Today we will talk about wireframe tools. Wireframe tools help conceptualize the software or application design at the initial stage.
These tools let you draw a rough diagram of your idea in a simple form, and then you can refine your idea and then on to the design phase.
Let us start with an example. Think about social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat. Take Instagram: What do you see on its homepage concerning sign up or log in?
您会看到注册按钮“使用Facebook登录”，用户名和密码字段，登录按钮等。
All elements have been placed in order, then coded and developed into reality.
How do we do it?
We do it using tools called “wireframe tools.” These tools let us create a wireframe of an idea, and then we develop the design on top of it.
A wireframe is like a skeletal framework of a digital product. Like buildings have blueprints, digital products have sketches so you can see the structure before entering the development phase.
The sketches are black and white and sometimes grey. You don’t have any actual content at this stage; it has no color, images or videos, or even text.
However, to denote, you can use a crossed box, plain lines for the text, empty text boxes for form fields, a simple box, etc.
线框可帮助客户专注于软件的功能，而不是细节。为了防止它们分散注意力，您可以保持最小的设计。
Wireframes save a lot of time. Rather than finding the faults at the developing stage and restructuring the entire layout, you can do it in the initial stage.
线框的好处
- You can start with a simple pen and paper and start creating a wireframe.
- 您可以放下想法并轻松进行更改。
- It saves you from many change requests at later stages.
- 它加速了开发过程。
线框的类型
You have two types of wireframes — physical and digital.
In physical wireframing, you need a pen and paper to draw the layout of your product by hand. This is also called low-fidelity wireframing. In digital wireframing, you use software tools to create the structure, which is our topic for today.
我们将讨论7种最适合电线框架的数字工具。
7 Best Wireframe Tools
The 7 best wireframe tools are:
- Moqups
- balsamiq
- Wireframe.cc
- Adobe XD
- UXPin
- Figma
- Sketch
#1. Moqups
Moqups由Adi Geana，Cornel Cozar，Dan Burzo，Emil Tamas，Flavius Matis和Sergiu Cociug于2012年创立，总部位于罗马尼亚的Cluj。超过200万人使用此软件，包括Microsoft，Intel，Amazon.com，Sony，Oracle和Mozilla。
Moqups is an all-in-one online wireframe designing platform. It is a web application to help you create and collaborate in real-time on wireframes, mockups, diagrams, and prototypes.
Moqups提供了一种灵活的设计解决方案，可适应您的工作流程。它还在单个设计环境中具有一系列工具。
Features of Moqups
设计
With their quick wireframes and detailed mockups, you can envision, test, and validate your ideas. As you and your team build momentum, you can move seamlessly from low fidelity to high fidelity with the evolution of your projects.
计划
You can give shape to your ideas with Moqups. With their professional diagramming tools, you can capture concepts and give direction to your project. You can create sitemaps, storyboards, and flowcharts, and to keep your work in sync, you can jump between diagrams and designs effortlessly.
Prototype
您可以创建一个原型的产品和商店w it to your clients. Moqups lets you add interactivity to your design and create a functional prototype. You can simulate the user experience, uncover hidden requirements, and get the final sign-off from all stakeholders before investing in developments.
合作
You can communicate and collaborate in real-time with Moqups. Collaboration keeps all stakeholders on the same page and gets their feedback at every design stage. This lets you make prompt changes on the spot. Since you are communicating in real-time, you can hear all the opinions, consider all the options, and establish consensus by editing in real-time.
Templates
Moqups offers a variety of design templates to fit your needs. You have wireframes and mockups for eCommerce websites, apps, software, landing pages, admin dashboards, etc. Diagram and flow charts include mind maps, sitemaps, process maps, organizational charts, line charts, graphs, and pie charts, and doughnut charts, etc.
Other than that, you also have Gantt charts, a business model canvas, and a SWOT analysis for business strategy.
