22 Best UX Software For Designing And Prototyping In 2023

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.