12 Figma Competitors for Design and Prototyping in 2024 (Free/Paid)

 

5. Axure

Axure is popular among UX designers for creating web and application wireframes and prototypes. It offers pre-designed components that can be used via drag and drop feature. 

Key Features

1. Quickly create prototypes and wireframes by using pre-built widgets.
2. Build interactive prototypes without coding knowledge.
3. Build interactions using Sketch assets.
4. Preview prototypes on mobile devices.
5. User input via working form fields.
6. Customized widgets.
7. Integration with Adobe XD plugins. 
8. Share, browse, and collaborate on projects via Axure Cloud.
9. Publish designs with CSS and automatic redlines, and image export.

Pricing

Two plans available – subscription-based and licenses

1. Axure Pro 9 Subscription plan – $25 per month
2. Axure RP 9 Pro – $495 per year
3. Axure RP 9 Team – $895 per year
4. Enterprise – custom built

Advantages

1. Comprehensive and extensive support for documentation and training.
2. Allows multi-platform prototyping with drag-and-drop feature.
3. Reusable design components with master elements and supports nesting.

Disadvantages

1. Complex dynamic panel functions.
2. Limited features available for standard edition, including team collaboration and documentation.
3. Higher cost for individual users.

Rating: 8.1/10

When to use

Axure is actively used by UX designers, interaction designers, and business analysts to create high-fidelity and low-fidelity wireframes. It allows them to communicate and visualize design concepts within their software development team. It is actively used to showcase static demos of website and applications during sales demonstrations.   

Verdict

Axure is popular Figma competitors due to its interactive prototyping, robust built-in components, and document creation capabilities.

6. Framer

Framer  supports robust interactive prototyping features, version control, teamwork, and sharing finished prototypes with stakeholders for approval. 

Key Features

1. Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality to serve beginners and professionals. 
2. Adaptable design layouts for quick creation on canvas.
3. Effortless navigation between different sections of websites. 
4. Content Management System for handling job listings, blogs, and marketing pages.
5. Efficiently manage website settings – custom domains and passwords.
6. Enhance SEO and performance of website.
7. Uses SSL/TLS encryption between servers and browsers to protect data against cybertheft. 
8. Servers with robust network security and regular monitoring protects business critical data.   
9. Admin access control for public, private, and selective sharing of projects. 
10. Data visualizations with help from graphs, charts, and maps. 

Pricing

1. Free Plan – 100 CMS items and 1000 visitors per month.
2. Mini Plan – $5 per month for customized landing pages 
3. Basic Site Plan – $15 per month for 1000 CMS items, 10,000 visitors and a custom domain.
4. Pro Site Plan – $30 per month for advanced CMS, integrated analytics, visitors, and site staging. 

Advantages

1. Advanced customization for design personalization, from responsive layouts to animations.
2. Seamless integration with third-party tools for better usability.
3. Access to Component Store containing pre-built elements for use to accelerate design workflow.
4. State management to simplify creation of intricate animations and interactions.

Disadvantages

1. No back-end Integration, hence separate solution is required for implementing server-side functionality.
2. Cannot directly export designs as functional native applications, instead it requires separate coding. 
3. Lack of built-in animation tool limits users working. 

Rating: 4.5/5

When to use

Framer blends coding and design to allow designers to create custom protypes and wireframes with React and JavaScript. It’s valuable for designers and developers who use code to design interfaces.

Verdict

Startups seeking economic yet comprehensive wireframing solution should opt for Framer. It offers several customization options to maintain branding across the website and SEO for better visibility on search engines. Well, you can also refer our blog Figma vs Framer for comparison in detail.

7. Moqups

Moqps, this cloud-based visual collaboration tool enables companies develop and test prototypes for websites and applications. Teams collaborate on digital whiteboard for plans, drawings, and mock-ups. Drawing tools allow users to build sitemaps, charts, and storyboards. 

Key Features

1. Ready-made design templates for project kickstart.
2. Automatic arrangement of elements for consistent design.
3. Seamless team collaboration and feedback sharing.
4. Data Import and Export ability for project data.
5. Optimized desktop user interface.
6. Designing basic outlines for wireframes and UI prototyping on projects.
7. Creating interactive UX and test user flow.
8. Search/Filter functionality to easily organize and locate design components.
9. Crafting mock-up presentation for final designs.

Pricing

Free Plan – basic features.