Moqups Pros
- 您可以添加无限的项目和对象。
- 广泛的功能和设计模板。
- Moqups的内置图书馆有数千个流行的图标集。
- Fast and intuitive interface.
- High flexibility and scalability.
Moqups Cons
- Too many features deviate from the original purpose of wireframing.
- 拥有这么多元素和选择可能会分散您的注意力，您可能会失去更重要的因素。
- It can’t be used offline.
- Too many features sometimes can cause the tool to lag.
- 用户界面有时会欺骗用户擦除页面。
Moqups Pricing Plan
Moqups offers three plans. The first plan is free, and the other two are paid plans:
- Pro - 每月23美元
- Unlimited – 69 USD per month
如果您获得年度付款，您将获得30％的折扣。该计划计划每月16美元，无限计划每月49美元。
请注意，无限计划仅在短时间内可用；它将很快结束。
Read my in-depthMoqups评论。
#2. Balsamiq
Balsamiq线框图是一个Balsamiq工作室的产品,founded in 2008 by Peldi Guilizzoni, a senior software engineer in Adobe. Balsamiq is a rapid low-fidelity UI wireframing tool with a perfect graphical user interface for building a website. Using this tool, you will have a similar experience to sketching on plain paper or a whiteboard. The only difference is that you do it using a digital device.
Features of Balsamiq
Drag & Drop Simplicity
With the drag-and-drop feature, you can assemble the elements wherever you want them to be.
Interactive Prototypes
By linking wireframes together, you can create interactive prototypes for your websites or software applications. This helps you demonstrate click-through prototypes or product usability.
可重复使用的符号
符号的概念在Balsamiq线框中支持。使用符号，您可以表示设计的功能，并创建可重复使用的元素，您可以在不同的线框上使用这些元素。
UI Components and Icons
balsamiqhas a feature called “wireframes to go,” which includes many ready-to-use UI controls.
Optimized for Speed
With Balsamiq, you can create a wireframe at the speed of thought. With Quick Add Tool and mini keyboard shortcuts, you can create wireframes in the fastest way possible.
balsamiqPros
- Intuitive and powerful tool.
- Easily export the prototypes in PDFs or PNGs.
- Easy to use and user-friendly.
- Quickly create wireframes with their pre-made elements and icons.
- 轻松在草图和线框之间切换。
balsamiqCons
- Has a steep learning curve.
- 缺乏更新使其过时。
- To collaborate with more people, you have to upgrade your plan.
- Has only low-fidelity wireframes.
- The cloud version of the platform is slow loading.
Balsamiq定价计划
Balsamiq针对每个版本都有不同的计划 - 云，桌面和Google Drive。
云平台有三个定价计划：
9 USD/month or 90 USD/year
49 USD/month or 490 USD/year
199 USD/month or 1,990 USD/year
balsamiqfor Desktop
这个计划是用于Mac和Windows。The pricing depends on the number of users. You will have to pay 89 USD per user, and the price decreases as you increase the number of users. You can add up to 220 users, which amounts to 9,790 USD or 44.50 USD per user.
balsamiqfor Google Drive
When integrating with Google Drive, Balsamiq is priced per wireframe editor and is free for viewers. So it charges 5 USD per editor per month or 50 USD per editor per year.
#3. Wireframe.cc
WireFrame.cc是基于云的线帧软件，可帮助您创建网站或移动应用程序的精美原型。它具有非常简单的界面。当您在地址栏中键入WireFrame.cc时，您将被重定向到网站，并可以开始创建线框。
This is a simple wireframing tool as compared to the other complex tools. The intention is to save you from unnecessary details and styles and focus on the actual purpose of the product.
在检查线框工具的背景时，我找不到有关该工具何时启动和平台后面的人的信息。无论如何，让我们继续进行功能。
线框
Click and Drag Option
使用单击和拖动选项，您可以通过单击和绘制光标创建一个元素。这会在画布上创建一个矩形，您可以在那里插入模具。它可以是图像，文本，注释，框，图标，头条等。
Limited Palette
For styling, wireframe.cc has a limited palette of colors and options. This helps you avoid wasting time on unnecessary distractions so you can focus on the important factors.
