Creating a website is not just about coding and testing. There are many different stages involved in creating a website. First you have to gather client requirements, analyze those requirements, create a logical structure of the website then we move into coding followed by testing and implementation.
Wireframing have been an integral part of web design. Some web designers prefer good old pen and paper while other rely on wireframing tools. If you are in the latter camp and looking for some best wireframing tools then, you are at the right place.
In this article, you will learn about seven wireframe tools you should be using.
Wireframe.cc
As soon as you look at the wireframe.cc interface, you will notice one thing. There are no toolbars and icons like other wireframing tools. Unlike other tools, it gives you a clean slate let you use your creativity to create magical deigns. Another good thing about this tool is that there are limited options when it comes to colors so you don’t get overwhelmed and confused. Best of all, UI elements are context sensitive, which means that they only pop up when you really need them instead of being there all the time. It might not be the tool for everyone but if you likes what it offers, you will surely love it.
Miro
Miro is not a wireframing tool but it is a collaboration system which creates hub for remote teams. What makes this tool special is its extensive feature set. Users can take advantage of comprehensive toolkit for wireframing. They can create user stories, customer journey maps, processes and brainstorm ideas. The possibilities are unlimited.
There are whiteboards, widgets, built in templates and much more. You can integrate Miro with all your favorite tools such as Slack, Jira and Google Drive along with 20 other popular apps, which is a big bonus. With more than 2 million users, it is moving in the right direction.
Balsamiq Mockup
Ever wished you could replicate the same experience of sketching on a whiteboard in a digital tool? Balsamiq mockup makes this possible. The easy to use interface, drag and drop elements, everything is hand drawn. It is the closest you can get to a pen and paper in a digital tool. There is one downside to it. Mockups are low fidelity and are rough but you can refine it with feedback. It is a great choice for designers who create designs rarely because you can pay $9 per month for 2 projects, a feature very few tools offer. It is available on both Windows and Mac.
Axure RP
If you are looking for a wireframing tool that let you do much more than creating mockups, then look no further than Axure RP. With Axure RP, you can add functionality to your layouts and create an interactive prototype. Users can choose from wide range of widgets that represents different UI elements. The ability to create interactive HTML mockups for mobile apps and websites and the ability to view it on your phone give this tool a clear advantage over other wireframing tools. That is not all, you can also share your mockups with others thanks to the built in share function. That is why web design company Toronto uses these tools to create mockups and prototypes.
Protoshare
This online tool not only let you choose from a library of components but also let you insert your own elements. Protoshare lay a lot of emphasis on sharing and collaboration and it feature set clearly shows that. You can use a custom CSS, include a sitemap and do much more with this handy wireframing tool. Not sure whether you should pay for the $29 price? You can take advantage of 30 day free trial to see whether the tool is actually worth your money or not. Irrespective of which platform you are using, it can work on all platforms because it runs of web browser. It let you design interactive websites and mobile app prototypes with minimal effort.
Mockflow
If you want to create working prototypes and want to collaborate and share it with your team members, then Mockflow is for you. There is a useful chat feature which allows team members to stay on the same page and communicate consistently throughout the project. You can create sitemap for both folders and web pages, track different versions of the file and use image and components from the library and even export HTML5. Best of all, this tool is free to use and works in your web browser. For those who wants an app, there is also a desktop app for both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Gliffy
Web design and development projects require team work. Everyone from quality assurance, analyst, designers and developers should work together to create a winning design. Gliffy let you do that by letting you collaborate with other team members. Users can collaborate on flowcharts, network diagrams and use cases. What makes Gliffy stands out is it’s easy to use drag and drop components.
It’s version tracking and image export features are cherry on top, making this tool a great choice for team collaboration. It is a platform independent tool because it runs in your web browser. Collaborating on flowcharts and network diagrams have never been easier than it is now, thanks to Gliffy.
Conclusion
With so many wireframing tools, around, choosing the right one becomes a tough task. Analyze your needs and choose one of the wireframing tools from the aforementioned list and you will have a good time with it. The better your wireframing tools are, the more refined the wireframes will be and the more refined your wireframes are, the better will be your web design. That is why you should choose a wireframing tool wisely.
Which wireframe tools do you use? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.