1. Framer
When Framer appeared on the market several years ago, it positioned itself as an advanced prototyping tool that could be used by both designers and developers (via code). Recently, it pivoted to a Webflow-like tool.
What is is Framer?
Framer is an interactive design tool for websites and prototyping. Build your design from scratch or choose from one of the many templates offered by the tool.
Why choose Framer?
From design to a live website, without 1 line of code. Wow! Besides publishing websites, you can still build designs and prototypes in their tool. So mobile app designers can also choose Framer.
You'll also find lots of additional features in the tool that can take your designs to the next level. For example, you can animate and code in Framer.
The prototypes are interactive. You can hardly see any difference from a ‘real’ design. This way, you not only impress your customers, but you also get a clear picture yourself of what your design will look like.
Framer also offers additional features such as hosting, SEO support, CMS capabilities, plugins, high-quality tutorials and more.
Then again, why not choose Framer?
Some speak of a slightly higher learning curve with this tool. This is of course a subjective experience, but one that is shared by several users. So it's best to test this for yourself in the free basic version.
Where to buy?
If you choose the free version of Framer, you get 100 CMS items and 1,000 visitors plus some basic items. For the basic version, you cough up €15 per month. For this you get your own domain, 1,000 CMS items and 10,000 visitors plus some extras. For the professional version you pay €25 per month and get access to analytics, site staging, 10,000 CMS items and 100,000 visitors.
Check out the different subscriptions or get started for free at www.framer.com
2. Penpot
Penpot has been getting a lot of attention on social media and forums for designers and developers since Adobe acquired Figma. Promising, then, but there is still work to be done to get it to an equal or better level than Figma.
What is Penpot?
Penpot is a Web-based open-source design tool with a focus on prototyping and cross-team collaboration. The tool works with open web standards (SVG) and calls itself a tool "for everyone and enabled by the community.
We are inclined to believe this, as users who have been using the tool from Day 1 have been positive about its growth trajectory and the creators' willingness to listen to feedback.
Why choose Penpot?
It is made for designers who want to involve developers and other stakeholders in the design process. Therefore, the cross-team collaboration is very much in place.
Penpot files use SVG like no other tool does and are compatible with most vector tools. They are also extremely tech friendly and easy to use on the Web.
Because Penpot is web-based, it does not rely on operating systems or installations. All you need is a browser.
Then again, why not choose Penpot?
Safari users, be warned. In this browser, performance is not quite top notch and the tool is relatively unusable. Fortunately, this is all right in Google Chrome!
In addition, there is still some work to be done to get this tool to an equal or better level than Figma. Especially autolayout and the intuitive prototyping with smart animate as we are used to, feels like a miss.
Where to buy?
Penpot is free to use. Get started at www.penpot.app
3. Sketch
This tool was the leader in the market before 2019, but has been taken over by Figma since 2019. Are they making a comeback now? Are we returning to our old love?
What is Sketch?
Sketch is one of the best vector graphic editors for Mac. Thanks to a simple, clean user interface, as a newcomer you will quickly master this tool.
Why choose Sketch?
Sketch provides all the essential vector design tools such as a pen, brushes, grids and billions of RGB colors for great color accuracy. Want to integrate apps? You can! Sketch supports integrations with Pixabay, Icons8 and more.
The tool is used daily by millions of UI and UX designers worldwide. Some major players like Facebook, Google and Xbox swear by this editor as well.
Another plus: with Sketch for Teams, you take your collaboration to the next level. You can share designs and prototypes, give feedback and collaborate with your team in one workspace.
Then again, why not choose Sketch?
We've all gone from Sketch to Figma in the past because of its lack of "multiplayer" collaboration, quick updates and advanced prototyping capabilities. Unfortunately, Sketch still hasn't addressed these flaws. Real-time collaboration is now possible, but things like autolayout, flexibility & capabilities in terms of prototyping are still not ingrained. The tool is also exclusive to Mac users.
Where to buy?
The standard formula costs €9 per user per month. For a business subscription, you pay €20 per user per month. In exchange for this extra cost, you get unlimited cloud storage, priority and technical support, Single Sign-On (SSO) and more, among other benefits.
Try a trial version or check out the subscription plans at www.sketch.com
4. Quant-UX
Quant-UX is not yet as well known as the previously mentioned tools, but it is also worth mentioning.
What is Quant-UX?
Quant-Ux is a research, usability and prototyping tool. Still relatively limited, but data-driven thanks to its user testing capabilities.
Why choose Quant-UX?
This tool comes with an integrated prototype editor that supports CSS3, animations, form validation and logical flows.
All prototypes are fully functional - which is also more and more the standard today. This looks professional and you immediately get to see what your work will look like in real life.
The user testing capabilities are top notch: when you forward a design to your tester(s), the user interaction is recorded and analyzed in real time. Quant-UX itself extracts all relevant information and KPIs and visualizes them in the form of beautiful graphs and heatmaps.
Then again, why not choose Quant-UX?
A poll on Saashub.com polled designers about their satisfaction with Framer and Quant-UX. They were asked to rate both apps on "Prototyping," "Design Collaboration," "Design Tools" and "Mockups, Wireframing & Prototyping. In none of these four categories did Quant-UX emerge victorious.
Where to buy?
Quant-UX is open-source and free to use. Give it a try at www.quant-ux.com
5. Lunacy
Faster than Figma, smarter than Sketch. Apps for Mac, Windows & Linux. Free for single users. What more could you want?
What is Lunacy?
Lunacy is a design and prototyping tool created by the team at Icons8. In terms of features, it is very similar to Figma, but they also offer extras such as built-in AI for image editing.
Why choose Lunacy?
Lunacy is made for designers who want to focus on workflow and minimize distractions. For example, you don't have to search the Internet for images or need another app to remove backgrounds or create placeholder text.
You easily navigate the user-friendly interface and quickly master the tool even as a newcomer.
Drawing complex shapes is also a piece of cake. And with an extensive library of icons, images and more, you'll optimize your workflow in no time.
Furthermore, Lunacy allows you to export objects individually or in groups to different file types.
In short, this tool has by far everything you need.
Then again, why not choose Lunacy?
Even though this app is for designers who want to focus on their workflow, there are some things that just interrupt your workflow: for example, you log out automatically fairly quickly, so logging in again and again can get annoying. Also, there are sometimes compatibility issues when you import files from Sketch. This, of course, does not benefit your worfklow.
The user interface - especially for newcomers - can also take some getting used to because it doesn't feel as intuitive compared to other tools on the market.
Where to buy?
Download Lunacy now for free at www.icons8.com/lunacy
6. Pixso
For those just coming from Figma and wanting a tool very similar to it, Pixso is an option worth considering.
What is Pixso?
Pixo is a web-based design and prototyping tool (currently free to use) with a strong focus on prototyping and collaboration.
Why choose Pixso?
Thanks to real time collaboration - which we remember from Figma - you and your team can easily work together on the same design.
Pixso contains everything you need to deliver a high-fidelity product. The tool includes components & variants, supports automatic layout and prototyping.
The built-in AI helps you as you work. For example, you get visualized and intelligent predictions of user needs during your design process. How cool is that?
Then again, why not choose Pixso?
For designers who still prefer to work with an app instead of in their browser, we have bad news. Pixso does not have a desktop app so you can only design online via your browser.
Additionally, you don't have a "Smart Animate" option when prototyping. This makes transitions and the end result just a little less magical than Figma.
Where to buy?
Currently, Pixso is free to use. We suspect the basic version will remain free as well. However, the company will soon launch two subscription packages, but their price has not yet been announced.
Get started easily at www.pixso.net