简单上下文敏感的UI
Its notable feature is its simple interface. With its context-sensitive user interface, you can decide which features are visible or remain hidden.
主页
With master pages, you can create and manage parts of wireframes that will appear multiple times across different pages. For example headers, sidebars for footnotes.
私人线框
With this feature, only you and your team can edit the wireframes. Everyone else who has access to the shareable link will only be able to preview it. This feature is available in the premium version.
线框
- The trial period allows you to use all premium features.
- Simple and easy user interface.
- You can easily turn your wireframes into prototypes that are interactive.
- 您可以快速达到正确的细节级别。
- Easily switch from web screen or mobile screen or customize your own screen.
Wireframe.cc Cons
- Few color choices and lacks advanced options.
- Limited features.
- You can’t create more than one wireframe at a time.
- Because of its simplicity, you won’t be able to create anything beyond low fidelity.
- It also lacks interaction options.
Wireframe.cc Pricing Plans
Wireframe.cc offers three pricing plans after a 7-day trial:
- 独奏 - 每月16美元或每年144美元
- Trio – 39 USD per month or 390 USD per year
- Enterprise – 99 USD per month or 990 USD per year
The Solo Plan is for one user, and you get three months free with annual billing. As the name suggests, the Trio Plan is limited to three users, and the Enterprise Plan has no set limit for users.
#4. Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a user experience design tool that is based on vector graphics. Developed by Adobe Inc., it was launched in October of 2015 as beta and, on April 13, 2021, it came out of beta.
This platform is not only available for Mac OS and Windows, though; you can also use it on iOS and Android.
使用Adobe XD，您可以创建线框和工艺原型，看起来和感觉像是真正的产品。您可以将想法更快地转化为现实，因为它配备了可以帮助您设计网站应用程序，软件等的工具。
Adobe XD功能
布局和设计
You can give your product depth and perspective and make it move in 3D space; you can create reusable buttons, build resizable cards and sync them across your designs; and you can hover and toggle to create interactions. You can also swap and resize content to make changes automatically.
Prototyping and Animation
您可以在没有编码的情况下添加新的用户流相互作用和动作。您可以通过编写动画来构建微型互动并给予他们引人注目的运动效果；用内置的语音播放创建语音命令，并具有启用语音功能的声音，并构建交互式旋转木制，并将导航菜单跳到具有可单击链接的设计中的不同点。
Collaboration and Handoff
With the collaboration tool, you and your team can be on the same page. You can work in real-time together and create one source of truth to keep your team aligned from anywhere; you can publish links for your designs, share them with stakeholders, and get feedback from collaborators.
使用设计规格，您可以通过共享交互式原型，CSS代码片段等来简化交接过程。
设计系统
您可以跨项目共享资产和组件。您可以将资产保存到云中，与其他设计师共享，并从任何地方访问这些文件，同时将每个人都保留在同一页面上。您还可以对多个文档使用共享的颜色和字符样式以及其他组件。
With creative cloud libraries, you can access shared logos, exchange colors and graphics, and store all of your creative assets from Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
可扩展性
You can unlock external apps and tools all in one place. With exit plugins, you can automate tasks in your designs and unlock new features with 200 plus plugins at your fingertips. You can also integrate XD with other built-in apps and work effectively. With plugin API you can add your own features, create custom plugins and connect to exit tools to automate your workflow.
Adobe XD Pros
- Extensive range of features.
- 您可以创建一个快速线框。
- You can give depth to your designs by applying 3D effects and animations.
- Has high extensibility since it integrates with other built-in apps.
- 借助Cloud Platform功能，您可以从任何地方共享设计及其系统。
Adobe XD Cons
- The interface is not as user-friendly as you would expect it to be.
- 这些申请不是本地的，可能需要额外付款。
- Has a steep learning curve.