Solo Plan – $17 per month, covers one user. 

Team Plan – $32 per month, includes three users. 

Unlimited Plan – $89/per month or $67 per month.

Advantages

1. Moqups is user-friendly in design and built, hence beginners can easily use this application. 
2. With pre-built templates users quickly create workflows and charts.
3. Customization option for design elements promotes creativity.
4. Offers animations, design elements, and powerful expressions.
5. Seamless collaboration among team and stakeholders on wireframes and mockups.

Disadvantages

1. The platform doesn’t send renewal alerts thus refund processes is challenging.
2. Drag and drop feature allows element editing at a single time and re-arranging flowchart also consumes time.
3. To download mockups, a paid plan is needed. 

Rating: 8/10

When to use

Companies develop and test prototypes for applications and websites. The digital whiteboard and features allow collaboration and feedback among teams and stakeholders. 

Verdict

Moqups has advanced design options like ready-to-use UI elements and templates for low and high-fidelity prototypes. Thus, designers can easily use it in real-time.

8. Zeplin

Zeplin collaborates between front-end developers and UI designers. It streamlines the handoff process by converting designs from Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop, and Figma into style guides, specifications, and code snippets. Thus, eliminating manual tasks of copying text, writing margins, and exporting icons.

Key Features

1. API feature provides seamless integration with third-party system and tools.
2. Controls/Permissions to access and modify project resources.
3. Dashboard provides centralized view of project milestone, activities, and progress.
4. Notifications on updates and changes in real time for users. 

Pricing: 

Free Plan for a single project.

Team Plan – $8 per seat per month for 12 projects.

Organization Plan – $16 per seat per month.

Enterprise Plan- customized.

Advantages

1. Cross-Platform feature makes it easy for teams to collaborate across devices – iOs, Android, and web. 
2. Ready-to-use Code Snippets streamlines implementing designs and reducing stress.
3. Dimensions are consistent across all devices; hence, developers needn’t constantly validate measurements during implementation.
4. It allows developers to quickly download digital design assets for enhancing implementation efficiency.
5. Automatic generation of CSS for web designs to help developers quickly translate designs into code.

Disadvantages

1. Incomplete screen downloads that limit workflows.
2. Cumbersome asset export and slicing that creates poor performance.
3. Lack of dedicated web application that prevents user accessibility across devices. 
4. Complex application hence beginners require several hours of learning the tool. 
5. Limited features for prototypes and mockups.

Rating: 7.9/10

When to use

For streamlining handoff process and eliminating manual tasks of writing margins, copying text and, exporting icons, Zeplin is a perfect tool to use. 

Verdict

For effortless handoff process, achieving pixel-perfect designs, and effortless collaboration makes Zeplin a perfect choice for on-site and remote working environments. 

9. Mockplus

With pre-built design components and drag-and-drop features, wireframes and prototypes can be quickly created. Mockplus supports online collaboration, thus syncing and testing in real-time is easy. 

Key Features

1. Library of 200 components like video players, image carousels, and buttons for perfect design creation.
2. Choose between Wireframe or Sketch styles for prototyping, if clean-edged appearance is desired.
3. Add notes and comments via Markup components to highlight areas of prototype.
4. Easily compare pages with fade, split, slide, and difference views. Historical versions are automatically saved with changes.
5. Use “Comment” and “Review” modes to attach document and link references.
6. Full-view Storyboard helps to rearrange all screens of the project with description and logical lines.
7. Import designs from Figma, Sketch, AdobeXD, Axure, and PSD by using Mockplus Cloud for effortless collaboration and design iteration.
8. Select from 15 animation effects and 8 gesture options to create realistic and clickable prototypes.

Pricing

1. Mockplus Cloud Basic Plan- supports 10 users and 10 active projects.
2. Mockplus Cloud Ultimate Plan – $4.95 per user/month for 3 users, allows unlimited active projects.
3. Mockplus Cloud Enterprise Plan – Customized. 
4. Mockplus RP Basic Plan- Free with 3 prototypes and 10 pages each.
5. Mockplus RP Ultimate Plan -$10.95 per user/month for 3 users, granting access to unlimited pages and prototypes.
6. Mockplus RP Enterprise Plan – Customized. 

Advantages

1. Auto-generated specification, code snippets, and assets streamlines design workflows, and reduces redundancy and enhances collaboration.
2. It offers low-fi wireframing and prototyping, hence non-technical users can easily create designs with drag and drop feature. 

