Tool Shortlist
Here are the top 10 UX software for designing & prototyping I’d like to highlight out of the 22 I cover in this article:
The quality of the user experience can make or break the success of an app or website. In today’s world, people expect technology to be intuitive and easy to navigate.
There are now many user experience software tools available to help with designing and prototyping quality products. In this article, I’ll review the best options available and show you what makes each one special.
What is UX Software for Designing and Prototyping?
UX software are cloud-based SaaS tools that help UX teams to design and execute applications that deliver the best possible user experience. These tools streamline communication, expedite the prototyping process, and make it easy to iterate based on new information and direction.
Overviews Of The 22 Best UX Software Solutions
Here’s a brief description of each UX system to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
Lucidchart
Best intelligent diagramming software with integrations and collaboration
Used by BP, L’Oréal, and BMW, Lucidchart simplifies UX design with a large library of templates, drag-and-drop functionality across an infinite canvas, real-time collaboration, in-app chat, automatic sync and save, and more. Being a web-based app, there are no downloads or installations needed and it works on any device, browser, or operating system.
Usability and value are two of Lucidchart’s biggest strengths. The low per-month cost combined with intelligent features and an intuitive interface make it one of the easiest wireframing tools to get started with. Features like comments, tasks, sharing, revision history, and embedding make collaboration simpler for remote and hybrid teams.
Lucidchart has free add-ons for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, and integrates with Microsoft Office, Atlassian, Salesforce, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Slack, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Jive, GitHub, BambooHR, Quip, and more—including many apps through Zapier. Lucidchart also works perfectly with Lucid's virtual whiteboarding product, Lucidspark, to boost collaboration throughout the entirety of your workflow.
Lucidchart starts at $7.95/month, with a freemium version also available.
Invision
Best for an online whiteboard combined with design productivity
InVision is a cloud-based design platform for digital products. It helps users collaborate, experiment, and test from a unified dashboard. The software offers a wide range of features, including prototype creation, digital whiteboards, wireframing, planning, and feedback management.
Using InVision Studio, UX designers can edit vectors, style layers, and animate drawings. They can also take advantage of the shared design libraries and features such as instant playback, editing timelines, and the mirroring of mobile devices. Other options include push/pull changes and version rollback.
This tool integrates with popular platforms such as Trello, Slack, Confluence, and Microsoft Teams.
InVision costs from $7.95/user/month. A free trial is available.
Marvel
Best for rapid prototyping and testing
Marvel is a design prototyping tool that brings digital product ideas to life. The design and wireframe features help you create interfaces in minutes, while prototyping allows you to build interactive designs without code. Handoff from the design team to developers is automated.
You can also conduct user testing to see how people interact with your designs and prototypes. In addition, the collaboration tools centralize feedback and ideas.
This tool integrates with popular design and business tools like Sketch, Jira, Maze, and Lookback.
Marvel costs from $16/user/month and offers a 7-day free trial. A free plan with limited features is also available.
Balsamiq
Best for advanced wireframing
Balsamiq is a software tool designed for rapid wireframing. Combining the simplicity of paper sketching with the power of a digital tool, it helps you create sketch-style mockups. These can be shared with colleagues and other stakeholders to get feedback.
Balsamiq offers the speed and ‘feel’ of pencil sketching, plus all the benefits of a digital medium. These features include drag and drop to resize and rearrange elements, plus the ability to make changes without starting over. Other options include software prototyping, revision history, data linking, survey tools, and presentation tools.
This tool integrates with popular business tools such as Google Drive, Confluence, and JIRA.
Balsamiq costs from $7.50/user/month. A free 30-day trial is available.
Justinmind
Best for prototyping customer-friendly websites
Justinmind is an application development suite focused on creating interactive prototypes and wireframes compatible with various screen sizes and devices. The goal is to improve the user experience through web interactions, visual designs, and mobile app gestures.
Rich in features, Justinmind offers functionality such as sketch integration, pre-installed user interface kits, transitions, and effects. Other options include templates, app testing, and user flow scenario management.