- 知识库缺乏深入的方法指南。
- Lacks master pages.
Adobe XD Pricing Plans
Adobe XD offers a 7-day free trial period and 2 pricing plans:
- XD Single App – 9.99 USD per month
- 所有应用程序 - 每月52.99美元
Both plans have almost the same features except the “All Apps Plan” keeps the documented history for 60 days. Also, you get over 20 Creative Cloud apps including XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects.
#5. UXPin
UXPIN是一种基于代码的线帧工具，将设计和工程合并为一个统一的过程。它是由Kamil Zieba，Marcin Kowalski，Marcin Treder，Piotr Duszynski和Wiktor Mazur于2010年于2010年创立的，总部位于硅谷硅谷的旧金山湾地区。
HBO，PayPal，Sapient，Autodesk，Netflix，Microsoft和Sony等主要公司都信任它。
It uses merge technology that lets designers and developers use components from the GIT repository to build products faster. You can improve your workflow with easy wireframes made with this all-in-one design tool.
uxpin功能
设计一致性
With the power of UXPin’s UI components, you can create and manage consistency across projects. You can create components and UX patterns, organize them in the library, and share them with your team.
一起迭代更快
You can save your designs and share the selected iterations with your team. You can review changes by sharing separate review links to different stages of your work.
分享UX概述
您可以尽早为客户提供对设计的用户体验的了解。在开始开发阶段之前，这有助于获得客户批准。
Verify Concepts and One Test
You can cater to the needs of the client while verifying the key business objectives. You can test your wireframes to collect user feedback before your creative process at every stage. You can make improvements as you go in key areas of your design. The change process with the process is faster than the design process.
快速分享您的设计
You can share a preview link to your work and decide whether you want to include comments, specs, and documentation for exporting it to a chosen format.
UXPin Pros
- 你可以添加我ages and other files to your projects and present a beautiful blueprint of your project.
- 借助智能元素，您可以创建复杂的功能，并使它们出现在每个页面上。
- The annotations feature helps explain the details to your clients or stakeholders for steps you might need or have completed.
- With the ability to create team libraries, you can maintain consistency in designs by sharing them with your team.
- 它是一个强大的工具，可让您为网站创建低保真和高保真原型。
UXPin Cons
- If you are creating more complex prototypes, UXPin tends to get buggy and lag.
- With lots of design tools and options, you can get distracted and focus more on designing present creating the building blocks.
- 它可能更直观。
- 只允许电子邮件通信，这可以延迟响应。
- Has a steep learning curve.
UXPIN定价计划
Apart from the free plan, UXPin offers four paid plans:
- 基本：每月24美元
- 高级：每月39美元
- 专业：每月83美元
- 企业：定制定价，请与客户服务定价联系。
#6. Figma
Figma was founded by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace and has been at work since 2012. Figma started off as an invite-only free preview program and was later released in September 2016.
无花果是一种合作设计工具，可用于向量图形。它是一个基于Web的平台，具有附加的离线功能，可用于Mac OS和Windows。它具有一个Figma Mirror Companion应用程序，可在Android和启用iOS的移动设备上查看您的原型。
无花果特征
Auto Layout
You can create responsive designs with Figma. You can spend more time iterating rather than moving things around. You don’t have to invest much time changing the buttons’ size; text and list can arrange themselves when the items are moved around. You can use Auto Layout components and stretch left and right for easy responsive design.
Automation and Augmentation
You can free yourself from the hassle of repetitive tasks and bring in more data to power custom workflows. For that, you have plugins for everything — Stock imagery, flow diagrams, color accessibility charts, icons, and more.
Quick and Frequent Collaboration
无花果使通过朋友分享并实时收集反馈或通过简单地共享链接来轻松收集反馈。
Easy Workflow Transformation
使用无花果，您可以通过将基本的线框转换为详细的高保真组件来留在一个工具中。由于您可以轻松地启动并运行Figma，因此您可以在此过程中尽早开始。
Contextual Feedback
您可以直接在线框上放置注释，以在上下文中提供和接收即时反馈。
Figma Pros
- 提供交互式原型制作选项。
- Allows simultaneous editing by multiple users.
