Regardless of if you are an experienced project manager or a developer who just started out, prototyping remains the core of every project you take on.
Prototyping is the procedure of developing a preliminary version of the final web product in order to see how everything will look before going live.
Creating a prototype is a great way to go about the process of setting up a website because the developers get to have a clear picture of what might or might not go along with the end-product.
Advantages of Prototyping:
- Builds a concept for the final web product
- Adherence to deadlines; helps avoid wasting time
- Absolute clarity between the Client and the team in terms of the project requirements
- No room for surprises
- Reduces communication costs
- Expectations and deliveries are well-aligned
Tools for Prototyping
So, what are some of the best Wireframe and Prototyping tools that can help you build a website, apart from your efforts in reviewing website builders for making the final choice?
Let’s find out.
InVision
A very popular prototyping platform, InVision claims to power the world’s best user-experiences. Coming up with creative prototypes in a jiffy is InVision’s unique selling point.
A free prototyping tool to the rescue, some of the InVision’s salient features are:
- Reimagined design ideation and presentation for seamless collaboration and uninterrupted workflow
- Built-in layout options
- Real code generation for design elements
- Design-driven project management
- Seamless integrations with other collaboration platforms
Free Forever Version of InVision
Axure RP
You don’t have to be a code expert to create a great prototype. Axure RP is the right drag-and-drop tool for you.
Axure RP lets you create highly functional prototypes, flowcharts, wireframes, mockups, user journeys, personas, and idea boards without having the need to jot down a single line of code. You can create a dynamic prototype with conditional logic, dynamic content, animations, math functions, and data-driven interactions.
JustInMind
If you have been looking for a great code-free prototyping tool for your next website project, JustInMind can just be the thing. Sporting a drag-and-drop interface, business logic, and conditional navigation, this prototyping tool comes with pre-loaded UI kits and lets you draft clickable and fully-functional UI prototypes.
Its advanced web and mobile interactions, gestures and transitions, animations and effects can help you create the most realistic prototypes.
Adobe XD
If your prototyping idea is all about effortlessly creating a great end result, the platform is suitable for you and your team. Free UI kits, single-click switching from static to interactive, team collaboration, repeat grid for seamless replication, zero lag time on versatile artboards, design remixing elements etc.; you can check out more of these features, here.
MockPlus
Offering a free trial, MockPlus is destined to impress your development team with fast interaction and drag-and-drop interface. Extensive pre-designed components, 3,000 icons, Pop-up Panel, Stack panel, Scroll Box, SlidingDrawer, and Image Carousel all come up together to give faster results. It supports team collaboration, multi-user, and is code-free.
UXPin
As they claim, they are an agile UX all in one place. A full stack designer platform that is fully collaborative, UXPin will let you design systems, prototype, and document it. Available with a free trial, the tool is available for small as well as large teams as UXPin Prototyping and UXPin Systems, respectively. For a learning curve, you can check out their tutorials, here.
MockFlow
A UX suite, MockFlow helps you brainstorm better for creating an amazing app/website prototype. With its DesignCollab feature, your entire team can accomplish communicate on the go about the advancements in the prototype strategy, hence saving time and efforts.
Beginning with the visualization of ideas, a team or an individual can use MockFlow for drawing concepts, sharing it with the team, creating style guides to document UI specifications, and deploying the workflow seamlessly for design collaboration.
Balsamiq
A rather simple yet rapid wireframing tool, Balsamiq lets you use your computer to sketch out ideas. Featuring a Sketch-Style Control, Clean Wireless options, Version control, Third-party extensions, and collaborative features, the tool is about discovering the best wireframe solutions.
Moqups
Yet another of those amazing prototype and wireframe creation-collaboration tools, Moqups helps you envision the concept behind a successful prototype. Some of its features are:
- Ready to use Stencils
- Drag-and-Drop interface
- Wide choice of Fonts plus Integrated Google Fonts
- Intuitive Object Editing, and amazing Icon sets
- Scalable Page Management for saving time
Wireframe CC
Available in a free as well as a premium version, Wireframe.cc is about a super-minimal interface that cuts the clutter. If you need to draw in your ideas, you can simply begin with drawing a rectangle on the canvas; as easy as that! Offering a 7 day free trial, this wireframing tool features a unique drawing mechanism with context-sensitive UI.
Bonus Mentions:
The above mentioned wireframing and prototyping tools haven’t been put up in a peculiar order whatsoever, though they are the best. However, if you would like to explore more options for the same, you can try some other amazing prototyping and Wireframing solutions such as Fluid UI, Marvel, and Sketch.
Conclusion:
When you and your development team is moving ahead with an app/website concept, it is always a great idea to see the work in action before it has really started; and that is why the usage of the right prototyping solution is highly recommended.
With the listicle furnished above, we hope that you will be able to create interactive workflows, turn designs into basics of the plan, and collaborate with your team so that you can set up the most amazing website, ever.
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