Wireframing Tools

If we want to create a responsive web design or application, there is an overwhelming amount of wireframing tools to choose from. As many of you know, sketching and wireframing ideas strengthens designs. However, the amount of tools out there may make it difficult for you to sort out the best and most useful ones.

In Making Sense we love giving you our own UX/UI scoop of information and research. From the “Pizza Test” showing how to create apps that adapt to real life, to explaining the Model View “ViewModel” (MVVM) pattern and how it can be implemented in WPF we love broadening the information about IT technologies. It is part of our mission as a company to enhance your User Experience expertise and help guide your choices.

In this occasion we have gathered for you 5 of the best tools for wireframing websites or applications, each of which will offer you a unique set of useful features.

Balsamiq

Easy, simple wireframing

Balsamiq was founded to help people create software that is easy to use. Whether you are a start-up designer or developer, the mockups you find in Balsamiq will help you to easily build great software by allowing you to sketch out your own ideas and iterate over them as many times as you desire.

From building a portfolio to show people what you do for a living, all the way to making wireframes at lighting speed, in Balsamiq you will find a great piece of software.

In addition, Balsamiq is known for its great customer service and support center. They are extremely passionate for what they do, and are always pushing users to obtain the best results.

Key benefits include:

  • Fast, geeky and very power-user-friendly
  • Simple and fun to use
  • Opportunity to iterate in real-time
  • Familiar keyboard shortcuts of the Creative Suite tools
  • Epic customer service
  • UXpin
  • Great for Mobile devices

UXpin

Great for mobile devices

UXpin is a great tool for UX designers who are making their first steps into this amazing career. It has been built with a simple and handy toolkit allowing for the creation of designs that will definitely leave you stunned.

More and more people love visiting websites designed specifically for their devices. Today, research indicates that approximately 51% of mobile users are more likely to make purchases from websites designed specifically for their smart phones.

UXpin is perfect for designing in these times where the mobile devices popularity is growing. The responsive breakpoints allow you to create responsive prototypes and wireframes that will look great on all the different kinds of devices and resolutions.

Collaboration and exchanging of ideas are both critical factors in User Experience. UXpin combines tools that allow for teammates, clients & stakeholders to exchange points of view, discuss solutions and examine the design from different perspectives.

Key benefits include:

  • Simple & fun to use
  • Easy integration with mobile devices
  • Real time collaboration
  • Innovative wireframe editor
  • Upload UX & project files
  • Design, edit & chat

Solidify

Easy to use, UX prototyping tool

Solidify is a perfect tool to prototype interface screens for user testing feedback across devices. It lets you create clickable prototypes from wireframe, sketches or mockup. It also gives designers the possibility to validate users flows on any type of device by performing user tests in person or on your testers to get useful feedback in almost no time.

In addition, Solidify makes it easy for you to test your prototypes as if you were using them on any desktop, phone or tablet. Also, if you are looking to send users a prototype to test their understanding of direct flows, this tool is perfect for you!

Key benefits include:

  • Validate Interactions
  • Test concepts Early
  • Conduct a User Test
  • Get Unbiased Results

Mockingbird

Wireframes on the go

Mockingbird is an online tool you will never want to stop using! If you need to create, link together, preview, and share mockups of your website or application this is the best tool for you!

With the use of Mockingbird you will also be able to do brainstorming and build your designs with the collaboration of all your team. It also eliminates the back and forth madness with your clients since it makes wireframing frictionless, freeing you to try new ideas and iterate rapidly before settling on a design that works.

Key benefits include:

  • Fast Mockup creation
  • Easiness to make links
  • Collaborative tool
  • Exportation to PDF & PNG
  • Fully web based
  • Grid & columns

Wireframe.CC

Crisp, clear & clutter-free environment wireframes

Wireframe.CC will help you create elements of wireframe by drawing a rectangle and selecting the stencil type that will be inserted there. As simple as dragging your mouse across a canvas and selecting an option from a pop-up menu, you can edit anything you want just by double-clicking on it.

One of the key benefits of using Wireframe.CC is the sustitution of countless toolbars and icons for a clutter free environment. Instead of having your great ideas “all over the place,” with the use of this tool you will be able to easily focus on your own ideas and sketch them before they fade away. In addition, its very limited palette of options (color palette & number of stencils) help for your original idea not to be lost in unnecessary decorations and fancy styles.

Last but not least, in Wireframe.cc each wireframe you save gets a unique URL you can bookmark or share. You will be able to resume working on your design any time in the future. Every element of your wireframe can be edited or even transformed into something else.

Key benefits include:

  • Click and drag to draw
  • Crisp & Clear palette
  • Easy to share & modify
  • Clutter-free environment
  • Smart suggestions

Furthermore, there are tons of other wireframing apps available and they can probably be of your interest. Please be aware that not all the tools listed above may offer the specific functionality you may need for your project since many of them are rather basic. However, each one listed is totally worth exploring to see if it fits your requirements.

Don’t forget to visit our Blog for the latest news about UX/UI from our developers. Also, obtain more useful information on how Making Sense high performance team of developers can assist your company to save money, develop applications in record time, and build a loyal base of customers.

We hope you have found our post useful and consider using some of the wireframing tools listed above in the near future. Many of them look rather simple, but you will be surprised how much they can help you! Tell us, are you using any of them? We love your feedback!