Venturing into the field of UX designing as a beginner commands a good starter as a newbie. Creating the most beautiful prototypes is the order of the entire UX designing process. With all that in mind, missing out on the best UX design, prototyping tools can be complicated altogether. First, it means that you will spend just a reasonable amount of time undertaking the entire process. Secondly, but more importantly, you will pay extra costs for the whole process. But everyone always looks towards spending optimum prices or subsidizing them so that the project they undertake goes hand in hand with the total costs as well as the time spent. But the quest remains; how do you go about finding the best prototyping tools for UX design? Which tools are more suitable to take you through?
One critical factor you should consider is that some of these tools are purposed for user flow demonstration and early user testing. On the other hand, other prototyping tools are generally designed to give all your prototypes the best. The devices will provide features that allow captivating user interactions, teamwork, and the generation of code ready for handover to developers. The choice of prototyping tools in UX design majorly relies on the time needed for user testing, the tool’s user, and the strategies the tool follows in generating a consistent workflow.
There are several things to factor out. More importantly, if you’ve been seeking some of these best prototyping tools 2022, you should seek no more. In this piece, we have compiled a good number of them, each with an extensive elaboration of what you need to have. Let’s dive right into them and start with Adobe XD.
Table of Contents
Best Prototyping Tools 2023
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Adobe XD
If you are in search of a full stack prototyping tool, Adobe XD can be a perfect option. Adobe XD enables the creation of designs from scratch. Apart from that, you can create link pages together in clickable prototypes. Just a single tool is enough to share every work you do. Moreover, you can get one at affordable rates and get started right away. Just like any other design editors, Adobe XD is easier to use, especially when you are familiar with it. It provides a range of beautiful tutorials and downloadable files that are critical to getting you going. XD prototypes are suitable for desktop, mobile, or tablets. With it, you can be sure of coming up with advanced experiences.
A remarkable fact about this UX design prototyping tool is that it can link different components more quickly. Inbuilt previews are a powerful top-up of what you need in any prototyping tool. Moreover, the previews allow you to keep track of or record any action you have taken in the prototype. It works perfectly well in combination with various applications such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, this makes it among the best prototyping tools.
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InVision
If you need an almost immediate transformation of your already existing designs into a clickable prototype, you should give InVision a try. The tool does it well by applying hotspots to wireframes. With considerable pricing rates, you will be able to navigate it and learn more from its simple design. More importantly, the tool is quicker and also it can link up with some other useful tools. With InVision, you can always import wireframes and arrange a proper way according to the user flows. Most essentially, it stands out as one of the best prototyping tools at the early designing stages. It will produce low to middle fidelity prototypes mostly for desktops and mobile.
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Sketch
You probably won’t realize how perfect prototyping in UX design can be until you discover and start using Stretch. The development of Stretch was designer-based. More importantly, it supports the creation of systems based on vectors and fast viewing of clickable prototypes.
Notably, the prices are wallet-friendly, and you can always go for it at the beginner stage. It has basic and easier-to-use features. Stretch is only supported in macOS and supports the sharing of prototypes via links. Additionally, it also has cloud storage where you can involve your team players. While most people wouldn’t think it as the very first tool when considering UX design prototyping tools, Strech stands out to provide features that are friendly to starters.
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Figma
Another considerable tool for your UX design prototypes is Figma. It is a full-stack design tool that supports several design processes such as wireframing and prototyping. You can get it in an annual plan and at affordable rates. However, you get it free for three projects and two editors. Moreover, it is user-friendly and has a beautiful interface that provides an easier way to navigate. If you have been a consistent Sketch user, probably Figma wouldn’t give you a hard time. Even with no background knowledge of coding, you will be able to use Figma without straining. It works perfectly well for Windows and macOS devices, this make it among the list of top prototyping tools.
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Balsamiq
One of the most excellent prototyping tools is Balsamiq. With the tool, you can always enjoy rapid prototyping as well as wireframing. At affordable monthly subscriptions, you will have the ability to link screens to showcase the simple user flows. More importantly, it is easy to understand and produce a refined layout of your applications.
Additionally, you can access it as a web application for a browser of your choice. It functions properly with Windows and macOS. Even though it has a low fidelity, it has a personality you will always like. It is a powerful tool for managing your entire UX conversations.