Disadvantages

1. Limitation on active projects under free plan that limits users who need multiple projects.
2. Limited customer support availability.
3. Challenges with complex UI designs because it lacks some advanced features.

Rating: 4.5/5

When to use

Mockplus creates fully interactive prototypes and wireframes, facilitates collaboration, and hence designers, developers, and stakeholders use it.

Verdict

Mockplus with its comprehensive library of components facilitates seamless design process. However, it needs to upgrade advanced gestures options for creating intricate designs. 

10. Miro

Miro, this online whiteboard platform replicates functionalities of a virtual meeting place, Google Docs, and a physical whiteboard. It offers real-time visibility into projects and team collaboration. 

Key Features

1. It offers pre-built templates to simplify wireframing and prototyping process.
2. It supports virtual meeting place for teams to brainstorm and collaborate in real-time. 
3. It is an effective project management tool with Kanban boards, mind maps, product roadmaps, flowcharts, and timelines for collaboration.  
4. It supports integrations with third-party tools and applications.
5. It offers high grade security to protect data. 

Pricing

1. Complimentary Plan – one workspace with three editable boards, 1,000 templates, and integration with 100 third-party tools like Slack and Zoom.
2. Starter Plan – $10 per month (or $8 with annual subscription) – unlimited boards in a workspace, version tracking, control over sharing permissions, and collaborative tools – video conferencing and polling.
3. Business Plan – $20 per month ($16 with annual subscription) – unrestricted workspaces and boards, single sign-on support, and expanded integration options. 

Advantages

1. Customizable templates to create intuitive interface, quickly. 
2.  Unlimited planning and brainstorming space on digital whiteboard for effortless collaboration among remote teams. 
3. Notifications on upgrades sent to users. 

Disadvantages

1. Several features may lead to a long learning curve. 
2. Session expiration issues causing loss of unsaved work or disruptions.
3. Navigating between interconnected projects impacts user experience.

Rating:  9/10

When to use

Educational institutions use it for students and staff collaboration. Project management and brainstorming tool at one place. Small businesses to create wireframes and collaboration.

Verdict

Miro offers usability for designers, engineers, and marketing teams to create wireframes, customer journey maps, and virtually collaborate.

11. Pitch

Pitch offers smart workflows, intuitive design, and real-time collaboration across devices including online and offline modes. 

Key Features

It supports library of templates, widgets, and tools to create wireframe designs and presentation smartly and quickly. 

Pricing

Starter Plan -free

Pro Plan – $17 per month for a single member

Business Plan – $68 per month 

Advantages

1. Design-ready templates for effortless wireframes and protypes.
2. Easy collaboration and presentation sharing.
3. Robust customer support. 

Disadvantages

1. Analytics need to be upgraded for offering detailed analysis to stakeholders.

Rating: 9.6/10

When to use

Pitch offers tools to create brilliant web and application designs. It supports virtual collaboration, thus used by remote teams to create and share presentations, effortlessly. 

Verdict

With numerous features, Pitch is a powerful presentation creating tool.

12. Optimal Workshop

This New Zealand based company Optimal Workshop offers several user research tools like OptimalSort card sorting test, Treejack information architecture tool, and Chalkmark first-click testing.

Key Features

1. It supports card sorting, first click testing, and tree testing.
2. It offers surveys for Qualitative research and participant recruitment.

Pricing

Plan starts at $191 per month per user excluding set up fee.  

Advantages

1. CardSorting and developing IA.
2. TreeJack testing including AI testing.
3. Enhanced visualization of data and results.

Disadvantages

1. Some elements of TreeJack are complex.

Rating:  8.4/10

When to use

Optimal Sort is excellent for testing wireframes and protypes for web and mobile applications. Additionally, it provides analytics to help better decision making. 

Verdict

A brilliant platform for testing user journeys and use cases and for website creation. 

Further reading

If you’d like to explore more, then these articles might interest you:

1. Figma vs Miro: Guide to Picking the Best Design Tool
2. Converting Figma to HTML: The Step-by-Step Guide
3. 8 Best Figma Alternatives for UI & UX Designers in 2022

Conclusion

These top 12 Figma competitors offer exclusive and promising features, advantages and disadvantages, and pricing, and it solely depends on the project requirements to use any of these.