging, which defines the role of modern UX designers.

Top Prototyping Tools: Each has its own merits

Adobe XD, InVision App, Marvel App, UXPin, Webflow and Figma are among the top prototyping tools. Each tool has its pros and cons: Adobe XD provides a comprehensive single-application solution; InVision App is a mature platform that is constantly updated; and Marvel App is a friendly alternative for non-designers.

Other prototyping tools worth considering: Feature-rich

Other prototyping tools worth considering include Fluid UI, Proto.io, Axure RP 8, Framer X, Mockplus, Justinmind, and Flinto. These tools provide a range of features from high-fi and lo-fi library components to animation and design collaboration capabilities.

As the number and variety of prototyping tools continue to increase, it is becoming increasingly difficult to figure out which tools meet which needs and who they are suitable for. Since we first wrote this article in 2015, countless design applications have dominated (and changed) the prototyping field.

Stakeholder feedback and user testing are now playing an increasingly important role in UI design, and the next generation of tools aims to connect these two previously separated phases of the design process. Customers want to participate, and emails can no longer meet the needs. Some applications (such as UXPin) are also responsible for the wireframe phase, while others (such as InVision App) bridge the gap between designers and developers by providing design delivery tools.

In addition, there is now a clear difference between desktop tools and cloud sharing (Adobe XD, Axure, Balsamiq, Sketch InVision) and online collaboration tools (Figma, UXPin, Fluid UI, Proto.io).

The features of many tools seem to be converging, which defines the role of modern UX designers.

(This article was updated in March 2019 to reflect the current situation of the prototyping tool market)

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is the latest member of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, launched in March 2016. It provides designers with a single application covering all features including lo-fi prototyping, high-fidelity prototyping, user processes, sharing and feedback.

Pros:

• Available for macOS and Windows
• Single application provides all the required features

Disadvantages:

• Plugin workflow does not exist, locked in the Adobe ecosystem

InVision App

InVision App is the largest and most successful collaborative design tool on the market and is the main tool for professional designers and corporate teams. It has whiteboard collaboration, dynamic prototyping, reviews, device preview, video calls, user testing, version control and design delivery. InVision Studio is a free but powerful UX design tool that has received good reviews.

Pros:

• Powerful and mature platform
• Full integration with Sketch for high-fidelity design
• Continuously update new features

Disadvantages:

• Function sets can be a little overwhelming at the beginning
• InVision Studio is currently only available for macOS, but the Windows version is in development. Sketch is only for macOS users (but you can pair InVision with Photoshop on Windows, although Photoshop is not a strictly UI design tool)

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