Designers can also generate standard documents and export them into HTML. With a single click, they can publish UI design and invite others to give feedback.
This designing tool integrates with mobile and web design platforms such as JIRA, Sketch, Confluence, and Azure DevOps.
Justinmind costs from $9/user/month. A free plan with limited features is also available.
Wireframe.cc
Best for a simple, focused wireframing tool
Wireframe.cc is a wireframe tool that is deliberately simple and easy to use. The software strips out most of the functionality that many products offer, so you can focus on design without distractions.
Using Wireframe.cc, even inexperienced designers can create wireframe web designs in minutes. These can then be handed over to developers for full implementation.
No installation is required, and users can get up to speed with minimal training. Completed wireframes can be converted to PDF format.
[Note: doesn’t seem to integrate with anything]Wireframe.cc costs from $16/user/month. A free 7-day trial is available.
Sketch
Best for collaborative prototyping and design
Sketch helps businesses design vector graphics and icons, collaborate with colleagues, and manage designs through a single platform. Using Sketch, you can automate workflows, receive feedback on designs, conduct user research, and share prototype links with stakeholders.
The software includes project management, data export, and reporting features. You can invite collaborators to edit documents and synchronize data. Sketch makes it easy to build and store symbols or layer styles, which can be stored in a centralized repository.
This tool integrates with many different applications, including ProtoPie, Maze, Flinto, and Abstract.
Sketch costs from $9/user/month. A free trial is available.
Figma
Best for AB testing customer interface designs
Figma is a cloud-based design platform for creating, AB testing, and delivering products. Features include team libraries, version history, content management, audio conversations, and overlays. Using the pen tool, UX designers can draw in any direction with vector networks, generating arc designs.
They can also pin files for quick access, add notes, track contributors and work collaboratively in real-time. Using the software, UX/UI designers can build prototypes, create design transitions and define interactions.
This tool integrates with major third-party applications such as Pendo, Zeplin, Maze, and Confluence.
Figma costs from $12/user/month. A free plan with limited features is also available.
Adobe XD
Best for creating realistic prototypes
Adobe XD is a UX/UI design tool that helps you configure layouts, effects, and components. You can save created assets in a cloud-based repository, then share them with colleagues as required. You can also add animations, audio, navigation menus, custom passwords, user flows, and other elements.
Using Adobe XD, you can build designs using keyboards or game controllers and even preview them on Android and iOS devices. The software also makes drawing shapes, paths, and lines for elements or interface layouts easy.
This tool integrates with popular design and business tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zeplin.
Adobe XD costs from $9.99/user/month. A free 7-day trial is available.
Proto.io
Best for drag and drop prototyping
Proto.io is a prototyping solution for UX designers, entrepreneurs, product managers, and marketers. Designed to get rapid results, the software has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for anyone to build designs.
You can select from a number of interface libraries featuring UI components that mimic the look and user behavior of their native counterparts. Over 1000 templates are also included, with all the blocks you are likely to need for web or mobile design.
Proto.io also includes over 6,000 digital assets, including icons, stock images, and sound effects. Different levels of interactivity can be added according to the needs of each project.
This tool integrates with design and business applications such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, and Adobe Photoshop.
Proto.io costs from $29/user/month. A free 15-day trial is available.
The Best UX Software Solutions Summary Table
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lucidchart Best intelligent diagramming software with integrations and collaboration | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $7.95/user/month | Visit Website |
2 | Invision Best for an online whiteboard combined with design productivity | Free plan available | From $7.95/user/month | Visit Website |
3 | Marvel Best for rapid prototyping and testing | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $16/user/month | Visit Website |
4 | Balsamiq Best for advanced wireframing | 30-day free trial | From $9/month | Visit Website |
5 | Justinmind Best for prototyping customer-friendly websites | Free plan available | From $19/user/month | Visit Website |
6 | Wireframe.cc Best for a simple, focused wireframing tool | 7 Days Free Trial | From $16/user/month | Visit Website |
7 | Sketch Best for collaborative prototyping and design | 30-day free trial | From $9/user/month | Visit Website |
8 | Figma Best for AB testing customer interface designs | Free plan available | From $15/user/month | Visit Website |
9 | Adobe XD Best for creating realistic prototypes | 7-day free trial | From $9.99/user/month | Visit Website |
10 | Proto.io Best for drag and drop prototyping | 15-day free trial available | From $29/user/month | Visit Website |
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Other Options
Here are a few more UX design tools that didn’t make the top list.
