Several studies suggest that users nowadays abandon websites web applications that appear complex. Hence, UX designers have to explore ways to keep an application easy-to- use by arranging its content and elements in the most appropriate way. As simple black and white layouts, wireframes make it easier for UX designers to decide the best way to organize key aspects of a website or web application – site features, navigation, page elements, conversation area, and content.
The UX designers can use wireframes as a blue print to evaluate the website architecture visually and decide the changes required to improve its usability. They can use wireframing tools to produce professional and sharable wireframes without putting extra time and effort. UX designers have the option to choose from several widely used wireframing tools. But they must assess features provided by each wireframing tool according to precise needs of each project.
Brief Overview of 7 Best Wireframing Tools
1) Wireframe.cc
Despite being designed as a minimal wireframing tool, Wireframe.cc aims to deliver a better wireframing experience. It comes with a simple user interface and set of basic functionalities. But a UX designer can use the web-based wireframing tool to access wireframes anytime and anywhere. Also, he can create wireframes based on his ideas in a clutter-free environment and draw elements through click and drag functionality. Wireframe.cc further allows designers to choose from three templates and switch between these templates. A UX designer even has option to choose from free and premium versions of Wireframe.cc.
2) Mockflow
Mockflow makes it easier for UX designers to design better user interfaces (UIs) by providing a full stack UX solution. While using Mockflow, a user can access design workflow, sitemaps, and UI spec systems, in addition to wireframing tools. He can use WireframePro to design UI ideas into designs, and sitemaps and UI flow to plan the information architecture visually. At the same time, Mockflow allows the designer to streamline the design review process by collaborating with his teammates through DesignCollab. A user even has option to choose from several third-party templates, and
3) Axure
Axure facilitates development of simple and complex wireframes by providing a number of robust features and functionality. The paid solution is further designed as a data-driven wireframing tool. While working with Axure, the UX designers can validate their ideas before writing any code. Also, they can speed up wireframe creation by availing the tools provided by Axure to include animations, dynamic content, and conditional flows. Further, they can avail the tools provided by Axure to convert the wireframe into a prototype and control various aspects of production design.
4) Moqups
The web-based wireframing tool enables UX designers to sketch wireframes by applying design aesthetics. Moqups further enables designers to access wireframes anytime and anywhere over the cloud, and collaborate with other stakeholders in the project through an intuitive interface. At the same time, a designer can avail the tools provided by the modern wireframing tool to create diagrams, wireframes, and prototypes without switching devices and platforms. Also, he can import images through drag and drop functionality, and use various fonts, styling options, and built-in libraries.
5) InVision
The widely used wireframing tool comes with features to complement varying business needs. It further creates an environment to accelerate wireframing and facilitate collaboration. The tools provided by InVision enable developers to convert static screens into interactive prototypes by adding gestures, animations, and transitions. InVision further simplifies design idea evaluation and presentation by providing boards for storing and sharing design ideas. It further simplifies feedback process by allowing various stakeholders in the project to post comments on the designs directly.
6) Fluid UI
The web-based wireframing tool simplifies wireframing and prototyping by providing built-in libraries for web, material design, and iOS. The UX designers even have option to discuss design ideas with, and collect feedback from various stakeholders in the project through live chat and video sessions. At the same time, Fluid UI also enables designers to communicate and collaborate with other stakeholders in the project in real time. A user even has option to use Fluid UI based on a number of plans –
7) Balsamiq
Balsamiq is designed as a rapid prototyping tools. It comes with features to speed up wireframe creation and make UX designers productive. The UX designers have option to choose from a wide variety of UI elements and design UIs simply by dragging and dropping specific UI elements. At the same time, Balsamiq enables designers to get relevant and immediate feedback by using clean wireframe screens. It further makes it easier for designers to make changes to wireframes frequently by adding version history to revisions. The designers even have option to run online user tests and print the wireframes through the tools provided by the wireframing tool.
On the whole, a UX designer has option to choose from a wide range of wireframing tools. The wireframing tools differ from each other in terms of features, usability, and licensing. Hence, the UX designer must compare the wireframing tools according to precise project requirements to create robust wireframes rapidly.
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