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UXPin
If you always thought of confining yourself to a single UX design prototyping tool, there is yet more to explore; UXPin, just like any other powerful full-stack UX platform, creates the most outstanding prototypes. It is billed at affordable rates, and you can always use it to do even more than you desired. Notably, the UXPin is code-based but requires only simple learning to get everything on its toes. It is one more platform that outputs high-fidelity prototypes that are undifferentiated from the exact thing. It has distinct support for massive projects and extended teams of developers. You can find one and get your UX design prototyping to run smoothly.
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Flinto
Another perfect UX design prototyping tool is Flinto. With this tool, you have all the assurance of creating high-fidelity and user-friendly experiences. It has consistent updates, and it is charged on an annual basis. It holds similarity with Sketch, and it is easy to learn, given that there are many educative channels and tutorials about it. The tool is supported on Mac and stands out to be the most popular tool. The end-product is always a high-fidelity prototype. Moreover, it supports the importation of designs from Figma and Sketch. You can share it through links.
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Origami
Landing the best, cheap, and powerful & rapid prototyping tools requires a greater sense of skill. Origami is amongst the renowned tools that were created by Facebook designers. More importantly, it has dramatically been substantial to applications like Messenger and Instagram. Origami is free and is fit for experienced designers in UX designing. Moreover, it isn’t more suitable for starts but can as well work out correctly if you dig deep into educative tutorials about it. Therefore, if you have no background knowledge in UX designing, you don’t have to worry because you can always learn how to go about it by exploring a range of tutorials and educative videos. Origami has the potential of creating the best prototypes fit for your desktop, mobile, or tablet.
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Framer
The drive under the design of this prototyping tool is advanced interactivity in prototyping and sustainable teamwork. The tool is always billed annually, and you will access it free for up to 3 projects with two editors. Framer works perfectly well in fast-speed browsers such as Chrome. The prototypes are interactive and of high fidelity. The tool supports inline commenting, one-click sharing of prototypes, and much more. Moreover, it is great for any team of designers who focus on understanding how developers receive their design work.
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Axure
Axure has a lot of UX design features incorporated into it. It is billed annually, and it’s a look-alike of other substantial prototyping tools. Azure supports any user regardless of whether they have coding skills or not. Even though it requires no coding skills, it can be a good idea to acquaint yourself with a range of front-end coding concepts and start with a clear understanding. Axure is available for macOS and Windows platforms, and like any other good prototyping tool, it is good for producing quality prototypes suitable for the tablet, desktop, and mobile. Moreover, it is loaded with lots of features that support concurrent editing and shared access to files in the cloud server. Just like Sketch, Axure is a perfect option for developers and has a simple, understandable interface.
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Webflow
There is yet another powerful prototyping tool, and it is Webflow. The tool has a considerable billing rate and has simple usage requirements. It allows shared access. Any team can always make their prototypes available and accessible to any other member. It will give you the perfect experience you have always craved for.
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Mockplus
If you are looking for a faster and simpler prototyping tool. Mockplus always make you enjoy the rapid prototyping as well as the low-fi wireframing. It offers an extensive library of fully customizable web and mobile app templates that lets you present your ideas fast, in even seconds. No need to start from scratch. Mockplus Free plan allows you to create 3 prototypes with no time limit. If you are a beginner, Mockplus is easier to use, it provides prebuilt static and interactive UI components, and delicate icons fit all design scenarios, without having to sketch them one by one. Save you hundreds of hours.
Moreover, you can have all your teammates work on the same prototype at the same time. It always keeps everyone up-to-date. No, save conflicts, no back-and-forth edit confirmation. And support gathering valuable feedback directly from teammates, stakeholders, clients, and even real users via a link, iterating all possible details together.
Conclusion
In UX design, the choice of prototyping tool matters a lot and, to some extend, determines the quality of your prototype. While there is a range of these tools, it is always essential to pick out the best so that our entire work can be of high quality. Before you choose a prototyping tool in UX design, it is always important to consider the aims of your prototypes, the kind of teamwork you will be involved in, and knowledge about tour areas of concern. Generally, the above-highlighted tools and many more will give you a perfect prototyping experience.
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Written by:
Muzammil K
Muzammil K is the Marketing Manager at Aalpha Information Systems, where he leads marketing efforts to drive business growth. With a passion for marketing strategy and a commitment to results, he's dedicated to helping the company succeed in the ever-changing digital landscape.
Muzammil K is the Marketing Manager at Aalpha Information Systems, where he leads marketing efforts to drive business growth. With a passion for marketing strategy and a commitment to results, he's dedicated to helping the company succeed in the ever-changing digital landscape.