- UXPin
For building prototypes that feel like the end product.
- Axure RP
Drag-and-drop prototyping tool.
- Craft
Sketch/Photoshop plugin that accelerates design.
- Adobe Illustrator
Established as the de facto vector-based UX design tool.
- Treejack
Tree usability testing UX tool.
- Adobe Photoshop
Most popular raster-based UX design tool.
- Origami Studio
All-in-one design, animation, and prototyping.
- Framer X
UI design tools for creating React components.
- Webflow
Design collaboration using a visual canvas.
- Optimal Workshop
User experience research platform.
- VisualSitemaps
Best for auto-generating visual sitemaps.
- Flowmapp
Online collaboration tools for UX design.
Selection Criteria for the Best UX Software for Designing and Prototyping
Are you curious how I selected the best UX software for designing and prototyping? I drew on my years of previous experience in UX design to add more expertise to my assessment. I understand what it's like working with cumbersome tools, and so I devised a list of criteria to help me choose the best software options available today.
Here's what I evaluated:
Core Functionality
First, I evaluated and compared a wide range of popular UX software that had positive user ratings. Here are the basic functionalities the products need to include in order to earn a spot on my list:
- Prototyping: The tool needs to provide your team with the ability to deliver a quick prototype that illustrates your concept.
- Communication: UX software needs to streamline communication so that all stakeholders can have a say.
- Design: Your UX software should provide ample design functionality so that you can fully bring your product to life.
Key Features
To deliver on the core functionality that I've listed above, the tools on this list needed to feature:
- Fast prototyping: the ability to create initial design models quickly.
- Iteration: UI designers should be able to cycle through improvements until they get the experience they want.
- Collaboration tools: features that allow product team members to work together, gather feedback, conduct user interviews, and present projects.
- A single source of truth: ensuring that UX designers know they are working on the latest software version.
- Smooth handoff: an easy way for a UI/UX designer to pass projects over to developers for implementation.
- Customization: options for adding additional features and functionality.
- Templates: reusable building blocks to help designers prototype faster.
- Strong security: effective measures to keep confidential information secure and ensure data integrity.
Usability
I chose tools that are easy to implement and use. Granted, new tools always take time to master. But your UX team shouldn’t have to spend a month learning how to use the UX software before getting started.
I chose UX software with clean and simple interfaces that are easy to use and intuitively organized. Your team should be able to dive in and navigate without issue.
Integrations
I selected UX software that integrate with a variety of other tools that your team is likely already using. The idea here is to eliminate time spent toggling between multiple solutions, and streamline several processes in one location.
Value for Money
The tools on this list represent a range of prices, so that organizations of all sizes have something to choose from. Some are best suited to large enterprises and others are best for small businesses.
I've included info on how pricing works, whether it's a monthly fee per user or a flat fee for the organization. I've also researched and outlined which solutions have a free trial or freemium plan.
People Also Ask
What software do UX designers use?
UX designers use software that aids in both design and prototyping processes. Using my CX expertise, I've selected a comprehensive list of tools for this article that offer the core functionality and key features that a UX designer needs in order to successfully conceptualize, design, create, and launch a product.
What is UX in software development?
UX (user experience) in software development is all about engineering and perfecting how an application works, in order to provide the best possible user experience. The UX process considers things like:
- User goals + needs
- Process flow
- Navigation
- Overall functionality + ease of use
What do you think about this list?
What do you think about these UX design tools? Let us know in the comments below. You may also like to check out our articles on the best design thinking tools and the top prototyping software tools.
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Related List of Tools: UI/UX Design Software To Build The Best Customer Experience