Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Balsamiq VS CSS Scan Pro

Compare Balsamiq VS CSS Scan Pro and see what are their differences

Balsamiq logo Balsamiq

Balsamiq. Rapid, effective and fun wireframing software.

CSS Scan Pro logo CSS Scan Pro

The easiest way to get and edit the CSS of any website, live
  • Balsamiq Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-02
  • CSS Scan Pro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Balsamiq features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Balsamiq offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create wireframes quickly.
  • Rapid Prototyping
    The tool is designed for speed, allowing users to iterate and refine designs rapidly, aiding in quick decision-making and revisions.
  • Low-Fidelity Focus
    Balsamiq emphasizes low-fidelity wireframes, making it easier to focus on structure and user flow rather than getting bogged down in details like colors and fonts.
  • Collaboration Features
    It includes collaboration tools such as comments and real-time co-editing, making it easier for teams to work together and share feedback.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Balsamiq is available both as a web application and a desktop app for Windows and macOS, providing flexibility in how teams access the tool.
  • Extensive Library of UI Components
    The software comes with a rich library of pre-built UI components, icons, and templates that simplify the design process.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    Balsamiq integrates seamlessly with popular project management and development tools like Jira, Confluence, and Google Drive.

Possible disadvantages of Balsamiq

  • Limited Customization Options
    Due to its focus on low-fidelity wireframes, Balsamiq offers limited options for detailed customization, which might not be sufficient for high-fidelity design needs.
  • Cost
    Unlike some free wireframing tools, Balsamiq requires a subscription, which could be a barrier for small teams or individual users on a tight budget.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are easy to use, mastering more advanced functionalities might require additional learning and practice.
  • No Interactive Prototypes
    Balsamiq is primarily focused on static wireframes and lacks features for creating interactive, clickable prototypes, which can be a downside for more complex projects.
  • Performance Issues with Large Projects
    Users have reported performance slowdowns when working with very large or complex wireframing projects.
  • No Mobile App
    Unlike some competitors, Balsamiq does not offer a mobile app, which can limit accessibility for users who need to work on the go.

CSS Scan Pro features and specs

  • Easy to Use
    CSS Scan Pro offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers.
  • Time-saving
    It allows users to quickly inspect and copy CSS, significantly speeding up the workflow and reducing development time.
  • Accurate CSS Extraction
    The tool provides precise CSS extraction, ensuring that you get exactly the styles applied to an element without any unnecessary code.
  • Live Preview
    CSS Scan Pro features a live preview function that lets users see changes in real-time, helping in faster decision-making and better design accuracy.
  • Cross-browser Support
    It supports all major browsers, allowing for consistent CSS extraction and design across different environments.
  • Customizable
    Users can customize the settings to meet their specific needs, such as changing the format of the copied CSS code.

Possible disadvantages of CSS Scan Pro

  • Price
    CSS Scan Pro is a premium tool, and its cost might be prohibitive for some individuals or small teams who are on a tight budget.
  • Browser Extension Requirement
    It requires installation as a browser extension, which might be a barrier for users who are restricted from installing extensions due to organizational policies.
  • Limited to CSS
    While excellent for CSS, it doesn't offer functionalities for other development aspects like JavaScript or HTML, limiting its all-in-one utility.
  • Learning Curve
    Though generally user-friendly, there might be a slight learning curve for absolute beginners unfamiliar with browser extensions or CSS tools.

Balsamiq videos

UX Review: Balsamiq.com - Watch a Usability Expert Review Our Site!

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Balsamiq Mockups: Beginner Tutorial
  • Review - Balsamiq Wireframes for Desktop Overview (Windows)

CSS Scan Pro videos

Editing Nomadlist with CSS Scan Pro Visual Editor (Test)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Balsamiq and CSS Scan Pro)
Prototyping
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Design Tools
77 77%
23% 23
Design Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Balsamiq and CSS Scan Pro

Balsamiq Reviews

Figma Alternatives: 12 Prototyping and Design Tools in 2024
Balsamiq is a design tool that has been available since 2008. It’s easy to use and even boasts active customer service if you need help. The software is beginner-friendly, so there is no learning curve if you’re a newbie.

CSS Scan Pro Reviews

We have no reviews of CSS Scan Pro yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Balsamiq seems to be a lot more popular than CSS Scan Pro. While we know about 32 links to Balsamiq, we've tracked only 2 mentions of CSS Scan Pro. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Balsamiq mentions (32)

  • Revenge of the Junior Developer
    Usually my own way of working is to use Balsamiq[0] to have a visual prototype to test out flows, Figma|Sketch for the UI specs, then to just code it. Kinda the same when drawing where you just doodle until you have a few workable ideas, iterate of these to judge colors and other things, and then commit to one for the final result. [0]: https://balsamiq.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Three important steps before jumping to the code
    You can still produce something useful even if you’re not a professional designer. For example, you can use a rapid wireframing tool like Balsamiq (my favorite) or Excalidraw. With such tools, you can sketch an idea quickly without spending time on minor visual details. Or, use a whiteboard or good old pencil and paper. Any sketch is better than nothing. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Tell HN: My Favorite Tools
    A few apps that are a joy to use: https://ia.net/writer for writing. https://usecontrast.com/ for checking contrast. https://sipapp.io/ for picking colors. https://nova.app/ for editing code. https://cleanshot.com/ for screenshots. https://getpixelsnap.com/ for measuring elements on screen. https://netnewswire.com/ for reading things via RSS. https://panic.com/transmit/ for file transfers. https://usefathom.com/... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Best UI design courses for hackers?
    I think the best practical approach for designing UIs is to download (and buy) Balsamic[0] and use that to design UIs. Cut through the nonsense of colours and pixels in the first instance and just lay things out logically and simply. [0] https://balsamiq.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Build Products that don’t SUCK
    Create a low-fidelity mockup or wireframe of your MVP using tools like Balsamiq, Sketch, or Figma. Or use an easier-to-use tool like Uizard, which also has text-to-design capabilities. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

CSS Scan Pro mentions (2)

  • Super Useful Chrome Plugins for Front-End Developers
    CSS Scan and CSS Pro are two of the best chrome extensions for front-end developers I know of. https://getcssscan.com/ https://csspro.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Has anyone used cssscan?
    I came across css scan and it looked really nice, but then I came across css scan pro which is extremely similar to it, except for having a monthly payment instead of a one-time. Has anyone ever used these tools before, can tell me which one is better? Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Balsamiq and CSS Scan Pro, you can also consider the following products

Invision - Prototyping and collaboration for design teams

CSS Scan - Instantly check or copy computed CSS from any element for only ~95$

Moqups - The most stunning HTML5 app for creating resolution-independent SVG mockups, wireframes & interactive prototypes for your next project

Hoverify - All-in-one browser extension to improve your web dev experience.

Zeplin - Collaboration app for UI designers & frontend developers

CSS Peeper - Smart CSS viewer tailored for Designers.