- Offers more features in its free plan as compared to some of its competitors.
- Flexible user interface.
- The collaborative features are easily accessible.
Figma Cons
- Some important features are available only in the Organization Plan.
- Everything is saved on the cloud; if you have connectivity issues, you won’t be able to access the projects or designs.
- Some might face a steep learning curve.
- Using a complex prototype might cause the platform to lag.
- Lack of ease when importing and exporting different types of files.
Figma Pricing Plan
无花果有三个定价计划：
- Starter – Free forever
- Professional – 12 USD per editor per month
- 组织 - 每月每月45美元
The prices for the Professional and Organization plans are when billed annually. The Organization Plan has an annual billing option only. As for the Professional Plan, it does have one where it charges 15 USD per editor month when billed monthly. The Starter Plan is free for life.
#7. Sketch
Sketch is a popular wireframe tool used by over one million people, ranging from freelancers to major organizations.
It was started by co-founders Pieter Omvlee and Emanuel Sá in 2010. Their idea was to provide designers with a better set of tools since they believed they deserved it. It is available only for Mac OS.
此后，他们已经走了很长一段路，现在是一个功能齐全的设计平台，将屡获殊荣的Mac应用程序与协作工具相结合。诸如Facebook，Google，保时捷，Stripe和Xbox之类的组织都信任它。
Sketch Features
功能齐全的平台
Sketch is a fully-featured platform as it contains everything you might need to design the initial structure of your product. You have vector editing, Boolean operations, pixel-level procedure, easy exports, etc.
Scalability
使用Sketch，您可以创建一个易于扩展的出色设计。您拥有共享的库，可用的组件和工具，以便您可以将所有内容井井有条。
更聪明的分享
You can share your work with anyone and anywhere in any web browser. You can keep them private and invite specific people, and you can also save wireframes to a shared workspace from where your whole team can access the designs for feedback and developer handoff.
Prototyping
您可以快速链接设计的不同部分并创建原型以测试您的想法。您也可以在浏览器中与链接共享它们，并在设备上测试它们。
Output and Collaboration
一旦设计准备就绪，您可以通过几种方式与客户或合作者共享它们：您可以播放文本文档来绘制云并共享URL，您可以将它们保存在共享库中，以便您的团队可以访问它们，并且您还可以将设计导出为PDF页面并共享。
Sketch Pros
- 您可以以多种格式和尺寸导出设计，并轻松共享它们。
- You can organize your documents according to status lines or whatever grouping you like.
- 您可以免费邀请无限观众测试原型并共享反馈。
- Highly flexible, and you can have complete control over everything you do.
- Since everyone is on the same page, you can keep track of changes without worrying about overwriting someone’s work.
草图缺点
- Its availability is limited to only the Mac platform.
- 缺乏内置协作工具。
- Expensive.
- Too many plugins can hinder the functionality of the tool.
- 带有一层页面的复杂设计可能会导致平台滞后。
Sketch Pricing Plans
草图提供了两个定价计划：
- Standard – 9 USD per editor per month or 99 USD per year
- Business – Custom pricing
Sketch offers a free 30-day trial which does not require credit card details. Organizations that require the Business Plan need to contact customer support for custom pricing. This plan is also available for yearly billing only.
结论
Wireframes are skeletal structures. They don’t have any actual content color or details. You just have simple plain lines that form elements or icons.
通过创建应用程序，软件或网站时，线帧是一个好主意，因为它简化了开发过程的下一步。您可以轻松地进行任何更改。
I listed the 7 best wireframing tools that you can use for your projects.
You can review each of these tools and select the one that best meets your requirements.
I hope this article was helpful.
What wireframe tool have you selected for your business? Please share your thoughts through the comments section.
